Page 17 of Distortion
But Lu seems to know the direction of my thoughts because she waves a flippant hand at me. ‘Everyone makes that noise when they come in here.’
‘It does smell amazing,’ I agree, relaxing a little.
‘Oh!’ Lu points both her pointer fingers at me. ‘We need to hire someone. I was gonna advertise it tomorrow, but do you want the job?’
I open my mouth and then close it again. ‘A job?’ I ask.
I hadn’t even considered this.
A job.
I glance around at the machines and the extensive menu on the boards above the counter as I roll the idea around in my brain. It’s not abhorrent.
Could I? It smells good.
‘I’ve never worked?—’
She cuts me off. ‘It’s only minimum wage, but it’s actually really easy work. I’ll keep you on slow hours for the first week while I show you the ropes. What do you say?’
I stare at her. I’m being offered a job. I wanted to integrate. This will help.
‘Yes,’ I say, trying not to overthink it. ‘I’d love to work here!’
Lu jumps up and down in place. ‘Great!’
She pulls her phone out from under the counter and flicks through it. ‘Okay. Our first battle is three weeks from now. We’re meeting at six at the edge of the woods next to the football field. Cosplay isn’tmandatoryat the beginning, although it does make things more fun. But you will need a medieval weapon. Foam, of course. We aren’t trying to actually kill each other. I don’t suppose you have anything you could use?’
‘Not really,’ I say with an apologetic shrug.
‘It’s okay. It’s okay. You have time to make something, or I have a spare axe I can lend you, I think.’ She purses her lips. ‘Yeah, I’m sure I still have it somewhere.’
‘Thanks,’ I say, looking around the cafe. ‘So, when should I start?’
Lu points at me again and turns her back to me. ‘Let me just take a look at the shifts this week.’
She goes to the till ...registerand opens a folder. ‘Tomorrow,’ she says. ‘When are you in class?’
I wince. ‘I don’t know yet. I only just got here today.’
‘Oh, that’s okay. We can just go grab your stuff now. What’s your major?’
‘English Literature.’
‘Great! The building is seriously like two minutes away. Let’s go, and then we can start making a plan.’
I nod and find myself being bustled outside and along the sidewalk.
‘Huh, looks like we’re in for a late summer storm,’ Lu says, peering up at the sky as she herds me in the direction she wants.
I look up and see that the sun is still shining, but there are some large dark clouds rolling in, and I hope I don’t get caught in a downpour, or else half my wardrobe will be out of commission until I can dry them.
‘Here it is.’
Lu stops outside a stone building that looks like it’s seen better days. There’s a crack in one of the front windows, and the whole façade could use a fresh coat of paint.
Is that a small tree growing out of the gutter?
I frown up at it uncertainly. It’s definitely nothing like the science building John paid for.
