Chapter Text
"Only three sales today?" Gene gasped as he counted the cash in the register. He looked back up at me, eyes wide. "Aphmau, did you even promote the specials?!?"
I scoffed and stopped mopping for a second. "You mean the specials on the blackboard? Yes, Gene, I promoted the specials." I continued pushing the mop back and forth over irremovable coffee stains. "It's not like anyone can miss them. Zenix came in and drew them on the windows in dry-erase."
He glanced over at the graffiti-styled promotions spanning the whole storefront. It was hard for customers to miss the pink and blue "Shadow Splash Cold Brew" that greeted them before they entered. Even if they did, about five steps later, I'd remind them of it and even suggest they try the "Knight's Latte." Of course, only three people today seemed interested, mainly for the free donut that came with both the specials.
"Oh well," he shrugged, putting some change back in the drawers. He pushed it closed, then pushed it closed again, then harder a third time until it stuck. Ignoring the faulty register, he stepped back to admire the shop as we closed for the night. "Did Sasha ever stop by?"
"Her and the new trainee," I sighed. "Is he one of the Ro'Meaves? He doesn't look like Garroth or Zane, but he kinda looks like their mom."
Gene picked out some of our day-old donut holes to munch on while I finished closing. "Yup, I think he's a donor baby. Something about their dad and a business trip and a failed procedure- I don't know the details."
I set the mop in the bucket and put the wet floor sign down. Then I paused. "You know," I started, "I find it a little rude that you wouldn't let Zane into the staff, but you're letting Vylad apply. He's still very salty about it."
"He's still bothering you two about that?" He leaned on the counter as he popped more donut holes into his mouth.
"Not so much bothering," I shrugged, grabbed my bag, and headed to the bathroom. "Just... not so subtly bringing it up. I just think you could maybe let him retry so he'll leave us alone about it."
He rolled his eyes and groaned, "Let me put it this way: You're good with the customers and competent. KC is good with the sweets and easy to work with. Vylad seems like a good guy! But we all know Zane. It's Zane. He's headstrong, rude, and aggravating. He almost reminds me of... never mind. Look, he wouldn't be a good fit for the company."
I snickered at the bathroom door. "'The company?'"
"Oh, excuse me, senora," he mocked. "I was trying to be professional."
"Right," I slipped behind the bathroom door. I could hear him continue complaining on the other side, but I didn't listen. I untied my apron and undid my ponytail before changing into my regular clothes: a purple off-the-shoulder crop top and high-rise blue jeans. All tied together with beat-up Vans I've had since 2020. It was nothing too fancy. KC, Katelyn and I were just going to the movies after work.
Remembering KC, I slipped out of the bathroom. "Hey," I interrupted Gene's rambling, "has KC come out of the kitchen yet?"
"Huh? Oh," he realized. "Um, no. I think she's back there proofing bread dough." He remembered his donut holes and returned to eating the remainder.
Curious, I put my bag on the counter before opening the kitchen door. I saw KC nervously putting herself together, hair bows in hand, while watching the sourdough starter eat. I knew she was just worried about the opening shift, but she looked like she was about to pop a blood vessel. The bakery is almost like her own private section of the shop. She'd love to control every little detail about it, but she'd never admit that in front of Gene.
I cleared my throat. "KC, are you ready?"
Her ears turned back, and her tail got fluffy. She jumped around to see me, then relaxed. "Don't scare me like that!"
"Well, sorry!" I laughed, walking up to her. "You're really focused on that starter."
She sighed, "Yeah. I hope it'll be okay in the morning." She continued putting in her bows, studying how the starter slowed down over time. "I gave it some extra sugar, but I'm not sure if it'll do anything."
"I'm sure it'll be fine, KC," I nudged her a little. "Now come on, Katelyn's going to be here any minute now."
"Right!" She fixed the last bow, so it sat up against her ear, then checked it in the reflection of the kitchen window. She also wasn't very fancy: a white T-shirt and a pink pleated skirt. "I'm ready."
We pushed back through the kitchen door to finish closing. I grabbed my bag as KC turned out the lights. KC unplugged our phones as I changed the open sign. The sunset was over the horizon as we entered the parking lot, with Gene leaning against the window watching us.
"Do you know who's opening in the morning?" He passed me the keys so he could check his phone.
"Uh, Lucinda, I think," I answered, locking the door. "I didn't check the schedule; we're just ready to get out of here. It might be Sasha, but you'd have to ask her. When will you be here tomorrow?"
I didn't get an answer from him. I looked up to see if he was there, but he and KC were staring at the parking lot. I followed their gaze to Katelyn's car and a car that had pulled up next to it. Bad Soundcloud rap was bumping on a bass that was way too high, and I'd seen gay bars straighter than the parking job.
Gene snarled. "Damnit, Dante."
The three of us begrudgingly marched over to the Misery Machine, mentally preparing to deal with Gene's little brother and his gaggle of geese. As we got closer, I could see Katelyn and her brother Casey, who the Imp Fraternity had already tormented. I could tell because Katelyn was already two comments away from decking someone in the face.
Dante saw us first, yelling, "YOOOOOOOO, GENE!" He jumped out of the car and ran up to him. "Do you know this chick?!? I dig her hair." He slicked back his own greasy blue hair, which fell back into place. I watched KC cringe slightly as it did.
Gene sighed, "That's my employees' roommate. They're going to the movies. You're going home."
"Oh, come on!" Dante laughed. "We just wanted to come check up on you. See how good old Jabba the Hutt is doing; grab a few snacks; the usual!"
Gene mumbled under his breath, "Mom should've aborted you."
Dante laughed and punched him in the chest, turning back to the boy band. "Gene Scarletto, everyone! Entrepreneur and comedian."
One of his backup dancers started laughing from the back seat. He poked his head out, his auburn hair down to his shoulders like a B-List rock star in the 90's. "Riiight, because Gene has always been funny," Laurance smirked.
I could hear Gene's blood pressure spiking after that one. I stepped in front of him, announcing, "Well, we're closed. There's no more food and the coffee machine has been shut down for the day. If you'd excuse us, we have a movie to catch."
"Oh, which one?" Garroth rolled down his window and waved at me. "We can come along with you! I can cover tickets."
"Um, thanks, Garroth," I cringed, "but KC and I already have it covered. Plus, it's a kid's movie!" I shrugged, nudging KC in the shoulder, who copied my facade.
Laurance snickered, "There's no way you guys think we're below seeing a kid's movie. Travis still watches Sailor Moon in his free time."
"LAURANCE!" Travis yelped, using his green screen hoodie to cover his unnaturally white hair. "Don't say that in front of the cool girl!"
He gave a pathetic wave to Katelyn, who was not paying attention. She was almost at her limit and started revving the engine.
Gene huffed, "Look, whatever you guys want, I don't have it right now. You caaaan get up bright and early and, I don't know, pay for coffee?!?" His arms went up into the air, emphasizing how fed up we all were.
Garroth giggled to himself. "Awe, we just wanted to see if you had any leftovers!" Nepobaby joked. "Dante takes himself for a real ladies' man and gets carried away."
Travis chirped in, "And he's doing an awful job of it."
"Ugh, FINE!" Dante threw up his hands in defeat, smiling as his pride parade laughed at his loss. "We'll be back for those donuts- and some phone numbers!" He winked at us, and the rest of the car started booing him.
None of us moved until the prison bus drove away, and a wave of sighs flooded the parking lot. Gene immediately made a break for his car, throwing one hand up as a half-assed goodbye, his patience bested by the cast of Ouran High School Host Club. I watched him get into the car and crank it, considering inviting him to the movies with us. Then, Katelyn laid on the horn.
We both piled into the backseat, and Casey handed us some strawberry Pocky for our troubles. Katelyn started us towards the theater, grumbling about the jackasses we just made our escape from. KC and I leaned back, listened to the radio, and unwound after our shift.
"Did you see him again?" Casey asked, waking me from my trance.
"Huh?" Remarked the Very Tired Aphmau. "Oh! Window Guy?!? Katelyn told you about Window Guy?!?" The whole car erupted into chatter at the mention of Window Guy.
Katelyn sneered, "He's like a cryptid. You need to start taking pictures of him like a Bigfoot sighting."
Casey added, "Yeah! We don't even know what he looks like. We're just trusting you to believe he exists at this point."
"What?!?" I laughed in disbelief. "KC has seen him, right KC?!?"
"I haven't seen him?!?" Casey disputed before realizing, "OH! KC!"
Katelyn shrugged, turning onto the highway. "Oh, that's not fun. That's going to get annoying fast. Hey, can we call you by your real name when Casey's in the car?"
KC paused, turning a little pink. She shrunk into herself, losing her cutesy demeanor. "Oh, um..."
I chimed in for her, "We'll figure it out. But to answer your question, yes! I did see Window Guy today."
"Oh, really?" Casey turned to look at me from the passenger's seat. "Describe him to me. Come on, I wanna hear about your imaginary friend."
"Okay, Smart Alek!" I scoffed. "Let's see... he was tall. Like, way taller than anyone in this car. The top of his hair - it's black - went above the door a little."
"Irene!" Casey exclaimed. "Maybe this guy IS Bigfoot!" Katelyn smacked him in the arm, laughing.
I continued, "He had a red hoodie- he always wears a red hoodie. That's how I recognize him. That and he always has something over his eyes. Today, it was sunglasses, I think."
"Ooh!" KC giggled. "Mysterious~"
I snickered, "Oh yeah, you WOULD like them mysterious, wouldn't you?"
"HEY!" KC shoved me away. She retorted, "I'm not the one talking about him every day! He sounds like your soulmate!"
"Yeah, right!" I snickered. "As if I'm ever going to be able to even get his name."
"Well, I wouldn't say it's impossible," Casey pulled out his phone. "Social Media does wonders."
Katelyn pulled into the parking lot, shaking her head. "You little stalker!"
"What!!!" Casey laughed. "It's not stalking if it's public information."
I giggled a bit, but I was sort of curious. Window Guy always stops to look around inside before scurrying away. I almost wonder if there's something he wants. Something he wants but... can't have.