Bloody Knives in My Leftovers

Prologue - Between Angels and Insects

Contrary to popular belief, starting your morning with three cups of coffee won't magically improve your mood at seven AM, if anything it will just make you a slightly more energetic tired asshole. Regardless, you stayed propped up against the counter with a paper cup filled to the top with black coffee, not bothering to pay attention to your other co-workers. Your manager had already approached you. She was the one who handed you the second cup of coffee, mumbling about a pay raise and giving you a strained smile. Having to wake up at the crack ass of dawn just to get to work on time was really starting to wear you down, no matter how much you bitched though, it was what paid the bills at the end of that day.

"Oh my gosh!" You jump when you hear your name being called out, nearly spilling your hot coffee everywhere. You turned with the deadest expression you could muster until you saw who had shouted, one of your closest work friends, Riley Montgomery. Morrisville, North Carolina wasn't the first place you thought of when asked to picture a classic opportunistic ball of sunshine, but here she was.

A smile couldn't help but form on your lips, setting down your caffeinated drink to meet Riley halfway as she instantly brought you into a hug. Even with coming inside from the snowy outdoors Riley felt warm and smelled like cinnamon and vanilla. 'Must be a new perfume...' She was grinning ear to ear as she pulled away from the embrace. "Hey! You're earlier than usual! Did Bailey wake you up again?" You shook your head and walked back to the half-empty coffee pot and poured her a cup.

"No, she sleeps like the dead, especially on weekends." Riley laughed, taking the hot cup from your outstretched hand and blowing cool air over the top. "How's she feeling about the big midterm? I can't imagine taking on something as complex as Engineering." She smiles sheepishly, affection and admiration lining her words. It was almost sickening how sweet she was.

Bailey was your eccentric college dorm roommate. She was in her senior year of university and was majoring in engineering. She had been recently studying for her midterm test, determined to live up to her family's expectations. Despite both her parents being the most supportive and wonderful people alive. Riley had only been over to your shared apartment a handful of times, but each time Bailey had gushed about how pretty and nice she was, ever the raging lesbian. The two were so oblivious to the heart-crushing gazes shared between them that you couldn't help but roll your eyes. You laughed and reached over to grab your green Starbucks apron off the hook, "Oh she was complaining the whole day when she got the announcement, been studying like a crazy person."

Riley smiled warmly and began putting on her apron, her long blonde hair already tied in a loose ponytail. You could see how Bailey could fall for a girl like her, she was exceptionally pretty, tall, and of course the gentle curves of her hips and chest. Her fair skin was spotted with freckles, which made her bright green eyes stand out. "You know I was out shopping yesterday for new pens, and I found this super cute notebook I think she would love. It might help her be more organized?" She seemed nervous as she spoke, her cheeks pink with the question. In truth it was impossible for Bailey to be more organized than she already was...but you knew it was the blonde's excuse to display her love language of gifts and thoughtfulness. You rolled your eyes to meet hers and smirked, "You're totally in love with her." Riley's eyes blew wide and her face went red. You cackled at the sight hunching over to catch your breath as your stuttering co-worker flailed for a response. "You're so mean to me!!!" As you straightened back up and wiped a tear away from your cheek Riley shoved you gently with one hand, pouting as she took a long sip from her coffee to hide her glowing face.

Before you could give her a witty response the front door chimed, signaling that a customer had entered. You quickly turned towards the counter not before sending a wink to a sulking Riley. "Hi, welcome to Starbucks! What can I get started for you?" Your usually fake cheery morning voice was filled in with a slightly more genuine one, still in a good mood from the teasing. The man approached the counter and began tapping his fingers against the marble, his eyes scanning the menu above your head. The man cleared his throat as his eyes zeroed in on your nametag.

The name tags were a new policy from the top branch. They were 'to help the customers feel more comfortable.' You thought it was a stupid idea and an invasion of privacy. Luckily, your manager agreed with you on the ridiculous policy. The both of you allied, switching name tags so that you didn't have to hear your legal name thrown at you by every middle-aged woman and man. It was some semblance of safety. You didn't exactly feel the sweet satisfaction you usually did though, as the man in front of you read your incorrect name with a smug smile. "Good morning, Lia --" God, what a way to start the morning... Oh, how you wanted to tear off the nametag and toss it in the blender. You hated the way men felt even slightly superior over you just for knowing your name, even if it wasn't yours. "--- Could I get a large hot coffee, creamer, no sugar?" You sighed inwardly as the rest of your good mood faded away, of course, he would have no idea how the sizes work. "I'm sorry sir, we don't have a large size." Your polite customer service smile twitched as he raised an eyebrow and sneered at you. "God, you make this way too complicated. Fine, I'll have a venti hot coffee with only creamer. Got that, Lia?"

You really wanted to reach over the counter and throw your leftover coffee on his neat blue business shirt, but you refrained. "Sure, I'll get that started for you. Your total is two fifty-five. Could I get a name for the order?" The man rolled his eyes and handed you a five, muttering his name with a frown. You put it into the register and counted out his change. You doubted he would tip you, not after all the grumble of the size system. "You can wait by the counter over there." You lazily pointed to the other side of the store as he snatched his money and walked away. You smiled to yourself and slipped the quarter you stole into the empty tip jar, that at least made you feel a tad better.

"Riley! Freshly--" she cut you off "Freshly brewed dark roast with only creamer for a Mr. grumpy? Got it!" You let a smile settle on your face as you watched your friend give you a thumbs-up and begin working on the order. The two of you were a great team. You hoped Bailey wouldn't screw up with Riley...They'd be cute together.

You turned back to your register, locking eyes with the chest of a very tall man. You blinked, taken aback, inclining your head to meet a pair of warm brown eyes.

He had a scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face. Your eyes met his as he was staring down at you with a slight crinkle to his eyes. You assumed he was smiling at you. His muffled words don't register as you have to clear your head for a moment. Whatever he said went right over your head, and you cleared your throat preparing to speak.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" You asked, your mouth feeling a little dry. You hear a muffled chuckle and watch as he uses one large hand to pull down his scarf slightly.

"Rough morning, huh?" He repeats, a gap-toothed smile melting your insides. You manage an awkward chuckle and nod, sweeping hair behind your ear. "You could say that."

He nods sympathetically as his eyes begin to scan the menu above your head, letting you breathe for a second without his gentle giant honey shaded gaze pinning you down, making it hard to think.

"Could I get a large Earl Grey tea?" He asks, a slight southern accent peeking through his words. The accent almost gave you heart palpitations. You always had a weakness for a good accent. You didn't even think to correct him on the size issue, as you type in his order and smile to yourself.

"Not a coffee drinker?" you questioned. It came as a surprise to you, a man looking so rough around the edges ordering something that wasn't hardcore or bitter. He laughs softly at your question, a small smile creeping up his face. "Nah, that stuff isn't really good for ya," he tilts his head, leaning in a bit, "But if you could toss in a couple of sugars...I like my tea sweet."

You flush, not understanding quite why your face felt so warm, and nod. "Y-yeah! No problem." Then you clear your throat, rattling off the total and watching as he reaches into his jacket pocket for a wallet. He slips out a couple bills and slips them onto the counter.

"Keep the change, Lia." He winked and swiftly moved away from the ordering counter, leaving you stunned.

'Lia? Why did he–' You let out an audible groan, looking down at the nametag bearing your manager's name. Fuck! If only you had sucked it up and worn yours then maybe you could have heard your name from his honeyed inflection. You were going to add this to your long list of regrets most definitely.

You collected the money and quickly realized he'd left you a whole five dollars in tip. You hold the fiver in your hand and smile giddily, almost wanting to pocket it for yourself. But you don't, reluctantly letting it drop into the tip jar. Your two middle-aged co-workers were definitely fiending for an extra dollar or two added to their tip bonus at the end of the week. You were lucky enough to shirk most real bills due to Bailey's wealthy and charitable parents.

You hear Riley's voice call your name, a packet of tea in her fingers as she inspects the drink ticket. "There's no name." She holds it up for you to see and you groan again.

"Shit, my bad Rie...I forgot to ask." You take the sticker from her fingers and grab a hot drink cup. "Here, I'll do it."

The blonde raises an eyebrow, stepping out of your way as you fill the cup with hot water. "You're..willingly...making a tea?" She was scrutinizing you and you felt your cheeks heat up. "Yeah...is that a bad thing..?" You play dumb, sinking two tea bags into the water and taping them to the side of the cup.

Riley smiles teasingly, "Noooo I'm just wondering if it has something to do with a tall handsome cowboy over—" Your eyes go wide and your hand is clamped over her mouth before she can utter another revealing word.

"Shhh!! Ok ok!" You relinquish your dignity and listen to a muffled laugh from your friend. She ducks away from your wilting hand and continues giggling.

"Riley, I swear to go–" The timer for the steeping goes off and stops you mid-sentence. Riley wiggles her eyebrows at you and you roll your eyes, turning away from her and finishing the hot drink.

You ignore her as she makes childish kissing noises at you as you walk to the pickup counter and slide the drink across it and to the single man waiting. "Here...and here's some extra sugar, just in case." You mumble, too embarrassed to look him in the eye as he takes his drink and sugar packets.

"Thank you kindly, darlin'." He says gently, making your heart skip a beat as you flush. He smiles once more and then takes his leave, leaving you to wonder what your name would sound like from his lips. But you'd take darling....oh you would definitely take darling.

You continued ignoring Riley's teasing and watched the snow gently drift down to the ground, it made you shiver just thinking about having to be out there. With a sigh you managed to drown out the loud gurgling noises from the machine behind you, instead focusing on the low-playing pop song that leaked out of the speakers. You wished you had just called in sick for work today, already knowing the bus was going to be cramped and freezing today, with a high chance of you slipping on the black ice and falling on your ass.

"Welcome in!" Riley's preppy service voice made you chuckle under your breath, she had a special power to remain so chipper, even when the customers were dicks. The bell jingles as you watch with little interest as another group of customers shuffles in. Snow melts on the warm tiled floor and idle morning chatter fills the air. Another long work shift was staring you down as you stood taller and greeted the next customer. Pet names and cowboys lingering in your mind.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Break time!" You looked up from the machine you were trying to fix and met your manager's look with a relieved smile. "Aw c'mon dude! Can you at least finish fixing it?" You shot a glare at Landon, your male co-worker who had broken the appliance.