=Chapter Fifteen=
•*•
Barista?
=

Tuesday, 10th of September

I looked up as the overhead door bell jingled when a young woman entered.
I was stocking new books in a shelf, and as always, Jason was sitting in his usual chair, this time with a book in hand.
The woman smiled politely.

She had brown hair and green eyes, pale complexion and wore a casual outfit.

"hello, welcome in." I greeted her politely.

"Hi." She smiled sweetly. "My name is Bella. I was wondering if the owner was here today?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, yeah she is."  I dusted off my hands on my apron and stood up, leaving my half unpacked antique books still on the floor in their box.

"May I ask why you inquire?" I asked, moving towards the front counter.

"Oh, I merely wanted to ask her something. Can you get her for me?" She insisted.

"Uh, sure. One second.. she's in the back." I backed into the back room, and caught Mays attention.

"Hey May? There's a lady here to talk to you?" I informed, lifting the curtain to the back office. May was on break, eating a salad.

"Oh? Who is it, dear?" She asked, getting up and putting a lid on her salad and standing up.

"Some girl named Bella." I leaned on the doorframe.

"Hmm.. well I'll see what she wants."
She brushes past me to go talk to Bella.

"Sorry to cut into your break." I added regretfully.

"You're alright, dear." We went back to the front and I moved back to my box although I kept an eye on May and Bella.

"Hey Perce."

I jumped. "What?!" I looked up to see Jason towering above me.

"Sh.." he crouched down after a moment and leaned in close. "who's the cosmetically caked brunette?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Cosmetically.. what?"

"Who is she." He simplified with a sigh.

"Donno. She said her name was Bella.. but I don't know who she is." I whispered.

"She rubs me wrong." He mumbled.

"Does she?" I looked back on May and Bella talking. Bella smiled sweetly. And I agreed. She seemed.. too sweet? Maybe that's just her personality.

"I'm not sure what she wants." I continued.

I was increasingly becoming more aware how silly we looked crouched down on the floor.

"Go back to your seat.." I shooed him away. "You make it look like we're conspiring."

He grins. "Maybe we are.."

"Get out of here." I playfully hit him on his shoulder.

He rolls his eyes but gets up and casually strolls back to his seat.
He pulls out his book but i could tell he wasn't really reading it, considering how his eyes constantly looking up from his pages either at May and Bella, or to me.

May eventually nods in response to whatever Bella was saying, and they both ventured into the back room.

My eyes met with Jason's and we shared a questioning expression.

I shrugged in response.

I turned back to stocking, although less attentive then I should have been. I couldn't help but wonder what what going on.

Eventually, a couple minutes later, Jason packed up his stuff and walked over to me. "I have.. Obligations elsewhere. Would you maybe.. Keep me posted?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Will you be here tomorrow?" I asked, assuming he would.

"No, actually. I'll be busy all day. Maybe even for the next few days." He informed, glancing back to the back room entrance.

I hummed thoughtfully, putting another book on the shelf.
"Hm.. I could always tell you when you come back." I suggested.

Jason grimaced. "I'm too impatient. Call me."

I blinked. "Call you?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Got a pen?"

I felt around my pockets and (other than Riptide), I did actually have a pen on me. "Uh, here."

He took my whole hand instead of the pen, grabbing my wrist and pulling it to him, then taking the pen and rolling up my sleeve, and started writing his number on MY SKIN.

"What- why are you writing it on me?" I exclaimed, although I let him.

"That way you won't loose it. You're forgetful sometimes."

I winced. Way to call a girl out. Ow.
"How would you know that.." I replied defensively.

"You've got habits, Percy."

"You're totally a stalker."

"No, I'm not. Why would you think that?" He raised an eyebrow and finally released my wrist.

"I donno. You're always looking at me when you're here." I shrugged, taking a look at the inked phone number on my forearm. (Luckily not the arm with my Roman brand.) did not feel like making up a random story for that.

"Nice handwriting." I commented.

"I suppose I should say thank you, but I'm still offended you're calling me a stalker. Sure I watch you but that doesn't mean I follow you home or something stupid like that."

"I live here."

"Well I didn't follow you in any way. I'm just very observant." He rolled his eyes at me. "Last time I checked, that's not stalking."

"Sure thing, stalker." I grin.

He looked like he was about to argue further, but lost his serious face and grinned back, knowing I was joking.

"You're a pest. But you're not that bad." He reached down and patted my head, like I was some child.

I swatted him away. "Go home to your 'obligations'." I shooed. "I'll call you later."

"You better. And that tea better be hot." He glared playfully to get his point across.

I rolled my eyes. "If the tea boils I'll serve it right away, never fear."

"Alright. See you around, barista." He slung his bag over his shoulder, shoving his free hand in a pocket.

"Barista?" I questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"You're the one serving hot tea, Perce. Might as well be my barista." He doesn't give me a chance to reply back as he promptly left the shop, letting the door close with the little ding of the bell.

"Usually baristas are known for serving coffee.." I retorted a little late.

I shrug, scooting over to the shelf behind me and dragging my box alongside, shelving and reorganizing books as I go along.

About ten minutes later, May and Bella walked out of the back, and Bella seemed to be thanking May, and leaving out the door.

I stood, dusting myself off and walked over to May. "What was that all about?" I asked.

May smiled. "Well it seems you'll have some help around here. That was Bella Dwyer. She is an accounting major, and is in her third year."

My eyes widened. "You mean you've hired her?"

She nodded. "Oh yes. A sweet girl. It makes me feel better to leave the shop in your hands while I go on a long trip in a couple weeks."

"But she's.. new." I hesitated, not particularly liking the idea of a new coworker.

"You were too, Percy. Give her a chance. She's sweet, and once she's gotten use to life here, I'll hand her my accounting to take care of. It's a good deal for a young girl like her, preparing for the real world needs real life experience." May spoke wisely and passionately.

"I suppose. Of course I'll trust your judgment, May." I agreed hesitantly.

"I'm having her start next Monday, just so she can finish her upcoming test this weekend." May stretches. "Oh.. I'm getting old." She cracks her bones.

I grin. "Hardly. Go easy on yourself. That flight to Tennessee will be a lot for you. Take it easy these next few weeks, okay?"

She nods. "Oh I know, I know. I'll be fine. I just hope you and Bella will adjust to working here without me."

"We.. will be fine? Uh.. mhm. But don't worry." I hesitate, only because I don't know Bella.

"So confident, are you?" May sighs. "I should've let you sit in the interview.."

My eyes widened. "Oh, no May I'm just a regular employee, I have no right to sit in on an interview.."

"Percy, dear. You mean a lot to me, as if you were my own daughter. I want you to feel important, and especially since you help run the shop, Your opinion means alot to me."

I nod. "Thanks, May. I'm sure Bella will be a good fit here."

•*•

Hi, decided to make Jessica live in Tennessee because Kansas is kinda waaaAy too far away. I'll go back and change it in the other chapters soon.

Anyways, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!

Toodles!

💙🍪