Page 39 of House of Bass

Just as he did that, the newest fixture in her mind walked inside and went straight to the bar. Scarlett’s hair was in a messy bun, holding a canvas in hand. She was in denim shorts, despite the cold weather, a long sleeve sweatshirt and knee high boots. Harley had seen her a couple times around since she mentioned she went here, it was almost like she was conjuring her up whenever she thought of her. She had never gone up to her like she had asked, but maybe it’s because she didn't have the guts to.

“Sorry, one moment.” Interrupting Jamie mid-speech. Harley got up from her stool and went up to her.

Harley had only been working at the cafe for a week and Scarlett hadn’t always been in. The girl who was teaching her, Bloss, was the girl who gave her cheek the first time she stepped into the place. It wasn’t going especially well.

When Scarlett did show up, her eyes trailed her everywhere. Harley couldn’t help it, she felt a strange pull to her that she couldn’t explain.

“Hey,” Harley greeted with a tiny smile.

Scarlett looked up at her from her phone. “I believe we agreed on no interactions outside of work.”

“Hmm, doesn’t ring a bell,” Harley said, feigning ignorance.

“So what I’m hearing here is that you’re not a good listener, that doesn’t bode well,” she replied, much more lighthearted than Harley expected her to be.

“Then maybe you can teach me how to be,” Harley muttered. That sounded way more suggestive than intended. Scarlett caught her eye, her red hair looked especially dark in the dim light and Harley noted that her eyes weren't truly just brown; they had slight flecks of gold and were only telling because she stood directly under the light in particular.

“Don’t worry, I’m a very good teacher,” Scarlett said eventually. Suddenly, Harley felt warm all over so she had to deflect to avoid whatever it was she was feeling.

“So, what are you doing here today?” she said instead.

Scarlett turned her canvas around and showed her the painting she had drawn, “Figured the place would be quiet, no lurkers or distractions.” She gave Harley a pointed look as she said the last bit.

“Did you do this? They’re so good.” Harley fawned at the painting in her hands, the melting split faces of a man and a woman joined as one, and the first smile she had ever seen on Scarlett popped out. It was like a ray of sunlight brightened the dimly lit room. She wished she saw her smile more. So beautiful , Harley thought.

“Simple practice.”

“Have you always painted?” Harley asked but before Scarlett could answer she heard a call from behind. It was Anika, with the others packing their things, “Harley we’re leaving, are you coming?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there in a second!” she replied without looking back but Scarlett had gone cold.

“Go back to your friends… and your boyfriend,” Scarlett said, monotonously. Harley turned around to where Jamie was standing waiting for her, his eyes flicking over to them constantly, looking like a lost puppy.

Harley’s face grimaced at the word boyfriend, “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Does he know that?” was the last thing Scarlett said to her before moving away, casting her aside without another look. It felt like they had been making progress, but that may as well have been all inside her head.

17

HARLEY

“Iced latte with vanilla syrup for Tom!” Harley bellowed, as she waited for the customer to come get their order. An office worker in a pinstripe suit walked up and snatched the coffee out her hands, all without uttering a thank you.

Prick.

Three weeks of working in the cafe under her belt, she was used to the rude behaviour. She had worked in retail for years before this so it wasn’t anything she wasn’t used to. The long hours and juggling school at the same time, it had been a couple years since she’s had to do this. But it was all worth it to stare at the auburn haired girl with the heart shaped face and bow lips.

Purely for research purposes, of course. She was simply curious about her and whatever reason she had to hate Annabel. She knew her half-sister was a handful but what could cause a hate to run so deep.

Harley hadn’t yet had the courage to try again to make conversation about anything other than work after how terribly wrong the last time went. She was still confused why she got so angry.

The girl in question came out from the staff room to restock the muffins that Bloss made for the shop. They were pretty good, better than anything she’d ever made. Harley was an excellent cook but a shit baker.

Speaking of, she and Bloss had formed a copacetic friendship in the last couple weeks. The first few shifts she had, all they did was snap at the other until a late Saturday when Bloss burnt her hands making cupcakes.

Harley had rushed to the back amidst the commotion to find the cupcakes all over the floor and Bloss hunched over, clutching the spot on her left hand that had darkened from being burnt. They were the only ones left in the shop as Lily, a sixth form girl who came in twice a week, and Scarlett had gone home early. She went over to her and helped apply first aid without a word. Then they cleaned up the splattered cakes on the floor.

Once everything had been cleaned, in the throes of awkwardness, Bloss muttered a disgruntled thank you while Harley simply nodded. When she came in the next day, Bloss offered her a cake from a new batch. She knew it was the girl’s way of calling a truce.