AUTHOR'S NOTES: This chapter turned out better and a lot longer than I expected. I'm having a lot of fun writing it so far! I had to research different coffee drinks and a little bit about guinea pigs. Best research ever! Although, my power blinked and I lost all of my guinea pig research. :( This was also a pain in the ass to upload because my right key tore up on my laptop and ctrl + c + v won't work on my freaking Grammarly account. I hope you guys like chapter two!
The rest of the day carried on normally. Tweek dropped his goddamn fidget spinner and almost gave the whole class a heart attack, then our ela teacher got pissed off and threw a hissy fit. I almost got in trouble for flipping off Mr. Lama, the history teacher. Fortunately, he had his back turned and no one narked on me.
Later, I asked Clyde if he wanted to go to Tweek Bros. with me and Tweek but he was going on another date with Rebbeca, the homeschooled kid. She started coming to South Park Elementry after she won the statewide spelling bee. For a few years after that, she was on a downward spiral. It started off innocent, selling kisses, going on too many dates with boys, and wearing low cut clothes. Then, she started smoking, prostituting, drinking, doing drugs, the list goes on.
Eventually, her parents found out and she got sent to rehab. She stayed there for around half a year and she came back to junior high school in March of this year. After a few months, Clyde and Rebbeca started dating. He helps to make sure she stays sober and she puts up with his whining. I can't believe she hasn't started doing drugs again because she has to listen to Clyde all of the time.
When the school bell rang, Tweek and I were some of the first kids out the door. We're usually some of the last but I guess we're pretty psyched up today. The whole walk to Tweek Bros. was filled with Tweek happily chattering about how fun it will be to work with me, and about how much fun it will be. I don't think I've ever seen him this happy.
I realized we were almost there when we were walking past the City Wok, so I pulled Tweek and myself away behind their alley. I got a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of my pocket. I removed one of them and flicked my lighter to light my cigarette. I really needed a smoke!
I took a drag and I glanced over at Tweek. He didn't look happy anymore, he looked pissed. He had his hands on his hips and was looking at me with a look he only had when he wanted to knock someone's teeth in. Like the look he gave Clyde when he accidentally broke his favorite thermos.
I took another drag "Tweek, don't be angry, I've been trying to quit, really. I'm down to five a day."
"G-goddamnit, Craig! You told me you were going to quit a month ago!" He was really getting pissed off now.
"I have been quitting! I used to smoke a pack a day, and now I'm down to five. Please don't be mad, Tweek. Remember how happy you were just a second ago?"
He turned his back to me, crossed his arms, and sighed. "Put t-that shit out."
I took one more hit before I put it out on the wall beside me. "There, are you happy now?" He uncrossed his arms and turned around to face me.
"J-just hurry up. We're almost there." He started to speed walk away and he was already out of the alley before I had the chance to put everything back in my pockets. Note to self: never smoke in front of Tweek again. This time he had my ass over it, next time he'll have my head.
I had to run just to catch up with him. He still looked pissed, but I think he's calmed down considerably. We walked the rest of the way in silence. I suddenly realized how humid and hot it is outside, and how long it takes to get to Tweek Bros. from the school. I guess your mind really does wonder in silence.
After what felt like a thousand years, which had actually just been a couple of minutes, we finally reached our destination. I opened the door and held it for Tweek. He didn't flash me his typical weak smile. He's probably still pissed off about the cigarette thing.
Mr. Tweak was behind the counter writing something down and Mrs. Tweak was next to the counter sweeping. She was probably sweeping up all of the discarded coffee grounds and beans that have accidentally been dropped on the floor. Not to mention all of the crumbs from Tweek's baking.
"Would you boys like some coffee? I just made a couple pots." Mrs. Tweak chimed in looking up from where she had been sweeping. They always have to make more than one pot, because they drink it so goddamn fast. I swear Tweek and his family drink coffee like a freaking horse!
"Y-yeah! It's been a long time since I've had any!" Tweek's face instantly brightened up. It had only been about an hour since he drunk a cup, but whatever. Sometimes I think I need to send him to rehab for his coffee addiction. Oh well, maybe it'll make him forget about the cigarette ordeal.
"Take a seat, boys." Mr. Tweak pointed at two chairs behind the counter next to where he was sitting. Tweek and I took a seat next to him. I glanced over at what he was writing and I think it was a menu or something. "Cortado", "Pour-Over Coffee", and what the hell's a "Macchiato"!?
If I do get a job here, I have my work cut out for me. I barely know what espresso is, and the only reason I know that is because of Tweek. It's like he's writing in some foreign language.
Mrs. Tweak entered back in the room with four cups on a silver tray. She took one cup off of the tray and handed the remaining cups to Tweek's dad. He placed one in front of himself and gave me the tray containing the other two cups. I handed Tweek his cup and set mine down in front of me.
Mrs. Tweak sat beside her husband and took a sip of coffee and most of Tweek's coffee was almost gone by that time. Their family is in love with goddamn coffee.
"H-hey dad, do you remember when you said that you were looking f-for someone to hire?" Tweek looked a little calmer than usual, which is strange considering that he's asking his dad to give his boyfriend a job. Ok, that sounded better in my head but still.
"Yes, why?" Mr. Tweak stopped writing and took a sip of his coffee.
"Uh- Craig wants to get a j-job so I told him that he should work here." Tweek looked like he was getting more nervous while he spoke.
"Of course he can work here. He can put in two or three hours a day, and we can pay him six dollars an hour." He turned to me "I'm sorry, Craig, I would pay you more but we haven't been getting much business lately. I do think it's great that you want to work. I don't see many people your age wanting a job."
"When can I start?"
"You can start tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. I'll go over everything with you today."
"Go over everything? What do you mean?" I don't have a clue about this stuff. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a barista or whatever you call them.
"We need to talk about your work schedule, how to make all of the drinks, what roasts to use, what ground size to use, and about how Tweek Bros. coffee comes from local suppliers. And about how it's the freshest coffee on the market. A lot of people say it has a "raw sewage" taste, but they just haven't learned to appreciate fresh coffee."
Tweek rolled his eyes. Just think, he has to deal with this shit 24/7. "I can show Craig how t-to make all of the drinks."
"That sounds like a great idea." Mrs. Tweak finally voiced her opinion. "Your father and I will work on the menu."
...
Several hours later, Tweek was still showing me how to make espresso. So far, I knew how to make drip coffee and pour over coffee, but I managed to burn myself, almost burn Tweek, spill coffee grounds all over the place, drop a cup of coffee, and just make a mess in general.
"O-ok, so how do you make a latte?" Tweek was testing my knowledge. He wanted to see if I had been paying attention.
"Um..." I was trying to remember what he said before I almost dropped a cup of coffee on him earlier. "I know it has espresso in it."
"And?" He gestured for me to continue.
"Uh... and...water?"
He touched his forehead with his hand "No Craig, that's a Long Black. Lattes are made with espresso and steamed milk, and they have a v-very thin foam on top. Long Blacks are made with a double shot of e-espresso and water."
Damn, it seemed like he had rehearsed this shit every day for years. Oh, wait, he had. "Sorry, I don't have your supersonic memory." I sounded genuine and I flashed him a sweet smile. I would either ease some of his frustration or I'd piss him off even more. He's easily agitated anyways.
Tweek was just about to say something when Mrs. Tweak poked her head through the door "Craig, it's getting late. You'd better go home before your parents get worried."
I grabbed Tweek's wrist and looked at his watch. Oh, shit! Six thirty already?! My parents were going to be so pissed!
"Sorry, Tweek, I have to get home." I quickly kissed him on the cheek and rushed out of the cafe. "Bye, Mrs. Tweak! Bye, Mr. Tweak! Thanks for hiring me!" I ran out of there like a bat out of hell, because I had a feeling I was going to be in hell if I didn't get home soon.
I ran home as fast as I could in the remaining sunlight. My house was about thirty minutes from Tweek's house, so I arrived home at nearly seven. I was sweating, out of breath, and my face was red.
My mom stepped into the kitchen. "Where have you been, young man?! I was worried sick and dinner has been done for ten minutes!" I was right, she is pissed.
"Sorry I-" I was trying to speak between breaths. "I was over - at Tweek's."
"You were supposed to be back by six!"
I had regained most of my breath, at least enough to argue. "Why does Red get to come home at eight?! I'd bet she's not even here, is she?"
"Red is part of the chess club, is learning two new languages, and she has cheerleading! She's not over at her boyfriend's house!" Goddamnit. I hate to admit it but mom has a point, that doesn't mean I'm going to back down from an argument though. I guess I get my stubbornness from my dad.
"The only reason she's learning Japanese is so she can watch anime and talk to those Japanese girls about yaoi!"
"I didn't hear you complaining about yaoi when you and Tweek became a couple, now did I!?" I hate it when she's right.
...
My mom was going to send me to my room without my dinner but my dad said it was too harsh, and that I was only an hour late. Although, after I ate dinner I had to "march straight to bed".
I had to change Stripe's bedding and feed him after dinner. As soon as he saw he came running over to the side of his cage that was closest to me, making little noises. No matter how bad of a day I've had, there are two things that always make me happy. Stripe and Tweek, when he's not being a moody ass grouch.
I picked him up and held him for a while before I put him in a box so I could change his bedding. He is the messiest goddamn guinea pig that I've had so far. He gets his hay, food pellets, crap, and god knows what else all over the place. He's a mess to clean up after but I love him anyway, kind of like how Tweek is a mess in general but I love him anyway.
After about thirty minutes I got his cage and around cage clean, held him for a little while longer, fed him, and watered him. I also had to give him a drop of vitamin C every day, because guinea pigs can't produce their own vitamin C. If you don't give them any vitamin C in a tablet or drop form, they'll get sick.
Stripe is too picky to eat the tablets so I have to sneak some of the drops in his food. Sometimes he won't even eat that, even if it's on his favorite food! Lately, I've been feeding to him in Kale. He eats it most of the time, but sometimes he's a pain in the ass about taking his vitamins.
After I got ready for bed I told my parents and my sister, who had just gotten home nearly an hour late might I add, goodnight. I went into my room and locked the door. Even though I'm tired as hell I'm not going to bed right now. It's only nine o'clock. Who goes to bed at nine?!
I turned my light off and I got my laptop, the laptop charger, and my earbuds. I plugged my charger in the wall outlet beside my bed and plugged the other end in my laptop. I put my earbuds in the laptop and buried it and myself under the covers.
Tweek taught me how to do this a few years ago when we were having a slumber party at his house. Now, I call staying up late with an electronic device under the covers to block the light "pulling a Tweek".
I checked my email to see if he messaged me. He usually did as soon as he got in bed. His family go to bed at eleven so I still had a while to wait. I watched Youtube and scrolled through my social media while I waited for him to message me.
...
Before I knew it, a notification popped up on my laptop saying that I got an email from Tweek.
"Hey, are you awake?" I don't see how he types on his goddamn tablet.
"Yeah. How do you feel?" It was a lame reply but it was all I could think of. My brain was fried.
"Pretty good. How do you feel?"
"I'm tired as hell. Making coffee is a lot harder than I thought it would be."
"I'm tired as hell. Making coffee is a lot harder than I thought it would be."
"It would've been a lot easier if you stopped spilling it everywhere. You almost burnt me, man!"
"Sorry about that. I was just trying to put milk in it!"
"It was steamed milk, not milk."
What's steamed milk? "There's no difference. They're both milk."
"They're both milk but there is a difference. Steamed milk is made frothy when it's exposed to high powered steam from an espresso machine. You can also make steamed milk by putting milk in a jar and shaking it up in a jar for 30-60 seconds."
"Uh ... ok"
"Steamed milk is used in lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, flat whites, macchiatos, cortados, etc. The steamed milk gives them a different flavor and consistency than regular milk would."
"Damn. You're a better barista than your parents."
"Who do you think taught me all of this? Although, I am a better baker than my parents. "
"You're a way better barista than I am."
"Maybe I can teach you what I know. I'm better at baking than making coffee anyhow"
...
I had to wake up at six, so at four I told him I was going to bed. I wanted to get a couple hours of sleep. "I have to be up at six so I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Tweek."
"Goodnight, Craig. I love you."
"I love you too. Your crazy ass better get some sleep. An hour may not be much but it's better than nothing. Remember, you taught me that."
"At least I taught you something."
"You're a jackass."
"You taught me that."
I was too tired to reply so I just turned my laptop off and put it on my nightstand. I was so fucking exhausted. Why didn't I go to sleep two hours ago when Tweek said that I'd better get some sleep? I never listen. God, I have one long ass day ahead of me. When my head hit the pillow I fell asleep almost instantaneously.