Another Dumb Romance Fic || ColeyDoesThings (Barista/Employee)

Chapter Eight: Fluffy-Feeling Fanfiction

[WARNING: The following chapter contains disassociating, depressive episodes, anxiety, and references to alcohol.]

Coffee was bitter.

Everyone knew that, of course. It was just the nature of things. Coffee, without any alteration to the flavor, at its core, was bitter and harsh. It was for this reason that many people liked it. It was the same reason that many people didn't. And, much like coffee, Nikki was bitter. She was bitter with every person she met, everything that inconvenienced her. Just like coffee, it was her nature. It was her core.

So what happened when something came along to alter the flavor?

Sitting there in the Fanfic Café, Nikki held the warm drink in her hands. It was delicious -- of course it was, it was presumably made by Bella. She'd kind of been expecting that. But she had not been expecting something perfectly tailored to her personal tastes. Zutara? That ship started so many heated arguments at her workplace that she'd been ashamed to like it. Enemies to lovers? The sharp banter followed by a passion-filled resolution was perfect in almost any context. Fluff mixed with hurt/comfort...it's like Bella had read her mind.

Had she?

After getting over the initial surprise, Nikki took another sip of the sweet brew. The emotions hit her hard, almost like a comforting hug after her long day at work. She had to set it down for a moment -- her eyes were watering, she was far too relaxed, and god dammit, she would NOT cry in public!

The cashier glanced towards Bella, nervous to make eye contact (just in case). The barista was serving another customer with her usual zest, as if she hadn't a care in the world. Thank God. If she had seen the soft expression on Nikki's face, the employee might have died inside a little.

At least, more than she already had.

***

"We're letting you go."

The words felt like a punch to the gut. Stammering, Nikki tried to collect the pieces of her psyche that had just shattered. "W-what?" she finally managed to blurt out.

"I'm very sorry, but you are no longer an asset to this company. We're letting you go. You have two weeks left in your current position. Help us prepare for the transition in the time you have."

"You're...firing me?" Nikki sputtered in disbelief. "Why? What did I do?"

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that," her manager responded with a thin smile. "Corporate. You know how it goes."

Nikki's emotions changed rather quickly in that moment. At first, she'd been mortified -- ashamed, even. If she was being fired, it was likely her fault, wasn't it? Maybe it was the alcohol, or her sarcasm towards customers. But to be denied an explanation? She was no longer ashamed.

She was angry.

"Excuse me?" she retorted, her voice going back to her usual scathing harshness. "I have a right to know. How am I supposed to know what I did wrong if you don't give me an explanation? I'm pretty sure this is a violation."

"You don't need to know," her manager responded coolly, "and even if you did, there's nothing you could do about it. You're just a hopeless alcoholic with no chance. Isn't that enough?"

"Don't punch him," Nikki thought to herself. "For fuck's sake, don't punch him, you'll just make it worse."

Fists balled, Nikki inhaled deeply, then gritted her teeth irately. "Fine. Thank you, sir. I'll make do with what I can of my remaining time here."