1: The Cafe of Love
Christan Beaves
"Fuck it's so fucking cold" I said my teeth clattering together. Currently me and my dumb older brother are shoveling the snow out of the driveway, and by older I mean he's fifteen minutes older than me. Oliver was born May twentieth and I was born May twentiefirst due to the time. We're twins but not identical.
I took more after our mom I had her dark brown hair, deep blue eyes, even her height five-seven and of course Oliver took after our dad his blonde hair, green eyes, taller about six feet height. So from just looking you wouldn't to be able to tell that were related.
"That's Michigan for ya...where one day it's sixty degrees and sunny and the next day it's snowing and it's negative thirty-five degrees" Oliver joked in an announcer's voice.
"Yep that's pretty accurate" I laughed. Our dad decided that we shoveled the driveway as a punishment for breaking mom's vase after getting into a scuffle. That's how Oliver's and I relationship is we fight and argue then make up in a couple of hours.
Though I do think we deserved to get punished for breaking mom's vase I don't think this wasn't the route to take. It's like ten degrees outside, my toes are practically frost bitten, my hands are numb, and lets not even mention whats going on in my southern region.
"God, can't we just use the damn snow blower?" Oliver asked throwing down his shovel.
"No dad said we can't and if we do he's gonna take all of our electronics and make us shovel the whole winter. I don't know about you but I need my computer and I rather not spend every waking second shoveling snow" I stated.
"But look at how much more we have to go" he whined. I rolled my eyes, this is what he does he complains the whole time when we have to do something which leads to us arguing, which then gets us into more trouble.
"If you quit your bitching and start working we'll get done faster" I snapped.
"Asshole" he muttered picking up his shovel and continued to shovel. After what felt like forever we finished shoveling the driveway. We rushed back inside leaving our snow gear at the front door.
I let out a sigh as the heat wrapped around me. "You guys finished?" dad asked as we walked into the living room. I simply nodded answering his question.
"Good you boys go and apologize to your mother" he said waving us off turning his attention back to the t.v. We went into the kitchen where our mom was currently cooking dinner.
"Sorry for breaking your vase mom" we said at the same time. She turned to face Oliver and I "It's ok, I made you guys some hot coco" she said pointing at the two steaming cups sitting on the counter.
We both approached her giving her a big, wet kiss on both of her cheeks. "Ok that's enough you weirdos" she laughed shooing us out of the kitchen.
"Thanks mom" I called grabbing my cup of coco and rushing upstairs to my room. I immediately got on my computer to facetime Hazel. Hazel and I have been friends since the fifth grade were now juniors.
She answered the call after the second ring. "Hey bestie" her voice rang through my room.
"Hey Hazel" I smiled. Hazel always made me happy she has such a bubbly personality that could cheer up the world. We haven't really seen each other since last week due to all the snow days.
"So I met this hot guy that I think you'd be into" she stated. Hazel is also one of the two people who knows I'm bi.
"Why does everyone of our conversations begin like this" I said rolling my eyes. Ever since I came out to her she's been trying to hook me up with guys despite the fact that I still like girls too.
"Because I've been trying to set you up with a hot guy but you keep shooting all of them down. You haven't even lost your virginity yet" Hazel stated.
"I have lost my virginity" I said in a duh tone.
"Yea but you haven't lost your butt virginity" she retorted.
"I'm not even a bo-that's not the point. I don't need you to hook me up with some random guy, end of discussion"
"Fine" she said.
"What about you and Jay, how's things going?" I asked glad to change the conversation.
"Things are going good, he's actually coming over in a couple of minutes so I better get going" Hazel said.
"Ok don't do anything I wouldn't do" I said. She flipped me off before ending the call. I sat there and stared at my reflection through the computer screen. It would be nice to be out to my family but I just can't bring myself to do it.
My brother would never let me live it down though he would accept me, my parents are a hit or miss. I don't think they're homophobic or anything I just think it's different when it's your own kid.
Deciding to push my thoughts aside I got ready for work. I got a job at "The Cafe of Love".
I couldn't even tell you why the owner named it that but they did. Quickly downing the rest of my coco. I showered and put on my gray polo shirt, and black jeans (My uniform).
"Hey Oliver can you warm up the car for me?!?" I yelled. Our parents got us a car for our sixteenth birthday a 2018 Honda accord to be specific.
"Fine!!" he yelled back. I finished getting ready leaving myself plenty of time to get to work safely considering that the roads aren't in the best condition.
I also pick up Alton on the way to work everyday. He only lives a block away and plus we have the same shift so we agreed we'd just carpool.
Alton and I have gotten closer the year and a half we've been working together.
"Ok I'm heading to work" I called out.
"Ok, be safe honey" mom called back. I grabbed the keys that Oliver had placed on the table next to the door.
"Fucking hell" I muttered as the cold winter air hit my skin causing it to sting. I rushed to the car wanting to get out of the freezing cold as soon as possible.
Once I pulled up at Alton's house I honked the horn three times. Alton came running out of the house and jumped into the car.
I had to admit Alton is a very handsome guy. He's at least six three, reddish brown hair, dark brown eyes, really fit body, and slightly pale skin.
"Hey Chris" Alton smiled.
"Sup" I replied.
I backed out of the drive way while Alton hooked up his phone. We made it a tradition to jam out to throwback bops on the way to work.
"This one is for the boys with the booming system
Top down, AC with the cooling system
When he come up in the club, he be blazin' up
Got stacks on deck like he savin' up"
Alton and I sang along loudly with the radio. Fifteen minutes later we pulled up at the small cafe. Jumping out of the car Alton quickly unlocked the door and we rushed inside. The cafe gets pretty busy this time of year. It especially gets busy when school gets cancelled due to the fact that this a hangout spot for alot of kids.
"Ya know sometimes I think about drowning in rootbeer" Alton stated.
I stared at him wondering why in the hell he thought about that. "What?" he questioned.
I shook my head chuckling "Nothing" I replied. Alton and I continued to get things together before opening which was in about an hour. I was getting ready to brew some coffee when I heard a loud clattering in the back.
"Alton what was that?!?" I called.
"Nothing?" he called back in a question.
I sighed heavily rolling my eyes in the process. It's going to be a long day.
