The Pentagon Relationship

It’s Saturday. Normally I would be thrilled it was Saturday, but I’m not. And do you know why? Because I had the rotten shift. That’s right, I’m currently standing across a counter, in a place that smells like coffee beans and books. The rotten shift was everyone’s nightmare at the only café/bookstore in town, Carl’s Books and Coffee Hut.

The Shift just ruined anyone’s weekend. It began Friday night, from 7-11:30, and then started Saturday from 2-8:30. Just long enough Friday night to destroy any plans, and just late enough to wreck any other things you want to do on a Saturday. You could do something Saturday night, but after The Shift, you get too tired to do anything. Not to mention you have to take a shower to get all the Cappuccino smells out of your skin.

The only good thing about Saturday would be that that was "Family Bonding Night" with my brother, Ryan. Ryan is awesome! He graduated from high school last year, the top of his class, so he got his own apartment here.

"Adeline, can you handle the register while I go take care of inventory? It’s slack enough today to do it. And can you go clean those tables by the window?"

That’s Paige, my semi-boss. She like’s to think she’s the boss, because she’s been working here longer than everyone else, but she’s really nice. She let’s us eat as many cookies as we want when its not busy. And today it was like a ghost town.

"Sure." I answered, and went to go get a cloth from under the cabinet. Except, there was no cloth.

"Where’s the cloth?" I yelled to Paige.

"Its there somewhere, keep looking." She yelled from outback. "Wow, this cupboard is deep!" I mumbled. Just then the little bell over the door rang, and a voice called from across the room.

"Is anyone here?"

"Ow! That hurt! Yea, right here." I said, getting up and rubbing my head, grimacing. I hit my head hard, and my eyes started to water a bit. "What can I get ya’?"

"Do people always act like this around here?" the guy smiled at me. I laughed a bit,

"Oh, no. I was looking for a cloth to wipe up some tables. So, would you like anything?" I finally looked at him properly, and noticed that he was about my age, maybe a year older, he was so tall (at least 6 feet). He had dark black shaggy hair, but I couldn’t tell if he was emo. It just looked a bit long, and un-kept. In contract to his hair, his eyes were bright blue, almost silver.

"What do you recommend?" He said smiling again. His smile faltered my words, and I had to think what we were talking about. ‘Oh right, coffee!’

"Uh- well our mocha latté is really good, or iced cappuccino, but I like the hot chocolate."

"Well, I guess I’ll get the hot chocolate."

"Sure," I started getting the cream, "for here or to go?"

"Better make it for here." I smiled at this. It’s just natural to want a cute guy to stay in your coffee shop as long as possible. Especially when there was no one else around. Besides this person seemed interesting, and ready to talk about anything. (I was getting bored listening to Paige talk about how her boyfriend is a slob.)

"So, are you from around here? I haven’t seen you in here before." I asked.

"No, I’m staying with my aunt and uncle for the year, along with my sister. I used to live here though, when I was little." He said.

"I see. Well here’s your hot chocolate. It might be a bit hot."

"Thanks. So, do you live around here?"

"Yea, I go to the school a couple blocks away from here. Have you seen it yet?"

"I don’t think so, but I’ll pass it later. I was touring around the city on my bike, before I saw your shop." He took a sip of the hot chocolate. "Mmm, this is good!"

I smiled, "Thanks. I think I went a bit over board with the cinnamon. It’s been a slow day." He laughed a bit at that and said,

"No, it’s perfect."

"Oh, well just for that, you my friend get a cookie! On the house."

"I should compliment cute girls in aprons more often then." He said with a smile. I tried to hide my blush, with little results. This guy was just so sweet.

"Well, I have to go meet my sister at some girly store. Do you know where the mall is?" he asked. I couldn’t help but laugh. Everyone in town knew where the mall was, it was the biggest building by far in our town, which is pretty sad, since our mall only had about 20 stores in it.

"Sure, it’s two streets down from this place. Take a left down the street, and keep going. You can’t miss it."

"Thanks, well nice talking to you, uh…"

"Adeline."

"Yea, maybe I’ll see you around. I’ll make sure I’ll stop in here one of these days."

"You better, so far you’re my only customer!" he laughed and waved goodbye, as the little bell over the shop jingled.