Chapter 1

MAYA'S POV

I woke up with a sigh and stared blankly at the wall and thought about how rapidly everything had changed. Two weeks ago, I had packed up everything in my first café which had failed and crushed my lifelong dream, just after Jake ended our long-term relationship of six years. It felt like the world was crumbling around me. It still feels like it is.

I removed my gaze from the walls and fixed them on the few boxes lying on the floor of my childhood bedroom and sighed again trying to blink back the tears. I couldn’t fight the thought that everything I tried to do didn’t work for me. I couldn’t succeed in my business, in love, or even in friendship.

My phone rang, and I looked over at the flashing screen and let it go to voicemail. I couldn't bear to hear my best friend Heather's voice right now, especially after that fight we had, knowing she would only discourage me from moving to New York and taking the job at the privately owned café that is owned by one of our high school classmates.

I considered it too at first, especially because Thalia wasn’t particularly our friend back then, but then we bonded when she came back home last Thanksgiving and she mentioned that she’s trying to build her own café franchise too. She offered for me to become a manager in one of her stores for a bit but I had just started my local café in March, so I told her I wasn’t interested. When I locked the doors to my café for good the week before Christmas, she was the first person I called.

“Hey Thalia, just wanted to ask if you’re still good for that offer?” I had asked her.

“Oh Maya, you were my first choice but unfortunately someone else got the job. I had to give it to one of my relatives who’s looking for something to do right now since you said you weren’t interested at first. I’m so sorry Maya but if you still want to move to New York City, I have an opening for a barista in the store. I’m planning to open a new branch in the city so when I do that, you’ll manage that store. Does that sound good?” she said back. I told her I’d think about it and then I immediately called my best friend Heather.

“What a bitch! Reducing you to just a barista? Tell her she can stuff her job offer up her ass.” Heather had said.

“Oh my God, Heather you’re so vulgar. Besides I need the job and the experience, you just don’t like Thalia.” I retorted back.

“You don’t need anything from her. If you need money to save, you can always stay home and work for an office job and save on rent and food till you have enough to start your own café business again.” Heather had said.

“You have a good point but me moving to New York doesn’t mean I’m never going to start up my café business again, it just means I’m taking a backseat to learn from Thalia, so I know what to do and what not to do.”

“You’re actually pissing me off Maya.” She said then hung up the phone. We hadn’t spoken till then and I knew she was calling me to try and convince me to stay but the deal was already done. I was moving to New York City. A new location and a fresh start.

My mom came into my room just then, interrupting my thoughts. "Hey, are you okay?"

I forced a smile, but I couldn’t look up to her face because I didn’t want to start sobbing. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I can see how hard this is on you."

I looked down at my hands. "I just feel like such a failure."

"You're not a failure, honey," my mom said, sitting down next to me on the bare bed.

"You're going through a tough time, but you'll get through it. And if you want to stay here and figure things out, that's okay too. We're here for you okay Maya? I’m here for you, Heather’s here for you and I’m sure your dad is looking over at you and he’s so proud of you."

My eyes filled with tears. "I know, but I feel like I'm just a burden to everyone."

"You're not a burden," my mom said firmly and took my hand in hers. I love you and I want you to be happy. And if working at this coffee shop is what is going to make you happy, then I will support you wholeheartedly."

I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe I could do this after all. I was going to go to New York City, and I was going to gain the experience I needed to start again, and with the help of my friends and family, I was going to succeed.

Most of my stuff had already been moved to what was going to be my new apartment last week, and all I had left was a small suitcase and a bag.

“Here, have this.” My mom said on the day I was to move after I had hauled my suitcase down the staircase. She handed me a brown envelope.

“What is it mom?” I asked as I opened the envelope only to see some cash in it. I couldn’t help the tear that left my eye.

“Remember Maya, if you ever need any help, or any assistance, or if you want to come back just for a bit, remember that I am here for you and I will always be here for you.” Mom said and she pulled me in for a hug as I cried into her shoulder. My mum always knew how to make me feel good.

My apartment felt nothing like home. It was cold and dark and once I entered; I saw a rat scurry to hide in one of the holes in the wall. I sighed and dumped my suitcase on the ground and called my mom.

“Hi mom.” I said once she picked up. My eyes scanned the gray walls of the apartment and my mind flashed back to the worse apartments that my mom and I saw when we went apartment hunting last month. This was the one apartment that was more comfortable and still a bit affordable considering the amount of money I was going to be making as a barista. Besides, I already told myself I was going to get another part-time job to help me with the bills.

“Hi Maya. Have you gotten to your new apartment yet?” She asked me.

I had been to the apartment a few times before, but now that I was here with all my things, it fully sank in that this is my apartment now. This is where I’ll come to when I tell my coworkers “I’m going home.” It was nothing like my mom’s house which always smelled of snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies. Thinking about home made me almost want to cry again.

“Yes, Mom I’m here. It’s kind of colder than usual though but everything is here too. I feel kind of nervous about the city.”

“I know you do, but I’m just a few hours away you know. You can always pop by for coffee and snickerdoodles anytime you’re feeling a bit homesick, okay?” She said with a reassuring tone, and I smiled.

I spent the first week in New York City trying to get used to the fast-paced city life although I was only familiar with the slower pace of the suburbs up north. Everybody seemed so angry and upset and, in a hurry, and it baffled me at first, but I learned how to get used to it. I learned how to walk fast without touching anybody, I learned how to dodge the trash on the road, and I even got used to yelling at drivers that were too fast.

The next week though, I resumed at the café, feeling nervous and unsure. My boss, the person that took the manager position instead of me, Phoebe, was already yelling at another employee.

"What took you so long to get here?" she barked. "You're already behind schedule."

“Um, I’m actually ten minutes early, and I thought Thalia would be here today,” I said to her.

“Excuse me, are you talking back at me?” She shrieked. I instinctively put my fingers in my ears. She scoffed at me and left.

I swallowed hard, feeling intimidated. My first day at the café wasn’t feeling as good as I thought it would be. I looked around the shop and noticed a friendly face behind the counter. "Hi," I said tentatively. "I'm Maya."

The other barista smiled at me. She was beautiful with a heart-shaped face and long brown hair with some blond highlights in beach waves. "Hey, I'm Danielle. Welcome to the coffee shop. It's not always easy, but we make it work."

I smiled back, feeling grateful for the kindness. "Thanks, I appreciate it. Also, I absolutely need to get the number of your hairstylist. You have beautiful hair!"

As the day went on, I struggled to keep up with the orders and the demanding customers. But Danielle was there to lend a hand and offer encouragement.

"You're doing great," Danielle said as we cleaned up at the end of the day. "It might be tough now, but you'll get the hang of it."

I smiled, feeling grateful for the support. "Thanks. It means a lot."

The next few weeks were a blur of early mornings and long days. I worked as many hours as I could because I was trying to save up enough money to move out of her small, cramped apartment and still have enough to go into my café fund. Phoebe was such a harsh manager, demanding perfection, and berating everyone when they fell short of it. But I was determined to stick it out, to prove to myself and everyone else that I could make it in this city.

One day, after a particularly grueling shift, I sat down at the small table in the back of the coffee shop. Danielle came over, carrying two cups of coffee.

"Here you go," she said, setting one of the cups down in front of me. "I got you your favorite, extra shot of espresso."

I smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Danielle. You're the best."

Danielle sat down across from me. "So, how's it going? Are you getting used to the craziness yet?"

I took a sip of her coffee, feeling the caffeine buzz kick in. "It's definitely a challenge. Phoebe is a bit of a nightmare, but I'm managing."

Danielle rolled her eyes. "A bit of a nightmare? Try a raging bitch from the pits of hell ugh. She’s Thalia’s cousin and she only got this job as a favor but now she thinks she’s better than us."

I briefly wondered if this was how the employees would have talked about me too if I was working as the manager. Maybe she would have said Thalia just took pity on me because I lost everything in my first café business.

"But she's not all bad. I guess she’s just passionate about coffee and wants everything to be perfect so that Thalia wouldn’t say she’s incompetent."

I frowned. "Yeah, but she takes it out on us when things aren't perfect. And she never seems to appreciate all the hard work we put in."

Danielle nodded. "I know, it can be frustrating. But don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. And if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you."

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "Thanks, Danielle. I'm so glad I met you."

As the weeks turned into months, I found myself settling into my new routine. I worked hard at the coffee shop, saving every penny I could. I made new friends, including Danielle and a few regular customers who always brightened my day.

But despite the small victories, I still felt a sense of emptiness. I missed my old and slow life, the familiar faces, and routines that I had left behind. I missed Heather, and I even missed my ex-boyfriend, Jake. I missed my dad, who had always been my biggest cheerleader. And I missed the feeling of being in love, the warmth and comfort that came with having someone to share my life with.

One day, as I was closing the shop, my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but something compelled me to answer.

"Hello?" I said, feeling a twinge of nerves.

"Maya?" a familiar voice said on the other end. "It's me, Jake."

My heart skipped a beat. Jake was my ex-boyfriend, the one who broke it off with me before my café shut down and the one who I had left behind when I moved.

Jake?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's going on?"

"I'm in the city," he said. "I came to see you."

My mind raced. What did he want? Did he still have feelings for me? Was he trying to get back together now? Just when I finally started getting over him.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," I said hesitantly.

"Please," Jake said. "Just give me a chance to talk to you. I promise it won't take long."

I sighed, feeling conflicted. Part of me wanted to see him, to hear what he had to say. But another part of me was scared, scared of what she might feel, scared of getting hurt again. Especially because of all the circumstances that surrounded our breakup in the first place.

"I don't know about that Jake. I still don’t think I should see you right now. Remember what you said when we broke up?”

"Please," Jake said again. "I just need to see you. It's important."

I sighed again. “I’m sorry Jake. We’re over. I never want to see you again and I don’t want you calling me either. I just want you to leave me alone.

I hung up the phone, feeling a mix of emotions. I didn't know what to expect, but at that point, I knew that things were about to change.