The stiff, hazel neckband of a polo shirt encircled my neck which was sported along with firm bow tie that rested against the intersection of my collarbones. Glimpsing into the mirror before me, the reflection of a short-haired ginger emerged.

"Oh, Ciel," my aunt pouted at my unfastidious appearance, tugging on the ends of the accessory on my upper-chest to tighten it. I gandered down at my complimenting bronze watch and stated with a simple, "I have to go now, bye Angelina."

I loped down stone steps that introduced the entrance of my home and lingered aside a damp wooden bench for the school bus. Within a few minutes, a large maize-colored vehicle roared into my presence and I boarded on. Plopping down into an exposed rubber seat, I rested my chin into an open palm and gazed out of the bordered glass next to me which mist dribbled down on.

Once our destination was met, I rose and squeezed my way out of the congested transportation. My leather shoes squeaked against the marble floor beneath me as I strode down my school's halls.

Once again, I entered yet another environment of chattering among my peers. Scanning for a certain someone was simple, lemon curls seizing my attention. "Ciel~!!" shouted the girl, named Elizabeth, her signal pulling me towards her.

"You look really dressed up," she mentioned, "Why?" "I start my job today," I bluntly told. Elizabeth radiated at my monotonous declaration, "Ooh~! Where at?"

"Funtom Café," I answered, to which she delightfully responded with, "I could come while you're working sometime with Sulli–" I suppressed her offer with an interjection, "I'd prefer you not."

"Fine then," the blonde huffed and placed her head between two folded arms. Honestly, I would rather avoid having to hear her constant squeals, it would be awfully humiliating for me.

. . .

My thrilled hands parted the translucent doors of the small yet faddish coffee shop. The scent of cinnamon invaded my senses, taking over my body to lure me further into the area. Beaming lights shone high above circular tables to cast off a vivid display of food scattered behind a slanted glass frame at the counter.

"Hello, you must be the new employee," a sonorous voice sounded. I instinctively eyed the source that referenced me. The man was towering compared to my shamefully small figure, mouth-length sable locks falling along each side of his pale complexion.

A faux simper replaced my dull expression, "Yeah." "I'm Sebastian, the manager here, it's nice to meet you," a masculine hand reached out to mine. I grasped onto it and a firm shake contacted between us.

I shadowed Sebastian into the back-area of the café, various others surrounding their designated stations. "I'm sure you've already discussed this with your employer; you'll be a waiter," the man lifted a striped cap that had been awaiting my arrival and patted it onto my head. "Oh," the manager began before pinning a ribbon to the breast-pocket of my shirt, "Here's your name tag."

Sebastian stepped back and examined my body which made me flush in embarrassment. "This week will just be training, but by the end of it I'll be expecting you to be near professional."

"Now then," he clasped his black-gloved hands together, "Let's begin."

. . .

"Your first customer shall be the two girls over there," a finger shot towards a table to which its occupiers peeked up and waved.

Of course they came.

Sebastian gave me a blithe nudge which caused me to skip towards the two. I inhaled sharply before speaking the lines as instructed, "Hello, how may I assist you?"

Elizabeth twirled a coiled platinum tress around her finger in a clear flirtatious intention, "Hi, could we both get a chocolate mint tea?" "Of course, we will be back shortly with your order," I informed then returned to the back-room.

Sebastian was absent, however, I wouldn't rely on him to guide me. With a chocolate-colored ledger clutched to my chest, I approached a woman preparing a beverage. "Excuse me," I began, the other squeaking and darting their perspective towards me. "H-Hello!" they responded in an odd voice — quite irritating, actually – and configured the position of their large circular frames.

"It's my first day here and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do after getting orders. I have no idea where Sebastian is either," I confessed. "M-Mister Sebastian? He's in his office, Bard and I fix the food and Finny is a waiter, so y-you can just tell me what the order is and I'll make it."

I leant the notepad to her, "Alright, here then."

.  .  .

A switch tarnished the radiance of the area, a singular effulgence being the setting sun dimly glaring into the windows. "Hurry Ciel! Your aunt says we could spend the night, we can all walk home together," a mutual of Elizabeth and mine, Sieglinde, called out from the threshold of the shop.

"Go on, I'll catch up in a minute," I dully replied, the two turning their heel and snickering of something mid their departure.

"You did well today, especially for a beginner," Sebastian lifted his car keys with a jingle. "Thank you Mister," I responded with the courtesy Mey-Rin quoted. My superior simply glanced at me for a few moments before prompting, "Do you need a ride home? You don't seem to enjoy those two girls' company too much."

I gave a short nod, "Appreciatively."

. . .

With a hand gripped onto the wheel before him, Sebastian queried practically everything about me. "So how old are you, what grade are you in?"

"15; sophomore," I answered while giving him directions to my house then retaliated, "What about you?" "I'm 20 and in college for business at the moment," he told. Silence drowned the atmosphere until tires scraped the rough gravel beneath it, alerting me of the arrival of my home.

"Thanks," I tersely said before hopping out and rushing to the door. Plopping into the cloudiness of my duvets, I dug my face into my pillows in exhaustion. Minutes passed and my door creaked open, "Angelina says I could sleep in here. . . Sieglinde's in the guest room..."

Elizabeth made her way into my chambers and crawled into the bed next to mine which was placed specifically for her frequent visits. With her cheeks buried into her covers, she recalled, "Hey Ciel, do you remember when we were little and you were really enthusiastic about marrying me?"

I mentally groaned at the mention, "Yes."

"Well... do you still like me like that?" she inquired coyly.

"I don't know, I'm too tired to think about things like that right now."

She simply gave out a giggle, "You're such an introvert, Ciel. G'nite."

"Good night," my thick lashes fluttered down to its shut state.

Why am I so flustered around him?