Three

Sydney's POV

My hurried jolt almost broke the door to the coffee shop. "Hey Albert," I greeted the doorman who eyed my disheveled self. Going straight to the pickup counter, the lady and I said in unison, "Order for Sydney." She and I smiled at each other. I hadn't realized how much of a regular I had become till this happened but I wasn't interested in it as I was in getting to work early.

Since I came to my aunt Rosa in the Moon Rise pack and birthed my twins, it had been from one hard life to the other. Aunt Rosa didn't even try to be comforting at times. All she told me was about how life sucks and that I'd keep being a loser unless I picked myself up.

Flashback

I woke up on the side of the road. My clothes were dusty and hair was messed up but I was thankful to see my bags intact. I found a public bathroom and washed myself as much as possible before going out to find my way.

Not having the slightest idea of where I was, I took out my phone,which was thankfully on and used G****e maps to trace my way. I checked my bag to find the money my mom packed for me before getting on the train that brought me here.

Finding Aunt Rosa was difficult. The address my mom gave me was wrong so I had to search all the houses in the area. I subconsciously realized this was going to be my new life. I didn't even know what the new life was like.

'Because of one mistake,' I kept thinking to myself. I was tired and uncomfortable in my own skin. Because I hadn't eaten before leaving for this pack, I was starving and the right side of my body felt numb. As I trudged to another door to ask if the resident was my aunt Rosa, I blinked too slowly before meeting the cold sidewalk.

My eyes opened to a stranger's face. Slowly, I muttered the words, "Aunt Rosa?"

"No dear. I just found you close to my doorstep," that pretty woman said. Droplets of cold water touched my forehead as she wiped it, making me relax. When the memory of how trust ruined my life, I jerked. "Get away from me!"

In the struggle, I tumbled off the bed, hitting my tummy on the floor. The unbearable pain made me scream as the woman came to my rescue. "It's alright, darling. Just rest a bit then you can go," she assured me.

When she put me back on the bed, my muscles relaxed faster than my untrusting mind. But true to her word, she was ready to let me go after fifteen minutes of asking if I wanted food and me refusing. Giving me the description of my aunt's house, she placed a pastry foil in my hands with a kind smile. "Do you want me to take you there? It's not far from here."

"No," I croaked and was out her door in a flash. As I followed her directions, guilt washed over me. She was just trying to help and I was ungrateful.

~~~

Approaching the white house with a red front door, I finished the pastries, brushed the crumbs off my mouth, and rang the doorbell. After waiting a few minutes without a response, I ring it multiple times while knocking. I needed to throw up badly. "Where is she?" I muttered as a frustrated finger rang the bell repeatedly.

"What the hell is-" Her words hung in her throat when she saw me. No one needed to tell me I was at the right place. The resemblance she bore to my mom was uncanny like they were twins.

Controlling the vomit I so wanted to release, I asked, "Aunt Rosa?"

She shrugged. "You're Bellamia's kid?" I nodded. If I opened my mouth, I'd have thrown up on her.

"Please, where's the nearest bathroom?" I asked as soon as she brought me in and ran there when I sighted it without waiting for a response.

My eyes traveled to the bathroom mirror as I rinsed my mouth. My crystal-clear eyes were cloudy. "Fuck you, Penny," I whispered breathlessly.

Aunt Rosa was waiting in the living room with a guy when I returned. I greeted them both nervously. "Sit, and tell me your name," she ordered.

He had tattoos. The only memory of the man I slept with was tattoos. But I shook it off. They couldn't be the sand person. "Sydney. My name's Sydney."

From the green eyes to the blonde hair and athletic physique, I was almost convinced this was my mother with a meaner countenance. They were even the same height. "…so you'll take a two-hour nap then come downstairs and we'll talk," she finished, still crossing her legs in a businesslike manner.

I didn't hear a word before that but I nodded, looking for the best way to ask her where I should sleep. But her boyfriend took me there. "By the way, I'm Luke," he said before closing the door.

Two hours later, I was still groggy but watching my aunt cook. "It's still funny that I didn't know you exist till now," she started. Not knowing how to feel about that, I kept quiet. "Anyway, your mother didn't tell me why you're coming to live with a black sheep like me. So why are you here?"

Fresh tears pooled in my eyes. "I'm pregnant," I said difficultly.

"Alright? That doesn't explain why she had to send you to me."

Using a few seconds to gather myself, I told her, "My dad banished me."

She dropped the spatula and turned to face me. Even my tear-clouded eyes could still see the judgment on her face. Then she hugged me suddenly.

Flashback ends.

My eyes glanced at my watch as I cracked my knuckles to see it was already eight in the morning. Oh damn.

In the milliseconds it took Jane — the lady at the counter — to get my black coffee, I noticed some commotion at the order section. There was a long queue, making me thank the goddess I ordered online. But there was an old lady in the middle of it all. After taking my coffee from Jane, I checked the time again. 8:05. I could spare a minute. So I walked up there past the grumbling customers.

"Hey Jake," I greeted the guy in charge of that section. "What's going on?"

He rolled his eyes. Jake never liked me. He was one of the reasons I preferred ordering online. "This woman jumped the queue and got nasty when I told her to go back."

Just his choice of words indicated where this issue began. My forehead creased, I said, "But the sign outside says senior citizens can be served first."

"Shitty know-it-all," he cursed under his breath. "She should have let me finish with the other customer first."

"But I explained that I was in a hurry," the most melodious voice filtered into my ears. Truth be told, this woman wasn't fragile but her age told on her face, and that's why I noticed her.

"And I said you should have just ordered online instead. Save everyone the stress," he said, then chuckled.

"What's funny?" I demanded. There was obviously more to this story. He didn't say a word to me and went on to the next person in line. "Jake!"

"The old hag doesn't know how to use online facilities! Like bro, what's with that? She's mannerless and can't use a phone? Wow." He burst into laughter and others joined him.

My blood boiling, I took the woman aside. "Do you drink black?"

"Yes dear. That's actually what I came here for."

I handed her mine. "Alright then. Have this one."

"But-"

"No ma'am. I had changed my mind on it anyway," I interjected with a smile before going back to Jake.

"What do you want again?" he drawled.

"You'll be fired in a matter of days, Jake. You're rude, insensitive and you're breaking the rules without giving a shit."

"So you'll get me fired? Such audacity," he sang as if I was joking.

"Yes dear. Don't forget there's something called social media." I flipped my hair before storming out.

"Hello dear," I heard behind me but a sudden sense of time — which had completely slipped my memory — surged in. But before I could resume my running, the person called again, and turned to see the old lady.

"Yes ma'am," I replied silently hoping my boss wasn't going to do something drastic when I arrived.

"Thank you," she said, smiling. "What's your name?"

"Sydney Leonard," it rolled off my tongue for the millionth time in the past six years. But this time, it was easier to say my new last name.

"Thank you, Sydney."

"You're welcome, ma'am. Bye!"

By the time I got to the hotel I worked at, I was late, not caffeinated and disheveled. Time: 8:35. I was screwed.

"Jeff is furious!" the receptionists called after me as I raced past the empty reception.