Black Coffe Enamored

THE NIGHT SHIFT

SERAPHINA

I rolled back and forth within the puffy and warm Christmas tree patterned blanket as I tried to fight my sleep. I groaned and whined as I finally managed to get up feeling a jittery yet still tired sensation. I looked at my bed one final time feeling that it was calling me saying "just 5 more minutes , 5 more minutes wont hurt anybody", but my brain was telling me Girl, if you get back in that bed , you know you are not getting back up, you have to be at work in 2 hours! as I slowly slid my bare feet onto the floor all I could feel was the cold sensation of the wood that caused me to shutter. I made my way into the dimmly lit bathroom while I saw a scented candle on the sink flickering in the corner of my eye. I quickly got a towel from the linen closet and put on a holiday Playlist . I started to strip as a breeze of cold air from My cracked window in my room gave me a glimpse to the dark snowy image outside. The warm water hit my body, as I began to loosen, all the while my eyes snapping shut in relaxation. The warm water traced down the roots of my long dark curls all the way down to my eye lashes and curved lips. My lips parted letting the water sooth them from their previous dry and cold state. I then start to rub the soap on my body then letting it slowly slide off from the water consuming it. I carefully stepped onto the bath mat in the front of the tub and wiped my feet as I wrapped myself in the towel. I sat on the bed still covered as I scrolled through my phone to check for any texts from my job. "Saph do you think your gonna be here on time today, I dont think I can take anymore of Ethan, also by any chance would you happen to know what a "vaccuas-dullard" is by any chance :( "-text from "Cassie ☆". I laughed to myself quietly as my thumbs started quickly tapping my phone as I heard the sound affects,
The bright light illuminated my face. I'll get there as fast as I can, and also I don't think you wanna know what that means Cas XD. I threw my phone onto my bed as I got up and started to rummage through my draws. I decided to pull out a nice pair of tight jeans and a long sleeve red turtle neck. I then started to walk back into my bathroom while I sprayed water into my dry hair and then proceeded to massage in some curl enhancer leave in conditioner. I grabbed my towel from earlier and dried my hands off when I heard a ding echoing from my phone. I ran over hastily and saw a picture from Cassie showing Ethan just staring at her with a smirk from behind as she rolled her eyes. I just laughed to myself as I walked over to my closet and began putting on some tall, tight, set of knee length boots. I zipped them up and started running my finger through my hair to give it some extra volume. I picked up my purse, but as soon as I exited the room I felt a warm and fluffy sensation around my leg, I then smiled playfully as I picked up my kitten moxie by her torso. Moxie then made tiny squeaks as she yawned in my arms. Moxie was a rescue cat, some heartless owner de-clawed her, and abused her, just to abandon her when she was just a few days old. Luckily I was doing a quick moving gig for my family that lived in the same apartment of the people who did it and I was able to hear her cries for help. Who would've thought that scraping mold off of ceilings and moving 100 boxes would bring me to the cutest thing in the world. Speaking as a person who has been manipulated and abused in my very dark past, when I saw Moxie it was like love at first sight, We were made for each other. I started to snuggle Moxies head into my face and smile before walking over to the couch and putting on the TV for her. Something that was also amazing about Moxie is that she loved watching reruns of friends, just like me! One time I accidentally left the TV on and when I came back from work she was still on the couch watching it, ever since then I've just left it on that channel so she wouldn't miss me too much. I planted a kiss on her head before grabbing a trench coat and walking out the door and calling up an Uber. Snow flakes heavily poured from the sky as all the shops were lit a glow by Christmas decorations , and a big Christmas tree in the center of the town which happened to be in the front of my skyline apartment. Now as much of a night owl as I am, this whole night shift thing technically wasn't my idea. Like don't get me wrong, I'm all for staying up all night watching old movies and eating an entire tub of Ben and Jerry's, or even staying up from 7 p.m -7 a.m finishing a last minute assignment. Asking me to leave my warm bed at 9:00 p.m to have social interaction until 5:00 a.m is just monstrous. I was assigned the night shift all because of a misinterpretation. When I was first going for the job at pop's coffee, they said I had the job but I would have the "tight shift". I said I didn't mind the extra work because I was a workaholic anyway so I could handle anything they threw at me. Turns out the recruiter didn't say "tight shift" at all like I heard, they said "night shift" because that's the only shift they had lack of employees for. I didn't really want to work the night shift but I really needed the money since me and my ex usually split the rent but we had not only broken up with me but he was the boss for the cooperation I worked for so he fired me. So that pretty much covers it ! My phone dinged as It read "randy is arriving now in a black Tesla, the pin is 2143". As I finished reading my phone I looked down the somewhat busy street and saw the car approaching infront of me. I got into the Tesla, and I felt the seats warm my body as I got a shiver from the snow that fell off of my hair and jacket as I shook it off. I then smiled kindly at the man through the rear view mirror. He then gave me a smile back and said in a low voice "pin number?" . Yeah, sure thing the pin is "2143" I read off my phone. He then put it into his GPS as it gave him the route. When we began to drive I took in the beautiful site of the blocks down that were covered in Christmas decorations and cars that zoomed passed us and blasted different kinds of holiday music that just blurred together. I was then interrupted when I heard a low voice say "sooooo, where's a pretty girl like you going off to at this time of night? ", slightly weirded out I just said, oh you know just meeting up with some friends for a Christmas party. "Oh, really ?" The guy said smiling at me eerily through the mirror. "Maybe I can stop by and have a gingerbread or two" . Oh no you wouldn't want to do that, and plus it's just family and friends allowed anyway, I say trying to keep my cool and persuade him. "I can be your friend he said lowly rubbing my knee firmly". Starting to get a unsettling feeling in my stomach. I gulped and said softly you can just let me out on that corner. "But theres still a few more blocks until we're where you need to go sweet cheeks " he said squeezing my knee tighter. Yeah, I just forgot I had to pick up a cake for the party, silly me I say speaking faster now from my fear. He then rolled his eyes snatching his hand away and slowing the car to the side walk. Happy holidays sir I said avoiding his contact as I hopped out the car onto the snowy ground. "See ya later thunder thighs". I shivered from the cold snow and just took a deep breath from my relief as I saw the car drive into the distance. A few blocks later and I was finally met with my job illuminated with colors of red and green. I walked in triggering the bell as I hear voices loudly overlapping. I then saw Cassie with a electrical whisker in one hand and Ethan holding up a chair in front of him for protection. I then looked at them with a raised eye brow and put my purse down. I went around the counter to Cassie side. Someone want to explain what's going on here? I say sternly. "This pervert grabbed my chest while I was serving the customers"! "It was an accident" Ethan said lowering the chair looking at Cassie. "I was talking to frank and monica was infront of you but moved out the way when I went to go grab the orannge juice from her, so I accidentally grabbed your oranges, but I sincerely apologize, even though I kinda didn't mind the feel" he says smirking looking at Cassie up and down. Cassie's mouth dropped wide open now as she furrowed her eyebrows while she started up the whisker again Pointing it towards him. Ethan put up the chair over his face and backed away. I just smiled softly and said, Cassie as bad as what Ethan did we cannot whisk our colleagues and co-workers. I slowly detach Cassies hands from the whisker and put it on a high shelf. Ethan slowly lowered the chair and looked at Cassie. I rubbed her shoulders and looked at Ethan. Ethan do you have something to say to Cassie? ," Yes, cassie... I really am sorry, and I'm sorry for making you upset, even if I would do it again Ethan said quickly before he ran into the back." I'll kill you Ethan!" Cassie said running after him. I just laughed as I took off my trench coat and hung it up in the back with them as I thought to myself, I'm so glad we don't have knives here. A few minutes past and I saw Ethan and Cassie with their stuff on leaving. As I poured the steaming hot milk into the cup I heard both of them say bye in unison. Bye guys I said warmly as I placed the cup down before I saw them start bickering again when they got outside as Cassie hit Ethan. I chuckled as I finished Making the coffee. I put on the Santa hat that was required by my boss snuggly, my boss thought if we dressed and decorated the shop for the holidays we would bring in more business that way. At the coffee shop. At least for my shift, I only had regulars who needed to get something last minute on their way home, because who willingly wants to go to a coffee shop at 2:00 am in the morning to get something simple as a cup of coffee. Hours passed and the streets were now empty so I could see nothing but whiteness outside from the excessive amounts of snow and the silence of the wind blowing it around filled the shop. Nobody was in there at 4:50 am. Knowing that my shift was coming to a close I started to quickly finish wiping down my last set of tables as my back turned to the door. I was caught off guard by the sound of the bell on the door being rung as it opened and the sound of the snowy blizzard going on outside became louder. I jumped frightened and turned to see a tall man with some what curly and medium length dark black hair dressed in all black. I laughed out loud putting a hand on my heart feeling it slow down after racing like crazy. I'm sorry sir, you just kinda scared me, I'm not used to people coming in at this time, we're open 24 hours but people usually wait for the 7:00 am. He chuckled softly flashing me a gorgeous smile as he looked at me "sorry I didn't mean to give you a little scare" the man said in a soft and thick Russian accent. I smiled softly as I scurried around the counter. I leaned against it as I looked up at him tilting my head. So what's it gonna be? Mocha frap, caramel latte? "A black coffe will be fine, no sugar ", sure thing, if that's all, I'll get it out for you in a blink I say smiling punching the numbers in. I began making the coffee but for some reason the man just intrigued Me, his low and seductive Russian accent, his height, his deep dark green slightly blue eyes, and his hands, goodness his veiny hands had to be hand crafted by God himself. I tried to focus on making the coffee but just kept glancing back at him getting pulled in deeper. As I got lost in the sight of him rubbing his hands through his hair
I suddenly felt a burning sensation on the soft skin of my hand. I hissed out as I put the hot water down and started crying out in pain as I waved my hand back and forth. "Is everything ok over there?" The man asked concerned standing up from his chair as he made his way to me. He thought fast and turned on the cold water slowly grabbing my hand and putting the burned part under it making me wince as I tried to retract but he just held me steady. He then took off his black scarf and began to wrap it around my hand slowly as I looked up at him with tears still running down my cheeks. He then tied the ends tightly so it wouldn't slip off. He looked down at me wiping my tears with his thumb. "Have we learned that looking at someone while pouring hot liquids is not the best idea". I laugh slightly as I realized he had known I was staring the whole time. As he smiled at me still holding my hand softly I said, sorry for ruining your scarf with my burned skin. "Believe me its fine, I wasn't fond of the scarf anyway, it is as you Americans say "unfashionable" ". "Feel free to mess up my scarf with your injuries any time". I smile at the man admirably. So does my hero have a name? "Yes he does,
His name is Harlem". Oh like the place! I say amused, my whole family is actually from Harlem. "Yes like the place" Harlem chuckled softly looking down at me. Why have I never seen you around here before Harlem, I would've rembered a face like yours. "Well if you must know im just here visiting some family for the season". Let me guess your from....Russia! "Yes I am, rodilsya I vyros". I laugh and say ,YA znayu ochen' malo I nemnogo zarzhavel v russkom, tak chto, pozhaluysta, bud'te so mnoy vezhlivy. Harlem smiled at me in pride. "Wow, Ive never seen an American woman who is beautiful and so good at speaking my native language". As Harlem called me beautiful, it felt like a fever dreams, growing up I got comments on my appearances but never ones that did any good. I rembered always getting comments on how my hair was too springy and curly, and that no matter how hard I tried I would never be like the rest of the white kids in my neighborhood. My mom and dad moved us to a nice white neighborhood so that I could have a good future, something that they didn't have growing up, so when I tried to apply for college or a well paying job my race wouldn't dictate my future. Soon enough me and my parents realized no matter how much they wanted us to stay, the odds just weren't in our favor. At the time I was 6 ,but the kids, my own friends and some of their parents comments on my apperance were so bad, it got to the point were I was starting to either cut my hair, constantly trying to straighten it on my own , and to the point where I would cry myself to sleep every night wishing I looked like the rest of my classmates and people in the very place I lived, because in their eyes if you weren't white then you didn't belong and weren't beautiful. My parents decided to move us back to Harlem were I was surrounded by family who called my looks a "blessing" , and that I was ashamed of things people went through tons of surgerys, putting plastic in their body to have what I was naturally born with. Growing up in my old neighborhood I was taught to think my features were a curse, my self confidence has grown way more today and I'm proud to say I've progressed but sometimes the things they said occasionally creep up on me whenever I see someone who I would date or who I think is attractive, especially if they're a different race then me..... I would just say to myself what the people said to me as a kid. Beautiful? I said shocked. "Your the most beautiful woman I've met ", Harlem said shortly as he had a cheeky smile running across his face. I flustered and just smiled to myself and said "Thank you" as I looked on the floor.I then heard a dominant but soft voice say :"Hey look at me....". I looked up with a blank face trying to read his. "You are beautiful". I just stood there frozen by his words and looked into his dark blue eyes. I-um, Thank you ,I stuttered out as I felt him pulling me in with his words and his remarkable and undeniable facial features. His not quite but close to pale skin completion, his clean shaven,smooth and sharp jawline, his perfectly boxed and peach colored lips and his eyes,oh my goodness those eyes , like two dark oceans that looked as if they held the secrets of Atlantis but if I swam to deep I would drown.I finally was able to breathe and just said brushing it off: "well then let me go make that coffe before you fall asleep standing", I smiled making my way to the counter again. I then looked back down at the cup of steaming water and reached for the black coffe portion of it when I felt hotness down my neck giving my spine chills. "We wouldnt want that to happen" Harlem said deeply with amusement in his voice. Before I could react he slipped away sliding to fingers on the bottom of my back just before the placement of my hips. I just gaped my mouth open making him let out a soft laugh before i saw him around the corner giving me a entertained grin.i just gawked at him before he nodded his head down at the floor smiling to himself. I looked back at the coffe as I smiled soft. I finally finished, putting it in a paper Christmas themed cup and gave it to him. One black coffe for you,Careful sir it's steaming hot, "well I'm sure you would know, he said with a low chuckle. As he began to sip I slipped off my Santa hat and began to slip on my coat as I saw Jimmy coming in through the tough, windy, winter blizzard awaiting for me outside. Shivering Jimmy chittered angrily "it is cold as balls out there" good morning to you too Jimmy I say laughing softly as I shook my head and scrunched my nose at him lightly brushing off the snow on his shoulders and head. I then retracted my now wet fingers and glanced at Harlem's head once more as he sipped the coffee. I wondered if I should say something like: "nice seeing you" or "happy holidays ", but I couldn't muster up anything and just bit my lip slightly picking at the skin as I walked outside getting consumed by the blizzard and the windy streets covered in hills and streams of snow ,the whole town white. I finally was able to find the bus stop and make direction ,and by find I mean bumping into a lamp post once or twice until I found a glass box with snow covered seats in it. I shivered as my nose slight turned red and my cheeks cold as I breathed in more snow the oxygen. As I look around it was a ghost town until out of the blurry fog of the blizzard was illuminated by two big circular autumn colored lights ,and the sound of the exhaust sputtering smoke. As the bus got clearer I stood up and waited on the curb of the side walk before the door slammed open fast before me knocking the snow off of it. I got on the bus my legs shivering as I sat and sneezed. The old man spoke to me his voice froggish but loud due to the lack of people on the bus. "Quite the white Christmas out here isn't it?"the old man said warmly as we drove. Yeah it sure is I said blowing warm air onto my hands from my lungs in an attempt to get warm.The man sighed weak but happily before saying "but you know what that's okay, my wife did always tell me no matter how big,cold, or bad the storm is it can never overpower the warmth inside of us, and that warmth is right here he said putting a hand on his heart". I smile warmly and said softly that's beautiful, you must be a very lucky man. I sure am he said sentimentally. I slightly curled in a ball with my knees in my chest as I look out the window seeing shop lights begin to alluminate the snowy scene. "You see, because of the warmth in our hearts for the people here, and the warmth for this town we continue to work and fight through this storm ,even though we know its bad,we'll know it will past eventually",the man laughed. I laugh along with him feeling the warm of it. A few minutes later the bus finally came to a stop at the front of my house. I got up and walked towards the front. Have a merry Christmas sir I said kindly. "And to you as well madam". I stepped onto the white sidewalk and walked towards the once clear but now snow palace of an apartment building leaving foot prints behind me.i got my keys out and searched my mail box. As I went through my stack of mail wrapped in a red silk bow. I hear a door open quick and saw savannah poke her head out as she rubbed her swollen stomach. "Oh hi there Sarah!" Savana said energeticly. I felt my shoulders tighten up as I turned around with a fake smile. Hello Savanah,and it's saraphina I said tilting my head. "Hahaha oh my goodness you kill me your hilarious"! Raising an eye brow I just stared blankly now at her and said ,so your pregnant again I see I say drawing attention to her belly."yep 6th one". I almost choked on my own spit as I heard her. 6th?! "Yep my little munchkins ,and this one looks like she's gonna be a kicker"! I sigh and say , well can you tell your little "munchkins" to keep it down? , I work at night so I need to rest in the day time. "Oh i am sorry that is completely my fault,my rambunctious little watermelons just started home schooling ,and they get a little energetic after snack time". I groan soft crossing my arms. "Well if it makes you feel any
Better it looks like you'll be the one keeping us up tonight" savannah said with a smirk in a playfull tone. I raised an eyebrow and said confused ,what's that supposed to mean? "I mean your new boyfriend is a total hottie, i know your gonna have fun tonight,but shh dont tell my husband" savannah said giggling. My blood cold now and the hairs standing on my neck.i looked up at my door on the Floor above savannah's and squinted to see that my door was already creaked open. I swallowed, my eyes slightly widening now ." Is something wrong?" Savannah said with a blank look on her face as she caressed her stomach. Uhm no nothing , I'm just gonna go check on my "boyfriend" and you stay here with your little peac-,grap-,strawberr-?"watermelons" Savanah said finishing after me. Yeah your little watermelons , I said sprinting up the stairs."okayy"! As I heard savannahs door close I was met with mine and shuttered from the cold breeze that came from the crack in between the door and it's frame. I rested my hand on the knob and slowly slid in my thoughts rambling and unbearable...