Chapter Text
A job was a job, and for the most part, Charlie very much liked her job. It wasn’t anything extravagant, a barista at the local coffee shop near her uni campus, but she liked it. She loved working with her friends, meeting tons of new people, chatting with the regulars, and making drinks to help people start their day. She especially loved today because it was the first day of a new school year, which meant incoming freshman, transfer students, and new professors to get acquainted with. After all, strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet. However, right now at 7:30am the store was relatively quiet, the calm before the storm as her supervisor Husk would call it.
In the emptiness Niffty skittered around cleaning everything with meticulous attention to detail.
“I think that spot is clean enough, Nif.” Angel groaned as he leaned against the register, presumably hungover from the previous night’s escapades.
Niffty looked back at the spot she was scrubbing away at. “I guess. Can I clean the ice maker?”
“Knock ya self out.”
The giggle she let out concerned Charlie to no end. “Make sure you unplug it first!”
“Awww. Where’s the fun in that?”
Angel straightened up, back popping audibly as he did. “That bitch is deranged.”
Charlie wanted to disagree but she couldn’t. Niffty certainly was…something. As she went to change the topic the door opened, Charlie immediately entering customer service mode. ”Morning, welcome in!”
Angel also muttered something to the same effect. Two of their regulars smiled at them.
“Good morning sunshine!” Rosie, with her alabaster skin and dark, deep set eyes smiled at her. “You are always such a light even on the drabbest day.”
Charlie’s smile reached her eyes at the compliment. “Well thank you Rosie. Will you be getting your usual today?”
“Of course!”
Unconsciously Charlie’s tongue poked between her lips as she tapped away at the register. “So one medium earl grey and an apple turnover.”
”You’ve got it sweetie! You getting anything Al?”
Beside her stood Alastor, a small smile on his face like usual. Tall and lanky his presence was unnerving, glasses threatening to slip down the bridge of his nose. “No thank you. Perhaps I’ll stop by for lunch.”
Niffty ran full speed into Alastor, using all of her small frame to hug him.
“Why good morning Niffty.”
She gave him a gigantic, toothy grin. “Isn’t the store clean? I’ve been working on it all morning.”
Alastor pat her head. “Spick and span as usual my dear.”
She giggled manically and disappeared into the back again, Rosie chuckling and shaking her head.
“I’m glad she’s having fun.”
Angel handed Rosie her order. “And it’s great for Charlie and I ‘cause it means we don’t clean a damn thing.”
Rosie smiled at the crew. “We’ll see you soon.”
Charlie waved them off. “We look forward to it!”
As the door closed Angel raised one of his bleached eyebrows. “So Alastor definitely has bodies in his basement, right?”
Charlie frowned at him. “You’re pissed now but I’m callin’ it. He’s gonna be on the news makin’ JWG look like a fucking chump.”
The store manager, Husk, grumbled from his seat, barely looking up from his laptop. “Guy’s an asshole, let’s leave it at that.”
Angel snorted. “That seems like an understatement.”
The printers throughout the store whirred as mobile orders came through.
“Oooooh, never seen this name before. Must be a freshie.” As he pulled another sticker he burst out laughing, much to the confusion of his coworkers. “Vajie? Like vagina?”
Husk frowned. “I swear if it’s those fucking high school dipshits again I’m gonna catch a case.”
“Ooo! I can help clean the crime scene!” Niffty giggled. “They’ll never know it was you.”
All Angel and Charlie could do was exchange concerned glances.
Orders piled up so quickly that Charlie and Angel had forgotten about the customer with the unfortunate name until it was time to hand off their drinks, which Angel snickered the entire way through. Three drinks (an iced matcha latte, a black dark roast coffee, and an iced coffee with an egregious amount of caramel syrup, drizzle, and heavy cream) later a tray had been assembled.
Still fighting back snickers, Angel called out the customer’s name, receiving no response. “I wouldn’t raise my hand if that was my name either.”
Charlie rolled her eyes as they continued to quickly make drinks, knowing that if the customer had overheard, Angel would be getting another talking to regarding his bedside manner.
Slowly the orders began to dwindle, Charlie looking at her phone and sighing. “Just about made it.”
Angel snorted. “Bitch you better run before this shit picks up again and Husk tries to make you stay.”
Charlie blew a raspberry. “Not happening. I have class in like, 30 minutes.”
Angel held up a cup, “The usual?”
“Yes please!”
He huffed, “This shit is going to kill you.”
Charlie ducked into the back and took off her apron, hanging it up, clocking out, and grabbing her bag. Sure a large iced mocha with an extra shot, cold foam, mocha and caramel drizzle, and cookie crumbles a bit much? Maybe. Was she ever going to change her order? Probably not.
“If Niffty can drink eight shots over ice with 10 pumps of brown sugar syrup, heavy cream, and a packet of salt and not have a heart attack I think I’ll be okay.”
Niffty popped her head out from the back. “Didn’t you do drugs off a guy’s ding-a-ling this past weekend?”
Angel tried to think of a comeback and stopped himself, putting his head down to finish Charlie’s drink.
Rolling her eyes she leaned against the handoff counter, eyebrow raising. “Oh. The tray is gone.” Angel handed off her drink, laughing to himself. “I’d move like a ninja if that was my name too.”
Charlie just sighed. “I’ll see you guys later.”
Niffty waved frantically, manic energy overflowing. “Okay! Bye!”
The first day of class was always interesting. By the end of the period Charlie could usually tell which professors were cool, which students were going to drop the class, and who she would want to get partnered with should they be cursed with a group assignment.
Today was no different.
Charlie had arrived early, taking note of the cast of characters that made their way into the room and got comfortable in their own unique way.
One girl placed her oversized Stanley on the floor as she pulled out her notebook, highlighters, pens, sticky notes, and folder, clearly prepared for whatever the professor had in store.
A scruffy looking boy ripped out pages from his notebook, leaving a noticeable gap in the covers, before scribbling violently on the scrap pages to make his well chewed on pen write.
The professor stood at the front of the class and checked her watch, counting down the seconds until the start of lecture. It matched up with her RateAProfessor reviews, strict but fair, punctuality and attendance are a must. No tests, but several projects that changed each semester.
At 11AM on the dot she began roll call.
“Albertson.” Present.
“Barnes.” Present.
“Benitez.” Present.
“Carmine.” Silence.
Charlie grimaced to herself, knowing that being late on the first day never boded well.
“Eden.”
It took Charlie a moment to remember she was using her mother’s maiden name, her hand shooting up. Roll call continued, the door opening as the professor reached the Pattersons and Perezes.
Everyone else had been accounted for so the lolligagger must have been-
“Nice of you to join us Miss Carmine.”
The young woman pressed her lips into a tight line, her messy bob swaying as she walked to the front of the classroom and handed the professor a paper. The professor lowered her glasses and read over it quickly, looking back at the tardy student. “Take a seat.”
Charlie sat up a little straighter when she realized the sole empty seat was beside her and Oh gosh she’s so pretty. Bisexual panic seized her body as Miss Carmine got closer, taking her bag from her shoulder and sitting.
She was wearing an indie artist on her shirt, black arm warmers up to her elbows. A plaid skirt, fishnets, and converse rounded out her look, Charlie noticing all of her ear piercings when she tucked her hair back.
Some form of a whimper escaped from Charlie, the woman turning to look at her.
Shit, shit, shit!
For the first time Charlie realized that her left eye was covered by a patch, well obscured by her bangs, while her visible eye was honey brown and stunning.
She frowned slightly, clearly concerned with the woman in front of her. “Are you okay? Your face is really red.”
Oh God her voice is hot too.
Unable to speak Charlie gave an awkward thumbs up, Miss Carmine raising a brow and chuckling.
“Um, cool.”
Charlie didn’t listen to a single word the professor said for the rest of the class period. She figured they were just going over the syllabus and she could read that over once she was back in her apartment. For now she was trying to figure out how to introduce herself to the beautiful woman across from her that probably thought she was an idiot.
Then class ended before she had a chance to say anything. The woman looked at her and gave a small smile. “See you around.”
Charlie’s heart felt like it was in her throat.
“Angel she’s so prettyyyyyyyy.” Charlie lamented as she dramatically draped herself over the counter.
“So you were a normal human and introduced yourself, right?”
She groaned as Angel scrolled through his phone.
Shifts this early always started off incredibly slow, so once beans were stocked, ice was filled, and mocha was made, there was nothing to do but talk.
“No… I clammed up.”
“You’re hopeless.”
“I knooooooow… At least I have class with her twice a week.”
Angel snorted, “You could have class with her every fucking day, it doesn’t matter if you become an invertebrate in her presence.”
Charlie pouted, knowing he was right. “How do you do it? You’re so confident when it comes to people that you’re attracted to.”
Angel pulled a ticket from the printer, sticking it on the side of the appropriate sized cup. “Confident? More like delusional. You gotta pretend like you’re the best thing since sliced bread.”
Niffty poked her head out from the back of house. “What was the best thing before sliced bread? Was it just regular bread?”
Husk chuckled. “Nif over here asking the real questions.”
Charlie took a ticket as well. “But-”
The espresso machine whirred.
“But nothing! You’re a fucking catch! Tall, gorgeous, smart, kind, you’ve got great tits, and you’re a massive sweetheart. If she doesn’t like you back she’s an idiot!”
As one order brewed another was started.
“I don’t even know if she likes girls.”
“How about you find out this girl’s name before you worry about her sexuality.” Husk chimed in as Charlie placed the drink she had just completed in the hand off area.
“I… guess.” She stared at the ticket in her hand, realizing it was the new student with the strange name again.
“Again with this shit?!” Husk must have pulled the same name.
“I don’t think it’s a prank.”
“Just some dumbass with an unfortunate name.”
Charlie sighed, Angel nudging her softly with his hip. “You going to any of the parties this weekend?”
She shrugged. “I guess it depends on how much schoolwork I end up with.”
Angel rolled his eyes. “You are a straight A honor student who has never so much as been late to class. Turning in one assignment late won’t kill you.”
“That sentence just spiked my anxiety.”
Angel took a deep breath. “Listen, this Friday, some bands are playing in some chump’s backyard. Cherri is performing a few sets, so you know I’ll be there. Just come drink a couple of beers, grab a bite and just enjoy the music. Are you capable of that?”
That did sound pretty low key, and maybe just enjoying the music would be good for her, plus she’d be supporting her friend, so… “Fine.”
“Yes!” Angel pumped his fist in the air. “Listen, it’s super casual so don’t stress it.”
Charlie nodded. “Just text me the info, okay?”
“Less yapping, more drinks.”
Reluctantly, everyone put their head down and got back to work.