50% of Heaven, 50% of Hell

Chapter One: Demon

     "Triple vent, sugar free, nonfat, no foam, extra caramel with whipped caramel machiato. then pour regular coffee down the side with two packs of raw sugar and a stir stick. And hurry, I'm late."

   I can't help but sigh in exhaustion. This is the fourth customer this morning to order something complicated, and I may be good at my job, but I'm only human.

     I signal to Nancy, the woman I work with on Saturday. She starts up the coffee as I try to remember everything the business man with the complicated order had said.

     I  just turned 23, and this is the fifth job I've been at since I turned 22. My hair is long, a dark burnished color, with natural bright streaks in it. It's  odd, so I tell people I dye it. My eyes aren't just one color; it's almost as if my body mashed together a bunch of colors and had hoped for the best. Green, brown, and grey specks make most of my eye color. The outside of my iris fades to a dark blue, but the inside flares to a gold ring around my pupil. My eyes are framed with dark, thick lashes, something I am proud of, and I have a straight nose, with high cheekbones. I have long legs that I can't say I hate, but I trip over them often enough. My pale complexion will never tan; something I can't say I enjoy. I wouldn't say I'm curvy, but I look enough like a woman. Overall, I'm average, other than the wacky hair and eyes.

     I glance outside, sighing again. The weather is bleak, a common thing in New York. The wind had picked up overnight, causing debris and leaves to fly everywhere. People are chasing umbrellas and scarves; shuffling down the street with their collars popped up, attempting to block out the cold. The thick layer of clouds obscures the sun from view, making everything look dull and lifeless. The cold grey seems to creep into the people's bones and souls, almost like it is it's own emotion, and it sets the melancholy mood of the New York streets.

     A loud crash resonates in the coffee shop, startling both myself and most of the crowd. I turn to see the new girl, Olivia, had dropped a newly made pot of coffee, splashing the nearly boiling beverage everywhere. Grabbing a roll of paper towel, I dab at the coffee on Olivia before she she is scalded too badly. I wave to a flustered Nancy pushing aside the feeling of guilt at leaving her with the bloodthirsty horde.

      "B-B-Bardons going to fire me." Olivia squeaks out, trembling as we arrive at the upstairs latrine. I can see the tears forming in her eyes.

     "Come on honey, you'll be fine." I motion for her to take off her apron before handing her a clean one. "He doesn't have to know this happened." Bardon was our absolute ass of a boss. If something, or someone, wasn't perfect, he would fire them in a second.

     Someone starts banging on the bathroom door urgently. "Come ON! Nevaeh, lunch rush is starting, and I need you both out here, NOW!" Nancy's voice is muffled, but the stress underlying her tone was evident. I step out with Olivia just as people start pouring into the already crowded cafe, and the next half hour is a blur.

     Towards the end of lunch rush, a young couple walk into the shop. The girl can't be older than nineteen, with spiky, colored hair, and dark eyeliner. Even though the outside temperature has dropped to around forty degrees F, she wears a small black crop top under a too short jacket. Her lover beside her wears a dark t-shirt, some kind of band I have not heard of, with a violent image on the front. His hair is long, disheveled and slightly greasy, and his heavy boots clunk towards the counter. The pair is covered in tattoos and piercings, their appearance exuding a nearly dangerous vibe

     Their appearance isn't what makes me stop and stare in the middle of taking an order. The woman holds a baby girl in her arms, and she can't seem take her eyes off her child. A delighted smile is mirrored on both mother and daughter. The man guides the women, as she doesn't bother lifting her gaze to navigate through the tables. Every few seconds he glances down with adoration in his eyes, almost as if he is making sure they are both there with him, and this wouldn't end as a dream.