"Being Ben's"

3. I('m) quit (fired)

I worked at a coffee shop down the street from my apartment, it's sorta small and we don't have the best coffee but was walking distance from my apartment so it was just the easiest thing. Also, I kind of got hired on the spot when I walked in here one day and my boss asked me if I needed a job because like three people just quit that morning, so I said yes and the next day I was working.

"You're late." My coworker, Sandy who thinks she's my boss even though she's not even a manager said to me as I walked past her into the break room to clock in and take my coat off.

"I need a coffee." I said, yawning. Sandy rolled her eyes as she fixed the food display. "Make it." She stood with her hands on her hips and looked at me. "How can it be so hard to get up for an afternoon shift?"

I shrugged. "Maybe because it's my usual wake up time?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes muttering something under her breath. "Just put you're apron on. There's a new kid and Penny wants you to train him." She sighed closing the display case. I groaned, putting a lid on my coffee cup. "I hate wearing that thing and I'm not even a manager. Why do I have to do it?"

"Do you want to get in trouble with Penny, Felix?"

I frowned goin over to the hook and grabbing an apron. "She never even comes in, anyways." I huffed. Sandy shrugged. "She might today." She walked away into the back somewhere. I mocked her as soon as she was out of sight then the door opened and a small, frail looking boy came in.

I think I recognized him from the college.

He smiled at me. "Hi, Felix!" He held out his hand for me to take.

I raised an eyebrow.

How does he know my name?

"Hi...?" I said just looking at his hand. He took it back and rocked on forth on his toes. "Um... Penny told me that you'd be the only guy working here... so I guess I'm you're trainee." He smiled widely again. I smiled awkwardly. "Hi... um...."

"Leo, I'm Leo."

Well, this is awkward already.

"You can come... in here. Um, grab an apron and I'll show you how we do... our stuff... work... I guess." I shook my head and turned away from him, towards the expresso maker. He chuckled. "Thanks." He said grabbing an apron from off the wall. I cleared my throat and looked at him. "Have you met Penny yet?" I queried.

He shook his head.

"Just a warning she's kind of a bitch." I said without thinking about the curse word. I looked at him when I realized what I said. He just pressed his lips up into a smile. "Yeah, I kind of got that vibe when the other girl was interviewing me."

"They're all bitches." I muttered looking back to the hallway. "But Penny's the worst but she's not here most of the time because she's on business trips or she's attending to the other stores she owns." I shrugged. Leo nodded. "That's good, I'll stick with you then... can I have help with the ties?"

"The what? Oh... yeah sure." I took the strings to his apron, being this close to him I could smell the fruity strawberry scented shampoo he used to wash his hair. I backed up to tie the strings into a bow. "Is that... good?" I looked up and saw a customer. He nodded. "It's perfect, thanks."

I took the customers order then turned around to show Leo how to make the coffee but he had already started on making it. "Hey," I said. "Look at you."