Benny's employees [PIKE]

Cup of Coffee

Pete did his best to keep a straight face when he'd heard Mike return his hi. He didn't even glance at the other since he knew his emotions would likely break through if he did. After all, he'd break character if he showed even the slightest bit of emotion since goths didn't express themselves like that. Usually they'd either have neutral expressions or no expressions. His emotions had been strong this morning so it made sense they were strong now but he still had to somehow fight them.

Dammit- Mike Makowski was going to be the end of him- he already knew it. Just yesterday, he hated the other but now...he couldn't bring himself to. Hell- he wasn't even mad at the other's question anymore. He hadn't forgotten about it but now he sort of thought of the other's question on his sex position as none other than amusing. Plus it was natural for teens to be curious like that- especially teenage boys.

He placed his bangs behind his ear as he immediately went to take the first customers' orders. It wasn't as difficult as it was yesterday since his hair was no longer in his face. Come to think of it though, it was actually kind of nice not having to flip his hair out of his face all the time. Especially now since he had to be professional. While doing so, he couldn't help but feel a bit distracted.

He wanted to be focused but his mind kept thinking about what happened earlier at home much to his disappointment. Thankfully his distractedness didn't show as he took the first customer's orders. Throughout the shift, he handled the right side pretty well- much better than he handled the orders yesterday. Pfft- at least he didn't need Mike's guidance anymore. Then again did he ever? Well- as much as he hated to admit it...yes but also no because he was capable of doing whatever.

Though the left side was awfully big he'd noticed. It made sense Mike was assigned to it since the other probably had more work experience than him.

Oh well- at least he didn't have to deal with taking all of those conformists- well people's orders. It probably wasn't the best idea to continue referring to people as conformists but as a goth, that was sort of his thing. So what if he had a slip of the tongue? It's not like anyone would really pay much attention. No one paid attention to him and the other goths anyways.

He subconsciously rubbed his eyes after he'd taken about almost everyone's orders for the right side. He didn't even notice he'd had bags under his eyes since he didn't really pay much attention to himself unless he was putting on makeup. Even if there were bags under his eyes, he couldn't bring himself to actually be tired since he'd had coffee earlier.

Then again- he kind of wanted an extra cup of coffee just in case he secretly was tired and needed a boost. Finishing the last of the orders, he cast a glance around and served himself a cup of coffee. No one would really notice anyways since he'd taken care of all the orders. He stood up though as he practically chugged the entire thing. He'd probably regret it later but right now he sort of had to rush since at any minute anyone could walk in and he'd have to take their order. Man...conformist jobs were exhausting.

Then he asked himself if he'd even slept last night. The truth was yes- but only for six hours. He'd fallen asleep at around one in the morning after watching a good load of horror movies on mute and had been woken up by his phone at seven in the morning. It had taken him a while to fall asleep since he never fell asleep on movies unless they were boring.

Plus he was bored and didn't wanna sleep for unknown reasons. Though he guessed a part of him probably was excited since he was working alongside someone he knew. Shaking his head, he did a hair flip again. His hair must've gotten in his face again from all the walking around but oh well.

He wondered why he'd be excited to come to a place like this since after all- he hated the vamp guy. At least that's what he thought. Man life could get so confusing at times. Honestly, the world sucking all the time was easier to understand. When the world didn't suck- that's when it would become complicated. Just like life itself.

The second cup of coffee had actually given him enough energy. At least- to function for the next couple hours. He did his best to serve every customer, try 'not' to call people conformists and instead 'sir' or 'ma'am' unless they were non binary. After serving a bunch of customers, he too did his best to clean up their areas. Though the scrubbing of the tables instantly reminded him of his goth buddies Michael, Henrietta and Firkle.

He wondered what had happened to them or if the three had even seen his text messages or calls. Come to think of it, he didn't know who he'd be without those guys. They were kinda the only ones who understood him even if he never talked about anything other than pain, how much the world sucked, coffee and smoking. It was a nice four options to talk about since it was very limited yet unlimited. They did talk about death, yes. But it wasn't the only thing they would talk about.

He'd met the girl goth when he was in second grade- he remembered now. It had been a boring rainy day and the second graders all had to stay inside where it was safe in fear that they'd get 'washed away' or some crap. He remembered he'd had no one to go to so he'd sat by himself in the back of the class. All until this goth looking girl joined him and started talking to him.

It was a surprise because the goth girl never really spoke to anyone other than non conformists. He guessed back then she was different. Back then he used to wear conformist clothes because again- his parents wanted him to wear religious clothing back in the days. Henrietta had helped Pete find his true self back then and for that she had become his first friend. So basically he became goth in second grade even though inside he was probably a goth for much longer but due to his strict life at home and limitations, he was blind to his true self.

As for Michael, he'd met him the following year through Henrietta of course. Michael had seemed kind of intimidating and scary when he'd first met him but as the time went by, he'd grown to like the tall goth a lot and soon considered him to be a friend. The group of three usually would hang out in the back of the school since that was sort of their place. The two other goths had told him that the back of the school was the most depressing since it got legit no action.

He couldn't help but frown, thinking of the memory. Things hadn't been better or worse then and things weren't better or worse now so he didn't have much to really say about it. Shrugging, he realized he'd blanked out for a while. That was until he heard their boss mention it was time for their mandated fifteen minute break. Oh goodie- maybe he could see if anyone messaged him.

He made himself comfortable as he sat down and scrolled through his messages. Nothing- though he did see Firkle spamming pictures in the group chat which was kind of annoying. Speaking of Firkle- he hadn't met the little goth until he was in the fourth grade since the little goth was four grades above him. He remembered Michael had seen him alone and some shit and had offered the kindergartener to hang out with the three.

Especially since he'd noticed he was goth. That had been the same year he'd dyed his hair red since he'd seen some ad about this one girl with red hair. Even if she was a conformist, he thought that that color looked cool so he'd wanted to try a new color. The other goths had thought he'd gone emo for a sec until he convinced them that it was for new looks. His parents however had grounded him for a month after finding out he'd dyed his hair. Typical- but expected.

He put his phone away and slowly shook his head. He was glad his phone hadn't gone off though since every time his phone went off, it would go 'death and despair' 'death and despair' which would be embarrassing- especially in a public place like this. Unfortunately one time his parents had heard his ringtone which hadn't been one of the greatest days in his life nor the worst.

He'd just been sent to a mental hospital full of conformists. Rather than trying to bail, he just talked about death and despair for the entire three days he was kept there. Most boring three days of his life because he'd ended up being sent home due to the nurses not being able to take it anymore since the hair flip goth just wouldn't talk about what was bothering him- because nothing was.

Nothing was bothering him at all. Nothing had ever bothered him in the past so why would anything bother him now? It just didn't make sense to become a wuss and fuss about something a lot of people faced in life but just couldn't do anything about it. Placing a hand on his head, he took a quick bathroom trip and was about to walk outside until he'd heard a familiar voice call his name. He turned to look at Mike and raised an eyebrow.

"I don't like- know what you're talking about. What do you mean I look 'more tired than usual'?" He did get annoyed when the other laughed though so he'd simply just walked away, annoying the question. If he was going to spend his fifteen minute break in despair (as he'd call it), then it would have to be away from Mike.