"It's alright, I guess. It takes a lot to interact with everyone in a friendly way when sometimes you just want to wipe that smug look off of their face. And a little more money wouldn't hurt," He added, glancing at his Land Rover. "I've had that thing since I was sixteen. It's a piece of garbage." He took a melancholy bite of his croissant.
"It's the good kind of vehicle, though." He glanced at it too. They were known to be pretty reliable. 'And I get what you mean. Some customers call me and try to tell me I'm not doing my job right." He chuckled.
"Exactly! Like, if you want to tell me how to do what I've been doing for years, then I'll gladly let you do it. You know, come to think of it, I haven't been home in over a year because I'm the only one who actually shows up to work anymore, now that Elaina quit." Aspen sighed in exasperation and took a sip of his coffee, which was black and strong. "Sorry. I'm just… I don't know. No one ever asks me how I feel, you know? Yet I always seem to bend over backwards to get them talking."
"Yeah, I got the vibe you were that kind of guy." He smiled a little, "I'm sorry for not asking yesterday. And you should really stop buying customers food and drinks if you want to save money." He chuckled a little bit.
"Well, do you have $16.55 to cover everything I've bought you- I mean, one of my customers bought you?" Aspen quickly looked down at his phone, pretending to check a text. Like anyone even bothered to text him. Like anyone even had his number. "Hmm. Maybe it is time I got rid of this rathole, got myself some new stuff. Maybe even move back to Texas."
"You should hold off on the Texas thing," he replied, smiling at Aspen with interest, "Besides, I've got $16.55 plus dinner tonight. If you want." he finished his coffee, moving the mug away and resting his arm on the counter.
"O-oh? I'd like that," Aspen murmured, running his paw nervously through his hair.
Jay grinned, closing his eyes and showing his teeth, "Cool," he pulled a napkin from the dispenser and a pen from his pocket, and wrote on it, then handed it to him. "I'll pick you up after your shift, that cool?" He stood up, leaning forward and gently pinching the soft fur of his ear with his finger-pads and poking out his tongue, before turning to leave.
(sorry guys. was gone longer than I thought I would be)
Oyoyo walked back to the coffee shop. She had nowhere else to go. It was strange that she felt the coffee shop was her only place where she wasn't treated like she was an evil beast.
Aspen watched Jay go with a goofy grin sprawled out of his face of rosy pink. His ear tingled where he had touched it. Come on, Aspen. Back to work.
(You're fine!! ^-^)
Jay moved out of Oyoyo's way as she entered while he exited, waving a friendly 'hello' to her before exiting.
Aspen trotted back over behind the counter, greeting Oyoyo warmly. "Hey there. How'd last night go? I should hope you have a better day today."
Oyoyo smiled as a wolf, whom she thought was named Jay, waved at her. She wondered how long it had been since she smiled like that. Oyoyo entered the coffee shop and immediately tripped on the leg of a table. Just my luck, she thought. The floor cracked where she landed.
"Woah there, you alright?" Aspen inquired, dashing out from behind the counter and helping her up. "God almighty, you really do need coffee. Joking," he continued, looking into her eyes.
"I-I'm really sorry…I'm not, like clumsy or anything.", she stammered. "I guess I do need some coffee."
"You're perfectly fine. Here, I've just brewed some. Cream, sugar, flavouring?" He was already bustling around happily inside the small cafe, discreetly avoiding the crack. He'd fix it later, there was no need to point it out.
"Could I get some almond creamer this time? Extra sugar please.", Oyoyo replied. She then realized that there was a sizable crack in the floor. "again, I'm really sorry. Could I help you fix the floor?"
"Coming right up," he started before pretending to notice the crack. "Oh, that? It's fine. I'm selling this place anyway, it's about time. I'm gonna see if I can't get a job at the Neurologist's office, and maybe settle in with that Jay hunka-lunka." Aspen smirked and pulled the creamer from the fridge, laughing. "And to think I met him yesterday, and I'm already re-writing my life plans. Are you seeing anyone?"
"What! Your selling this place!", Oyoyo yelled shockingly. That was too dramatic, she thought. She tried again. "Oh, that's too bad. I liked the coffee here.", She said, pretending to not care as much. "Uh yeah, I'm supposed to meet up with some friends later." That was another lie.
"I mean, I can still make you coffee… I'd consider you a friend."
Oyoyo smiled ear to ear. "really? We just met yesterday."
"And why should that change anything? I'm sure plenty of people think that just because I'm a wolf I'm gonna rip them to shreds, but I'm a vegetarian at the moment," Aspen began, pleased she'd brought up this topic. "I try not to judge people just because of what I think they're like, or how I think they will turn out to be. Everyone deserves a chance, you know?"
"Yes. I totally agree. Many people think that because I'm a dragon, I'm evil or something. In fact, I don't have very many real friends who aren't afraid of me.", Oyoyo replied sadly.
(Hunka lunka lol)