Coffee Mess

I quit

"This top was the wrong choice tonight..."he says after a long period of silence, ruining the mood completely

"How long have u been holding that thought?" I ask taking a step back

"Honestly? Since the day u started as a bartender"

"Why are my clothes a problem? I'm a bartender, all female bartenders wear clothes like that!"

"I don't care...U're 18, I can't have men drooling over your cleavage!"

"Well, men are drooling over my cleavage since I hit puberty. People will stare even if I'm fully covered, my boobs can't even be hidden under hoodies. I may as well feel comfortable with what I'm wearing"

"I'm just trying to protect u, Sandra" he says and I snap

"I don't need your protection! I'm more than capable to protect myself! Whatever we choose to wear, we women are always unsafe! It takes too much strength to feel comfortable in your own skin, I won't let anyone tell me I should cover up just because it makes their dick hard!"

"Watch your tone and your mouth!" he replies looking pissed

"Whatcha u gonna do if I don't, huh? Fire me?"

"As a matter of fact, yeah!"

"Don't bother, I quit!" I say looking him in the eyes and I go to the back to get my things

Ian's P.O.V

"What happened, man?" Fred asks from behind the counter as I pass by it, but I don't answer, following her pissed

"I won't accept your resignation!" I say walking in the room where the employees leave their stuff

"I don't care, I'm still quitting! I can't work with someone who doesn't know how to treat people!"

"I treat u fine!"

"Do u? I'm scared of my shadow! U're always so stiff and with this look that feels like it could kill! U've only smiled once and most of the time u don't even look at me when I say hello or good morning or goodbye! U just mouth it back more to yourself than to me! I've been working here for 3 months and our longest conversation was the one we just exchanged! And after all that, u come and ask me to dance? What the fuck dude? Decide already!"

"U're willing to leave just because I have poor communication skills?"

"It's my first job ever and I feel like every second I spend working, u're gonna come and tell me that I do it wrong or that u will just fire me for no reason! I can't live with that kind of uncertainty!"

"Oh come on! I'm not that irrational! I won't just fire u!"

"How should I know that? U have never told me I'm doing a good job!"

"I don't praise people, Sandra"

"U should seriously start!" she says taking her jacket and her purse, walking away. As she passes me by, I grab her arm and pull her back, turning to her

"Let me go!" She says from in between her teeth

"If I praise u, will u stay?" I ask her calmy, leaving her arm

"Try!"

"U're great at your job. U're kind with the customers, u learn fast, u're clean...u're actually very valuable to me!"

"I am?" I ask, with his reply surprising me that much that I immediately lose all my attitude

"Yes. I'm not good at talking to people, that's why I'm off the radar. That's why I have other people conducting the interviews and dealing with publicity. Otherwise, no one would come work for me. No one would think I'm a good employer, but I am and u know it. I'm not crazy, I don't complain about every single detail, I pay well, I care about my employees!"

"That's true..."

"I may have my quirks, but as a boss, I'm good. U don't find that easily..."

"I know, but I feel nervous when u're around; U make me shake and hyperventilate! U look at me like u have something to say, but then u don't and I think about every little thing u might wanna point out!"

"I'm sorry I make u feel like that...I don't have any complaints from u. And most of the time that I look at u, like u said, is because-" I start, but then I hesitate to continue and I stop

"Because what?" she asks and I sigh

"Because I usually want to tell u that u look beautiful or that this color looks great on u. I wanted to comment on your new tattoo the other day and when u died your hair I wanted to point out how great this bright red is, but, since I'm not good at this, I chose to stay silent..."

"Well, thank u, but if u had just said all that, things would be easier for both of us...don't u feel better now that u did?"

"I do, yeah. Please, don't go!"

"I won't...if u give me a hug"

"I don't do hugs..."

"I do, come on!" she says opening her arms and I sigh as I lean in to hug her, wrapping my arms around her torso

"U're trouble!" I say and she chuckles

"I know" she replies in a cute voice, making me smile while rolling my eyes

As we stay like that for a few seconds, I realize she smells like strawberries, making me take a deep breath with closed eyes. When I understand she's pulling away, I open my eyes and do the same

"For a guy who doesn't do hugs, u sure know how to hug someone..."she says smiling, with her hands on my arms

"It helps that u're so much smaller than me..."

"Yeah, Fred was right, u're a big guy..." she replies and I exhale from my nose. We stay again without moving, looking at each other, and without realizing it, I lean forward. I stop right before our lips touch, looking at hers once and then at her eyes. She looks at me with a slightly open mouth, breathing heavily. Next thing I know, we both lean in and start kissing.