He played me

Chapter 6 He played me

The perks of schooling next to home is one being able to run to the arms of one’s family when troubled. Such was the case of Mia, she couldn't wait to get home to see her grandaunt and mother cause they knew just the right thing to do to console her.

Mia stared at Cheryl's hand in hers as she drove. What would she have done if Cheryl wasn't there? She might have lost it and might be forced to commit suicide due to the embarrassment. She had known Cheryl all her life, although wild and very outspoken she was a good company for Mia. She was glad for the first time since they applied for college that Cheryl had decided to stay back and not left for other college.

Cheryl stopped the car in front of her mother's pastry shop, M&A pastries and coffee. The shop name had been gotten from the first letters of her name and her mother’s name. The shop was filled up to the brim, it was lunch hour obviously and people needed to have a refill. Mia didn't think her mother would have her time.

"Maybe we should head home instead, Cheryl." She told her friend as another batch of tears formed in her eyes.

Cheryl rolled her eyes. “Oh cut it out, you and I know you are trying to avoid facing your mom, knowing she had always been against him. Don't worry no matter how busy she is, she wouldn't mind taking some time off for you. Let’s go in. By the way I am extremely famished, so let's go." She turned the car off, slide out of the seat and walked around it to pull out Mia along with her.

Entering the shop, noise filled everywhere coupled with a Beyonce song playing underneath making the shop seems very homely. Mia inhaled the smell and felt home.

"What's up, Mia?" One of her mother's workers named Jane called out to her. Cheryl let out a snort at the sight of Jane.

"How are you doing Jane?”

“I am good. Thanks.”

“Please where is my mom?" Mia asked, looking around for her mother.

"She is around the back." Jane answered as she stared at her for a second. “Are you okay, Mia? You look beat."

"She is fine, thanks. We would go now." Cheryl replied harshly.

Mia could never understand the hate between her and Jane. They had always been on each other's throat and never find good to say to one another.

"You didn't need to respond to her in such manner, Cheryl.” Mia told her.

Cheryl hissed out loud. "Please don't get me started, she should have minded her business."

Mia opened the door to the mini office her mother and aunt occupied. The both of them were seated concentrating on a paper in front of them, probably checking through their orders. 

Arabella was the first to look up. “Oh look who we have here, how was school today pump…” She paused after noticing the look on her daughter's face. Bella stood up to meet with her. “What is the matter baby?” Mia burst into tears as her mother pulled her in for a hug.

"He played me mom. He never loved me." Mia muttered into her mother's cloth with her voice muffled.

Arabella stepped back a bit to see her face. “What are you saying baby? What the hell happened, Cheryl?"

“Well it turns out Collins never loved her, he was only acting out according to a bet he had with his friends.” Cheryl explained.

Harriet gasped out. “What?! Are you serious?!”

Mia wailed louder as the image of Collins and Bryan having the discussion formed in her mind’s eye. “That son of a gun!” Her mother fumed. "I am so going to kill that idiot!” She pulled away from her daughter and moved towards the door. “I’ll find that bastard and teach him a great lesson!”

Harriett stood up in a hurry to block her pathway. "Don't do anything stupid, Arabella. Your daughter needs you more right now. Think about her needs first." Harriet said to her.

Arabella body shook as she went back to hold Mia to her chest. “Get over him baby, he isn't worth your tears."

"Yes Mia, your mother is right. He isn't worth it. Don't get sick over a brute like him." Harriett consoled. "Come on, Cheryl, let's go get some fluffy doughnuts and cakes plus sweet creamed coffee. I am sure Mia would love that."

Mia ears perked at the offer, her gullet bopped up and down. She didn't even know she was hungry until her aunt mentioned it.

"Sure, I would love the idea and would like to come with you. Enough of this sulking." Mia sniffed as she withdrew from her mother’s embrace.

"Now that's my girl! That's the spirit! Forget all about that idiot." Her mother cheered as she went back to the papers. “I have to finish up with work.” She added.

"Hmm! This place smells heavenly." Asher complimented as he looked around the pastry shop.

Adam placed his hands on Asher's shoulder, "I did tell you, you would love the place just wait till you have a bite of their pastries."

"I can't wait, I could eat a whole house right now."

Adam laughed. “What got into your belly man? We didn't do much in school so what's eating you up?”

"You wouldn't understand. And please don’t question me too much…it’s annoying.” They head towards a free table and settled down. They both looked around admiring the place before calling on an attendant to take their order.

Asher saw a lady he felt was one of their workers in her flowery gown looking dazed like she was lost. She dropped off a pancake plate on a table and forced a smile at the person. He beckoned to her and she walked towards them.

"Can you get me pancakes with honey and a little bit of ketchup on the side. I would also want a cup of sweet creamy coffee. What would you like to have Adam?" He asked not looking up at the lady he had called over.

"Would like the same thing too, thanks." Adam replied.

Asher looked up at her when she didn’t move after like a minute. “Ahn excuse me. What are you still doing here miss? Go get us our order or do we need to beg you to?”

Mia gasped at his rudeness. She turned around to leave and informed Jane of the order both men had placed. She told Jane to go attend to them herself. Jane was however busy and pleaded with her to help out instead. Mia couldn't refuse her, seeing the shop was crowded. She carried their orders and motioned towards the table. She banged Asher’s own in front of him which caused the coffee to splash on his clothes.

"What the hell man!" Asher yelled.

"That is what you deserve for being so rude, you men are all the same and filthy pigs!” Mia retorted.

"Where the hell did they get this pig from?" Asher queried angrily.

"Calm down man please." Adams pleaded, helping him clean up his shirt. "Miss, you really didn't need to do that."

"And who do you think you are talking to? Are you dumb?" Mia continued.

“Hey miss, you don’t speak to us in such manner!” Asher snapped back at her.

“You should learn manners first before seeking out for one!”

“Mia!” Jane called out to her.

Harriett and Arabella got called out to help sort the issue. Mia had refused to back down as she kept throwing insults at Asher who wasn't finding it funny either.

“Mia! What is wrong with you?” Harriet demanded.

“This asshole was rude to me!” Mia replied.

“I didn’t do anything wrong to you. You are just a sassy bitch!” Asher said.

Arabella pleaded with Asher and his friend after asking Cheryl to take Mia into the office.

"What in the world got into you, Mia?" Arabella questioned, looking angry as she walked into the office. "They are customers and you shouldn't talk to them as you wish."

"Then he has the right to talk to me any way he wishes, right ma? He was rude to me." Mia defended herself.

"Still doesn't imply you have any right to harass a customer like that.” Harriet said.

Mia exclaimed. "What?! That idiot called me all sort of names.” She stared at Cheryl for support but she looked away instead. "Traitor!" She muttered under her breath.

"Just stay right here till we go home. Is that clear? I don’t want you sending off my customers.” Arabella ordered.

"Yes ma'am." Mia let out a snort as she rolled her eyes.

"You would act accordingly young lady is that clear!" Harriet warned her sternly.

"Fine, I am sorry!" Mia replied as tears dripped down her face. Both women walked out of the office ignoring her tantrums. "He was rude to me you now that right…and can't they understand I am going through a heartbreak. And you...” She pointed at Cheryl who scampered off outside just to avoid her wrath.

Mia cried her eyes out as she slumped into the couch in the little office. “Damn you, Collins! I hope you rot in hell!” She said internally.