Hollow Grace

ᴇɪɢʜᴛᴇᴇɴ - ᴘᴀʏʙᴀᴄᴋ

October 25th

Another couple days had passed, and Ember Hill was increasingly immersed in autumn. The trees were covered in gold, the sunny days were becoming fewer and fewer, and the city's inhabitants had to change into warmer clothes. In connection with this, the 'Roast&Roll' coffee shop was always full of people. Yena, Chantal, and Evan, who worked there, rarely had the opportunity to just sit and wait for new customers.

Charlie dropped into the coffee shop at a good time. The flow of students after classes had already subsided, and Yena could calmly take his order and even chat. As promised, he paid her for the shift she worked the previous Saturday and sat down next to the counter. While Yena made the coffee, she was glancing meaningfully at Charlie. Casey, who also came in right after school, was interested in how the guys' relationship was developing. If they could trust anyone, it was only these girls.

"When's the next date, Casanova?"

"Cool it. We have a date with work every day," Charlie snorted. "If we're lucky, we'll get away next month."

"Come on, you only work in the workshop two days a week," Yena smiled.

"And Evan works the rest. If I pay you for every overtime from my own pocket, we'll go broke on these dates."

Only Darren knew about Charlie's second job. From this income, Wright could easily pay for at least a week of dates and free Evan from work. But this could arouse serious suspicions, and in addition, they decided to save money. So that by the end of school, they had a financial safety cushion. Playing with fire was dangerous, but so far everything was going well. And Charlie couldn't just give up a good income. He was careful.

"How hard it is to be gay in the provinces," Casey sighed, taking a sip of her drink. "Delicious coffee, baby. You make it better than anyone else in this coffee shop."

"Is this an attempt to get free coffee with flattery or a sincere compliment?" Yena smiled wryly.

"The most sincere possible. I always tell only the truth. And I also come to your shift more often than to others."

"And you're not even afraid to risk your reputation?"

"Well, you're not afraid," Casey replied defiantly. "And I'm very interested to know why."

"I don't have a reputation. And it's very difficult to threaten a girl who knows and practices Muay Thai."

"So that's the secret to your perfect body? You're a really dangerous girl... Tell me," Casey leaned in, giving Yena a flirtatious look. "What if I asked for some personal self-defense lessons... Would you teach me?"

Charlie watched the girls flirt openly and boldly with a touch of envy. He wished he could look at Evan as openly and freely, smile at him, hold his hand, and maybe even other, more intimate parts of his body. Casey, of course, still hoped to attract Raine's attention, but since that party, she had been looking at Yena differently. With growing interest.

"My lessons are not cheap," Yena replied.

"I have enough money too. I just don't have a good trainer."

"Damn, girls, you could light a cigarette off you two," Charlie snorted. "Lesbians in Ember Hill probably have it easier."

"I wouldn't say that. There's a little less hatred, but otherwise, the attitude is the same. Threats of corrective rape, condescending looks in public places. They only don't threaten me because they're afraid of getting punched in the face. And they're probably afraid of Casey because of her parents."

"That's the whole point of the class system. Where it's better to be on top," Casey said. "Or to know how to hit hard."

"Who are you telling this to? I know all about it," Charlie waved his hand. "This city's already eaten into my liver."