Addicted

Chapter 1: Meeting

Zane pov.

  I wake up to my alarm and grumble. I then realized what day it is and why I have an alarm set. I am extremely excited for today. I'm starting my new job at the town I just moved to. I'm working as a barista for a little coffee shop called Small Bean(yes I made that up). I have to be there by 8:00 so I can clock in and set up before we open at 8:30. It is now 6:30 so I start a shower. After I get out it is 6:45 and I have to get dressed. I pick some ripped, black, skinny jeans. An old PA!TD t-shirt with a black long sleeve underneath it and a pair of old black converse(pretty much my every day outfit tbh!!). I will have an apron on but with the black it washes me out and makes me stand out less, and it helps me seem a bit taller.
  You can say I dress up a bit but I try not to make it obvious that I'm trans. I've been on T for about a year, so I pass pretty well, although I'm short. I had troubles finding the right t-shirt so that my chest still looked flat, ik the binder works fine but some days im very dysphoric, so it's 7:30 and I go to do my hair. I go to brush out my curls as much as possible since I cant wear a beanie, pretty much the only dress rule I had a problem with at work. My hair is about 2-3 inches long and super curly until I brush it out then it kind of resembles an afro, so decided to not brush it out so it doesn't get too frizzy. Once I have that done I brush my teeth, and them it's 7:45 so I grab my phone, without checking it, and keys and wallet and walk out the door.

--Time Skip--
 
  By the time I get there its 7:56 so I sit in my car and check my phone. I have 17 missed calls and 35 unread messages from my best friend Max(I know your reading this so =p)
  He is trans like me but pansexual and in a relationship with a girl I have never met. I left my old town and moved here after constant harassment from my parents and other kids. Luckily it was the end of the year so I have time to adjust before college life kicks back up.
  I had shut my phone off for 2 days while getting set in and forgot to tell him I was turning my phone off so I can see why he was worried. I send him a text that says:

*Hey im ok just had to decompress, but i can talk after work so ttyl!!*

I then put my phone on silent and shove it in my pocket as I enter the shop to help get it ready for the day! I walk in and there is a girl there who is about 5'5" and is wearing a short ish grey dress and little tights, with grey plaid hightops. She has electric blue hair and is jumping around everywhere cleaning everything.
  As the bell chimes she doesn't stop or anything and I realize she is listening to music I move closer hoping to hear the music she is listening to and it just so happens to be Kitchen Sink by Twenty One Pilots. Luckily I know all the words and start to sing along. As i'm getting into it I realize that she has taken out the earbuds, put down the rag, and has been staring at me for forever. I stop and suddenly get very uncomfortable, great time for social anxiety to kick in am I right.
  She just stares at me for what seems like hours and then seems to jump out of her daze and freaks out.
  "Omg that was amazing how long have you been singing because I think your great and love your voice, also are you the new employee, we you would have to be because you got in which means you know the lock combo also you have great taste in music and we are going to best friends here give me your phone I'll give you mine so we can swap numbers!!"
  She says all this in about 10 seconds and grabs my phone, while shoving hers in my hand. I go ahead and put mine number in the phone.
As she is typing in her number, she also says    
  "Also I know your gay because I swear to god I can smell it, its radiating off of you like after its rained, the smell of rain radiates from everywhere." 
  She then smile creepily and whispers "Gaydar!!"
  I end up cracking up and we laugh for about 10 minutes straight luckily she had cleaned up well so that she could get to know me.
After our laughing fit she looked at me and said "Im Cassie by the way but I go by Artemis so you can call me Artemis, and I swear to god you use cassie or any version I will kick your ass!" She then busted out laughing and I followed suit(Artemis
I see you there!!)
  I could tell this was going to be a great first day.

--Time Skip--

  We had been getting a lot of morning regulars that Artemis introduced me too. A lot of them were little old ladies wanting there coffee fix.  
  One time there was this business man who looked to be in his mid 30s that I kind of stared at his ass as he left.
  Once he left Artemis looked at me and huffed  
  "We gotta get you a man you just look lonely!"
  And about that time someone walked in and we turned at the ringing of the bell. Artemis got suddenly excited.
  "Hey Alex, this is our newest employee. His name is  Zane."
  I sheepishly waved and said hi.
  In a deep baritone voice he said "Its nice to meet you!" then he winked at me. AT ME!!!
  Once he had ordered his coffee and left. Artemis looked at me like she was plotting something. She then ran over to the bulletin board and pulled off a flyer for Pride. I actually got excited. She said that we have to go together and she would bring her partner.
  After that we talked about plans and outfits for the Pride parade that was in 2 days. And we finished the day with small talk and getting to know each other better.

--Time Skip--

  Once I got home I flopped onto my couch and flipped my shoes off. I looked down at my birth mark shaped like and A. I kind of have to wonder if it stand for Alex's name. I then shake my head and get out headphones and flip through the artist until i find Billie Eilish and play her songs.

--Time Skip--

  I woke up at about 4 am and decided to go to my bed and set an alarm for 11:00. The shop was closed today and tomorrow for the preparations for Pride.
  Artemis and I have plans to go find the perfect outfit for the march. She is bringing her partner and I am going alone, sadly. But maybe I will meet someone.

~Do I smell some foreshadowing *wink, wink* So what do you guys think please Vote and Comment.
Also next chapter will be the character pictures for Artemis's mystery partner.
Love all of you guys!!
~Alex~