“Sir, your card has been declined.”
“That one had insufficient funds.”
“But I come here lots and I’ve paid every time, maybe I can pay tomorrow?”
“I’m sorry, we can’t do that.”
“I just forgot to bring cash, it’s just a coffee and-”
“Listen, kid, you’re holding up the line here.”
The student was close to tears, his voice already bordering on whiny as the temptation to just use his power of persuasion to make the barista give him the coffee for free. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t come back later to pay for it, he just wasn’t used to not being able to rely on his cards. Being broke sucked.
(Not that he really knew what it felt like, even now that he’d been cut off by his parents. His boyfriend had enough money to his name to provide for the both of them. He just didn’t like the feeling of having to rely on his partner to pay for things that he used to be able to afford.)
With a trembling bottom lip, he turned around to look at the person behind him, eyes wide and pleading. “Could I borrow some money? I can give you my number and I can pay you back as soon as possible? I promise I have it and I’m not lying or trying to get a free drink, I just--”
“Um... I have a problem with my cards...”