Judging
“Till… swing shift.. okay! I think I’ve got it. Thanks for dumbing it down for me,” Mave said.
“I’ve checked this one already, but since you haven’t done it before I think it would be a good idea for you to recount it. It’ll help you get familiar with the process,” I said. I put the paperwork back in the register and put the till back in before closing it shut.
“I’ll get on it,” she said. I watched as she pressed tender and the register opened up again. A car drove up and I left her. “Let me know when you are done with that and then I’ll show you how to make the specialty drinks.”
She didn’t answer as she started counting and I opened the sliding door to help the customer. I worked quickly to make their Americano, it was the easiest drink. It was gross, but very popular. By the time I checked her out, there was another customer in line. I peeked over my shoulder to find Mave still counting. After I cleared the line and accumulated about forty dollars in tips by the time she was done counting the till. She followed me around while I made drinks, restocked, and took inventory of what we were out of. When everything was stocked and there weren’t any customers, I started wiping down my station. I could feel her eyes on me, but didn’t pay her any mind.
“You’re a hard worker,” Mave said.
“I try to be,” I said.
“I can’t link you. What pack are you from?” She asked.
My throat dried at the question, but I continued scrubbing the espresso machine and did my best not to show a reaction. This was the first time she asked me a personal question the entire day. I was hoping it would be a few days before she did, but of course that didn’t happen. I put on a fake smile and turned to look at her.
“I’m a rogue,” I said.
I turned away from her, but not before I saw the way her eyes widened with surprise or her mouth drop in shock. Rogues were seen as the homeless of the werewolf world. We didn’t have a packhouse to call home and we didn’t have a link to hold us to our pack. The only reason I haven’t gone insane is because of Gabe and this job. I have a sense of fulfillment here and a family, no matter how small it is.
“How…” she trailed off. Probably think it best that she not say anything. No matter what she was about to ask, I’m sure it would have been rude and not any of her business.
“I’ve been a rogue for two years and I like it this way. I belong to no one and answer to no one,” I said.
“I didn’t mean… I’m sorry. I’ve never met a rogue before and I’ve grown up being taught that they look and talk a certain way,” Mave said.
“I get it, but not all of us have the perfect family, or the resources to get whatever we want whenever we want,” I said.
My words came out harsher than I meant, but I wouldn’t apologize. There was enough prejudice about rogues and it wasn’t completely wrong, but it wasn’t accurate either. This is a cafe that supports misfits and castaways, so yes, that includes rogues. She didn’t say anything for a moment.
“I was wrong for judging you based on your background that I know nothing about, but that doesn’t give you a right to assume you know everything about me. I don’t come from the perfect family, far from it actually, but I’ll show you the same grace you’ve shown me,” Mave said.
She wasn’t wrong, I judged her as soon as I saw her car outside. She didn’t ask me any more personal questions for the remainder of our shift. I kept all discussions coffee or work related. By the time noon came around, her ponytail was loose and she had a few wayward strands. Her shirt was stained from spilled drinks and she was tired from making a few drinks over and over again. It was a ghost town and I was thankful for the short rest break. I watched over her as she prepared her till for the next shift.
“I don’t know how you guys do this all day! If anything this is our first break of the day,” she whined.
“This is a normal day. We aren’t allowed breaks, but you can go to the bathroom at any time, so long as there aren’t any customers,” I said.
“No breaks?! Isn’t that breaking some sort of law?” Mave cried.
I fought the urge to smile as I watched her shoulders shake. It was obvious that she wasn’t used to standing on hours at a time. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was her first day working in her entire life. I had been there once too and I’d say she did a better job than I did.
There was a knock on the door and I startled. I turned and saw Gabe smiling from the other side of the door with an apologetic look in his eye. He knew I was easy to startle, but he had nothing to apologize for. I walked over and unlocked the door for him. He slid it open, his hair was brushed back and he wore black jeans with his apron tied around his waist. After he closed it shut and locked it, he walked in and gave me a big bear hug.
“Where’s Leo?” I asked teasingly.
“I sent him home,” Gabe said.
“When were you going to tell me about him? Is this the one that’s kept you away the last few nights?” I asked.
“If he was worth talking about, I would have said something, don’t you think?” Gabe asked. I didn’t believe him for a minute as his cheeks warmed. His gaze darted behind me and locked on something behind me. He cleared his throat and we separated.
“Gabe, this is Mave, Mave this is Gabe,” I said.
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