Chapter Text
When the expresso machine creaked and let loose a plume of steam, Tyler briefly considered just walking out and quitting. He was tired of the outdated equipment and the snobby Nevermore students, who were the exact same age as him, coming in with their parent’s credit cards and ordering over complicated drinks that they found on tiktok.
When the steam cleared up Tyler jumped back in surprise when a black and white version of the nevermore uniform was revealed, wore by a girl who didn’t have much more color.
She looked impatient as she ordered a quad, and he wondered if she was really dense enough to not notice the machine was falling apart right in front of her.
Tyler barely held back a frustrated sigh. “The expresso machine is down, would you like drip?”
The gothic girl’s eyes met his as she slightly tilted her head. “Drip is for people who hate themselves and know their lives have no real purpose or meaning.”
Tyler glanced over and saw Adam, a cook from the diner down the streeet had overheard her and slumped his shoulders as he set down his cup and walked out empty-handed. He felt a flash of anger at her thoughtless words, the diner was chronically understaffed and Adam had been working doubles for the last week. Not that he expected a Nevermore student to have worked one full shift, much less a week straight of doubles.
“New’s flash, the machine is down so it’s drip or nothing.” Tyler said, half hoping she would say nothing and just leave already.
Instead, she actually walked behind the counter, disregarding the “Employee’s Only” sign and peered into the malfunctioning appliance, before taking the instruction manual and nodding her head. “I need a tri-headed tri-wing screwdriver and a four-millimeter allen wrench”
Of course, she is fluent in Italian Tyler thought as he rolled his eyes while grabbing the tools, probably had private tutors. As she took the requested tool from him and began work on the apparatus, he couldn’t stop his eyes from looking her up and down. She was undeniably hot, in an almost over the top gothic way, which was his biggest weakness.
A few moments later she stepped away from the machine with a triumph look on her face. “It’s fixed, so after you make my quad, I’ll need a taxi.”
Tyler snorted. “Do you know where you are? There aren’t any taxi’s here, you’d be lucky to find an Uber.”
The girl furrowed her brow at him. “An Uber?”
Tyler didn’t bother holding back his sigh this time. “You know, the app on your phone?”
When she didn’t reply he slightly shook his head, she probably had a butler or someone call her Ubers. “The nearest train station is almost half an hour away, I’ll take you there as a thanks for fixing our Expresso Machine.”
The girl's face lighted up. “Put that quad in a to-go cup.” She nearly chirped as she walked out from behind the counter.
Tyler winced; he had spoken too soon. “Actually, I don’t get off for another hour, so you’ll have to sit tight.”
The girl pulled a twenty out of her pocket. “I’ll sweeten the deal.”
Tyler stared at her in shock, did she actually think he would leave the shop unattended and lose his job for twenty dollars?
She must have misinterpreted his stare because she pulled out another twenty and held it out to him. “Here’s the deal.” He snapped. “I’m not for sale, so you can wait or find another ride.”
The girl didn’t look offended by his outburst and silently stuffed the money back in her pocket before strolling over to an empty booth and sitting down to wait.
Tyler had to admit, he was relieved his equipment was working again and he made her a strong quad in a mug and dropped it off at her table before returning to his cleaning.
When he was almost caught up, the bell on the door rang out as a group of his classmates entered. He knew their orders and started preparing them, but paused when he saw they had stopped by the booth where the Nevermore girl was sitting. They were clearly harassing her, and even though she had gotten on his nerves he found it pathetic that four nearly-grown men were bullying a lone young woman.
He put down the cups and walked over as he heard one ask if she had ever been with a normie. He had to admit he was a little curious about that himself but she snorted and replied. “Haven’t found one that could handle me.”
She was getting out of the booth when Tyler arrived. “Alright, that’s enough, why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” He asked the men.
Wednesday answered him instead. “Sounds boring.”
In a few quick moves she had all the guys on the floor moaning in pain and had returned to her seat to resume sipping her quad.
Tyler eyed her appreciatively before turning to return to the counter. Before he could make it, he heard the bell on the door ring and spun around to find his father entering. Fuck.
Donavan looked at Tyler’s classmates on the ground before raising his eyes to meet Tyler’s. “Son….”
Tyler put his hands up. “I swear, I didn’t touch them.”
His father scoffed and Tyler held back a wince, he really didn’t want another round of boot camp for something he didn’t do. Fucking Nevermore kids were always messing things up for him.
Wednesday stood up again and informed the sheriff that the violence had been committed by her and her alone. She looked offended that he had assumed Tyler had something to do with it.
Donavan smirked and was about to argue with her with a tall blonde woman burst into the shop. “Sorry, this one got away from me!” She exclaimed. “Come along now, Wednesday.”
Tyler looked at the pale girl, Wednesday, as she gathered her bags and shot him a look. He had a feeling he hadn’t seen the last of her.