The Silver Six

Part 2

Less than two hours later, Allen found himself pulling out of his apartment parking lot in his battered Honda, the trunk filled with various cleaning supplies. His phone buzzed just once in his pocket, but he ignored it. He already knew who it was anyway. Turning down the street, he drove for a few more minutes until he spotted the familiar sign of the neighborhood cafe, Benny's. The place was dirt cheap of course, but at least the coffee was good. He couldn't say much about their pastries, however.

Pulling into an empty space, he parked and slipped into his thrifted denim jacket and headed into the coffee shop. The little bell in the corner of the door and the pungent smell of roasting coffee welcomed him as he entered the little building. A barista looked up from the counter and gave him a big dimpled grin as she pushed her curly ponytail over her shoulder.

"Hey, Allen! Good morning!" Cassie greeted, raising a hand to him. "You're here early."

"Yeah, I woke up early," Allen replied, matching her smile.

"So... the usual?" she asked, turning to the organized shelves behind her.

"Yep," he replied, sliding onto a stool at the counter.

Tucking his feet around the stool bars, he leaned against the counter and watched her work. It was rather fascinating how she knew exactly where everything was and what it did. At the moment he kept forgetting which cupboard held his few plates. Not to mention that if his shoes weren't in plain sight he would lose them for days on end. Who even had a memory that bad? Him apparently. He sighed and pulled himself from his daydreaming as Cassie set a steaming mug down in front of him, a cream cheese bagel on the side.

"I wish you had made a move on the job offer sooner," she sighed, leaned against the counter. "Ben hired someone yesterday."

"What job offer?" Allen asked, puzzled.

Cassie quirked her head and looked at him in confusion.

"The job offer to work here, of course, we talked about it Monday," she said, watching him stir his coffee. "That was only three days ago."

Allen frowned and began digging through his mind, trying to remember. A little piece of information met him. An orange paper in the window, Cassie remarking that he would look good in an apron.

"Oh," he nodded. "I think I remember."

"Well anyways, the spot's taken now, but maybe I can torment the new guy into leaving and you can take the position."

Allen snorted, setting down his spoon.

"Like that would go well, besides, I'd suck at being whatever it is that you do," he said, taking a bite of bagel. "If it doesn't have a label and instructions I can't manage."

"We could have you doing janitorial work here instead of the college, I'm sure it would be way more fun!" she grinned.

"And get paid less? No thanks."

"Aw come on Al, it's just a few dollars less," she protested.

Allen shrugged and sipped his coffee.

"Oh well," she sighed. "You seemed just as determined to stick to your job the last time we talked, I should have known your opinion would stay the same."

"I still stop by every day for breakfast," he replied.

"I know."

With that, the conversation died down, and Allen finished his breakfast while Cassie began idly wiping the counter on her side with a rag. Allen's phone buzzed again in his pocket, and this time he decided to look at what it was.

Doctor Richmond: The lab results are back, there is nothing to worry about, however, we still need you to come in on Sunday for a checkup.

Doctor Richmond: I hope you are feeling better today, remember to take your prescribed medication!

Allen rolled his eyes and shoved the phone back in his pocket. He hated that doctor, but he was stuck with him until the stupid doctors decided his amnesia was no longer a "special case". Setting his empty mug down, Allen finished off his bagel and glanced at the time, which read seven-ten. Shit.

"I need to be going or I'll be late to clock in," Allen stated, standing with a wave at Cassie before heading out the glass door.

"Ok! Bye!" she called after him.

Hurrying down to his car, Allen jumped inside and started the vehicle up, not bothering to buckle his seatbelt as he pulled out and onto the road. He hated being late. Or rather, his boss hated him being late. Or maybe, his boss just hated him. He sighed and pressed down on the gas just a little. This area was rural, so he wasn't worried about the rising speedometer.

In a matter of minutes, he was pulling up to the Bracken University's service department and racing through the doors to swipe his ID. A sickly-looking woman shoved her glasses up the bridge of her nose and scrunched her painted mouth.

"You're late Mr. Wilbury," she scolded, her voice a mere croak.

"So sorry," Allen apologized, glancing at the clock which told him clearly that he really wasn't.

"Hm," the woman harrumphed, turning her beady eyes down on her paper.

He ran his ID through the little machine in the corner and returned to her desk, waiting. After a moment she handed him a slip of paper with his name on it and a long list.

"Mary wants all this done before the weekend," the woman- Miss Arnold said, pointing a gnarly finger at him. "Especially Gold Hall, some students got a little wild and decided to have a little art session on the floor in there. It's all covered in paint."

Allen sighed.

"Alright, no problem, I'll get right on that," he responded quickly, rushing out the door before she could say anything else.

Flopping back down in his car, Allen shut the door and read over the list.

-All bathrooms on floors 3-10 in Wright's Wing

-Council rooms 12 and 13 in Brighthill Hall

-Classroom 34 East Building

-All open bathrooms in the new hall

-1st Floor Gold Hall entrance

"How does she expect me to get all this done!" Allen yelled in frustration, throwing the list down and starting his car. "It's like she wants the whole place to look like shit when I'm done."

Yanking the wheel with frustration, Allen steered his car towards the main campus where he would start on his first assignment.