The Coffee Chronicles

Chapter 1

Once upon a time, in the magical kingdom of New York, where trash sits on the corners of streets and so do people. This is a story of very unfortunate luck, and may I add, also the story of Emily Robinson.
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 "You can't fire me! I singlehandedly brought this place back from the dirt!" the small female exclaims, huffing with anger. 

Having had enough, a noticeable vein bulged from his forehead. "No, you singlehandedly waste a lot of money by making me replace everything you," lifting chubby fingers to imitate quotation marks, "Accidentally broke." Now, he knew full well how clumsy she was, and knowing this the older man still hired her. 

"Mr. Kennedy, I said I was sorry so many times about the printer..- printers, and the copy machine...." Trailing off,  she scratches the back of her neck. " I'm sorry."

Moving, he pinched the bridge of his nose, pure frustration oozing off the short, stocky, older man. "Sorry doesn't cut it anymore, Emily. I promised your parents to give you a job when you graduated. And I did." Mr. Kennedy muttered while limping to the other side of the room. She heard his sheepish confession anyway. "I'm sorry they passed, but you are a liability I can't afford anymore."

Reaching down into a drawer to his left; pulls out an envelope with her name on it. "I am sorry. Now, there's  your final check, and I do wish you the best."

"I understand," She said at a loss for words as she grabbed  the measly check from his outstretched hand.

Caramel colored eyes look around one last time as an employee of the office. Exhaling a shaky breath, vision misting as she said a silent goodbye to a place that became her safe haven after the accident.

Turning, to leave she pushes through the squeaky door. The instant change of atmosphere from serene office to the hustle bustle of the city always overwhelmed her. She took a left out of the door slowly strolling towards her favorite coffee shop. Its only about a block away, Emily thinks to herself, maybe they're hiring.

Bells chime, dinging above the door to signal she had entered. "Hey, Shawn, is there a chance you're still hiring?" Emily asks while smoothing flyaway hair away from her face as she spoke.

Shawn turned to her, "Oh, I'm sorry Em. We accepted the last application  yesterday and hired on our new person today. Long strands of hair fall in front of his eyes as he fidgets with the watch around his wrist. This is how he always acts whenever she came around. 

Groaning, Emily's nimble fingers rub up and over her face, inhaling deeply. "It's okay, it was worth a shot...I guess." She finishes to herself while dejectedly turning and reaching to the door, her shoulders slumping as she's about to exit. 

"Em, hey, wait." He calls to her, and she sees he has one hand in the air, but he didn't move from behind the counter. "What would you like to drink?"

She frowns. "I don't have the extra money, Shawn." She reluctantly explains, her eyes down in embarrassment. 

"Nonsense. It's the least I can do for one of my favorite customers, this one's on the house." He says, and she smiles in return.  'I can get use to this', Emily thinks smugly. 

"Okay, thank you. Um, I'll take a vanilla latter with an extra pump of vanilla, iced, please."

"Coming right up." He motions towards the cafe tables. "Why don't you go ahead and take a seat, Emmy, and I'll bring it right on over." Shawn tells her, warmly. He turns to work on her order.

Emily walks across the coffee shop and sits at one of the three tables near the windows. She looked out at the people walking by, her mind stumbling along to brainstorm her next move. Now what is she going to do for a job? 

Shawn strolls over. "Heeere we go! An iced latte with a butt load of extra vanilla, as the lady requested, and I added a blueberry muffin," He served the following cup and plate with a small smile, his blush  rising and adding more pink to his cheeks. 

"Thanks, Shawn." Emily smiles back and takes a tentative sip. "I wish you were still hiring in the coffee shop, but I'm sure I'll find something else." She adds between sips. 

"Of course, and I hope you will find something soon." The bell chimes above the door and he turns, his hair covering his eyes again as he looks at the new arrivals. "It looks like I have to get back to work." Shawn turns back to Emily with a small smile. "I hope you can manage to stop by often. It's always to see you, Emily. I'll even keep an eye out and let you know if any-one's hiring." He adds with a wave, and  walks back behind the counter to help the new customers, leaving Emily alone.