Coffee Mess

What's My Name?

For the rest of the month, things were rather calm. I was still learning things on the job and Fred started trusting me so much that he gave me keys, so I can open the place when I have the morning shift. Mr. Maddox hadn't shown up yet and it made me feel so uncomfortable. How can I not know who I'm working for? What if he comes and sees me in person and decides that I have to go? What if he's so bad that I will have to quit when he comes? It's my first job and I want to know who my boss is. The guy is like a ghost! There are no clear photos of him, only from the back or the side, but his hair always covers most of his face. It's like he's afraid to show himself.

In the meantime, Thomas and his buddies from the police station come every morning to get coffee and donuts and don't stop hitting on me. I try not to mind them because I don't want them to get the wrong idea that I'm flirting back, and because I don't want to piss them off. Logan comes after them, probably to avoid them, and always asks me if I'm ok and if I want him to get involved, but I always say no. He tries to flirt with me too, but he does it so kindly and I tease him and he ends up getting embarrassed, the poor guy. Mike and my best friend since elementary school, Jess, tell me that I shouldn't tease him that much, because he's probably trying not to be like the other jerks and me "playing" with him only makes him feel worse, so I try to be sweeter...

One day, though, it's the first day of my period and my cramps are killing me, so my patience runs a little thin. Thomas comes again, with the same attitude, not really helping my situation.

"Good morning doll. Are you ready to leave your number on my cup today or not yet?" He asks, walking in

"I'll tell you what. I will give 2 random numbers of my phone to any of you who will tell me my name. If y'all know my name, then you have my number and you get to have one date with me each" I say and as I turn to make their coffees, I hear them talking to each other, trying to figure out what my name is

"We have a verdict!" Thomas says when I turn to leave their coffees on the counter and put their donuts in a box

"That should be good..." I say sarcastically

"It's Shonda" he says confidently

"Sorry, boys, it's Sandra. But you were so close"

"Told you it wasn't Shonda! She doesn't look like a Shonda!" One of the others says

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure doll" Thomas says

"First, stop calling me doll. It's stupid and it feels like you're mocking me for my Texan accent. Second, don't y'all have anything else to do other than to hit on me? I mean, you're all probably in your 30s, right?"

"Right..."

"Well, don't you have lives?"

"Oh, come on, we're not doing anything wrong. We're just joking around" Another one says

"Wow...grown-ass man, joking around with an 18-year-old coffee girl! Pathetic..."

"Excuse me, but u don't look 18 at all"

"So? Still, you're here, trying to guess my name, desperate to get my number and a date..."

"We're not desperate. It would just be nice to go out on a date with you. You might end up liking us"

"Well, from what I've seen from the past month, I don't think that's possible, but I like your optimism"

"Look, Sandra, we're just having fun, you don't have to be a bitch about it, ok? You want us to stop asking for your number, ok. But learn to take a compliment, ok?" Thomas says and when I'm ready to respond, Fred gets in

"Alright, fellas, I've heard enough. Stop harassing my employee. Don't ever call her a bitch again and don't tell her that she should take your harassment as a compliment. You're cops, you should know better than to act like that. I appreciate what you do for our city, but this is my shop and I don't appreciate you harassing my coffee girl. Take your coffees and donuts and please leave her alone. Your order is on me today'" He tells them in a serious tone, but not yelling and without saying anything, they take their order and leave

"Thank you so much, Fred, I don't know what I would have done or said if you hadn't walked in. I'm so sorry for talking like that to customers, but they won't stop"

"It's ok, I understand. I'm sure you're getting a lot of that. If you ever have a serious problem like that, just call me on the phone or if I'm in the back tell me to come out, don't answer to them, you never know what they might do..."

"Yes, ok. Thanks again, I'm not having it today..."

"You're a little pale, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry" I answer and at the same time, Logan walks in

"Another one? Jeez..." Fred says, ready to throw him out

"No no! He's ok. He's the good one" I say, stopping him

"What happened?" Logan asks confused, as Fred goes to the back

"Nothing, I had a fall out with Thomas and his minions, and Fred practically kicked them out and he was ready to do the same to you..."

"Man, this guy is unbelievable! Are you ok?"

"I am, yeah. So, same?"

"Yes, please!" he says, leaning against the counter with both hands

"So, what did they do today?" he asks as I make his coffee and I tell him what happened

"Wow, you were really willing to go out with them?"

"Nuh...I was sure they didn't know my name" I say, giving him his coffee and going to the register

"So, if I tell you your name, can I get a date?" he asks smiling and I raise my head to look at him

"Took you long enough!"

"Yeah, I didn't wanna sound like a jerk too, but you said to your boss that I'm the good one, so I said, why not?"

"Well, you are, indeed, and I'm sorry for all the teasing, it's just who I am as a person...you've been really kind, and thank you for that, but I don't date"

"What do you mean you don't date?" He asks puzzled

"I don't date. I'm not looking for a relationship, so I don't date..."

"Well, a date doesn't necessarily lead to a relationship..."

"Yeah, but people who start dating, do it in order to get to know each other and get comfortable and eventually see if they're compatible to be in a relationship together"

 "If you put it like that, then you're probably right..."he says kinda disappointed

"Look, I'm sorry, don't take it personally, I'm just young and I wanna live my life, so, I don't date. I just have sex instead..." I explain casually and he freezes

"Oh come on, we live in the 21st century. Women are sexually awakened"

"No no! It's not that, I'm all pro. I just didn't expect it"

"Sorry, I'm very open in that area...Didn't mean to shock you"

"Don't worry, I'm a big boy. I can take no for an answer and I respect you for being so liberal and open about it!"

"Thank you. And I appreciate your courage to ask me out"

"Good...so...I should go" he says, getting ready to pay me, but I stop him

"It's on the house today..." I say and he puts the money in the tip-jar, without breaking eye contact...