Page 18 of When Love Becomes A Need
“I told you. You seem like a nice person and it’s obvious you love your craft. Everyone needs someone that believes in them. My parents were that for me. I’ve always been a popular girl, but I was scared as hell to open my boutique. They, along with my brother, pushed me to do it, and I’m happy they did. If I can do that for someone else, then I will.”
I stared at her in shock. For Autumn to be as young as she was, she didn’t give off that vibe. I wasn’t used to anyone giving me a break or pushing me besides my mom and Isabella. Outside of them, it was like I was battling everything on my own.
“Okay, I’ll talk to Isabella and let you know.”
“Good!”
Autumn and I continued eating and making small talk. She told me about her family and how close they all were, especially her and her brother. I told her small details about my family, mainly how I was raised by a single mother.
As we prepared to leave, I had to admit I felt better. Even though it still sucked that I had gotten looked over for the job, I wasn’t going to let it keep me down.
CHAPTER 6
Ahmad
“Ithought you might have quit.” I walked into the coffee shop and saw Fatima sitting behind the counter.
Instantly I could see something was off with her. Her normal cheerfulness wasn’t there. She would usually be smiling and seem happy to be here, but today I didn’t get that same vibe.
“Just took some personal days. You want your usual?” She gave me an emotionless stare.
“Yeah.” Giving me a small smile, she placed her camera on the counter and stood up to prepare my order.
Taking it upon myself, I grabbed the camera and looked at the photos. Just like the first time when I looked at her pictures, I was impressed. I know that most people edited the pictures and stuff, but even Fatima’s rough drafts were good.
None of them were blurry or fuzzy. Even the photos she took off guard were good.
“You know you shouldn’t touch stuff that doesn’t belong to you.” I stopped going through the pictures and looked up at her.
“Your pictures are dope as hell. You ever think of going professional?”
A gloomy look appeared on her face. “I did, but not anymore.”
I frowned. “Why not?”
“Just don’t have the passion for it anymore, I guess.”
Something happened to her and I wasn’t sure what. She wasn’t being her normal self. Typically when I came in here, Fatima was barely able to maintain eye contact with me. Right now she was giving me this dull look. There was no excitement in her voice either.
Her mood was bringing down the whole coffee shop. I didn’t even get that homey feeling I usually got when I walked in. The air was cold and dry.
“Something happened to you?” I asked her.
She scrunched her face up. “What?”
“You don’t seem like yourself. Something happen?”
I wasn’t sure why I even cared. She had already put my order on the counter. All I had to do was pay and leave so I could go to the gym but seeing Fatima so down and unmotivated bothered me. The last couple of days coming in here and not seeing her threw me off. It was weird that this girl I didn’t even know would help me start my day off right.
I wasn’t sure if it was because she had some type of innocence to her, but whatever the case, it helped me start my day on a good note.
“Just disappointment. Nothing I’m not used to.” She sat back down on the stool and held her hand out. “My camera, please.”
I handed her the camera and went into my pocket to give her the money for the order.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it isn’t worth you feeling sorry for yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
