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.

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 u ready to leave your number on my cup today or not yet?" He asks walking in

"I'll tell u what. I will give 2 random numbers of my phone to any of u who will tell me my name. If u all know my name, then u have my number and u 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!" He 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 proudly

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

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

"Can I ask u something?"

"Sure doll!" Thomas says

"First, stop calling me doll! It's stupid! Second, don't y'all have anything else to do other than to hit on me? I mean, u're all probably in your 30s, right?"

"Right..."

"Well, don't u 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, u'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 u! U 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, u don't have to be a bitch about it, ok? U 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! U're cops, u should know better than to act like that. I appreciate what u do for our city, but this is my shop and I don't appreciate u harassing my coffee girl! Take your coffees and donuts and please leave her alone for today...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 u so much, Fred, I don't know what I would have done or said if u 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 u're getting a lot of that! If u 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, u never know what they might do..."

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

"U're a little pale, are u ok?"

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

"Another one? Jeez!"he 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 u..."

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

"I am, yeah! So, same?"

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

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

"Wow, u 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 u your name, can I get a date?" he asks smiling and I raise my head to look at him

"Took u long enough!"

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

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

"What do u mean u don't date?"

"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 u put it like that, then u'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 have sex instead..." I explain 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 u"

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

"Thank u! 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...