Chapter Text
“I miss KFC…”
Katie melodramatically sighed as she dragged her feet and sulked into the back of the cafe, the lights growing dimmer, away from any expectant customers—which wasn't a problem anyway, considering how dead the cafe gets at nine P.M.
“Me too, Katie, me too—“ Her co-worker, Mike nodded sadly. “But it was nice enough of your brother to lend us a job here for the time being.” He was hunched over, precisely pouring whipped milk into a cup of coffee. From this angle, she was able to see Mike’s face underneath his shaggy, layered haircut. He, unfortunately, wore the same bland uniform as her—contrasting with his bright pink locks.
“Yeah, I guess…” She adjusted her apron restlessly, messing with the neck strap. It didn’t fit as snug as her KFC uniform. Katie huffed, biting the corner of her mouth in exasperation. Every hour she spent working at the Dutch Cafe made her feel jittery, a quiet hum of uneasy tension.
After their KFC got shut down, Katie assumed finding a job would be effortless—thanks to her stellar and overly qualified resume.
However, turns out, her older brother, Don was able to find the both of them a job at his friend’s establishment: The Dutch Cafe.
Katie scoffed, contemplating the effortless, simple name. It wasn’t even clever or catchy! It was extremely uncreative, considering how all the employees—except Mike and Katie—were Dutch!
“Don't look so down, Katie.” Mike consoled, using one finger to inch the coffee cup across the counter gently. He tipped up his glasses, adjusting them to fit over his nose. “At least, we’re in this together. When we’re done here, the KFC will have a bigger and grander reopening.”
From the moment Katie met Mike, she knew his bright pink hair was a sign of good fortune. She knew she could always have his back, and he would have hers.
“Mike…” Katie gushed, tearing up as she peered down at the latte that adorned a foamy heart design—curated just for her. She wrapped her hands around the fresh coffee cup; warmth seeped from the ceramic as Katie felt her body weight shift, the tension slowly melting away. “You’re the best business partner I could ever ask for!”
Before she could express her full, complete gratitude, the cafe front door’s bell chimed, signaling her to haul her ass back to the front of the cafe. Katie’s lips pulled down into a frown, dread replacing her former happiness.
“I’ll be back.” She grumbled, turning around to face her inescapable fate.
“Good luck, Katie.” Mike giggled—making her groan even louder.
Who in their right mind would even eat at a cafe during the evening—thirty minutes before closing?
She instantly shook her head, getting rid of the negative thought. ‘Handle this like a proper businesswoman.’ Katie scolded herself, putting on a customer service-worthy smile. She rolled her shoulders back, cracked her neck, and pulled out her trusty clipboard.
Katie feigned professionalism, scribbling random squiggles onto the clipboard’s paper whilst strolling over to the counter.
“Hello, sir, what may I have the pleasure of…” Her warm greeting died out the moment she took one look at the customer. He was freakishly pale, almost a ghostly white—looking like he was on the verge of puking all over the counter.
Damn, this guy really needs some vitamin D.
His eyes were fixated on the menu above her, glaring at it as if his life depended on it. The man was clutching his ratty, worn-out lab coat—like he was holding himself upward.
“Uh, sir?” Katie tried again. In an instant, his intense gaze locked onto hers, making her body stiffen in awkwardness. Katie pressed the clipboard inches away from her nose as her eyes briefly darted to every feature on his face.
His cracked lips trembled, fading with color as every second passed by. His whole appearance looked dull and unsharpened—apart from his eyes: the only sign that he was even half alive.
“Espresso, please.” The customer’s voice was flat yet wobbly, his mouth almost lacking the energy to form coherent words.
“An espresso…really? That’s it?” She asked with an inquisitive, yet fairly judgmental tone.
Katie was almost insulted that he would order something so boring. KFC may be her number one priority, but the Dutch Cafe was now another job added to her resume, and it had some pretty fantastic drinks!
Yet, something about this interaction seemed strangely familiar—though she couldn’t quite place her finger on it.
“What?” He coughed out, his eyes squinting in confusion. “Of course, it is.” Katie could have sworn his head twitched—just barely.
“Not even a cookie dough cold brew with chocolate drizzle and whipped cream—topped off with sprinkles?”
“No, what the hell…”The customer mumbled with frustration, shaking his head weakly. His voice was getting more coarse, slowly dying out under the strain of his failing strength. Katie watched as the guy’s hand gripped the counter, his body quivering with a small shudder.
“Sir, uh, are you sure you’re alright?”
“No, I’m gonna..” The once upright, squirmish customer fell to the floor with a loud thud.
Well, shit.