Chap6: Searching For Old Ernie

Sakura groaned as she blindly groped for a blanket, trying to block out the suns incessant rays as well as the annoying knocking on her door. Sakura opened her eyes a fraction and groaned as she attempted to turn in her seat, quickly realizing she had fallen asleep in her la-z-boy chair the night before.

"Ugh all right all right I'm coming keep your pants on!" She yelled in a tired voice as she got up groaning once more, making her way to the door rubbing the sore spot on her back. She unlocked the door slowly and opened it, an arm flying up in front of her eyes to shield them from the sudden light. "UGH! What the hell do you want this early in the morning!" She lowered her arm and gasped suddenly at Syaorans confused face. His face was contorted in what looked like a mixture of hurt, confusion and bubbling laughter.

"Oh it's you. Come in."

Syaoran gave her a look and walked in, closing the door behind him. "Um, did I wake you?"

Sakura glared, "No I just make it a point to always look like this."

Syaoran couldn't help raising his eyebrows assessing her current state. She was defiantly not a morning person. Her hair was everywhere and he noticed she was still in the same clothes she was wearing the other day. Her loose Capri pants hung loosely off her hips and her white tank top slightly twisted from sleep. "Sorry, I was just wondering if you had forgotten that you were supposed to be at Eriols house this morning to help me look for a job."

"Well there's still plenty of morning left, you couldn't just wait for me?"

He gave her a look of mock annoyance, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's 1:30 in the afternoon Sakura."

Sakura's eyes widened considerably. "Are you serious! Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! Hold on, just give me ten minutes I'll be ready in a sec. Just, ah, make yourself at home." She turned quickly and ran up the stares and tripped once missing a step and resumed rushing up the stares on all fours.

Syaoran almost laughed at her sudden panic attack and he could hardly contain said laughter once he heard Sakura yelling at herself for being so stupid and short with him.

He was just looking over various pictures in the living room when he heard Sakura rushing down the stairs, putting her hair up in a rushed pony tail and presented herself in front of him. "There see, all ready, lets go."

This time Syaoran couldn't hold back his laughter any longer; his actions only meeting a confused face. "Your shirt." he said through bouts of laughter, "It's inside out and backwards." Sakura blushed and ran into the kitchen where she righted herself and waited for Syaoran to stop laughing before re-entering.

"Ok Syaoran, you've had your fun. Now shall we go? Or would you like to remain un-employed?"

Syaoran sobered himself and led the way to the door where the two set out for the bus stop.

"Um, Syaoran, I'm sorry for snapping at you when you first walked in. I don't know if you noticed but I'm not much of a morning person."

Syaoran grinned, "Kinda hard not to."

Sakura glared, her 'anger' giving way to a pleasant smile that both adorned as they walked to the bus stop.

"So what kind of place do you have in mind?"

Sakura grinned, "It's a surprise. Don't worry, it's not something horrible. And the pay's pretty good for what you do. Plus, the managers really nice."

"So what makes you think I could ever get this job?"

"Well maybe you couldn't on your own, but that's why you got me." She smiled up at him confidently and Syaoran huffed, "Pretty confident in your persuasion skills aren't you?"

Sakura only nodded as they boarded the bus and made their way to the back.

"So there's no chance that your going to even give me a hint is there?"

"Nope. Just be patent my little Syao-chan and you'll see soon enough"

Syaoran growled at the mocking nick name Sakura had called him and was greeted by her amused laughter. "Please never call me that again."

"Ok...Syao-chan" She laughed again as Syaoran tried to punch her playfully in the arm and almost fell off her seat as she dodged it and stuck her tongue out at him.

She pressed the strip of yellow tape on the wall of the buss, signaling for a stop at the next stop and she stood up in anticipation. Syaoran followed her and stood up behind her reaching over her shoulder to hold onto the metal bar for balance.

Sakura looked back at his face which was currently facing the right side window, his amber eyes taking in their surroundings and she turned her face away quickly looking at her feet when she realized she had been staring. She got over it quickly enough and grabbed his arm dragging him out of his thoughts and off the buss.

They were in the center of town now. A series of semi-crowded streets each lined with respective shops and restaurants. It was a small town and most of the shops Syaoran looked into seemed to be a series of self owned and managed family shops. He couldn't help the small smile that crept over his features as he watched with observing eyes as customers on the streets were greeted warmly by shop owners and everyone seemed to know each other in some way or another. He liked the small town feeling he got as the friendly atmosphere wrapped its self around him. It wasn't long till he was walking next to Sakura greeting people along with her.

Sakura smiled observing Syaoran. He really seemed to be getting into the whole small town spirit. She had noticed that the more time she spent with Syaoran the more he had loosened up from the first time she'd met him. He seemed to like their little town. Looking at him now one would think he had grown up in a town like this his whole life instead of a big city like Hong Kong.

Syaoran caught her looking at him, "what?"

Sakura only smiled, "Nothing, just you know, I think this is the longest time I've ever seen a smile on your face for. Usually you've got this face that makes people think you've got a giant stick you your ass"

Syaoran looked down at her trying to hide his grin. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Sakura only shrugged and turned her attention in front of her, a small silence grew between them when Sakura spoke up looking at Syaoran intently, "You like it here don't you. You actually like the small simple life"

"Yeah so what?"

Sakura laughed. "Nothing, it's just that most people here only dream of living in the city and getting out of here but the one guy who actually comes from a creditable big city likes it here better then where he comes from."

Syaoran only shrugged, "You say most people, does that make you an exception? You still have yet to tell me what you're dream is."

"And I still think you'll laugh. But I do want to get out of here, something about being here all your life just kind of makes you want to get out. You know, just looking around here you can't help but think there's gotta be more."

Syaoran shrugged, "Just goes to show you that people are never satisfied with what they already have."

Sakura nodded in understanding, but couldn't help thinking that there was more to what he meant then the places where they lived. She shrugged and dropped the subject as she took Syaorans hand again and pulled him down a small street and stopped in front of a coffee shop. "We're here."

Syaoran looked up at the small coffee shop and read the sign. "Kaho's Koffee Korner. Do you think she knows coffee and corner are spelled with 'C's not 'K's?"

Sakura laughed, "Yes, she knows. This is just her being smart. Come on lets get you a job." Syaoran smirked, "Show me those persuasion skills you seem so confident in." Sakura decided to ignore this comment and continued into the relatively busy shop.

Sakura wasn't even inside three steps before she suddenly shouted, "Hey Kaho, I got you a man!" Syaoran blanched behind Sakura and gave her an apprehensive look. Sakura smiled at his reaction. "Don't worry I know what I'm doing"

"He better be good! The last one you brought me was crap!" Syaoran turned towards where the voice had come from. He looked around and was surprised that the rest of the customers in the shop didn't seem the slightest bit bothered and he found himself idly wondering what kind of town this was. His attention was suddenly grabbed by a middle-aged woman with long brown hair and a friendly smile wiping her hands dry on a dark blue apron that was tied at her waist. "This the guy?"

Sakura smiled and nudged Syaoran in front of her. "Yup. This is Syaoran Li. He's looking for a summer job to keep him busy while he's here."

Kaho gave him the once over and walked up to him extending a hand which he shook. "So Syaoran, know anything about the coffee business?"

"Absolutely nothing. But I'm a fast learner."

Kaho smiled. "I like you, you're honest. Fast learner you say. Alright we'll see. Sakura what are you doing the rest of the afternoon?"

"I can see where this is going. Why can't you train him?"

"Because one, he's your friend and two, I have an errand to run."

Sakura smiled cheekily. "He's coming home in three days, don't you think you can wait that long? Besides I don't think with all the packing and what not he probably hasn't sent a letter to anyone. This is Touya we're talking about."

Kaho glared, unwrapping the apron from around her waist and handed it to Sakura. "Then just think of it this way, you're doing an old friend a favor by taking over the shop for abit and just happen to be showing the new guy the ropes."

"Where's Ben, doesn't he usually work today?"

"He's on vacation, and I'm on break."

"So does he have the job? No interview, no third degree?"

Kaho smirked, "I trust you're judgment. Besides, I've been swamped today all by my self so do me a favor and hold down the fort."

Sakura sighed, "Sure thing."

Kaho nodded thanks and walked out the door. Sakura suddenly turned to Syaoran all business. "Alright Syaoran, you got the job now prove you can do it. I'm only going to show you how to make the coffee and everything once so watch closely."

Syaoran nodded solemnly grabbing an apron from a near by hook and tied it around his waist. "So where do I start."

"Well first we wait for a customer, but in the mean time I'll tell you what everything does." Syaoran nodded and watched as Sakura pointed out what each lever did and how to make a good espresso, latte, cappuccino, and just about every other drink they served. It was only ten minutes later that Syaoran had to test out what he'd been shown when a young woman walked in, presumably on her way home from work and ordered a mocha latte with whipped cream. Syaoran gulped and went over his mind how to make a regular latte and just told him self that mocha was just a small variation of the regular and all you basically needed to do was add the mocha flavoring.

Sakura watched with amusement as Syaoran tried to remember how to make a latte and had to help him a few times and both Sakura and the woman who had ordered the latte laughed when the newly opened whipped cream exploded in his face when he tried to get it to work; albeit Sakura laughed a little louder the customer. She reached around Syaoran and handed the finished latte to her. "Oh, and um just to asses how well the newbie did, can you tell me how it tastes? Honestly." Sakura said absently handing Syaoran a towel to wipe his face on.

The woman took a sip of the latte a little apprehensively. "It's pretty good. You could be a little less stingy with the mocha but its good. Thanks." Sakura nodded and waved goodbye before turning to Syaoran. "Good job, now for the other half of this job."

"There's more? You'd think making coffee and taking orders would be it."

"Well you have to remember that this is a coffee shop and people do sit down and drink coffee which means the last part of this job is in fact picking up dirty dishes." She turned and pointed to various tables which had empty coffee cups and small plates with crumbs on them where people had ordered some pastry with their drink. "Oh yea, and you'll also have to re-fill cups every once and a while. This place can get pretty busy, but don't worry, you'll usually have at least 2 or three other people here as well so it's not too bad. Plus if you're doing tables then you get tips."

Syaoran nodded, "not bad. So tell me, how exactly do you know all about this job?"

"Oh, my brother used to work here back when he was in jr. high and high school and I used to come here a lot and every once and a while I would help him out and stuff. Kaho and Touya, my brother, are um, very close if you know what I mean. So I've basically known her since I was in like the fifth grade. And I worked here last summer."

"I see." At this Kaho walked back in and Sakura stepped out from behind the counter, taking off the apron and handed it back to her. "He's all trained and ready to go."

Syaoran scowled. "Would you quit talking about me like I'm a dog or some man slave?"

"I wouldn't mind you as a man slave. Hey Ms. Kaho send him over here and I'll treat him nice!" They all turned to a girl who was seated on the far side of the cafe with a smile on her face before turning back to the book she had been reading before.

Both Sakura and Kaho laughed ignoring Syaorans scowl, "Well Kaho it's been real. Oh and keep Syaoran away from the whipped cream."

"Hey! That was totally a one time thing!"

Kaho looked between Sakura and Syaoran a little confused, "Did I miss something?"

"The young man couldn't handle the whipped cream and it exploded in his face."

All three looked over at the elderly man who was seated near by and had just spoken. Kaho smiled her thanks, patronizing the old man giving him a brief look to mind his own business and smiled genuinely towards Syaoran. "So the whipped ream give you some trouble?"

Syaoran blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Not really, nothing I can't handle."

Kaho's grin turned into a knowing smirk, "I'm sure." before she turned to Sakura who was making her way out the door. "Oh Sakura, I expect I'll see you this Friday evening?"

"Sorry Kaho, Dad, Touya and I are going out to dinner together. Maybe some other time."

Syaoran looked bewildered and his gaze traveled between the two of them. "What's on friday?"

Kaho smiled. "Oh yea, every Friday we have an open mic night slash entertainment slash poetry thing here. It's quite popular and a lot of the neighboring collage students come as well as various people from here in town. We only started doing it last year to try and attract more customers to come in on friday nights while they're out on their dates or what ever. It's proven a good way to bring in quite the haul."

"I see. But why would you ask Sakura to come?"

Sakura laughed hesitantly and waved goodbye before she got dragged in for some other night or got embarrassed.

Kaho only smiled at her behavior and put on her apron taking a brown bin and made her way to different tables collecting the dirty dishes. "Well last summer when she was working here, I think she lost a bet or something, and had to perform something on stage and apparently everyone loved it or something and she became quite the hit. She's quite the money maker."

Syaoran laughed lightly, "Anything for a profit?"

Kaho smiled, "I like the way you think. That's right, I don't suppose I can get you to try your hand at bringing in a crowd can I?"

"Ha! Not a chance. I would rather stand outside in a coffee costume then par-take in this little open mic night you have set up."

Kaho grinned evilly, "That can be arranged as well."

"There isn't any chance of me getting friday off is there?"

"I don't see why you'd want to. You can get a lot in tips Fridays and you get paid a little extra for advertising in old Ernie."

"Old Ernie?"

Kaho nodded, "Yup, it's what we call the coffee costume. Earn? Ernie? Get it? "

"There is no way I would ever be caught dead in 'Old Ernie'"

"I don't see why not. The ladies love him."

Syaoran rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the few people that had just walked in and took their orders hoping their distraction would distract Kaho form their previous conversation. It was only after the three customers left did he see a small smirk that he could recognize anywhere. She was scheming something, and Syaoran suddenly got a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach and was seriously rethinking whether or not he really wanted to work here.

So how was that? I can't believe it's almost been a week since my last update but I actually got out of the house these past few days! (Which doesn't happen to me very often...I live a very sheltered life TT) SO anyways, yes, I was going to write this yesterday but things came up and it was confusing so here it is today. Yup, I hope you all liked it.

Ok, I really gotta say it. My Titles are retarded. I dont know if you guys read the titles, but you must agree, they are quite stupid. Haha I have no idea where I get them but uh...sorry for their retardation. -""(retardation, so my new favorite word!)

Leave me a review and its hugs all around. - I'm glad that quite a few of you are reviewing for every chapter I post. Such loyalty. sniff haha

Till next time! Ta Ta! Cursed-mind