Chapter Eleven
It’s Coffee Time
I stood in front of my mirror double checking my appearance, making sure I looked ok for my first day on the job. Janet had told me to wear black pants and a white or black shirt. I had pulled my hair back into a sleek bun to keep it out of the way, and applied a small amount of make-up. I was anxious as I pulled into the lot and walked inside.
Janet was standing behind the counter and greeted me with a smile. “You’re early! Great, I have some paperwork for you to fill out.”
She led me back to a small office and closed the door behind us. I sat in the chair across from her as she pulled a file folder out and handed me the papers inside.
“If you can fill these out for me, they’re just basic emergency contact forms and tax information.”
She sat quietly as I filled the forms out and handed them back to her. I had listed Logan as my emergency contact. She glanced down at the forms and stopped on the emergency contact.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but you might not want to list a boyfriend as your contact.”
I smiled, “He’s my best friend.”
“Good to know. I’m going to have you shadow Vanessa tonight, if everything goes well, I’m going to schedule for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from five P.M. to close. Does that work for you?”
“Sounds perfect. I really appreciate this job.”
“Not a problem, we definitely need the help and since you’ve worked at another location before, we can skip making you take the training courses. Now come on, I’ll introduce you to Vanessa and you can get started.”
I followed as she led me back to the counter. A pretty girl stood behind the register and smiled as we approached.
Janet gestured to me, “Veronica this is Chloe, I want you to help her out tonight. Let her run register and help keep things stocked while you and Anna make the drinks.”
I smiled as I held out my hand to shake Vanessa’s, “Nice to meet you.”
She was a few inches shorter than me with dark brown hair. Her features and dark skin tone made me think she came from Hispanic descent. She motioned for me to come around the counter as Janet left us.
“I’m so glad you’re here, our last girl just quit and left us hanging. Let me show you how to run the register, and then I’ll show you where we keep all the supplies.”
She took a few minutes to explain the register and watched as I rang up a few customers. She seemed impressed with how quickly I caught on.
“Not bad.”
I gave her a smile, “Thanks, I worked at a Starbucks back home, so I know most of this stuff.”
She nodded as she took me to supply room in the back next to Janet’s office. “All the syrups are here. We keep the milk and whipped cream in the refrigerator over there, the coffees for the machines are here, and the bags we sell are on the shelves over there, next to the refrigerator. The bakery items are brought in first thing in the morning, so you won’t have to worry about that since you’re on night shift.”
I nodded as she explained everything to me, trying to keep up.
“All the bathroom and cleaning supplies are stocked over there, away from all the food obviously. If we’re slow, you clean the tables and check the bathrooms. When we close, after you cash out, you need to wipe every table down, and restock all the syrups and coffee for the morning shift. Seem simple enough?”
“Yeah I think I’ve got it.”
“Good, here’s your apron, so let’s get back out front before Anna has my head.”
The next few hours flew by as I took orders while Vanessa and Anna filled them. By the end of the night, my feet were killing me. I cashed out my register and took everything to Janet’s office.
She smiled when I entered, “How did your first night go?”
“It was good, but now I’m beat.”
She gave me a sympathetic smile, “Better get used to it again, we’re always busy.”
I waved goodnight as I walked back to the front and started wiping the tables down. Vanessa and Anna restocked everything, and after I finished the tables, I cleaned the women’s restroom while Anna tackled the men’s. Once everything was finished, we split the tips and I bid them goodnight as I walked to my car. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and switched it off vibrate. I had a new text alert from Drake.
Drake: I hope you’re enjoying your night while I slave away over this paper.
I smiled as I typed my reply.
Me: Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed serving coffee crazy customers all night, but my feet are dying a slow death. You shouldn’t have waited until the last minute to finish your paper.
Drake: I guess you’re right, I’ve just been distracted.
Me: I bet you have been. How’s your butt?
Drake: Sore, thanks to you.
I laughed as another text came through.
Drake: That didn’t come out right.
Me: No it didn’t.
Drake: Shut up. I need to finish this, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
Me: Night.
The next few days passed by in a whirlwind of school, homework, and work. Tuesday night at work was much the same as Monday, with me taking orders while Anna and Vanessa filled them. Thursday, Vanessa decided I was ready to start tackling the drinks and put me with Anna while she took the orders. I had grown a bit rusty, and I messed up on a few orders. Apart from one man screaming at me about trying to kill him by putting milk in his coffee order, most of the customers were understanding.
I was getting along great with both Anna and Vanessa. I really hadn’t talked to Anna much while I was upfront, but when I traded with Vanessa, I spent the evening laughing with her. Where Vanessa was all dark, Anna was the exact opposite, with bright green eyes, pale skin, and blindingly white blonde hair. She was a bit too bubbly for me, but I could tell she had a good heart.
“So what are you doing tomorrow night on your day off?” Vanessa asked as we cleaned the machines after close.
“I’m going with my roommate and my friends to watch my friend Drake play with his band.”
Rachel had heard Amber and I talking about the show the other night and asked if she could tag along to hear them play. Alex had something else to do, so Amber was going without him.
Vanessa’s mouth dropped open. “You mean the Drake that plays with Breaking the Hunger?”
I nodded my head and she squealed, “You’re friends with Drake Allen? How did I not know this? He’s like a walking ball of sexual tension, and he’s got the most amazing voice I’ve ever heard.”
I laughed at her star struck expression, “Don’t let him hear you saying that, his already oversized head will swell.”
“I’ll help his head swell any day.”
I burst out laughing at her dirty mind. “I never took you as a fan girl. Seriously though, he’s a good friend, but he’s crap to women.”
She frowned, “Yeah that’s what I heard, too bad it’s true. The things I’d like to do to that boy.”
I smiled and waved as we made our way to our cars. I pulled my phone out and sent a quick text to Drake, reminding him we would be there tomorrow night. I had told him we were planning on going yesterday during class, and he gave me a hard look, but wasn’t able to say anything to me since Logan was with us. Before I could start my car, Drake called my phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey, I just got your text. Are you sure you’ll be ok with going to the bar after what happened last time?”
My free hand gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. “I’ll be fine, I will not let that a*shole control my life.”
I heard Drake’s bed squeaking as he laid down.
“Alright, but promise me you’ll stay with Logan while I’m playing.”
“I promise. I need to get home, I’ll talk to you tomorrow ok?”
“Goodnight Chloe, sweet dreams.”
Drake wasn’t in class the next morning, but he was sitting at our usual table with a girl I had never seen before sitting on his lap when Logan and I walked into the cafeteria.
“You missed a bunch of notes this morning. Where were you?” I asked as I sat down across from him, ignoring the girl on his lap.
“I had some car trouble this morning so I had Adam drop me off late. I need to go to the library this afternoon after class, so if it’s alright with you, I’ll catch a ride with you guys to the bar.”
I nodded as I stood to get in line for food, “That’s fine, we’re all riding together in my car but I have enough room.”
As I stood in line, I glanced back at the table to see the girl was gone, and Logan was in deep conversation with Drake, their heads bent close together. When I approached the table, they both pulled away from each other and looked at me. While Logan had an easy smile on his face and seemed relaxed, Drake’s body was coiled tight as he frowned up at me.
“What were you two talking about?”
Logan wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close while Drake followed our every move with his gaze.
“Nothing, just talking about watching him play tonight. I’m curious to see if he’s as good as everyone says.”
I looked at Drake, but he had lowered his gaze, his shoulders tight with tension. Somehow I didn’t believe that’s what they were talking about.
“I’ve seen them play, he’s seriously amazing. You guys are going to go far, I can already tell.”
Drake gave me a small smile but it didn’t quite reach his eyes, “Thanks, Adam has a tour set up for us over the summer once school is over. He’s got us gigs in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and even a couple small time places in New York.”
My smile brightened, “That’s awesome Drake! You watch, once summer is over you’ll be a big time rock star and you’ll forget all about us little people.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, I don’t think I’d ever be able to forget you.”
Logan’s hold on me tightened as I felt my cheeks warm.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He laughed as he pushed his chair back and stood, “You’re right, I do. I’ve got to go make a few calls about my car, I’ll see you guys tonight.”
I felt Logan’s grip relax as Drake left.
“I really don’t like that guy sometimes.”
I elbowed him in the ribs. “He’s a good guy, he just likes to hide it.”
“Still doesn’t mean I have to like him,” I glared at him and he laughed, “Alright, I’ll back off, I promised I would try to get along with him after all. So, after we leave the bar, I thought we could do a movie night in my room? My roommate won’t be there like normal, so you can have his bed.”
“I don’t know, what if someone catches me in there?”
“Like I said, my roommate isn’t going to be home and no one else is going to come to my room. Please, I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
I instantly felt bad; I had been neglecting Logan with everything else going on in my life. “Ok, but only if I get to pick the movie.”
He smiled as he leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “Fair enough, it’s a date.”
I tensed at his words, but didn’t respond at first. Maybe we could ease into this and see where it went instead of jumping in with both feet.
“It’s a date.”