Love and Lattes

Chapter 4

The next morning came around as Bugs dragged himself awake from his bed and headed immediately into the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee.

While he waited for the coffee to finish brewing, he was about to walk out of the kitchen so that he can get dressed until Rodney, who had been sitting on the couch  watching T.V, since he woke up earlier this morning, stopped him.

"Ah ah. Remember what I said to you last night? Nutrition. Please, go grab a bar or something for you to eat. I can't have my best bro starving on me like that." Rodney said as Bugs walks back over in a grumble.

"Yeah, yeah. I got it. You don't need to remind me." Bugs groaned as he yanked open the fridge and took out some meats before slamming it shut to make himself a sandwich, so that Rodney wouldn't scold him about eating less either.

Rodney, then looked over at him in worry.

He needed to know what's going through his mind now, before he ends up breaking down from all of this stress that he has.

"Seriously Bugs, what's going on with you? Why are you getting to be so miserable all the time? Is it because of what I said about the job thing?" Rodney asked as Bugs glared over him, irritated by his persistence.

"You really want to know? Fine. I'll tell you what's going on. It's this life that I have here.  It's nothing but an endless cycle that I can't even seem to get myself out of. I'm done waiting for the perfect opportunity. I want to invest in my ideas now and before my whole life becomes nothing but a waste of time." Bugs explained as he took a large bite of his sandwich in frustration.

"Well, if that's how you feel. Then by all means shoot for it. I'll support whatever decision you that make for yourself. As long you're happy, that's all that matters." Rodney said softly, feeling bad that he had put a lot of pressure on his about keeping a steady job at hand.

He just didn't want him to be out on the streets, homeless and alone.

Ever since they were little, they had both promised to always look out for each other.

And to this day, he was still keeping his side of the promise at heart for sure.

When Bugs saw that his friend was getting upset, he quickly changed expressions and apologized for his rude behavior.

"Sigh. No, you're right. I'm sorry. I'll just have to try to be a little more patient for a while longer so that I'm not digging myself into a bigger hole than I already am. I'll see you later. Okay?" Bugs said with small smile as he patted his friend on the shoulder in reassurance before going into the bathroom to change into his uniform.

After he got dressed, he said goodbye to Rodney before leaving the apartment and drove the car back over to the Cafe for work.

When he got inside, he was greeted on a more politer terms from his boss while he was clocking in his shift at the register.

"Morning kiddo. Please make sure to a good impression for the customers today, okay? Oh and by the way, before I forget, tell that one customer from the other day, to get his free drink and coupon if he still wants it. Here ya go." Ralph said as he hands him a small piece of paper with the barcode on the back of it .

"He didn't take his stuff with him?" Bugs asked, confused. 

"No. I guess he just forgot about them. Because your friend told me that he left right after I was done talking with you at the office. I don't know." Ralph explained while shrugging his shoulders.

"Why am I not surprised?" Bugs asked, rolling his eyes.

"Well maybe we were all just having it rough yesterday, that's all. But please, if you see this guy on your shift, can you remind him to redeem his stuff? I can't have every staff member looking for this guy, you know." Ralph asked.

"Yeah. I'll be sure to do that." Bugs said in monotone.

"Okay then. I'm going to home now. Make sure  that you clock out as usual when you're shift ends. Oh, and also makes sure that Katie arrives for her shift first, before you leave. It's her turn to close the store and count out the registers for the day." Ralph instructed before he waved goodbye to Bugs and exited out of the cafe.

Leaving Bugs, alone to handle the customers within the quiet and calming atmosphere.

Not long after his boss left, Daffy, like a clock work, walked inside and up to the front resister, since there was nobody else waiting in line to order.

"Hi there! Can I get a..." Daffy was going to say excitedly until he suddenly stopped when he recognized Bugs from that one incident and narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, it's you. What are YOU doing here?" Daffy asked with an obvious frown on his face.

"Same as you. I'm simply just existing. What about you?" Bugs asked, sarcastically with a too wide grin on his face to show his so-called 'appreciation' in working here.

"Very funny. I thought that they would have you fired by now." Daffy said, annoyed.

"Aw, well that's too bad. Because guess what? I'm still stuck here which means that I get to haunt you all day and all night for the rest of your lonely days." Bugs teased.

"Thanks, but I'd rather get my coffee to go and than to stay here any longer. I have other things to do than to waste my time talking you." Daffy said, bitterly.

"Yeah, well it's not like I have any other choice. Because unlike you, I happen be making a living here with this stuff. Just so that I can pay off my rent dues. So what's it to you.   freeloader?" Bugs asked, rudely.

"That's it, I'm not listening to anymore of this junk. I'll just come back later when one of the other baristas decides to show up." Daffy said as he starts to walk away until Bugs stopped.

"Okay, well I guess that means you won't be getter your free special latte for the day." Bugs teased that made Daffy turn around to the sound of 'free'.

"Did you say free?" Daffy asked, excitedly while he quickly walked back over to Bugs with a bright sparkly smile on his face.

"Yeah and also, you forgot to grab one of these too." Bugs said before handing him the coupon.

"Oh! Thank you....What, a minute. How did you know that it was a latte? You aren't spying on me are you?" Daffy asked suspiciously while taking the coupon.

"No, you maroon. You come here almost every day ordering the same thing. I know exactly what you like and how it's made. Extra caramel, extra whipped cream, extra sprinkles on top, extra coffee syrup, the works." Bugs explained, while rolling his eyes.

"Really? You remember my order? But, that's odd. Other than yesterday, I don't think I've eve seen you before in my life." Daffy said, confused.

"That because you haven't noticed my presence in the first place. But, I'm not surprised. Now do you want the drink or not? You're holding up the line, already." Bugs said, annoyed as Daffy turns around and sees that the line is filling up again.

Possibly due to potential busy lunch hour, at best. 

"Ugh. Fine. I'll take it. But only because you insist on giving me a free drink." Daffy said as Bugs went on ahead and pressed the order tab on the register touch screen, before plugging in the overdrive button for the 'free code' to rang it through as $0.00.

After the order had been processed and readily made, Daffy then grabbed his drink from the bar counter and sat down on a nearby table while Bugs continually filled in the rest of the orders for the other customers.