#cafeduchance

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Chapter Ten

Chapter 10

All Gentlemen Should Strive To Be A Little More Gay

Written by somanyalex

It was a bright and sunny day as a dark skinned figure walked down the sidewalk of the main road in a small town. The figure wore basic jeans, faded with use, and a simple black hoodie, the hood up. He took a turn into the popular hotspot for coffee and entertainment, Cafe du Chance. As soon as he stepped foot past the threshold, his hood came down and a smile lit his young face. He unzipped his hoodie as he made his way to the counter, revealing the light tye-dye shirt underneath. He found his apron, pink and frilly as always,  behind the counter and tied it around his waist, then slapped his hands lightly on the hard surface with a bright and somewhat sassy grin.

“Jarrod! Has! Arrived!” His silky voice echoed through the shop, and was welcomed with a resounding,

“Hi, Jarrod!” From his fellow employees. That was always Jarrod’s favorite part of the day, knowing that his friends were here, and that they accepted him. It was hard for him, sometimes. That’s why he liked to hide all traces of his personality outside of this little shop, the place that felt more like home than any other place he had ever been. He looked over to the “Cream Machine” and giggled. It was a running joke among the crew that he was the premier “cream” artist of the generation. it reminded him everytime he looked at the machine of his first day on the job.

He had applied out of a dire need of income, and to his surprise, he got a phone call two days later, with a young and charming voice on the other end of the receiver.

“Is this Jarrod?” His princely tone sang out.

“Yes, that’s me.” Jarrod said with pause.

“Well, my name is Chance, youth manager and chief server at the illustrious Cafe du Chance. We received your application and I wanted to personally invite you to come around when you’re available for an interview! What do you say?” As his strange voice came to a stop, Jarrod pulled himself out of his bored stupor. Who even talks like that? With another brief pause, the only thing he could say was,

“Yeah, sure! I’m available tomorrow in the afternoon. Let’s say... three?” He asked.

“Wonderful! I can’t wait to meet you, Jarrod. Ta~” With that, the line went dead and Jarrod was left sitting at his home, confused, bewildered, and kind of excited that he had an opportunity for regular income! He then put his phone away and went to his room for his regular computer time. As he began scrolling through his favorite social networking site, he couldn’t help but show a closed-mouthed smile. There were very few times when he’d let it show, but that smile only ever surfaced when he felt at home.

At two o’clock the next day, Jarrod had just left the house, wearing his signature blue jeans and black hoodie, even though it was a warm day in Triton. It wasn’t that long of a walk to get to the coffee shop from where he lived, maybe ten minutes total. However, Jarrod liked to make a lot of pit stops. At a park bench, watching the passers by, in a convenience store for some soda, and the like. He checked his wristwatch regularly to keep track of time, deciding that showing up ten minutes too early looked desperate, and that arriving exactly on time looked too formal. Jarrod assumed five minutes early would be fine.

As he walked into the shop, he was welcomed by the ever warming smell of freshly brewed coffee, and that alone made the edges of his lips rise. Jarrod pulled his hood down and walked to the counter. No sooner than had he told the girl at the cash register, her name tag read “Nicolette,” than did the bubbly and sociable youth manager burst from the double doors leading back to the area behind the wall. Chance looked at the taller boy and smiled.

“You must be the man in question? Jarrod. How nice it is to finally meet you in person!” He held out a hand for Jarrod to shake, and the later did so, albeit in an awkward fashion. Chance led him to an unoccupied table and sat down across from the hopeful new recruit.

“I have your application here with me, and while you do seem like a perfect candidate for an opening we have, I would like to ask you a few questions.” He said, his flirty tone changing to something more serious and businesslike, or at least, as serious of one as this guy could, Jarrod imagined. There was something about Chance... The way he treated everyone the same, regardless of gender. He flirted like this with everyone, it seems! Jarod had seen the way he talked to customers, the more regular they were, the more friendly he would be, the more comfortable and familiar with the limits each one had set he was.

“Okay, I’ll answer whatever you want,” he said. He wondered what could possibly be asked. Was it of his descent? He’d gotten some crap about that, but not a lot to really matter. Maybe it was that he was...No, Jarrod didn’t hint towards that at all on the application form. Why should he?

“Well, first off, I would like to know how long you intend to stay with us if you get the position. Seeing as though you’re a Senior, you might be looking at college or military work after high school, and thus would not be able to work here!” He chirped. That was a good point, Jarrod hadn’t really thought of after high school plans, and he just needed some quick cash.

“Well, I plan to stay for a while! Regarding any after after graduation plans, I think I’m going to go to college on campus, not twenty minutes away from here by car. So, that could mean I would work here for some number of years.” Jarrod said confidently, he unzipped his hoodie, knowing that this was a sign of openness. Chance smiled again and scribbled down on his pad.

“One more thing. We want to know what you specialty is. It says here that you have some experience as a barista, so what areas do you excel at?” He said charmingly. With a blush, thankfully imperceptible due to his skin, he took a moment to think.

“Cream art.” Was his reply. He had taken pride in his work before, fashioning leaves, symbols, hearts, anything out of cream and coffee. This piqued Chance’s interests, apparently.

“Oh? Good presentation is key to a successful coffee joint, you know.” Chance leaned back and cupped his chin with his eyes closed, humming softly as he thought. After a moment, he leaned forward and slapped his hand lightly on the table with enthusiasm. “Mr. Clemence, you have the job! I hereby declare you Cafe du Chance’s premier cream artist of the generation!”

Things moved pretty quickly from that point on, he was trained in how things worked around the store that day, and was given his pink apron. He was told that there would be an order placed for a signature black one, used for boys, but Jarrod insisted that it wasn’t a problem. He even made his first masterpiece, the first of many. Nicolette had been supervising him that day, and was impressed at his work.

“You know, I’ve never seen such great stuff out of a newbie recruit. You’ve got talent!” she commented. Jarrod beamed, his smile never fading. He moved his hips back and forth as he worked. Nicolette noticed this too.

“You... aren’t, I mean, uh” She stammered, not really knowing how to address the situation without coming off as pushy or nosy.

“What?” He asked, as he turned around. He knew where this was headed. It happened any time he let his true, ahem, colors show. She would ask, he would be honest, and she wouldn’t treat him the same way.

“You’re gay?” She said, embarrassed.

“Yup.” He responded, his smile fading.

“Cool. You should fit in just fine around here, ‘Cream Artist.’” She laughed a bit, relieved. “Don’t worry, we don’t fire people over stuff like that. We are proud to have you on board, Jarrod.”

“Huh?”  Jarrod thought.

END

[cafeduchance-blog]

Chapter Seven

Ch. 7, Early Winter Nostalgia

Written by ClassyContraption

[cafeduchance-blog]

Chapter Nine

Ch. 9: Spring Cleaning I

Written by ClassyContraption

*      *      *

The first day of the second semester, Felix recalled, was a time where he’d just begun feeling comfortable his co-workers, and a part of him sincerely hoped that they’d share some classes here and there. If they didn’t, he knew he’d just be antisocial for another semester, and Felix Soloman honestly didn’t want that. From his first period classes all the way through his lunchtime at sixth period, Felix failed to recognize any of his new classmates, and this troubled him just a little. Seventh period, his homeroom class as well as his Algebra II, would prove much more fruitful. “I do say, my lady,” Chance’s familiar remarks towards women caught Felix’s ear as he entered the room at a brisk pace. Chance was leaning over a girl’s desk, with a few cupcakes sitting on a tray between them. “I would ask for one of these delectable sweets, but I don’t think any of them would compare in taste to your tender kiss...~” “Oh, uh...” the girl buried her face into her hands as her face began to redden. “Y-you can have one... if you like...!” “Thank you, my dear~!” Chance stood and bowed like a performer who’d just displayed his masterful piece before he swiftly snatched a baked treat and commenced in eating it like an ill-mannered child. “Hey, what’s this?” Felix asked, approaching him with just the faintest of smiles. “Pawning birthday cupcakes off of a classmate?” Then, Felix felt as though his throat constricted. Chance shot him a casual look and then turned away as though he thought Felix had been  talking to someone else. It was as though the two had never been acquainted. Felix, in an embarrassed state, turned to find his seat next to a short, dark-haired boy who looked just a little familiar. The pale classmate shot Felix a faint, aloof smile before leaning back in his chair, crossing his ankles over his desk, and placing his hands behind his head in a lax pose. Little did Felix know that this familiar figure was his co-worker Sebastian, who was more than willing to talk, but was always the type who was afraid to initiate conversation without his oversized cloak to veil his face. Thus was the case for many people he encountered when not in his outfit of choice, and so many people failed to realize that this Sebastian was the same one seen at Triton’s own Cafe du Chance. Nicolette soon came in the door, and Felix’s shoulders raised to prepare a greeting when she walked right on past him without a second glance and went over to her own little group of friends. Felix called to her under his breath, but let out a sigh when she didn’t hear. Amorette shared similar emotions to Sebastian and Felix, for she sat in the back corner of the room with her hair styled differently than usual. She, too, was unlikely to speak unless spoken to, and since people scarcely noticed her except in fear of her tall posture, this was not very often. It was Daffodil, Felix recalled, that would finally make things clear as she entered the room and sat on Felix’s other side. He shared with her his feelings on the whole things and asked why everyone was oh-so different here today. “Did I offend anyone?” Felix asked, tilting his head to the side as he interrogated the girl who was, perhaps, the Cafe’s most rational employee. She laughed lightly. “Chill out, Felix,” she said with a brush of her hand through her hair. “The Cafe is how we all met up. Before that, we’ve had our own little groups of friends and stuff. At school, we go back to those groups because we see each other all the time at the shop, anyway!” Her smile turned into a half-smile. “Chance uses his charm every day, and he worries that if he has anyone constantly hanging around him at school, people will assume that he’s taken by one of us in our groups (what with how affectionate he is towards friends), and his persuasive skill and charm will be useless.” “...What?” the young critic tilted his head even more than before, the crown of his head almost parallel to his desk now. The two of them laughed, and Sebastian, in the background, tried to laugh as well, but all that would come out were nervous gasps of air that were inaudible to most humans. “Don’t worry, though,” Dill continued, commencing in preparing her things for that day’s lesson. “I didn’t really get involved in any crowds or groups or anything. I’ll gladly be just as friendly towards you here at school, too!” Felix smiled a little brightly for his character. “Thanks!” Meanwhile, Sebastian remained silent; he too frightened to speak up and say that he felt likewise.

*     *     *

“If I weren’t a freshie, I’d be in that class, too!” Keenan puffed his cheeks youthfully as Felix’s tale came to a close. “I bet so.” Felix bent his knees just a little so that he could more easily ruffle his little coworker’s hair. “If you ever see me at the school, though, know that I’ll talk to you as much as you like, okay?” Keenan nodded with a bright expression. “What else can you tell from the photos?” “Let’s see, then!” Felix placed the first picture back into the box as he continued to shuffle through the Cafe’s memories. Ch. 9: END.

[cafeduchance-blog]

Chapter Eight

Chapter 8: Hope springs in faraway places

Written by somanyalex.

“Isn’t this just great?!” Jarrod exclaimed to Felix and Chance. “We get to spend the entire weekend here and get pampered like we deserve!” he twirled around gracefully in the room they were assigned, which was down the hall from the girls’ room. Felix allowed himself to smile ever so slightly, and it would have been a bigger smile if Chance wasn’t in the same room as him. It was beginning to become a hassle that he was under constant supervision, even on an all expense paid vacation! After unpacking, the three guys went to the indoor swimming pool to relax.

Elsewhere, the girls, Amoretta, Emma Lee, Daffodil, and Nicolette, were relaxing in the massage parlor, getting treated like royalty. They got pedicures and massages and all of the luxurious treatments one would expect from a 4 ½ star hotel.

“Don’t you think we should, uh, look for the boys? They could be getting into all sorts of trouble...” Amoretta chimed.

“Nah, they’ll be fine. After all how much trouble could three teenage boys get into?” Daffodil said merrily. Nicolette had to stifle her laughter.

How much trouble, you ask? Too much trouble for even highly trained security officers to handle! Though the Ferdinand one seems pretty okay. At least he doesn’t flirt with everyone.

With that topic over, they sank into a strange mix of gossip and excited chat over subjects of interest.

After having soaked and having exhausted themselves from swimming, the boys retreated to their rooms, but not before looking around the large building for the second time. They said their hellos when they ran into the girls and, of course, everyone got Felix’s name wrong. It’s just kind of a thing that will keep happening. They took showers and changed into more comfortable attire. Chance suggested walking to a park, and having nothing better to do than go to the salon, they did, much to Jarrod’s protests.

They walked along a cement path and joked around, acting rambunctious, as young boys do. In short, they bonded outside of the workplace, which is not a common activity for the young working class. The staff, while infuriatingly quirky, each one of them found a trait that they could be proud of. Jarrod’s protectiveness, Chance’s honesty, and Felix’s common sense. The girls fared just as well, Learning about each other’s interests and passions.

By the time the weekend was up, a profound connection had been forged between the coworkers of the coffee shop, Cafe du Chance. The returned to work, a little less frustrated with each other’s flaws, and a little more accepting of each other’s strengths and contributions. Like the machine of their creation and business got a well timed greasing. The machine was now whirring, and all the cogs meshing, and everybody was happy to be a part of it.

[cafeduchance-blog]

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Written by mwahahachoke

“Y-Yeah, so?”

“Oh, nothing, but now you have to go print off five hundred more in the right color.”

Keenan’s face pales. “But, but.”

“Nope, no buts. And while you’re gone you can put up all of the other fliers, too! No point in wasting them, and 3M1LY would have our heads! It should probably only take you a couple hours. Later!”

When Nicolette walks away from Keenan, she feels much more satisfied than when she had walked towards him.

[cafeduchance-blog]

Chapter Five

Ch. 5

Written by somanyalex

It was Saturday when the staff all clocked in in the morning. Felix went directly to his post and the rest of the crew took the time to mingle with each other a little before setting up for the day. Keenan came in a few hours later because he knows as well as anyone that his hours are significantly less full of work than anybody else, and its not like very many customers show up at five in the morning on a Saturday. Soon, the comforting aroma of precisely and expertly brewed coffee began to fill the shop. It was familiar and warm. The first customers started showing up at about seven o’clock, and were quickly and courteously served, as was the manner of Cafe du Chance. Come in, sit down and enjoy a beverage to your heart’s content!

At fifteen minutes past ten o’clock, The entertainment arrived, wearing an acoustic guitar strapped to his back like a rifle. He went to the stage in the corner of the spacious room, which Daffodil and Emma Lee had set up earlier, and set up further. taking a seat, adjusting the microphone, and scanning the small crowd.

“My name is Chet, and if you guys and girls don’t mind, I’d like to play a song.” He spoke into the microphone with a smile, his dusty blond hair spiked slightly. It looked good on him. He was met with a murmur of approval, as he definitely looked the part of a musician. With that, he took his guitar pick out of his pocket and strummed lightly, his left hand pressing the strings on the neck of the instrument. After a few slow and relaxed and happy notes, he began to sing.

“Another turning point/ a fork stuck in the road/ time grabs you by the wrists/ directs you where to go...” He seemed to know the song by heart. Good Riddance (time of your life) by Green Day. He never stopped smiling during his performance, like he was really having fun, playing a song for about four customers and the staff. As he finished the song, a small series of claps sounded for him, to which Chet graciously nodded and grinned. He asked if anybody wanted to use the mic, but nobody did, so he decided to continue. Chance, who had seen enough open mic days to know, set down a hat on the stage, a little bit away from Chet.

Chet seemed to enjoy a lot of music. He played soulful songs, and some pop songs, but he always tried to keep the mood mellow, in respect to the nature of the establishment. Nobody objected or even denied his talents. He played song after song, to the growing crowd’s delight, and only took breaks to buy a coffee or go to the restroom. Felix came out of the back room for about ten minutes at one point in time, just to listen. He wondered how that early-twenties-looking guy could sing so much without his voice hurting, even with a smooth blend of coffee that was sipped between songs. He would never get an answer.

At about three o’clock, Chet had gathered up a good amount of tips, a couple dollars, but mostly change from other people buying coffee. He never mentioned it though, or even looked in the direction of the hat as it slowly got heavier with currency. His mind was on pleasing the  crowd with his melodies. His dream was to be able to make as many people happy with his music as he could, even if that seemed like a childish, naive goal. All he had was an apartment, a guitar, a job, and a heart. He didn’t care. Chet was the kind of guy that was just so genuinely good natured that he had a glow about him. Even his spiked hair was endearing.

At six-thirty, he packed up his things, and left the shop, much to the sadness of his peers, but before he walked out the door, he stopped and thanked Nicolette for inviting him to play, as he did every open mic day. Then, Chet, the good hearted musician, left Cafe du Chance.

[cafeduchance-blog]

Chapter Four

Ch.4:

Where I'd Rather Be

Written by ClassyContraption

“This is god-awful!” cried Sebastian as he observed Felix pressing buttons left and right. “No, no, no!” “Eh?” Felix hardly had time to speak before Sebastian shoved him aside and took over; his hands feeling each individual key with the touch of a gentle child. After fixing some settings, Sebastian shot Felix a glare from beneath his hood. “You may be our expert critic,” he began, his voice slow and steady, “but you’re just here to observe. Before you came along, I did everything back here, and I did it well. Just sip your beverages, write things down, and tell me how I can improve, alright?” He turned away, his cloak fluttering as he muttered something. He passed Chance, who had come in to check on progress, as business was slow during this hour of the day. “Don’t mind him,” Chance reassured casually, patting Felix’s shoulder. Felix grunted in disapproval, but Chance continued regardless. “He... he needs to feel as though he’s doing something important, y’know? We had him brewing coffee because he was sort of... depressed when he was just packaging and moving things like an errand boy.” Felix wiped the scowl off of his own face for a moment. He had been so absorbed in hating the new atmosphere that he’d forgotten that his coworkers were people, too, and hadn’t considered anything beyond the facades they presented. He felt the need to apologize to Sebastian, but he stopped himself. He had a feeling that Sebastian might take an apology the wrong way, and so he simply decided that he would leave brewing to the cloaked employee. “But what he said is right,” said Chance, pointing his finger up knowingly. He drew far too close to my face. “You’re our own little critic. Your job is to observe aspects of the shop and the products we produce (namely the coffee, of course) and render assistance as needed.” “Yeah, uh, too close.” “Hmm?” Chance drew even closer, their lips only an inch away now. Felix stumbled backwards, narrowly avoiding pressing his hand to the scalding-hot machine. He fell onto a pile of tightly-packed boxes, which felt to Felix like stable bricks. Chance laughed offering him a hand up. “Come on, Fredric, let’s have you elsewhere for a while.” “My name’s not Fredric, it’s--” The door to the back room burst open, and Emma Lee shot in, shooting Chance a worried expression. “What’s up?” Chance asked, curiously cocking his head to the side as Felix stood and brushed himself off. “What’s the hurry? Why the rush?” “It’s Avery,” she said, her face both saddened and shocked. “He wants to speak with you.” Before Felix could begin to ask what that meant, he noticed that Chance’s head hung low, and his fists were far too tightly clenched. He looked up, a competitive scowl on his face, and yelled “What does he want!?” “It seems harmless right now, but we’re never sure.” “Fine. I’ll see him now. At the counter, right?” “What’s going on?” Felix asked, as Chance stormed out as if in a furious fit of rage. “Who’s Avery?” “Avery Goodchild,” said the rainbow-haired accountant, as if terrified. “He runs the tea shop across the street.” “And?” Felix was expecting much more, but Emma Lee simply shook her head as if to say “you’ll never understand.” She returned to her post, and Felix followed, curious as to the identity of the teas-shop’s head. “All I’m saying is that I suggest you hire more competent workers,” spoke a smug, young voice from the counter. Felix exited the back and paused for a moment upon seeing the only stranger in the coffee shop. He had hair the same color as Chance’s, but it was a tad shorter; it laid flat against his head. He had straight-cut bangs that touched his face, but only as far as his eyebrows. He pushed up his thick, square glasses as he held an emotionless expression, although, there was a hint of gleaming in his eyes as he spoke. He appeared to be about the same age as Chance, although he was a little taller. Felix wondered why so many kids were running local businesses, nowadays. “My workers are more competent than yours will ever be!” Chance rebutted, clenching his fist and starting towards the verbal assailant. Emma Lee had to hold him back.

Felix looked to his left. Jarrod scowled, failing to face the visitor, while Daffodil went about her work with a worried expression. She was trying not to get involved.

The stranger looked over Chance’s shoulder at the shop’s newest employee. Felix gulped.

“Oh, you must be new,” he said in a tone that was friendly enough. “I don’t suppose you know me, right?”

“Avery Goodchild, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I assure you that I’m not the monster I’ve been made out to be.” He held out his hand for a shake, and Felix took it as Chance let out a shout of horror with a face of disgust. “It’s a pleasure, Mr...?”

“How could you do that, Feenie!?” Chance cried, tears surfacing in his eyes as he tore their hands apart.

“Somehow I doubt that’s actually his name,” said Avery, looking first to Chance and then to Felix. Felix nodded, not expecting Avery to say what he’d say next. “You’re Mr. Soloman, aren’t you?”

“That’s right,” said Felix with a nod and a slight smile. Finally, somebody was courteous enough to ask, and insightful enough to know.

“‘Soloman...?’” Chance vaguely recognized the name, and he looked up in thought. Nicolette, who had overheard the conversation, came from the front door and approached Felix.

“Soloman!?” she cried out, gripping the critic’s shoulders. “N-not the same as... Allan Soloman... right?”

“Mr. Soloman here has a bit of a reputation at Triton High,” said Allan, adjusting his glasses before crossing his arms with a smile. “Honors student, right? As the son of a man like Allan, it’s no wonder, though.”

“You’re... his son?” Chance drew closer, as if he was about to begin worshipping the ground I walked on. I groaned.

“Yeah. I’m surprised you guys didn’t know. Didn’t you read the application that you forced me to fill out?”

A moment of silence loomed over the entire cafe. Avery broke the silence with a confident chuckle.

“It’s an impressive idea, albeit an accident. You unknowingly hired the son of a well-known critic? The one who gave you your worst rating in the history of your little shop? Let me guess; I bet you have him brewing coffee, as opposed to assessing the shop as a whole, right?” He looked back to Felix. “How much are they paying you, anyhow?”

“Today’s my first day, so I don’t know... minimum wage?”

“Quadruple that, and that’s how much you’d make working for us.” There were a few gasps that filled the air before the silence that followed the offer of Avery Goodchild. All eyes were on Felix at this very moment, but this didn’t phase him at the time. He was a student, and didn’t have much of an income, so this offer was a big deal. “You’d just be sipping tea and telling us how to make it better, is all.”

“Yeah, uh, no thanks.” Felix’s answer took everyone by surprise, except for Chance, who was now letting out extensive tears of happiness.

“You do care!” he cried out, embracing Felix and tackling him to the floor.

“H-hey! Get off of me, you idiot!”

Avery looked to Felix, his eyes wide and his mouth open, as if he was about to protest. Instead, he closed his eyes and chuckled as he began exiting the store.

“My, you’ve been here not one day, and you’ve already bonded with your co-workers,” he said, perhaps as the first compliment to the shop as a whole he’d ever give. “That’s not something all of the offers in the world could overcome.” He stopped just before the door, failing to face anyone inside again. “Regardless, the offer still stands, should that bond ever begin to erode in the near future.” With that being said, he strolled out of the cafe; the bells of the door jingling behind him as it fell closed.

“Get off!” Felix managed to kick Chance off. He quickly stood up, huffing angrily.

“That was a good offer, Fargus,” said Emma Lee, perhaps a little too quietly. “Why didn’t you take it?”

“It’s because he loves us!” cried out Chance, dancing about as though he’d just won a fierce battle.

“Uh...” Felix looked up, touching his fingertip to his chin before pounding his fist into his palm. “It’s because... I kinda hate tea, y’know?”

“...Eh?”

“I don’t care how much you pay me, I won’t drink tea! It’s disgusting...”

“So, then...?”

“But if putting up with you guys means minimum wages and free around-the-clock coffee, then I think I’ll be staying here,” he concluded, smiling as he returned behind the counter, ready to continue his jobs for the day as Chance began to drown in a puddle of his tears. Felix wouldn’t admit it, but be was beginning to enjoy his job here already, and he couldn’t imagine a place he’d rather be.

[cafeduchance-blog]

Chapter Three

Ch. 3

Written by mwahahachoke

Sitting in her office in the back of the cafe, she stares at her paperwork, calculating in her head in what ways the cafe could run more efficiently to offset the the price of hiring a new employee. Technically speaking, at the rate the cafe is making money, they still have about six months before she’s going to have to seriously look at cutting corners and (worse case scenario) fire her colleagues. He was in here earlier, when his first shift started, to get a hair net. (She supposes, that her ‘office’ is really more of the pantry, but there’s no better way to make sure her coworkers aren’t wasting supplies and by extension, money than by watching how much they use).

“Here’s your hair net. You only get one a week so please don’t lose it.”

“Um, okay. I don’t think we’ve been introduced yet. What’s your name?”

“3M1LY. Three-capital-m-one-capital-l-capital-y.” Emma Lee, feeling his gaze turn to her name tag and then to her hair. Emma Lee’s hair is one of the few things she takes pride in, along with her ability to do complex math in her head and the fact that the cafe would most likely go bankrupt without her careful guidance. Her hair falls to her waist and is dyed bright blue. “I’m the accountant. You’re the coffee aficionado, right? What was your name again?”

“Felix.”

“Feliz? Like Feliz Navidad?”

“No, my name’s Fe-”

“One second, Feliz.” Emma Lee’s attention is caught by something through the door and runs out. “Nicorette! What are you doing? How many pieces do you have?” Emma Lee’s doesn’t see Felix leave her office.

Returning to her desk, Emma Lee sits down and sighs, before getting back to review the budget. Ever since the review by Allan Soloman, business had been down by ten percent, and hiring Felix would just make money tighter. He had better help the business like Chance had promised he would, and speak of the devil-

“Hello, 3M1LY. Your hair is magnificent today. ”

“What do you want, Chance?”

“Oh, nothing. Your hair really does look nice though.” He moves so he’s sitting on Emma Lee’s desk, then reaches for a lock her hair. She blushes. “You look really nice.”

“Seriously Chance, what do you want?” It’s not that she likes him, it’s just that he seems to have an innate ability to know exactly what buttons to push.

“What do you think of the new guy?”

“Feliz? You’re already flirting with the rest of the crew. Do you need my permission to pursue him, too?”

“I don’t think his name is Feliz, and if I want to ‘pursue’ him I’ll do it with or without your permission. Just remember you’ll always have a special place in my heart, 3M1LY.” Chance giggles.

“Whatever. You two have my blessing. He seems okay, but he better make all that money you told me he would.”

“That’s just because you weren’t here when he gave his performance!” Chance’s tone changes to something that is a mix of awe and admiration. Though Emma Lee definitely doesn’t like Chance, she has to admit to herself that he’s much more attractive when he’s talking passionately about something, than when his continual affection. “He actually knows what he’s doing! Trust me on this.”

“Okay, fine.” Emma Lee gives Chance a grudging smile. “Now get off my desk, you idiot.”

“Everyone’s an idiot compared to you. See ya later, Love.”

“I’m not that much smarter than the rest of you,” she mumbles lamely as he moves to the door. “Sure, but remember that none of us can do trig in our heads.”