Chapter 2
Neil became a regular after that, asking for Andrew most of the time when it became obvious that he wasn't getting along with Kevin. He would order the same bland order each time, progressively concerning Andrew more and more about his caffeine intake. He couldn't talk, though, with how much sugar he consumed each and every day despite Kevin's constant nagging about it being bad for him.
"Same again, if you don't mind." Neil had stopped saying the dreaded 'p' word the second Andrew told him not to. He was wise. Andrew was still surprised by it. Not many people knew to listen.
"You're more caffeine than you are man. How is your heart still beating?"
"Very fast. It's usually the way."
"I've just been told the brownies are a pound cheaper if you want one of those?" Andrew added, and Neil took a look at the brownies behind the glass. Then shook his head and paid for his coffee. Something about the texture of brownies was so hit and miss for Neil that he wouldn't risk it if he wasn't making them himself. "Why do you come alone?"
"I don't have friends. Never had the time to make any when I was a kid so now I'm awkward as fuck when I'm not in situations that can be scripted."
"Fair enough. Next." Andrew rolled his eyes as Neil walked away sipping at his obviously too-hot coffee, repeating the same phrase he did all day, every day. He thought he might quit if the pay wasn't decent like it was. Even Andrew needed money to help him survive. He bit his tongue when he saw a customer he'd served not five minutes before Neil, a cup still full of coffee. "How can I help you?"
"I ordered this coffee five minutes ago, it's freezing cold, I can't drink this." Andrew nodded, taking the cup from the woman's hand. It was still relatively hot, but she shouldn't be surprised. It had been over ten minutes since she had ordered, of course, it would have cooled down. "I want a refund."
"Ma'am I can't refund this drink on the basis that it has cooled down. I can make you another drink and probably offer you a small snack from the display here, but that's all I can do." she scoffed, but nodded, waiting for him to re-make the drink. It didn't take him long, and when she pointed out a snack, Andrew was sure to package it nicely enough and write it through. It was on the house. "Here's your new drink and your snack. Hope this one is better than the last."
She took one look at the coffee cup, shaking her head. Andrew wasn't surprised when she placed the cup back on the table. In fact, he'd expected it.
"Is everything okay?"
"This is not my drink." Andrew sighed, calling Kevin over to look at the register. Confirming that the black coffee and three sugars had in fact been ordered by the woman, Rachel. He knew his own memory hardly ever failed him, mostly putting on a show for the woman in front of him.
"Rachel, right?" Andrew asked, and the woman nodded. "Black coffee, three sugars. Yes?"
"That's right." Andrew looked at her coffee, handing it to her. "What is this?"
"This is your black coffee with three sugars." When she saw that she wasn't getting her way, she picked up the coffee cup, trying to make out that she was okay with everything. It failed. Miserably, and instead of asking for the manager like most people would, she made the entirely rational decision to throw the hot coffee at Andrew. He hissed and stepped back, and he could see Wymack rushing in from the back. He ran out to the back of the coffee shop, into the staff bathrooms where he threw off his apron and shirt to check how badly he'd been burned by the scalding hot coffee. It didn't seem all that bad on his skin, but it had definitely hurt.
"Andrew." Kevin's voice, Andrew slipped back into his shirt, leaving the stall. "Are you okay? That coffee was steaming."
"I'm fine. It barely got through my clothes." Kevin nodded, and Wymack popped his head through the doorway. Making sure that Andrew was okay.