Brewed to Perfection

Part 10

"Jesus Christ, Hello?" - I heard an older, higher pitch voice shout. That was when i realised i had been completely dazed, that i didn't even notice the customer standing a foot away from away.

I looked to my left, where Benjamin had been hovering and met his intense green eyed stare. I felt sick all over again.

He had been watching me while I was zoned out, and had probably only awkwardly mumbled before in my direction in order to get my attention towards the customer, who was now impatiently shooting me some evil daggers with her wrinkled eyes.

I wasn't going to allow myself to make a 'Karen joke', sure she was blonde, older and looked a bit uptight but I had just unintentionally ignored her.

"Helloooo?" 'Not' Karen, waved her hand in front of my face, and then I realised I hadn't actually acknowledged her existence yet.

"Sorry about that, what can I get you?" I rushed out, whilst simultaneously logging myself back into the till system.

"Well Sweetie, you can get that gentleman to serve me instead. I don't like your attitude."

My attitude- what the hell was this woman talking about? All i did was space out for a little bit...

"Oh-" I didn't even know how to respond.

I pulled my low ponytail tighter, and awkwardly tapped on the till screen. It still hasn't loaded up yet and I was getting the vibe this was about to become a scene.

Thanks to A-Hole over on my left, I was used to someone making uncomfortable scenes. But just because it was something I was used to, didn't mean I liked being talked to like dirt.

"Sorry for that, What can I get you?" I plastered on my most genuine, fakest smile, aiming for the woman who was now not only staring at me, but glancing towards Benjamin.

She scoffed, instead of just ordering her goddamned coffee. Here we go...

"Did you not hear me? I don't want you, or your dirty little hands to make my coffee. I want him." She snarled.

And I almost choked on my own intake of breath.

What was wrong with my hands? As policy, we weren't allowed nail polish or any visible hand tattoos. Both of which I didn't have.

I also washed my hands a ridiculous amount of times a day, mainly due to the fact my Dad had instilled it into me while i was helping him with his catering business, and also the classic biology 'microbes' lesson everyone had in high school which makes you put your hands under UV light to see how dirty they were.

Things like that stay with you. But it was also why I was more confused at why this woman was telling me that my hands were dirty.

I looked down to my hands and noticed I had some of the stock count numbers written on them. I used a sharpie...

"What can I get you Miss?" Benjamin called over my shoulder.

"Decaf Latte with half a pump of zero vanilla syrup." She replied whilst dismissing me with a small sweep of her hand, as she walked towards Benjamin's side of the counter.

I almost let it go, when my ears suddenly perked up, "Dumbass baristas." The not so- 'Not' Karen muttered.

Screw this.

I turned quickly to Benjamin who was reaching towards the Decaffeinated coffee grounds.

"Benjamin, please stop what you're doing, Karen over here is no longer welcomed here." I turned to face the older woman who was standing at the counter. I gave her a pretty venomous stare, "You're not welcome here. Get out."

I didn't know who was more in shock, my own self for the sudden development of my massive balls. Benjamin, at the fact i had finally acknowledged his existence since his arrival at Brewtiful, or Karen who looked like she couldn't believe her own ears.

She should be more trusting, because they were telling no lies. I felt the need and desire to confirm this.

I pointed to her, "Out."

"You're not being served today, so please leave. Otherwise i'll contact the police and you'll be trespassed." I spoke loudly and confidently. I almost didn't recognise my own voice.

"Was it half a pump of vanilla you wanted?" Benjamin addressed Karen with a sickly sweet intonation.

Oh no, had I done that stupid thing where I imagined myself doing something bad ass, but have actually just zoned out again?

No. I hadn't. And the progressive darkening red colour to Karen's face confirmed this.

"Who the hell do you think you're threatening, you minimum wage bum?"

"That's it!" I almost screamed, but tried to swallow my inner rage.

"You and your fake Chanel purse, better get out of here in two seconds or I'm gonna throw you out of here."

Whilst some people may enjoy experiences like this, they just made me feel il. I hated confrontation and actively avoided it.

But some people like Karen were asking for it. I wouldn't be surprised if he genuinely got off on it. Nothing better to do than harass a barista and as she so eloquently put 'minimum wage bum'.

This was setting a precedent.

"Do you understand the sentence I just said?" I mocked.

Karen shot me a death glare, before aiming her gaze towards Benjamin who had a coffee mug still held tightly in his ridiculously large hands.

"How about you? Are you letting this dummy kick me out because of her own rudeness?" She was outraged and I could simply not give a flying F.

I turned to look at Benjamin's response. It didn't feel real. Like I was watching some reality TV show... I'd eventually be called a 'snake' or 'bitch' and then a glass of white- no red wine would be thrown over my face. That was normally how this kinda scene would play out, right?