AN: Hey! So I previously wrote two fics (Composure and I don't remember the name of the other one lol) and forgot my password for both of the accounts so I decided to do a rewrite and sort of combine the two (sort of). I hope you enjoy!
I stare upwards at the vaulted ceiling, yellow paint peeking through the gaps in posters and psychedelic tapestries. The fog of burning incense and weed smoke filled the room, despite the window being cracked. Sublime plays softly in the background.
"Alizah, help" Julie sighs and looks up from her binder. I sit up, scoot my way towards her, and quickly scan the paper presented.
"See, even if you set up one of the bodies to be stationary, you still end up with N-1 bodies flying about, and you still have N(N-1) over 2 to worry about" I explained rapidly, my bedroom floor littered with a series of textbooks and loose leaf . "So that's it, there's no solution. It can't be solved" I conclude and hand Julie the pencil I snagged from the floor. She stares blankly.
"Yeah I didn't get any of that but I'll just go with it" she replies and closes her binder. "Don't you have homework or something? Aren't college students always complaining about workload?" Julie throws her hands up. Pale with black hair cascading down past her breasts, freckle faced and blue eyed, her short stature invisible when sitting under a fleece blanket.
"Oh please, I have plenty to complain about and workload is so not one of them" I roll my eyes and hoist myself to my feet, plopping down on my bed.
"She's right" Isabela chimes in from the other side of my bed, lighting another joint behind her long blonde hair. She nearly singes her tips. She passes it to me and I puff on it while looking the window. I gaze at the street one story below me, vacant, with the exception of a few stray leaves altering in color. A chill gusts though the open port and goose bumps rise on my arms. I flick ash onto the roof and let out a large sigh, standing up and passing the burning roach to Julie.
"I really regret agreeing to take on extra hours" I whine as I walk the few feet to my full length mirror, sit cross legged in front of it and start running a brush through my wavy black locks. I throw it up into a pony tail. I stare at my reflection, face pale and dark brown eyes hiding behind my brow line glasses. I reach to my left and pull out the same plane black v-neck I wear for almost every work shift, trading it for the sweatshirt I had slept in. I slide on my black jeans and non-slip sneakers and turn back around to Isabela and Julie. "Do you guys need anything before I leave? I just picked up from Johnathan" I ask while looking at my watch, determining I had five minutes before I had to leave for my eight hour stint at the coffee shop.
"Yeah could I get a half?" Isabela replies while digging money out of her wallet, I pull out the portable safe from under my bed.
"Of course" I draw out while punching in the code to the lock. 37254. A green light appears accompanied by a high pitched beep and I flip open the top, revealing just under a pound of greenery.
Isabela hands over the cash as I weigh out a half an ounce, bagging it up and tossing it over. "You're the best" she exclaims and throws it into her backpack.
"I know I am" I laugh lightly and pack everything back up. "You guys can stay here as long as you want, I probably won't be back until 11 though" I explain while grabbing my purse and making sure I had everything I needed. "I love you guys and don't forget to lock up when you leave!" I shout while shuffling out my bedroom door and into the hallway.
"We love you too and we won't!" Julie yells with her hands cupped around her mouth to create an echo. I skitter down the stairwell and directly out the front door of my building, making my way to my Nissan sentra parked just outside.
"Jesus, it's been busy I take it?" I scoff upon entering the coffee shop and noticing every inch of the counters covered in sticky residue, sinks over flowing with dishes, and food crumbs scattered everywhere.
"You missed the worst of it" my coworker Daniel moans. "I'm just glad you're here so I can go home" he says as he cashes out his drawer on the register. I walk with him into the back and place my purse down on the desk next to where he sat himself down.
"Twenty five dollars" I tell him while slipping him a bag of five 2mg pills of xanax. He hands me the money.
"You are my lord and savior" he thanks me and I laugh.
"I do what I can" I reply and shove my items into a locker. I grab the red apron with my name sewed into it and tie it tightly around my waist. I pop my head out to the barista station located behind the counter, one employee at the register, one mopping the floor, and two making various drinks and popping scones into the oven. Concluding that they have everything under control, I do a quick scan of our inventory, checking refrigerators and shelves and mentally catalog what we need and how much and place the order on the computer. After ten minutes I emerge from the back and begin cleaning the mess that was made prior to my arrival, purposefully having others handle the register. I concoct drink after drink, serve muffin after muffin, fake grin after fake grin, one forced conversation with a regular after another. My job was fairly monotonous: I concocted various coffees and teas, handled baked goods, took orders, cleaned like a maniac, took care of every shipment, and also made the shift schedule as well as completed payroll. I didn't mind, honestly I'm content with any task that allows me to work by myself and take my mind off of, well, my mind.
Seven pm rolls around and my stomach growls. "Hey, I'm going to go take my break up front" I tell one of my coworkers as I remove my apron.
"Aye aye captain" they respond with a joking salute. From my locker I grab my grey folder and notebook, figuring I could squeeze in some homework, journey out to a table out front, and settle in with a large cappuccino and a mediocre sandwich. My left hand writes mechanically as I solve equation after equation while simultaneously shoving food into my mouth. I accidentally overestimate the amount of weight the side of the notebook could withstand and when rest my wrist it tumbles over the side of the table and onto the floor, papers scattering.
"Shit" I mumble and lean over to pick them up, another hand coming into my view. Puzzled, I look up.
"Advanced quantum mechanics" the young man pipes up while gathering up and gazing at the papers that fell practically right in front of his feet. "Impressive" he adds with a slight grin. I had seen him in the shop before, usually picking up large coffee orders with different specifications, occasionally with a second person. Although I never took the time to actually look at him, I mean really, really look at him. His hair was dark brown and bit messy looking, eye color to match, always wearing dress pants with a button down and a tie, sometimes a vest or a jacket, a tan leather satchel always swung around his shoulder. He had a very pronounced jaw line, which, accompanied by the shape of his mouth and cheek bones, is what I found the most recognizable.
"Thanks" I say "I appreciate the help, you didn't have to stop" I rattle on somewhat nervously.
"Oh no it's my pleasure" he counters and hands me the pile. I quickly analyze the rest of his features and pack them away in the back of my brain.
"Next time you come in I'll throw in an extra order of croissants" I laugh but mean what I say.
"That's not necessary you serve me coffee all the time, it's the least I could do" he replies and for a few short seconds we stare at each other.
"Thanks again, I should probably get back to those equations" I say once I feel it getting even slightly awkward.
"Right of course, have a nice night"
"You too" we exchange with a wave as the young man makes his way out the lobby doors. I stand with a puzzled expression, eventually brushing off the encounter and getting back to the equations I had been racking through. Exactly one hour passes by and I resume my shift, repeating the same actions over and over again. After wiping down every surface neurotically, changing garbage bags and making sure everything was in order for the following morning, I exit the shop at 10:47pm.
Arriving to my empty apartment, I am greeted by my overweight tortoise shell kitty Rolo, named after the chocolate caramel candy. "Hey sweetie" I coo as she weaves in and out of legs. She lets out a high pitched squeak, her substitute for a 'meow'. I scratch her chin and scoop her into arms, planting kisses on her head. I flick on the hall light and bee line for my bedroom, where Rolo leaps out of my arms and onto my bed. I drop my belongings and immediately change into sweatpants, glancing at the clock and realizing I have to be back at work at 5am. I grunt and snag the sixteen inch sticker covered bong that sat on my dresser and light the already-packed bowl at the bottom over and over again until I get a nice buzz. After turning out my bedroom light and sliding under my covers, I quickly drift off to sleep.
The following morning, as I'm adding steamed milk to a latte, I spot the male customer from last night. He waves to me as he walks past the milk station.
"Twice in just about twelve hours" I laugh, "I assume you're exhausted too?" my voice projects over the various machines going.
"Very much so" he nods in agreement.
"No rest for the weary" I reply. Daniel at the register takes his order, and the two of us split the four coffee order. I finish my two in under two minutes and pop them in a drink tray on the pickup counter, where the customer was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking around awkwardly.
"So, as far as croissants go we have buttered and chocolate, muffin wise there's blueberry, coffee cake, and corn. Scones there are cranberry and blackberry. What tickles your fancy?" I propose as I place my hands on the edge of the Formica.
"Oh, no you don't have to do that, I wouldn't want to get you in trouble" he replies and waves his hand in objection.
"Please, I'm half the reason this place is running, don't worry about it. Plus it all gets tossed at the end of the day" I assure him with a chuckle.
"Well, in that case, surprise me" he grins and I nod in compliance. I quickly shove one of each item mentioned into what resembles a donut box. Daniel finishes his order and I hand him the tray atop the box.
"You're all set" I announce
"Wow, th-thank you so much" he responds with his brown eyes widened.
"It's my pleasure" I smile, "You're in here frequently enough I feel like I should know your name by now"
"Oh, of course! Spencer" he replies with a head nod, given his hands were full.
"Alizah" I answer while pointing to the six white letters stitched in italics on my apron. "It's nice to formally meet you" I tack on to complete my sentence and snag the iced coffee order that just came my way.
"You as well" he responds, and heads out the door. I watch as he exits the store, racking my brain yet again as to where I'd seen him. Before I can get too lost in thought, my name is called from the register. I roll my eyes.