• Chapter One •

Ariel

The familiar sound of the bell above the door rings, letting  me know that another customer is ready to be served.

"Hi! Welcome to Stevie's! My name is Ariel. How can I  help you today?"

"I'd like an iced caramel macchiato."

I nod and write down his order. "And what size would  you like that to be, sir?"

He doesn't look up from his phone when he replies,  "Large." He continues to ignore me.

Sighing, I fill out the rest of the order and prepare to give  him his receipt. "That'll be $4.45. What is your name, sir?"

He finally spares me a glance to hand me five dollars  and mutters, "Cordon." He goes back to staring at his phone  and waiting for his change.

I grab his cup and write his name down. "Okay, your  change is fifty-five cents, and your drink will be ready soon.  Please wait for your name to be called." He nods at me in  acknowledgment and walks off to a table in the corner of  the store. 

I busy myself preparing his coffee, listening to the soft  sounds of people talking and the music playing overhead.

I finish and head over to the counter again, yelling out,  "Cordon!" on the way. The man comes back over and  gets his coffee, mumbling a quick "Thank you" under his  breath.

As people continue to come and go, I relax against the  counter and simply take it all in. One thing I love doing is  sitting here and watching people. Each person has their own  life and their own problems. To think that I am only a part  of so many people's lives, that there are so many others out  there you don't even know, is just amazing to think about.  So many different lives and so many different lifestyles; it  keeps me busy to think about it all. It's why I try to smile  at everyone. You never know what each person is going  through and what effect you could have on their day, so  why not try to make it a good one?

For example, I look at the man in the corner on his  phone. He could be a very busy business man running a  company, with some family issues that are making him feel  a little sad and stressed. Or, he could just simply always  be like that because that's the way he is. Nobody knows  but the people in his life. Crazy, right? A happy smile  slides back onto my face as I think about all the different  possible lifestyles of this man, but it quickly fades away  when I hear yelling coming from the back room. The  manager's office.

For a while the other worker, Kelly, has been having  some issues with her work ethic. To put it simply, she  absolutely hates this job and everyone in it. She usually  works nights, so I don't see her often. When I do, she never  acknowledges that I exist, or she does and I just don't notice.

The yelling only gets louder and I can tell some of the  customers are starting to hear it, too. The office door opens and slams against the wall. Kelly storms out and walks up to  the counter. Steve, our manager, comes storming out behind  her. Glaring daggers at her back as she grabs a coffee cup  and starts making herself a drink.

"Put that down. You're no longer allowed to get free  drinks!" Steve's glare intensifies.

Kelly smirks in his direction and finishes mixing up the  drink. "Awe, that's too bad. Good thing I don't care then,  right?" She rolls her eyes and takes a long sip from the  drink, making Steve's face turn beet red with anger. Oh my  gosh, the man looks like a tomato. If this wasn't so awkward  for me, I'd probably be laughing along with the group of  teens in the corner of the shop.

"That's it! I've had it with you! Kelly, you're fired!" Steve  shouts. My mouth drops open in shock, but Kelly doesn't  even flinch. She stomps over to the other side of the counter,  coffee in hand. I watch in shock as she pulls out a five from  her pocket and throws it onto the counter. She walks to the  door and glares over at a very angry Steve, and then she  turns her gaze to me. 

"Ariel, do yourself a favor and don't let this job hold  you down, okay?" Her eyes soften towards me and I simply  nod. She sighs softly and storms out of the shop, getting  into her car and driving away. The entire place is quiet, and  everyone, and I mean everyone, turns their gaze toward  Steve. He just glares down at his hands and storms back  to his office, slamming the door once more before the place  eventually goes back to its normal chatty self. The people  here no longer care about what just happened. I look around  to make sure all the customers are good and then head back  to see Steve.

Knocking softly on the door, I wait until I hear him say,  "Come in," and then I make my way in. He's seated behind  his desk, his head in his hands. "Can I help you, Ariel?  Here to quit, too?" He sighs and wipes his hands over his  slightly aged face, stress written all over it.

"No, sir. Just wanted to make sure you're okay?" I fiddle  with my fingers awkwardly, switching from foot to foot.

He notices and sighs again. "Take a seat, kid," he says  as he points toward the little chair in front of his desk and  then leans back in his own. I sit down and look towards  him. His eyes are focused on Kelly's discarded apron in his  hands. "I just don't know what to do here. I mean, this is  the third person this year. Why can't I get them to stay like  you have, Ariel? What am I doing wrong?" He looks up  at me with stress and pain evident in his eyes. The frown  lines above his eyebrows have gotten bigger and the circles  under his eyes even darker.

"Maybe it's not what you're doing wrong, but them  instead. What do all the people you've hired do after they  quit? What were they doing before then? Maybe it's just  simply because they have other ways to go." I suggest the  many questions to him softly, only glancing up from my  fingers tangled together in my lap when I hear him moving  in his seat.

"I suppose it could be one of those." He sighs once  more before giving me a half smile. "Thanks, kid. I think  I'll be okay soon enough. But you better get back to work.  We don't want anyone else angry at us today, huh?" He  chuckles softly and places the apron down on his desk. I  smile up at him and get up out of my seat. At the door I  turn to face him slightly.

"Take it easy, Steve. If you need anything I'm right out  here." He nods and smiles at me gratefully. I smile back  and wave, heading back to my place at the front counter.

Steve has been the manager here long before I even came  to town. As far as I know, he took over the place after his  mom died. He's a sweet man, and I honestly don't know  how this place would run without him. Ever since I started  working here, he has been nothing but kind to me. He's like  the uncle I never had. 

A customer waves goodbye before leaving with her  group of friends. I smile and wave back, then continue  cleaning my work space. I don't really know what Steve  plans to do now that Kelly is gone. Last time it took him  only about a week to find a replacement, the time before  that, a couple months. 

I don't mind working alone, though; it's actually kind of  nice. Sure, it can be difficult at times since you have no one  else to share the hours with, but the quiet moments alone  are so peaceful. With Kelly gone now, I'll have to work the  late shifts. I usually only work from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.  every day, but now it's going to be until at least midnight.  Why we stay open so late, I don't even know. Who even  comes in for coffee that late?

The shop is empty now, with only the sweet smell of  sugar and coffee to keep me company. Finally, Steve emerges  from the back office and comes towards me. He gently  places a hand on my shoulder, and I can't help but flinch  at the contact. 

He sighs and shakes his head, retracting his hand quickly  before speaking. "Go on home, kiddo. It's been a long day. I'm sure you'd like some rest, eh?" He smiles at me and  shuts the coffee pots off beside me.

I smile back and nod. "Thank you, sir. I'll finish cleaning  up, then I'll be out of here." I pick up a wet cloth and start  towards the empty tables, but I stop when he takes the rag  from my hand and places my book in it instead.

"Nah, go on home. I got this. Just come in again normal  time tomorrow, kiddo. Be sure to say hello to your mom  for me." He walks back behind the counter, drops the wet  cloth onto it, and starts wiping it down. 

I smile up at him gratefully, nodding and heading  towards the door. "Thanks again, I'll see you tomorrow!"  With a wave I walk out the door to my car and drive home.

~•~

                         • Author's Note. •

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*Wiggles eyebrows* Happy Friday guys! I'm so glad it's the weekend, ugh! No school for two days, yay! My family rented the new Wonder Woman movie for us to watch tonight and, like the superhero nerd I am, I'm sooooo excited!! One step away from Justice league, can you feel the heroism? *cries tears of Justice*

Shout out to theworddealer for the beautiful cover (as is pictured above) and covers she has made for me so far!! I will be featuring them throughout the chapters so keep watch for them!! I love them so so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️

We're already two chapters in and I'm feeling great (About the chapter that is, my physical health...not so much.) How're y'all liking it so far? Yay? Nay? I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!! They're seriously some of my favorite characters!! ❤️❤️

Don't forget to Vote, Comment, Share, and Follow me, your ultimate dark underlord 😘😘❤️❤️😂😂 I swear, I only post nice things! 😂😂😂😂
               
                            Much Love,
                               ~Molly

Written 10/7/2016 (Wow, I wrote this so long ago! 😱) Published 01/31/2021