Teacher At Bar
cold family
The train door opened with a heavy hiss, and the damp, familiar smell of pine and wet asphalt hit me right in the face.
Back home. Back to the middle of nowhere.
I dragged my massive, overstuffed suitcase down the platform, the wheels rattling loudly against the uneven concrete. Just three months ago, I was walking across a stage in the capital, holding a brand-new degree and feeling like I was about to conquer the world. Now? I was just another unemployed statistic moving back into her childhood bedroom.
I checked my phone. No text from Mom. No text from Leo.
I ended up walking the twenty minutes home. By the time I lugged my suitcase up the front porch steps, my palms were raw. I pushed the front door open, the old brass bell jingling softly.
olivia (fl)
"Mom? Leo? I’m home," I called out, my voice sounding smaller than I intended.
The TV was blaring from the living room—some chaotic anime battle. My little brother, Leo, was sprawled across the sofa, his long legs draped over the armrest, thumbs flying across his phone screen. He didn't even look up
...
Hey," Leo muttered, his eyes glued to the screen. "You're late. Mom thought your train got delayed or whatever."
olivia (fl)
Yeah, I had to walk from the station," I said, letting my heavy suitcase drop with a loud thud. "A 'welcome home' would be nice, you know."
Leo finally glanced at me, shifting his headphones down around his neck. He looked so much taller than he did a few months ago, wearing a oversized high school hoodie that smelled like cheap body spray
...
Cool. Welcome back. Did you bring that capital merchandise I asked for?"
olivia (fl)
"No, Leo. I was packing up my entire life into two bags, not shopping for anime keychains."
...
He rolled his eyes, putting his headphones back over his ears. "Typical.
Mom walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She looked tired, her hair pulled back into a messy claw clip. She stopped a few feet away, looking at me, then down at my massive suitcase, and sighed. It wasn't a sigh of relief. It was the sigh of someone looking at an unexpected bill.
...
You really brought all of that?" Mom asked, pausing at the edge of the rug.
olivia (fl)
Well, yeah. I don't have an apartment anymore, Mom. I had to bring everything." I stepped forward to hug her, but she just patted my shoulder quickly before turning back toward the kitchen
...
Go put it in your room before your brother trips over it," she said, her voice completely flat. "Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. It’s just leftovers."
olivia (fl)
I stood in the hallway for a second, my arms freezing in mid-air. "Leftovers. Right. Great to see you too, Mom."
...
"Don't start with the attitude, Olivia," she called out from the kitchen over the sound of running water. "I've had a long day at the clinic. And we need to talk about your plans. Did you hear back from that corporate internship in the city?"
olivia (fl)
I felt a familiar, suffocating knot form in my throat. I walked to the kitchen doorway, leaning against the frame. "No. They chose someone else. I told you in my email last night
...
Mom stopped washing the dish, her shoulders dropping. She didn't turn around. "Again? Olivia, you spent four years in the capital. We helped you with rent. You said a degree from there guaranteed a placement."
olivia (fl)
The market is terrible right now, Mom! Do you think I want to be back here?" My voice cracked slightly.
...
Leo yelled from the living room, "Can you guys shut up? I’m trying to listen to this stream!"
...
Mom finally turned around, leaning against the sink, looking at me with a mixture of disappointment and exhaustion. "I’m just saying, your cousin got a job right out of school. You need to start looking locally. I can’t keep supporting a college graduate indefinitely."
olivia (fl)
Locally? In this town?" I let out a dry, bitter laugh. "There’s nothing here but grocery stores and the high school
...
Then apply there," Mom said coldly, turning back to the dishes. "They're always looking for substitutes or assistants. Just... go unpack, Olivia. Your room is exactly how you left it."
I didn't say another word. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and hauled it up the creaky stairs, every step echoing through the quiet house.
My old bedroom door groaned as I pushed it open. It was exactly the same—the old desk, the fading posters, the view of the rainy street outside. I dropped onto the edge of my twin bed, burying my face in my hands.
Four years of late-night studying, perfect grades, and big dreams... all to end up right back where I started, feeling like an absolute ghost in my own home.
.
The Neon Lantern was the only place in town that stayed open past nine, smelling heavily of stale beer and fried food. I swallowed my pride, walked straight up to the bar, and asked the guy wiping down the counter if they were hiring.
The manager, a burly guy named Greg, looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my city clothes.
...
No corporate openings here, sweetheart. But I need a waitress for the weekend shifts. Pays minimum wage plus tips. You want it or not?"
olivia (fl)
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'll take it."
...
Great. Grab an apron from the back and start tonight. Table four needs their orders taken."
I took a deep breath, tying the faded black apron around my waist, and walked out into the dim lounge. I sat at an empty booth for a second, trying to mentally prepare myself for a night of carrying heavy trays.
jackson
Well, well. Look who crawled back from the big city."
I froze. That voice.
I looked up to see Jackson leaning against the edge of the booth, a smirk plastered across his face. He was wearing the bar's staff shirt—he'd been working here since high school. My chest tightened. Of all the people to run into on my first night, it had to be my ex.
olivia (fl)
Jackson," I said, keeping my voice deadpan. "Hi."
jackson
I heard you were back, but I didn't believe it," he said, crossing his arms and looking down at my apron. "What happened to that fancy capital degree? I thought you were too good for this town. Didn't you say you'd be running a marketing firm by now?"
olivia (fl)
The job market is tight right now. I'm just helping out here temporarily," I replied, my hands gripping my notepad tightly
jackson
Right, 'temporarily,'" Jackson chuckled, a nasty edge to his voice. "Turns out the city didn't want you after all. Guess you wasted four years just to end up right back where I am." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a crumpled ten-dollar bill, and tossed it onto the table in front of me. "Here’s an advance. Try not to spill the drinks on my tables, and I'll make sure to give you some good tips. You're going to need them."
Before I could throw the bill back in his face, he laughed and walked away toward the kitchen. My blood was boiling, tears stinging the backs of my eyes.
By the time my shift ended at midnight, my feet were throbbing and my spirit was completely crushed. I walked into my dark house, just wanting to crawl into bed and forget the entire night.
But as I stepped into the kitchen, the light was on. Leo was sitting at the counter, a half-empty bottle of soda in one hand and a cheap can of beer in the other. He took a sip, his eyes tracking me as I walked in, smelling like grease and smoke.
leo
He looked at my apron and burst out laughing. "No way. Mom said you went out to look for a job, but I didn't think you'd actually become a barmaid.
olivia (fl)
Shut up, Leo," I snapped, tossing my keys onto the counter. "I had a long night."
leo
What? It’s funny!" Leo laughed, taking another swig from his can. "Four years of studying in the capital, acting like you're better than everyone here, and now you’re going to serve drinks to my friends' older brothers? Can you get me free alcohol at least?
olivia (fl)
"I said shut up!" I yelled, the anger from Jackson’s insult completely boiling over. I marched over and snatched the beer can right out of his hand, slamming it onto the counter. "You think this is a joke? I am trying to survive! I am trying to pay my own way so Mom stops breathing down my neck, and you're sitting here drinking and laughing at me?
leo
Leo stood up, his smile vanishing, trying to look intimidating. "Hey! Give that back! Don't take your city failures out on me just because you couldn't make it out there!"
olivia (fl)
I didn't fail!" I screamed, my voice cracking in the quiet house. "You have no idea how hard it is! You're just a kid who sits on the couch all day, and you have the nerve to judge me?"
leo
At least I'm not a waitress with a useless college degree!" he shouted back.
...
Olivia! Leo! What is going on in here?!" Mom’s sharp voice cut through the air as she stormed down the stairs in her bathrobe, looking furious.
I looked at Mom, then at Leo, the overwhelming weight of the night crashing down on me all at once. Without a word, I turned on my heel, grabbed my bags, and ran up the stairs to my room, slamming the door shut behind me.
party
The clock on my nightstand read 2:14 AM. The house was dead silent after the screaming match with Leo, but the storm inside my head wouldn't stop. I stared at my phone, watching the digital numbers shift, before finally hitting the call button.
It rang four times. Five times. I was just about to hang up when a groggy, annoyed voice answered
...
Olivia? Do you know what time it is?"
olivia (fl)
"I know, Marcus. I'm sorry," I whispered, gripping the blanket tight. "I just... I had a really horrible first day back. I needed to talk to you."
...
A heavy sigh came through the speaker. "Look, I’m exhausted. I’m working the early shift at the firm tomorrow. Can this wait?"
olivia (fl)
Can it wait?" My voice cracked, the hurt turning into instant heat. "Marcus, I literally moved my entire life back to my hometown yesterday because I couldn’t find a job. I’m drowning here, and you can’t even give me five minutes?"
...
Oh, here we go again," Marcus scoffed, his tone instantly sharpening. "You chose to leave, Olivia. I told you to stay in the capital and keep trying, but you just packed up and gave up. You put this distance between us."
olivia (fl)
"I didn't have a choice! My rent was due, and unlike you, my parents aren't funding my life!" I was practically vibrating with anger now, tears prickling my eyes. "And don't talk to me about distance. Even when I was living three blocks away from you, you were always 'too busy' for me. You've been emotionally checked out for months."
...
Because you've been a stressed-out mess for months!" he shot back. "It's exhausting, Olivia. You blame the city, you blame the job market, and now you're blaming me. Maybe the problem isn't the distance. Maybe the problem is just you.
olivia (fl)
Goodbye, Marcus.
I slammed the end-call button before he could say another word, throwing my phone across the bed. The silence of my bedroom swallowed me whole, heavier and more suffocating than before.
The next morning, the sun was blindingly bright, a stark contrast to my mood. I was walking down Main Street to clear my head when a familiar voice called out.
...
Olivia?! Oh my god, you're back
I turned to see Maya, my closest friend from high school, jogging toward me with a massive smile. For a second, the heavy weight in my chest lifted as we hugged.
...
I can't believe you're here!" Maya beamed, pulling back to look at me. "Wait, did you get a remote job or something?
olivia (fl)
Not exactly," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "Actually... I'm working down at The Neon Lantern for a bit. Just temporary waitressing.
...
Maya’s eyes went wide, and a mischievous grin instantly spread across her face. "Wait. The Neon Lantern? As in... where Jackson works?"
olivia (fl)
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Don't remind me
...
Oh, come on!" Maya teased, nudging my shoulder. "That is cinematic. You guys haven't seen each other since the breakup. Is the spark still there? Are we getting a second-chance romance plot?!"
olivia (fl)
Maya, stop, seriously," I said, my voice dropping into a deadpan, serious tone. "It’s not romantic. He is a total jerk."
...
What? He was so sweet in high school
olivia (fl)
Well, high school was a long time ago," I said bitterly. "On my very first shift last night, he cornered me, insulted my degree, told me I wasted four years of my life, and then literally threw a ten-dollar bill at me as a 'tip advance' to mock me. He loves that I failed out there. That is his real nature."
...
Maya’s smile completely vanished, replaced by shock. "Wow. Okay. Scratch that. He’s officially on the banned list."
The next day, the energy at the bar was completely different. The town was hosting its annual Summer Kickoff festival, which meant The Neon Lantern was throwing a massive theme party. Greg had moved me from waiting tables to working behind the main bar because they needed all hands on deck for the rush.
Standing in front of my bedroom mirror, I carefully applied a sharp wing of eyeliner, leaning in close. I chose a bold, dark lip color and gave my hair some messy, vintage volume—a complete contrast to the exhausted, defeated girl from two nights ago. If I had to serve drinks to this town, I was going to do it looking like a fortress. My makeup was my armor.
I pulled on a sleek black top, smoothing down the edges of my apron. I looked polished, sharp, and entirely too good for a smoky local pub.
olivia (fl)
Let them talk," I whispered to my reflection, taking a deep breath.
I grabbed my keys and headed out into the night, completely unaware that the crowded, chaotic bar was about to introduce me to someone who would change everything.
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