Chapter 16, First Day.

(Author Note: Previous chapter updated, this chapter inserted 7/15/16 - I felt it was necessary to the story to add in more interaction with Mephisto early on.)

The hustle and bustle of True Cross town was high on a typical, busy Saturday; people were taking advantage of the spring sun by getting out of the school and forgetting about classes or homework for at least one day during the week. Some walked down the main boulevard, stopping at a few of the posh shops, the gourmet cupcake bakery, and so on, while others made their way to the beach, or visited the art museum, or went to a casual concert in the park.

Days like this left the shops overcrowded, and understaffed, and as the weather headed deep into spring and neared summer, shop keeps only knew that the traffic would increase even more. It was this reason exactly that let the girl land a part time job at one of the corner cafés, a place where quiet intellectuals came to write on their laptops, and musicians came to practice in front of an audience. The food was good, the treats were great, and the drinks were off the wall – and fantastic to say the least. It was a little hole away from the world where she had frequented as an escape, curled up in a scarf, sipping peppermint cocoa, listening to the acoustic guitars and melodic voices lull her off into a dream land. She had been lucky enough to become acquainted with the manager and shop owner, a woman with blue hair and two nose rings on the same nostril, who was impressed with the drinks that the girl had come up with on her own, and so offered her a job as a waitress after school, and was happy to work around the girls' tutoring sessions.

And it was on one of these busy spring Saturdays that was the girl's first day working at the café, waiting tables, taking orders, making drinks, bussing tables, cleaning spills, taking back and remaking drinks that weren't good enough for some of the pretentious customers – but she did it all with a smile on her face and a determination in her heart. But perhaps that's how it usually is in the beginning of anything; the feeling is so new, that it gives one some sort of high as they feel like something is being accomplished in their life, despite all the crap that people will give the worker. Only for the high to eventually give way to despair and loathing once the negativity has taken it's toll, wearing and tearing upon the soul of those involved. She was no exception to this rule. But it was her first day, and nothing was more exciting for her than to put her all into something.

As the day rolled on into the early evening, and the foot traffic in the café gave way to musicians and regulars, who would stay seated for hours without needing much attention, she felt the same presence that she had always felt, time and time again. She was in the middle of putting an order in for a table, and when she turned to look, of course, as always, there was nothing there – just the dusky pink light from the sunset observing the on goings of the quiet little shop from afar.

"Table sixteen," the manager called, gesturing to the back of the shop as someone sat down.

The girl, swamped with getting the tasks done finally now that there were less customers to tend to, quickly set her things down and grabbed her pad and pen, scurrying through the small tables as she wrote down the table number on the paper. "What can I get you?" she asked, eyes still glued to the pad.

"Whatever you recommend," came a familiar voice.

Looking up from her notepad, she came face to face with Johann Faust, who was sitting in the back of the shop at the small corner table, legs crossed, elbow on the tabletop while his chin rested in his palm. His tired eyes smiled sweetly as he viewed her with esteem.

"Sir Faust!" she belted nervously, her hand bolting up to adjust her ponytail, hoping she didn't look like too much of a mess. The surroundings grew still and quiet all around them. "What are you doing here?!"

He glowed with adoration, taking in the sight of the girl as out of sorts as she was. He couldn't help but to think how delightful she looked in just a pair of jeans and a simple tee shirt, with a folded apron around her hips. Her hair might have been loose and messy from a hectic day, but it was a wonder to see her in such a state. "I heard you started working, so I thought I would come see you on your first day," he said with the look of a long day on his face.

Her cheeks lit like the fireplace in the center of the shop. "Well thank you, that's awfully kind of you," she muttered.

The slight warmth in his eye grew to a small smile as she blushed before him. Taking his arm off of the table, he took up the menu and looked it over. "I seem to be unable to decide what to order—" he closed the menu and looked back up at her. "What would you pick?"

"Oh! Uh," she stuttered, looking down at the menu in his hands, for some reason drawing a blank on the drinks they offered. "The Honey-Bear Latte, made with real honey, is just a bit sweet – otherwise we have a wide selection of chai teas and Frappe Shakes…there's the Marshmallow Pillow Latte which is pretty popular, or the Kicker Espresso, which has a pinch of cayenne—"

"Which one would you order, right now, if you could?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

She was quiet for a moment as she stared him in his green, unwavering eyes. "The Caramella," she finally answered, with a sureness in her voice. It was a gourmet chocolate and caramel espresso, with milk and whipped cream - much more of a dessert than a coffee drink, but she didn't think he was going to judge her.

"Great. We'll have two of those. When are you off?"

She quickly glanced at the clock on the old brick wall, nerves bouncing around within her. "My shift is over pretty soon, why?"

"I was hoping to have that drink with you, and maybe listen to some of these aspiring artists who are getting ready for the night?" he motioned towards the musicians lining up in the back of the shop by the small stage, tuning their instruments or looking over lyrics while they hummed the tune. "Perhaps, since it's your first day, and I'm certain you did an excellent job, they'll let you go a tad early?" he asked, waving his hand upwards in a small circle. The girl huffed quietly as she looked behind her, uncertain, only to see her manager nod in approval. "Perfect!" he announced, bringing her attention right back to him. "Come have a seat with me."

Untying her apron, her cheeks became tinged with blush once again, and she sat down in the already pulled-out chair across from the director, and then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "This is pretty unexpected – sorry I'm such a mess," she chuckled, trying to diminish her nerves with laughter.

"Nonsense, you look wonderful," he started, reaching into his jacket. "I got this for you, since it reminded me of you a bit." He pulled out a single white flower, in full bloom, somehow with only just a few bruises on the petals. It might not have been perfect, but it was beautiful nonetheless. She looked at the gesture with a sense of childlike wonder, and he motioned for her to come closer, breaking off the long stem. As she leaned over the minuscule table, he slowly tucked the loose strands of hair back in place behind her ear, and pinned it back with the flower.

(Author Note: The color white is associated with peaceful personalities, as well as innocence and purity.)