Part-time

We arrived at the cafe about fifteen minutes later. The bell above the door sounds and we can hear, Hanna.

“Welcome to, Ma Cherie sweets- Oh hey guys, It’s good to see you again.” she beams with a bright smile as she greets us.

Her long, straight black hair framing her rounded face. A gleeful gleam shines in her emerald eyes as she approaches the front counter. The counter raises from the floor just above my midsection.  It’s a marble white top with brown elegantly designed trimming of dark oak. The rest of the cafe follows the same suit. Marble white table tops with white booths and cushioned chairs framed with the same elegant wood. It’s a modern french style if I remember correctly. The walls are a matted color of cream and brown over laying each other to create a mosaic effect to compliment the overall style of each other which compliments the furniture. To finish the look there are several potted hydrangeas by the main entrance and in each corner near the windows. As well as small clear glass vases on some of the tables filled with pink lily flowers. It’s a very ‘cute’ and elegant establishment.

“Hey, Hanna, How's the shift going today? Any new ‘issues’?” I ask her.

During one of our first visits Hanna had some trouble with a group of guys that tried to harass her. It couldn’t really be helped since the uniforms for this cafe are a french maids outfit. Though nothing too revealing like you’d see on television or in movies. They keep it modest but sometimes even modest isn’t enough to keep people at bay. The colors are a variety. Hanna wears a soft purple, like a lavender, colored uniform. Which suits her slim and appealing figure. Since then, it’s been a common occurrence of harassment.

“No, nothing new this week. Thanks for checking on me. So what will it be? The special or the usual?” She asks us both.

“Special, one of each.” We answer at the same time.

Hanna just giggles to herself at our unison thought.

“Ok, got it. Would you like extra macarons, sasori? I know they’re your favorite.” She asks me.

I love how considerate she is.

“Yes, please and thank you.. So is Iris here today? Danny, here was hoping to try and ask her out again.” Danny elbows my arm and I just smile at him mischievously.

I love picking on him when it comes to Iris. The guy has been in love with her since elementary school.  But Iris, she’s a little dense. She doesn’t notice when people have fallen for her. Not sure if it has something to do with her interest in Soren or if she just doesn’t notice.

 “She is, She’s in the back. Danny, would you like me to call her up? I know you can do it this time.” She tells him. Hanna has always been supportive of Danny when it comes to Iris. She can tell just as much as I can how much he likes her.

 “O-oh.. Uh.. No that’s fine. I don’t want to.. Uh.. Disturb her while she is working.” He’s so cute when he flushes and get's all flustered like this.

 “Suit yourself. I’ll have these out in just a moment. Please, sit wherever you like.”

She scribbles our order down and skips off to the back. We head to our usual seating, a small booth in the back, along the far wall of the cafe next to a window.

Not even halfway seated in our booth we hear a scream from the back of the store. Instinctively we both dash around the front and straight behind the counter to check on the girls.

 “What is it?!” I shout followed by, “What’s wrong?!” From Danny.

Busting in through the kitchen's double wide swinging doors we take in the sight of Iris jumping up and down in excitement holding Hannah's hands. Hanna on the other hand has clear confusion spread across her face at her BFF. She turns to look at us with an apologetic smile.

 “I’m not sure what’s going on myself.. She just screamed and got all excited like this all the sudden.”

We let out a sigh of relief as there was no trouble and turned to head back to our seats.

“Wait a minute you two!” Iris shouts, still excited over whatever happened.

 We turn back around to look at her. “What?” We once again speak together.

“Our business has grown quite a bit over the last year and we could use some extra hands.. Would you two be interested in a part time job after school? I just got a message from my mom that we have enough business to hire some new people. We just hired a new girl who will be starting either tomorrow or the day after. And we need some.. Masculine figures, to even out the femanine effect of things. Please say you will?”

Still holding her bright smile I turn to face danny. We look at each other and then back to the girls. I considered the idea for a moment. 

'We come here often enough, we know all the items on the board, we can work nearly everything here as we sometimes help with sudden breakdowns on machines, it would offer full security for the girls, extra money in our pockets, Danny can get closer to Iris, and I could get discounts on sweets.'

 “I’ll take that offer.” I reply

 Danny just stares at me, jaw dropped and wide eyed.

“What? I understand why she’s asking us. It couldn’t hurt to pick up an after school shift. And besides, we practically live here after school anyways.”

 “Yeah, but I didn’t think you were the type of person to actually ‘work’. I mean you always seem lethargic. Lazy almost. You never want to do anything.” He explains.

Which again he has a point. I really don’t do much. No sports, no after school clubs. Just study and sit at home unless we hang out. I’ve never cared or had the energy for much else in life. Probably because my parents are topnotch doctors and cover everything for me. From my apartment to groceries, any bills i need paid, ect. But it sounds nice doing something on my own for once.

“That’s true, but I want to try something on my own for once.” I explain simply. “What about you?” I ask him.

 He contemplates the idea further before nodding in agreement to the offer made to us.

 “Great! I’ll call mom and let her know we have a full crew waiting approval. Can you start tomorrow after school?”

Danny and I both give her a nod.

“Awesome. Today's order is on the house as a small thank you and celebration for taking up the offer. I couldn’t ask for anyone better than you two.”

“Thanks Iris. But you don’t have to do that.” Danny tries to tell her.

 “Nonsense. I want to. So please accept it.”

She gives him one of her charming bright smiles and he just nods. Clearly taken aback by her beautiful grin, messy blonde hair that’s been pulled into a ballerina’s bun. Her soft pink uniform hugging every curve she has to show off. Glisening hazel eyes that are practically shining from the glittery pink eye shadow she’s wearing.

“You're so weak.” I whisper to him as we turn back to leave the kitchen.

 “Am not..” He says trying to hold back the pink warmth that’s spread from his cheeks to his ears.

“Oh, Hanna, I almost forgot. Uko is going to need a size twelve in uniform.”

At the sound of that name I can’t help but abruptly stop in my tracks. Danny kept going as I snapped my head back towards the girls.

 “What name did you just say just now?!” I didn’t mean to raise my voice but I couldn’t help it.

 “Uh.. Uko? Uko Ami. Why? You know her?” She asks, looking confused at my sudden questioning.

 “Ah, no, I don’t recognize the name. Sorry. I thought I did. But nevermind.” Shrugging my shoulders I leave and go sit down with Danny. Ever so slightly embarrassed by my sudden outbursts over the name.

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