"This is what she had become."
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Cleopatra Banks' last week in the small town of New Chelsea is nothing like she would have imagined it, but nothing could have prepared her for the stinging betrayal she's faced with and suddenly the prospect of...
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"Toppings?"
"Oh, yes...uhm, throw over some caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, also some Oreos and...both the rainbow sprinkles and the chocolate sprinkles too," Cleopatra held up five fingers in an overly excited manner and addressed the barista whilst tapping onto the edge of the counter with the fingers on the other hand.
Jax (as his nametag read) raised an eyebrow at Cleopatra and stopped pressing the buttons on the computer screen he was working from. "You can't have more than three toppings," he informed her.
She bit onto her lower lip and contemplated the barista's words for a moment. Her favorite one was off duty (she always gave her extra toppings--free of charge mind you). But Jax seemed to have a little attitude. She hadn't been planning on going to the mall at all but after hearing that she'd be moving away over the weekend she just absolutely needed some ice cream from her favorite coffee-slash-ice-cream shop.
She should have asked her dad for some money before floating out of his office. All she had now was reserved for the bus fare and all she could afford at the moment was a small cup of ice cream and three toppings.
Only three toppings!
Three!
"Well, caramel sauce and chocolate sauce aren't really toppings they're sauces and you can just cut out the rainbow sprinkles," she negotiated.
Jax actually seemed to be contemplating this and Cleopatra crossed her fingers in anticipation.
He gave her a blank look and cocked his head to the side, pouting in annoyance. "Sauces," he began, pointing to the board behind him where the colorful ice cream menu was on display "are clearly listed under toppings. Pick. Three," he told her in a stern voice. She had the urge to roll her eyes but held it back and pouted instead, folding her arms across her chest.
She looked around for Alexis who had run off to the bathroom not too long ago after some much needed window shopping. Guess she couldn't exactly talk her into buying her ice cream, her stomach needed some sustenance and Alexis had been taking too long.
"Fine, just the Oreos and the caramel sauce then," Cleopatra reluctantly informed the barista. The annoyed expression on his face intensified when he began pressing the computer screen forcefully.
Yikes! Rude much?
"You know what? I think I'll have the fresh fig and chocolate-chunk ice cream instead and then swap out the Oreos for toasted nuts but keep the caramel sauce," she informed Jax, giving him a big smile.
"Would you like some diet Coke with that?" He asked, sneering at her in annoyance.
"I dare you to repeat that, I so dare you!" Alexis materialized and stood right next to Cleopatra, raising a finger at the rude barista.
"Do you not understand the concept customer care? The nerve!" Alexis sneered. "Come on Cleo, we don't need this," she shook her head disapprovingly and took her friend's hand in hers. Alexis pulled a reluctant Cleopatra away from the counter and turned around one more time to offer the barista a withering glare and a colorful set of expletives. The barista rolled his eyes and went back to pressing the buttons on his precious computer forcefully.
