Espresso--First installment
This is just the first part of the story I've been working on. It's going to be a romance. This is basically a teaser. There's really no sex to speak of in this bit, but there will be in the rest of the story, so disclaimer done. Also, feedback is welcome and appreciated, and if any suggestion fits well with my own ideas, I'll change stuff and reconsider options for where it'll go. So yeah. Okay. Read.
The small tink of a bell sounded, signaling the entrance of a customer. I looked up from my book and saw a wolf stamping his feet on the floor mat, a small whirl of snowflakes following him in from outside. He looked up at the counter, where I was seated, and I closed my book. He pulled off his hat and ruffled his hair as he approached, and I put on my smile. "Hey there, what can I get you?"
"Medium London Fog. Make it for here," he said as he pulled out his wallet.
"London Fog, eh? One of my favorites." He grunted in acknowledgement and my smile faltered. No big deal, really. Not everyone wanted a conversation. Still, the London Fog wasn't that common of an order, and I couldn't help but try and satisfy my curious side. It killed the cat, I know, but so far, I'd been a cat free of death by curiosity. "Can I get you anything else?"
"No, that's all," he said, rather plain-faced.
"Alright, that's going to be 2.97."
He handed me a five and I got him his change before I got his drink in the making. English breakfast tea with a splash of cream and a shot of vanilla. I always made the splash of cream a little bigger than was called for, but it was better that way in my opinion. I brought the drink to the table he'd sat at, and I tried my luck at conversation once more. "Haven't I seen you around campus?" I wasn't sure if I had or not, but maybe it'd loosen the guy up.
"Probably," he replied, taking the drink from me. He opened up his laptop, an effective red light. My tail bristled a little. On one hand, I was flustered by the cold shoulder he was giving me. I was a cute enough barista, and even if guys weren't your thing, I thought I was nice and charismatic enough to warrant a smile at least. On the other hand, though, I was just as frustrated that I was upset by it. Here he was, just another customer--nothing special to mention, and the more he walled himself off, the stronger my desperation became to see what was being hidden.
Of course, easier said than done. I was defeated, at least for the moment. I sulked back to the counter and noisily set the dirty dishes in the sink. I went back to the book I'd been reading, _Anansi Boys. _ After every few pages, I looked up from the book and tried to catch the wolf at something interesting, something revealing. But no, each time I glanced at him, he was in the same position, typing at his computer. I sighed, flicked my tail in minor annoyance, and closed my book.
"What's up, pussycat?" someone said into my ear. I jumped and felt the fur on my tail bush out in surprise. I whirled around and saw Sara, my coworker, giggling. Evidently, she'd gotten done taking inventory. Sara was a cat, like me. But where I was basically a mutt--I had light creamy fur and brown ears, paws, and tail tip--Sara fit the Somali breed well. Her fur was a rusty color, full of highlights. The fur on her tail, neck, and cheeks was particularly long and soft; Sara was a very attractive girl. She knew that I wasn't that into girls, and she liked to push her limits with me.
"Nothin. It's been slow. We've only had one in since you started inventory." I pointed to the wolf, who remained oblivious.
Sara leaned against me. "Sundays are the worst, huh, Chess?"
"Yeah. Nothing interesting ever happens." I looked over at the wolf again, fruitlessly.
"What? That guy?" Sara had caught me at it. "You know him or something?"
"Shh!" I shook my head and ran my finger across my throat. Shut up!
She laughed. "Hey you! Wolfie!" He looked up from his screen with a start, then frowned when he saw Sara flailing her hands at him. "Chess here thinks you're cute or something! Give him your number!"
I was dead. I wanted to die, to slip away into the curls of steam from the coffee, and to vanish into the air. Sara just laughed and laughed and the wolf shook his head and went back to his computer. My face burned, pink through my fur, and I slunk as low behind the counter as I could. Sara kept giggling; she seemed quite pleased with herself.
"Sara, be my mercy angel. Please?" I held a paw out to her weakly, smiling despite myself. She took it in hers and kissed it lightly on the back.
"You'll be fine, Chess. I was only playing."
I pulled my paw back and rubbed it. "You didn't have to embarrass me like that, you know."
She smirked. "It only would have been embarrassing if it was true."
I felt some of the color return to my cheeks and I scooted away from her. "It's not like that! I don't even know him. He wouldn't even talk to me. He's just some jerk."
The bell tinkled again, and the door closed loudly. Sara and I both jumped up from behind the counter and watched as the wolf walked away down the street. I must have forgotten myself and let my voice raise more than I thought. He'd heard and been offended. Of course, this should have been no problem, had I really no interest in him. Like it or not, something about him intrigued me, and I always had trouble checking my curiosity.
"Well," Sara said, "that takes care of that I guess. Now he's not a distraction anymore." She took a breath and looked around. "You're off in an hour or so, Chess. Make yourself useful and clean stuff. Then you can take half of whatever's in the tip jar and go home and sulk."
"I do more than sulk, you know," I said, grabbing a rag and heading to the lounge area.
"I wouldn't know. You've never taken me home with you!" Sara shouted back to me, laughing. I scoffed and started cleaning tables, ready for the end of the shift.
Monday afternoon, and my classes were done for the day. Lucky for me, I had the night off from work and my professor had pushed back the assignment for Tuesday to Thursday. For me, that meant I didn't have to do it tonight anymore. A rare free night to read, play video games, and dick around.
After having napped for several hours, I decided I'd pick up my book for some more reading. My roommate wasn't home and I wouldn't be able to get the peace required for reading if I waited for him to show up.
Two chapters later, the silence began to unsettle me a little. I rarely had so much time to myself, and I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would. My roommate, Kieran, was a cheetah, and he was usually too rowdy for my tastes, but he was at least entertaining. Just then, my stomach rumbled loudly, pulling my attention to more impending matters. I grabbed a frozen pizza and set the oven to preheat.
As I waited, I straightened up a few things in the living room. Kieran had left his dishes from lunch on the table and I took them back to the sink for him to wash later. I reorganized the bookshelf and video game cabinet, returning books and games that had been left out. As I did so, I found one of Kieran's porn mags left on top of the books on the bottom shelf. The cover showed a large-breasted fox getting spit-roasted by two large males: a lion and a bear. I picked up the magazine gingerly and slipped it under the door to his room. Of course, the image of Kieran jacking off came to mind, and I half-heartedly pushed it back as I went to put the pizza in the oven.
I'd been sitting on the couch for about five minutes after the pizza went in when my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and the caller ID showed Sarah's name. Hesitantly I answered. "Hey Sarah. Something wrong at the store?"
"No, I just got off, and I have something for you."
"Huh? Like what?"
"Well, someone brought in something for you today, and I have it with me."
"Are you gonna tell me what it is then?"
"I could, but a ride home would be nice." I could picture her batting her eyes at me on the other end of the line.
"Yeah, I guess. I'll be by in about ten minutes. This had better be worth it."
"It will," she said before ending the call. I grabbed my keys and headed out to my car.
When I pulled up to the coffee shop, Sarah was waiting outside in her coat. Like a little kid, she was catching snowflakes on her tongue. I rolled down my window and called out to her in a deep voice. "Hey little girl. Why don't you come over here and get some candy?"
She perked up in surprise, and when she noticed that it was me, she hurried over to the car and hopped in. I had only opened my mouth to ask what she had for me, but she started in before I could get a word out.
"I live at 2316 Forrest Boulevard, if you know where that is." I started driving at this point, holding my question for later. "I forgot my lunch at home today, so all I've had to eat today was a biscotti. I think if I try to make anything for myself when I get home, I'll pass out before I can finish. I think I'll just order a pizza--just a sec Chess." She pulled out her phone and started flipping through her contacts for a pizza place.
"Pizza! Oh crap!" I made a sharp turn, of which the driver behind me was not too fond. He gave me a double finger--powerful.
"Chess! What are you doing?" Sarah shouted, having been tossed into the door.
"Sorry, Sarah! I forgot I left a pizza in the oven at my place. We have to stop there first."
She sighed and slumped back in her seat. She tapped her fingers on the window idly as I hurried to make it back home. Once I got there, I jumped out of the car and shouted over my shoulder to Sarah as I ran to the building. "You can come in!" Leaving the building door open for Sarah, I bounded up the stairs to my apartment, 2D. I left that door open as well and hurried into the kitchen. Fortunately, there was no smoke to greet me, but I could tell from the smell of it that the pizza was starting to burn. As I pulled the pizza out to set it on the counter to cool, I heard Sarah's voice. "Hey, is this your room?"
"Hey! Don't go in there!" I yelled as I headed for my room. "I said you could come in, not snoop!"
Sarah was sitting on my bed, smiling as me as I entered. "You're pretty tidy, for a boy. But you left a pair of undies by the closet," she said, pointing. "Boxer-briefs?"
I balled my fists as she giggled. "Okay. Out."
"Sourpuss," she mumbled as she pranced out of my room.
I closed the door loudly behind me to try and make a point. Sarah sat down on the couch, ignorant of her trespass. I shot her a quick glare as I went back into the kitchen to slice the pizza. As I put a slice on a plate, Sarah walked up behind me. "Can I have some?" she asked. I scoffed and went back to the couch. Soon after, Sarah joined me with her own slice.
After finishing my slice in relative silence, I set my plate down on the coffee table and turned to Sarah. "Alright. What's this about you having something for me?"
She ate the last bite of her pizza and grinned at me. "Well, you'll never believe this, but that guy actually came back."
"What guy?"
"The wolf guy. The one that sort of bugged you, or whatever. Remember how I teased you about it?" I nodded grimly. "Well, he came back, and he left his number for you."
My jaw dropped. "No way."
"Really. I've got it right here." She dug around in her pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. I reached for it, but she pulled it back and grinned again.
"What?" I asked skeptically.
"I'll give it to you if you kiss me."
"What? Sarah, no. I don't want--"
"No kiss, no number. I know you want it."
"The number, yes. The kiss, no. Come on, Sarah." I reached for her hand again, but she drew it back further.
"I just want to try it, Chess. Please?"