CHAPTER TWELVE.   perfectly imperfect like it had to be

      Kennedy's patience was low. She got annoyed very easily even when she didn't mean to. She thought working at Weathervane would be fun considering she and Tyler were friends but she was audibly mistaken when she had to deal with the customers. "Hmmm." A normie boy standing in line to order hummed. He looked her up and down while smirking. "So, what's your favorite thing here?"

His horrible attempt at flirting made Kennedy want to snap his neck. "I like anything with cinnamon." She answered as politely as she could.

"Cinnamon?" He repeated and kept the smirk on his face. "Spicy. Like you, I'm assuming?"

She faked a smile. "Definitely."

"I'll take an iced latte. Add some cinnamon on the top.  I trust your judgment." He continued to smirk. His wire rimmed glasses were too big for his face.

I'm sure you do, she thought to herself. Giving him another fake smile, she took his money and made his latte. Sprinkling a good amount of cinnamon on top, (A little more than a good amount in hopes that he would choke) Kennedy handed him the order. "I hope you enjoy."

"Oh, I will." He put a five dollar bill in the tip jar and winked at her. He went to sit down with a group of his friends.

Kennedy's face dropped in a glare and she huffed in annoyance. Tyler walked past her and heard it. "You okay?" He asked with a small laugh.

"Oh, I'm wonderful. Just got hit on by the like fifth guy today."

He shrugged. "At least you get tips for it."

"That's very exploitative."

"Welcome to the service industry."

Humming in agreement, Kennedy looked over to see Xavier wiping down the tables. He turned his head in her direction and gave her a small smile. She returned it and looked away quickly, leaning her arms against the counter.

She watched the boy that attempted to flirt with her laugh with his friends. He pointed at her and it caused his friends to look her way. She mustered up the fakest smile she could and waved at them, causing the nerdy looking boys to gasp that a girl like her was actually acknowledging them.

When they looked away, Kennedy's eyes focused on the flirty one and she narrowed her eyes. Straining herself, she jerked her head to the side and the latte that he was holding spilt all over him. "SHIT!"

His yell gained Tyler's attention and his eyes widened.  He grabbed a towel and quickly ran around the counter to help. "Oh my, I'm so sorry. . ."

She smirked to herself.

Hearing a chuckle, Kennedy turned her head to see Xavier shaking his head. "What?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing."

She shrugged. "He called me spicy. He deserves it."

"I agree." Xavier nodded and walked behind the counter. "He's wrong anyway. You're not spicy." He leaned down close to her ear. "You're sweet."

Her cheeks burned scarlett and she bit the inside of her cheek. Kennedy side eyed him as he walked around the counter again. She could practically feel the cockiness sweating off of him. "Cheeky ass." She muttered, thinking he couldn't hear her.

But he did and Xavier smirked again before going around and collecting trash from the tables. 

Kennedy's stomach tightened and she tried pushing whatever she was feeling away to focus on her job.  When he was finished cleaning up, Tyler came around the counter again. He looked between the two of them suspiciously. "Everything okay with you two?"

"Who knows anymore."

He quirked a grin. "I remember when you two used to come in here."

When Kennedy and Xavier first started dating, they spent the majority of their time in Weathervane. Xavier knew her order by heart. They would study together, read together, and he would even draw while they sat and talked. They always sat at the exact same table.

The table she was staring at now. She could almost see them sitting in it with their drinks and laughing at each other's jokes. It almost brought a tear to her eye.

Tyler slid a cookie on a napkin in her direction, making her look his way. He grinned. "Pick-me-up."

She smiled softly. "Thanks, Tyler."

Kennedy was refilling the cups and stuff when Wednesday walked into shop. "Hey, cute thing. What can I get you? Black coffee? No sugar?" She smirked

Wednesday wasn't impressed. "Your attempt at flirting is dreadful."

"I'm just glad you acknowledged it was flirting."

Xavier walked over. "I thought you were supposed to be at Pilgrim World?"

"I deserted it while my sanity was still intact." She responded. 

"Oh yeah?" Said Kennedy. "How's Presley doing?  Manual labor isn't her strong suit."

"I caught her and Yoko making out behind one of the sheds."

She hummed. "Sounds about right."

Xavier's eyes widened. "They're a couple?"

"Couple, friends with benefits. I'm not really sure."  Kennedy shrugged. She looked back at Wednesday.  "Coffee?"

"I'm actually here for you and Tyler." She told her.

"Again? What are we, your groupies?" She asked with a small laugh.

"More or less." She rang the bell that was on rhe counter.

Hearing the ring, Tyler came out from the back room. "You rang?" He spoke suspiciously.

They looked at Xavier. He looked at Kennedy. "You're going to make me do everything myself?" He said in disbelief.

She smirked. "I'm so sweet aren't I?"

Giving her an unimpressed look, he threw the towel over his shoulder and walked away. Wednesday narrowed her eyes.

"Don't ask."

"Want the usual?" Asked Tyler.

"And some help." She replied and took out a map from her backpack. "You know the original pilgrim meeting house? The one from the 1600s? Do you know if it's still around?"

"What's left is out in Cobham woods, but, it's pretty much a ruin."

"Show me."

Tyler pointed to a spot on the map. "There. But look,  it's kind of sketchy. Squatters and meth heads use that place as a crash pad. My dad has to clear it out every couple weeks." He explained.

Kennedy scoffed. "It could be on fire and she would still want to investigate."

He looked concerned. "What's this about?" He continued.

"Nothing." Wednesday answered and swiped the map from the table.

He looked at her with a grin on his face. "You're really becoming obsessed with this monster in the woods thing."

Kennedy looked between them and walked away to go back around the counter.

"Would you rather I develop an obsession with horses and boy bands?" Wednesday questioned.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with boy bands! Chase Atlantic? Godly." Said Kennedy and she leaned on the counter with her elbows.

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the help."

She started to leave and tyler followed after her. "Hey,  listen, the ruins are kind of tricky to find. I could take you this afternoon. My shift ends at 2:00."

"Principal Weems would hang, draw, and quarter me if I miss the big statue dedicated."

Hearing, Kennedy shook her head. "Hanging's not a thing anymore, Wednesday." She stated.

"As enticing as that sounds, I'd prefer to keep a low profile." Wednesday dismissed his offer. "Besides, I know my way around the great outdoors."

"Don't tell me you were a girl scout." He insisted. 

"I can eat girl scouts for breakfast." She titled her head. "Actually, I have an uncle who went to prison for that."

Kennedy's eyes widened slightly. "Remind me to not come to your family dinners."

"You'd be dead before you could walk through the door." Wednesday proclaimed and walked out of the coffee shop.

Tyler turned back around and saw Kennedy staring at him with a smirk on her face. He furrowed his brows at her. "What?"

She walked around the counter again. "Oh, I can take you to the ruins, Wednesday, because I love you." She mocked him and grabbed a hold of his arm. "Would you like the usual? I make it with love." She continued and shook his limb.

Tyler rolled his eyes and shrugged her off of him. "Oh,  shut up."

"You are so adorable!" She gushed with a big smile. "I've never seen her interact with someone that much.  It's so cute."

"Don't you have work to do?" He said and started to walk back to the back room.

"Don't act like you weren't flirting with her!" She called out but was again ignored.

Xavier came back over and leaned against the counter. "Since when do those two have a thing?" He asked.

"They don't have a thing, but. . . she definitely likes him." She told him and smiled again. She leaned her arm against the counter.

He laughed. "How do you know? She doesn't show any emotions."

Kennedy shrugged. "I'm a girl, Xavier. I know when girls like someone."

"Oh yeah? How about you then?" He said with a smirk.

"What about me?"

He titled his head side to side. "Do you like anyone?"

Kennedy pushed herself off the counter. "That's none of your business, Xavier—"

"It was just a question."

"A question I'm not obligated to answer." She got defensive.

She went to go around the counter but Xavier stepped in front of her before she could. "I know. Okay, I know. . ." He said and looked down at her. "I'm just saying that I care about you. I'll always care about you, Ken. Whoever you like or whoever you date next, I just want them to be good to you because that's what you deserve. You deserve someone great."

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Kennedy was able to look at him without feeling like her world was crashing. He was being genuine. "Thanks, Xavier." She spoke softly.

Xavier smiled and moved past her, leaving her standing in thought.