Into the Storm

Storm Koffee Houz

JADE RENATA

Storm Koffee Houz, my second home, my sanity, and my child. My chilhood friend and business partner Maia Shinzo own Storm Koffee Houz. It's our pride and prized possession. One night during college at our friend Phillip Allenn's house party, while everyone was getting high and waisted drunk, I had this crazy idea to run a coffee shop that hosts local and upcoming artists and musicians. We were already friends with striving artists and musicians. I remember Maia's excitement and the smile on her face as she sipped on her bubble tea class. "GENIUS!" she shouted at me almost choking on her tea with her voice that was no louder than normal spoken tone. When she said that, more ideas spilled out and before we knew it, Phillip and Vincent told us to shut up and talk about it tomorrow before someone else hears it and steals our big idea.
We immidiatly switched our majors from English Literature to Business Econ. My major wasn't much of a big move, but I knew right away it was the right move. Katherine and Emma, our super model promoters know everyone who is everyone and everywhere. They lead them to our place and everyone eventually has a happy ending. Successfuly, that is. Their model angency wants Maia and I, but we are way too busy with our shop. Phil and Vince like to pretend they arent models when they recognized on the street or promoting for Storm. Their social media says otherwize. They like to joke around with fans sometimes before they eventually give in to take a picture with them. Those photogenic dorks. They are the nicest and humblest guys you will ever meet. Protective of us girls. Sometimes we have to remind them that we still need room to breath and not to scare off guys who want to date us with their entirely rediculous perfect and pretty faces. They say the same about us when it comes to the girls they want to date, but we aren't as protective as they are. Phil is sort of a player, and Vince is a charmer for both teams. His heart gets broken mostly from guys, so I must admit it, that I am most protective when it comes to my Vince. I've known vince since high school, and I was the one he confided in to come out to. I will fight someone for Vince. End of story.

Tonight, Maia Lane Shinzo is on the hunt for two new promoters. I suggested someone who is a tight regular of both day and night world of Storm Koffee Houz. Someone who wasn't a hot smoking model. I want someone real and more grounded with regular people from the neighborhood and around the city. Kathereine and Emma attract guys while Vince and Phil attract the women. Men, on Vince's account, of course. It's Friday, which means it's D&B night at our shop. That's Drum and Bass or Jungle, if you will. Maia has a two people in mind. If those people show up tonight, she will offer them a proposal for promoting Storm.
We close the shop at six o'clock sharp and open it back up when it's time for shenannigans at 9pm. We have a handful of staff who handle preperation process in between closing time and re-entry time.

"You can just ride with me. I can drop you off at home, Jade. I'll pick you up for work tonight." Maia shouts from her pretty pink ride parked next to mine as I struggle to get my car started. I throw my head back on the headrest and close my eyes. I will not be caught dead in Maia's bright and sparkly barbie car. It's cute, don't get me wrong. It's just not something I would ever see myself in, even on the passenger side.

I sigh in hesitation, "Fine." Just throw a paper bag on my head, and ill be good. "Just let me call and get this thing towed to the shop."

"Just trash it. You need a new car anyway Jae." Fuck you, Maia. I love my hideus car. "Maia-" I turn my head to her brown eyes staring at me while she twists a lock of hair in her fingers. "-don't knock my ride." She's not as ditsy she pretends to be, she just always has random manerisms of it. She's cool as shit, and smart as hell. Men underestimate her until they realize she isn't what she seems and by the time they want back in, it's too late. She's moved on to the next. No time for bullshit. Although, Maia is completely right about my car. I wouldnt hurt to look.

I watched the tow guy take my car away in annoyance with my things in hand before I turned to Maia's barbie car and got in. I stared out of the window during the ride to my house. I'm stressing off of my car. I'm not gonna be able to focus on "Jungle Night". Maybe I'll take tonight off and -
"Actually, I need you to take my car to pick up someone tonight." She smiles and keeps on driving like those words didn't just affect me harshly. I stare at her as if she were joking and I know her well enough to know that she's not. She's dead serious about me driving her candy land looking car anywhere at this point. Even though, I'd rather not be seen in this car, she doesn't let any one drive her car that isn't Vince or myself.
"No. Ask Vince. You know he'll drive." I couldn't throw the suggestion out fast enough.
"It's just that-" She sighed and gripped her steering wheel tight. I realized something about her as I looked at her. She was not only stressed out more than I could ever be about my car at this moment. She had dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't slept well. Her makeup was faded from the day, but not just that, it was the same makeup from last night. Her eyes glossed over and I immidiatly remembered who showed up at the shop last night to talk to her and fuck up her whole night. I instantly didn't hesitate to answer her plea.
"Yeah. I'll do it." I said quietly and slightly dissapointed. Not so much as the fact that I have to be seen in her car, but dissapointed that when it comes to relationships, it makes you think and act certian ways to please them. Especially, if they are the ones treating you badly. Everyone is entitled to their own perogative in relationships. Maia and her ex-boyfriend, are terrible but perfect for one another. No one will understand their relationship. I do, because she tells me everything and I've known her since we were kids. Art, is her big ex. Her first crush, her first boyfriend, and her first everything. Art, is a rapper from London. Not a faithful one at that, given the priorites of traveling it comes with. She's always there when he comes home.
She is starting to have her eye on Jonah. He's one of our good friends that we all love having around. He's a pro soccer player and a model. He's part of the same agency as Katherine, Emma, Vince and Phil. He's one of the more successful models of the bunch and it's never easy on Maia's emotions when he's juggling soccer and fashion week. She can hide it well, but not from me. She won't say she has a crush on Jonah, but I know Maia and she's got a secret fluffy crush on Jonah. I didn't pry with questions about what was going on with her and Art, so I redirected attention elsewhere.

"So, who is this mystery person I am picking up tonight?" I asked. She wiped the tear threatning to fall out and turned her head to me with a smile. She turned her attention back to the road and evil smirked with a small laugh.