Chapter 3 "God i Hate My Job..."

Before i started on the cappuccino machine i had to get my tacky green shirt on me to meet the boss's dress code. so i jogged toward the back of the Cafe towards the mens restroom. i unzipped the dark-gray hoodie i was wearing as i opened the door and jumped to a bathroom stall. i tore off my white tee that was underneath as quick as i could and rushed the green tee that previously tried to kill me over my head and around my body. it fit a little tight around the chest and arms but thats the way i like my clothes. before i left the bathroom i took a glance in one of the mirrors to see if everything was on the right way. i still cant believe that my cheap ass boss who re-uses coffee filters went out of his tight budget to place a full length mirror in both bathrooms. anyway, i took a glance at myself to make sure im up to par with his strict dress code. my dark brown shoulder-length hair was short enough to be pushed back with just a little water. as well as a rubber band. any longer and id be forced to wear a hair net. my dark, deep green shirt was flat and straight around my chest and waist only to meet the middle of my belt. i also wore my worn out black jeans that are mostly a dark gray now, which was being held up by my three prong brown belt with a silver buckle. completing my outfit with my dark brown leather shoes. "everything seems to be where it should -oh i almost forgot." i reached down into one of my oversize back pockets to grab a tacky green baseball cap that matched the tacky green shirt i had to wear, and placed it on my head. it had the same ugly neon orange logo on it as the sign in the front. but it was dress code for long haired employees. "God, i hate my job." i said to the doppelganger of myself in the full length mirror. i could of sworn i heard a small chuckle from behind me when i walked out of the bathroom, but i knew i was alone in there.



the cafe was just as nice inside as it was outside. the main bar area had all hardwood cedar planks that climbed up from the floors halfway to meet the dark java-colored walls with burnt orange accents. the main bar was made of a dark, heavy cedar wood. lined with bronze handles and pipes. complete with a huge complex antique bronze Cappuccino machine that liked to work only when it felt like it. my job was to work that behemoth. which wasnt as easy as it sounded. it doesnt really sound easy in the first place come to think of it.


"did you wash your hands?" a strange nasal voice emerged from behind the antique machine. "yes leo. unlike you i can actually reach the sink." i smirked as i pictured his stubby little body attempting to reach the various valves and nozzles on the Cappuccino machine. "a basic david and goliath situation i see." i said as i pointed at the top of the machine where there seemed to be a leak in main steamer pipe. "twist the center valve clockwise leo." i stated to solve that problem. "hey dont act like you know it all, jack. i wasnt the one who was an hour late again." leo replied with agitation "i had to cover your ass yet again, even though id love to see your ass get fired." i pulled one of the aprons around my waist and took a leap of faith over the main counter to meet leo on the other side. "okay, stop fantasizing about my ass and go grab some sealant so i can fix the leak." i was growing annoyed of his ego and wanted him to leave my sight. leo responded with an evil glare, but reluctantly obeyed my command, seeing that the boss was staring at the both of us.


after a couple hours of serving coffee, i started counting the minutes in which it was time to get out of there. i would of left an hour ago but i promised the boss i would work overtime. "me and my great ideas." i said sarcasticly to myself. somebody left a cleaning rag on the bar so i decided to clean the unoccupied tables near the front, but as i walked toward the front entrance, i saw a face that i seen earlier this afternoon. it was Gina. i never actually knew she lived close by since we never really talk, except for when i snore too loud in class that is. it was a bit exciting to see somebody i knew since its much less boring than counting minutes till closing time. naturally i wasnt going to rush over to her table since that would seem extremely arkward. so i decided to wipe down the tables located two stalls to the left of her. as i rubbed vigoriously at the pre-cleaned tables, inching my way toward Gina. i noticed she wasnt wearing her usual gray-wool sweater. in fact, she was wearing a dark red buttondown blouse which gave her slender body a rather nice shape. she also wore tight black dress pants and dress shoes. her blonde hair was in the usual librarian bun, which is originally what made me recognise her from afar. it seemed as if she dressed up for some special occasion like a dinner party, or a formal of some sort. by this time i was literally three feet from her table and she had not moved an inch. her attention was focused on her biology textbook. even out of school she still had her thinking cap on.


"you know, you suck at sneaking up on people Jack." Gina said smoothly as if she knew i was there the entire time. her eyes never left the book! how did she know? "you coulda said something earlier, instead of making me feel stupid the entire time." i replied, still in amazement that she knew who i was. "i could have, but i chose not to." she said as she smiled and turned her head towards me so her eyes met mine. i noticed that she wasnt wearing her usual black rimmed glasses tonight. in fact she had on a pair of stylish thin, silver rimmed glasses with rose colored lenses. "it was cute watching you panic." she had a bit of confidence in her words. i guess having a guy practically stalk you, gives you a bit of a confidence boost. "well since im here, do you want me to refill that for you?" i pointed at the empty coffee cup sitting inches away from her right hand. "umm sure, why not" she smiled as she handed me the ceramic coffee cup, i folded the table rag and draped it over my right arm as i reached for her cup with my left. right before i obtained full grip of the coffee cup, my index finger touched the bottom of her hand and she jolted back, followed by a yelp of pain coming straight from Gina. i watched the cup fall to the floor as if it were in slow motion. i even pictured myself reaching down to grab it just before it hit the ground but a voice inside of me said "no."


a large cracking sound echoed through the cafe. then reality kicked back in and i noticed the ceramic cup shattered into a million pieces at gina's feet. "im so, so sorry Gina! are you ok?" hastily picking up all the tiny shards of ceramic at her feet. "im fine. you just gave me a little shock, thats all." she replied. still amazed at what just happened. "a rather powerful one to say the least. i feel like i stuck my finger in a socket." i took a quick glance up at her to see if any ceramic shrapnel got on her clothing. i noticed her skin got even paler than what it already was. "oh god, i hope i didnt hurt you too badly. you sure your okay?" my heart was pounding but all i could think of was, who was it that told me no? i looked down to make sure i picked up every last shard but then i started to hear giggling and laughing from right above me. "cmon sparky, your gonna need more than just some static electricity to take me down." Gina smirked as she replied. "well, ill be sure to drag my feet when i fetch you a new cup then okay?" i stuck my tongue out at her as i carried the table rag full of ceramic shards to the trash can near the antique coffee maker.


"smooth one Fabio." that nasal voice appeared once again from behind the cappucuno machine. "just shut up leo and give me a refill." leo smirked and grabbed another ceramic cup from the shelf behind him and placed it under one of the many nozzles of the bronze giant. after a couple seconds, steam would rise from a vent on the left side and scolding hot milk would emerge and mix with the perculated coffee that was brewing on the other side. it was truly amazing to see such a complicated machine full of dials, knobs and valves do something so simple as brew a crappy cup of coffee. when the cup was full, leo reckessly tossed the cup in my direction so i ended up splashing some on my hand. it burned and hand clench. i flinched a little from the pain, but i didnt want to give leo the satisfaction of knowing he succeeded in burning me. so i swiftly turned and faced gina's table with leo and the machine directly at my back. as i took a couple steps forward i noticed Gina watching me as i came toward her with her new fresh cup of coffee. all of a sudden i started hearing a loud hissing sound and leo screaming in pain "my face! my face!" i jolted my neck around only to see steam and boiling milk streaming out of the antique bronze machine in every which way. as if i knew what was going to happen next. i swung back around toward Gina and yelled "Watch out! it might blo-." but before i could finish, i heard a large metal CLANG from directly behind me, as well as a massive force jolt my head forward and down toward the floor. i lost my balance and my head slammed down to the ground. within a matter of seconds the world around me started getting dark and mute. all i heard now was muffled voices screaming my name. and the sight of a thick bronze tube that lay beside me on the cold hardwood floor. pretty soon all my senses died out and all that was the Mansion Cafe had vanished.