inkspresso

just a client

Zach walks into the coffee shop a bit before the sunsets. He sits down once more on his table. Another day, another week. If his math is correct, this week is Ava's night shift.

Today, there are more people wandering around. Mostly men, in hopes of getting her alone. Zach finds himself keeping an eye out for her. Ava was always friendly to him, which only made him want to protect her even more.

Despite not hurting a fly, Zach has what is known as a resting bitch face. His stoic expression somehow manages to intimidate some people. However, nothing could compare to Jack's stoic face. He has seen him quick out people with just a look. Oh, Jack...

Back to current events.

Ava doesn't offer him éclairs like Jack. She offers him cupcakes instead. "Just write my name in your thank-yous when you finish your dissertation." She would joke. Zach smiles. They are already there. The whole coffee shop and their employees. Without it, Zach would not be able to function.

Ava makes sure to help all clients with a stoic face at night. It is dangerous to be nice during the night. Men wander around aimlessly, ask her stupid questions that she answers with a straight face. Once they realise that she is not interested and that Zach is looking at them, daring them to make a move, they give up and leave.

One major difference between Jack and Ava is that she does whatever tasks she likes first and jumps from place to place. Jack does what is necessary first, and when he is done with them, he moves to milenial tasks. He is methodical and follows a routine. Watching Jack work is like watching someone play an instrument. It is captivating.

Ava sits next to him and sighs. All the major tasks were done. She takes this as a moment to rest.

He pauses his lecture. "Is everything okay, Ava?" He asks quietly as he lowers his headphones.

She hesitantly opens her mouth and closes it again. She looks into the security cameras and moves closer to Zach. "Do you... like Sienna?" She whispers.

The brunet furrows his eyebrows. "Sienna..." He tries to recall where he heard her name. "Oh, Jack's girlfriend."

She shushes him. "Cameras." She whisper-shouts as she points at them. "Do you?"

Zach sheepishly shakes his head. "She told me to leave so she could have some alone time with Jack."

Ava cringes. "She's always like that at home, too. Always telling Jack to tell us to leave. Like, we're in our own house." She scoffs.

The brunet pinches his eyebrows together. "That's weird."

"And she never visits when my mom is there. Which is even weirder." She crosses her arms.

Zach leans on the chair. "Maybe she's like nervous to meet your mom." He shrugs. "As much as you don't like her, it's worth giving her the benefit of the doubt."

She groans. "I don't wanna give her the benefit of the doubt, I wanna bitch about it." Ava whines.

Zach chuckles. This is why he loves it when Ava has the night shift. The two just understand each other. They can talk about anything and everything.

Sure, Zach gets behind on some of his lectures, but he can catch up quickly. He likes Ava's company, and he is sure it's the same for her.

Ava suddenly gasps. "Oh my god, I know how what will throw the benefit of the doubt out the window." She leans into the table. "She asked Jack to quit."

Zach raises his eyebrows. No, no, no, Jack can't quit. He is like his only male friend...? acquaintance, whatever. It's not like he will meet him outside of the coffee shop. He sleeps during the day, for goodness sake! And where else will he find someone like Jack, who is sweet and cheery despite hating doing the night shift? Where will he find someone that with just a smile can give him enough energy to keep listening to his lectures?
His point being: Jack can't quit.

"Jack, obviously said no. It's a family business. It's not like he has much of a choice." She rolls her eyes. "But the entitlement of even daring to ask for that." She scoffs. "The audacity."

"Why would she even ask that from him?" He questions quietly.

"Something about wanting to show him off to her friends." She rolls her eyes once more. "Like, it's just Jack. He's not baby Jesus."

Zach chuckles.

"I mean it. I don't know how people find him attractive."

"What if and bear with me, Ava," he starts, "What if you don't find your brother attractive because he is your brother?" He asks ironically.

Ava pokes her tongue at him. "You actually hate me. I thought we were besties! You're supposed to agree that Jack is gross."

They chuckle.

"Jack's not gross." He shrugs. "He can be pretty sweet."

Ava raises an eyebrow. "How much is he paying you to say that?" She jokes.

"He's not paying me." He reassures. "But from the interactions we've had so far, he was always friendly and polite."

"Yeah, because you're a client. The actual Jack goes into my room just to mess up my hair and leaves without saying a word." She scoffs.

Zach feels his heart sink. Right. He's just a client to them.

He decides not to ruin the mood. "Seems like standard sibling behaviour. I used to do that with my brother and sister."

Ava furrows her eyebrows. "You have siblings?"

Zach playfully rolls his eyes. "It is not that uncommon, Ava."

"You've never mentioned them. Show me a picture? Ohhh, maybe I know them."

Zach fetches his phone from his pocket as he speaks. "I highly doubt it, Ava. They live in Texas."

"And why do you live here?" She grabs his phone once he has a picture of them.

"I have lived here all my life. My parents decided to work remotely, and while they travelled the world, I was stuck here, taking care of them." He clears his throat. "I couldn't focus on my degree if I was always taking care of them. Eventually, with the stress it caused, I thought it was better this way. They deserve someone who can take care of them and not go insane."

He does not bother telling her that he despises being alone at night. That he can't fall asleep without anyone on the same premises as him. No, he does not want to burden her with the true reason his siblings are in Texas. That the immense anxiety he felt every night has led him to force himself to stay up all night long, just to make sure they are okay and that nothing bad will happen to them. He does not tell her that it led him to exhaustion, thus making him unable to care for them.

"Are your parents coming back?" She asks quietly.

Zach shrugs. "Eventually, I suppose."He grabs his phone. "As soon as I finish my degree and get a job, Ryan and Reese are returning back home." He sighs.

"And you'll stop coming here." She adds.

"We all have to grow out of our comfort zones someday." He mumbles.

"Promise me you'll still visit. Even if it's like once a month." She pleads. "You actually make the night shift worth doing."

Zach chuckles. "Ava, I just stay on my computer the entire night."

"Yeah, but like, even if you don't say a word all night, you still give me company. It's not as scary doing the night shift if you're here." She admits. "Maybe I'll start studying with you as well. What course are you taking again?"

"English and Classics."

"Perfect. I have no idea who non-finite clauses are. You can help. We can totally be study buddies."

Zach nods. "Fair enough." He stretches his hand out. "It's a deal."

She shakes his hand.