Sugar and Spice

A chill wind rippled through the air, kicking up the few fallen leaves that littered the ground. The sun, starting to lose its warmth, cast its rays over yellow shrubs and moist earth. Summer was starting to give way to autumn, and with the passing of the hot season came the welcoming of autumnal festivities. High streets were bathed in red and orange as shops started to decorate their displays with fiery-coloured plants in preparation for the Firestar Viewing Festival, and the cheerful chimes of coffee shop doors filled the air as more patrons filed in to escape the growing cold.

Alexis was one such patron. She sat by a large window overlooking the high street, her laptop and hot chocolate resting on a small, round table. Warm air billowed out from the vents above her, defrosting her from the cold. Despite being indoors, her cherry red scarf still covered her mouth and kept her neck warm. Her laptop was open on her creative writing assignment, but her attention was on the people milling about outside, chatting amongst themselves as they flitted from shop to shop. She wished she was one of them.

She used to have that. Back in high school, she'd spent hours after school window shopping with her friends and preparing for the festival.

What were they doing now? Were they among the crowds, picking out clothes to wear and food to prepare? Most of them had moved out of Haldwell to pursue further education abroad or elsewhere in Nemon. The ones who stayed obviously did not care enough about Alexis to invite her to any viewing festivities.

Bitter, bitter... Alexis slammed her hot chocolate against her lips, wincing as the heat burned her mouth and the sugar punched her tongue. Sweet, too sweet! Despite her fondness for the chocolatey drink, having too much at once made her nauseated. It was quite strong, and piling all that whipped cream on it certainly didn't help. She told herself this every time, and yet she still asked for it, every time.

She shook her head. She wasn't here to think about her former friends; she was here to get out of her apartment and do some actual work. She thought a change of scenery would kickstart her creative drive better than her lonely room could. Staying in there too long wasn't doing her any favours.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Her eyes widened as she whipped it out. There was only one reason her phone buzzed these days, and it was always a welcome one.

Mitty: any luck?

Alexis smiled. How did Mitty know what she was thinking?

Lexi♡: No dice. I just keep looking out the window.

It had been three weeks since their first real text conversation, when Mitty had told her to read Cherry Moon, and almost two months since they’d been paired up for their class. Alexis had already devoured the first three books, even neglecting her required reading to do so. It was worth it though, because it came with two perks. One, it was a genuinely fun and gripping story. And two? Well...

Mitty: lol i told u you'd just get distracted

It made Mitty like her. Having something to talk about, something that Mitty was passionate about, kept them in fairly frequent contact. And with the fervour Mitty sometimes had when discussing it, it looked like she didn't get the chance to do so very much. Alexis was grateful she could be Mitty's outlet. It made her feel special.

She hadn't felt like that in three years.

Lexi♡: Yeah I guess, but it's still better than sitting at home!

Despite their progress, they still kept their conversations to text. When Mitty came to class, she was the same subdued person as always, but through text, she was candid, engaged, and even playful at times. It was like Alexis was talking to two different people, and if she was honest, it was still jarring. She'd try to bring up a topic they discussed the previous night over text, but only get a few words about it in person, even if it wasn't a directly 'embarrassing' topic like Cherry Moon.

She thought she'd figured Mitty out. It looked like she wasn't even halfway there yet. But she hadn't felt this happy in months, years even, so she was willing to keep trying.

Mitty: u want some help?

Lexi♡: Are you offering? We could meet up here and discuss it!

Despite Alexis staring at the screen, a reply was slow to come. She put the phone down and tried to focus on her work. She learned by now that Mitty sometimes had these periods where she was away from her phone despite being in the middle of a conversation. It was a little annoying at first, but Alexis got used to it quickly enough. I guess the advantage of a crystal ball is you know when the person on the other end is actually gone, she thought.

Mitty: i'm too busy to come but i can help for a few mins

Alexis tried to dispel the disappointment before it sank in her gut. If Mitty was busy, it couldn't be helped. Still, it was hard not to feel that way. They hadn't been able to meet outside of class at all so far because Mitty was always busy. She wasn't... avoiding her, was she? What was she doing outside class that kept her away?

She won't yell at me if I ask, I'm sure. She's been fine so far...

Lexi♡: Okay, no worries then! Can I ask something though?

Mitty: sure

Lexi♡: Do you have a job?

A pause. Oh no.

Oh gosh, that was too forward, wasn't it? Oh no, I just implied that she's a layabout because I think she's unemployed! I know I didn't mean it like that but I know I'd take it that way if someone asked me! But maybe she isn't as sensitive as I am? But what if--

Mitty: yea.

Alexis's eyebrows shot up. Well, that explained a lot. So she isn't avoiding me... While she was grateful the idea was squashed before it could bloom, she now felt guilty for even thinking it. It's not all about you, Lexi.

Lexi♡: Ooh! What do you do?

Mitty: i'm a

Mitty: waitress

Mitty: i guess

Alexis blinked. She was used to Mitty's multiple texts by now, but it wasn't often that one sentence was broken up into them.

Lexi♡: You guess?

Mitty: yea. but not for a restaurant, for a cafe

Lexi♡: Wow, that's really cool!

Mitty: lol is it? thanks

Lexi♡: Which cafe is it?

Another pause. Alexis frowned. She was sure she hadn't said anything that could be construed as offensive this time. It looked like Mitty had left her phone again. She sighed and went back to her work.

Her mind wandered before she'd even typed a word. Mitty worked at a café? If there was an award for the most unexpected job, she'd win it hands down. Sure, Vistians their age often worked as baristas or the like to make some cash, but it only took looking at Mitty to know she wasn't a people person. Alexis tried to imagine Mitty in a café uniform, with the apron and everything, with a cheerful smile on her face.

Alexis almost choked on her hot chocolate.

I don't know if it's creepier or funnier! She wiped her lips with a napkin, then felt guilty. That's no way to think about your friend! She could be friendly if she wanted! She looked to the side. Maybe.

After a few minutes in which Alexis managed to at least start brainstorming her next chapter, her phone chimed.

Mitty: dw about it.

Of all the responses Alexis expected, this wasn't even on the list. There was only one way to take it. Mitty didn't want to tell her. Mitty didn't trust her.

Mitty didn't like her enough to trust her.

I suppose I'm not quite there yet. Though Alexis wasn't as devastated because she knew how guarded Mitty was, it still stung. However, she didn't want to drop it. If she wanted an actual friendship with Mitty, she'd have to push. She'd already lost her old friends because she didn't put in enough effort. Oh, why can't Mitty be the one to push? I'm not made for this!

Heart beating frantically, she sighed, prayed that Mitty would not bury her six feet under, and texted.

Lexi♡: I'm sorry Mitty, but I'm curious. Why can't you tell me?

She stared at the message, her phone shaking in her hand. Reading it again, it sounded way too accusatory. I'm sorry Mitty, please don't hate me!

Mitty: it's not a normal caf

Blink.

What?

Alexis' mind raced with possibilities. Was Mitty working in a shady business? Was the café a front for money laundering or something? Oh sweet Freya, what if… what if it was a brothel? Alexis was sure those kinds of services existed in the racier part of the city. She squeaked as she replied.

Lexi♡: What kind of café is it then?

Well I mean, if she’s working in a brothel I guess that’s fine, more power to her, right? But, oh, it’s not safe, is it? So many strange people come through there, don’t they? Oh, Mitty, I hope to the dragon Gods you’re practising safe s--

Mitty: it’s kinda a niche thing.

Mitty: listen im uncomfortable talking about it

Mitty: can we just drop it

Well of course she’d be uncomfortable about it, she was working at a sex café for Terros’ sake! She was a university student in her prime, oh goodness, oh no, was this how she was paying her way through? Oh, it was too much--

Lexi♡: ARE YOU WORKING AT A SEX CAFE

Alexis stared in horror at the capitalised words on the screen, her face erupting like a volcano. She couldn’t believe she’d just sent that. If Mitty won the award for weirdest job, Alexis won the award for most colossally stupid mistake.

Mitty: WHAT

Mitty: OH SWEET FREYA NO

Mitty: NO

Mitty: NO

The texts were coming in thick and fast, so fast that Alexis’ phone stopped chiming as it struggled to keep up with the bombardment.

Mitty:  DEAR VACERUS

Mitty: NO

Mitty: im

Mitty: just

Mitty: TERROS, nO

Well, that had done it. Going through all three dragon deities was never a good sign.

Mitty: i cant believe u thought that

Mitty: I DEFINITELY do not work at one of those

The relief was immeasurable, but the embarrassment was even more so. Alexis sank under her scarf, yet she wanted to sink further, beneath the floorboards of the coffee shop and into the pits below ground, and then even further than that until she fell off the planet completely.

Lexi♡:I am SO sorry Mitty, forgive me for assuming!

Mitty: its ok but oh, by the Gods, WHAT a thing to come out of ur mouth

Mitty: figuratively speaking

No, falling off the planet wasn’t enough; Alexis needed to disappear into another dimension.

Lexi♡: I’m sorry, again, but you left a lot to the imagination but oh I shouldn’t have assumed I shouldn’t have said anything

Mitty: chill man, chill! I told u its ok

Mitty: i havent laughed that hard in ages

Wait… Mitty laughed? Alexis got Mitty to laugh? She didn’t even think that was something Mitty was capable of. It almost made it worth it now. Almost.

Lexi♡: So long as you’re not mad...

Mitty: nah. but now I kinda feel obligated to tell u what kinda place it is before you jump to any more conclusions

Yes, because Alexis totally hadn’t done that, no…

Mitty: ok so it’s… like… one of those cute cafes. with outfits and stuff.

Mitty: NOT SEXY OUTFITS THO

Mitty: u kno lily town? the place with all the like subculture stuff

Mitty: its one of those

Well, Alexis was pretty sure they had sex cafés in Lily Town, too, it seemed like the place… Still, the explanation was a load off her shoulders. Lily Town was a cultural melting pot, but one thing stood out more than anything else: it was a town for the underground and the eccentric. Niche was its thing; anything you couldn’t find on the high street, chances are it would be in Lily Town. Merchandise, food, entertainment; Alexis was pretty sure it had a black market; and with the kind of subcultures it hosted it brought a whole lot of intimidating types. That wasn’t to say it was all scary; there was plenty of wholesome merchandise for less popular books or shows, after all, and many relaxing coffee shops. It was just mixed in with a lot of gothic and punk of all kinds, possible gang activity, drugs, sex, magical items that may or may not be legal…

All in all, not a safe atmosphere, but Alexis could see the allure for someone like Mitty. Lily Town was advertising itself as more family friendly in recent years, and for the most part, it was a place for those with unpopular interests to get their fix. That those interests sometimes veered on the illegal side was just an unfortunate side effect.

Alexis sipped what was left of her hot chocolate and closed her laptop. It was unlikely she would get any work done. She was glad the coffee shop didn’t have a policy on how long someone could stay, because she didn’t plan on leaving just yet.

Lexi♡: Would it be okay if I went there? I’m curious now.

Mitty: u want to go to lily town???

Lexi♡: Hey, why the multiple question marks? I could so go to Lily Town!

Mitty: lol

Lexi♡: Hey…

Mitty: sorry sorry

Mitty: I mean I cant stop u, but don't come during my shift

Lexi♡: Ah…

Alexis couldn’t deny she wanted to see Mitty in one of those cute outfits. She couldn’t even imagine it; if the idea of Mitty in a regular barista uniform almost suffocated her, she was glad she wasn’t drinking now, because she surely would have died. Just… scary Mitty in a waitress uniform? An overly cute waitress uniform at that? She feared even if she saw it right in front of her she would not believe her eyes and think herself mad.

Mitty: wait, do you want to see me at work?

Lexi♡: Well, I guess? Yes? I’d like to see what you do.

Mitty: ugh

That stung a little, but Alexis wasn’t going to stop now that she had some momentum.

Lexi♡: I’m sorry if I upset you. Lately I just kind of wanted to see you outside of class, because I like talking to you. Is that okay?

Mitty: but if I’m working you won’t really be able to talk to me

Mitty: but

Mitty: I’m

There was a pause in the conversation again, but Alexis was sure it wasn’t because Mitty left her phone. She was beginning to see a pattern in their breaks, which made her realise that Mitty did not, in fact, leave her phone mid conversation; she just took a long time to gather her thoughts. Good thing Alexis was patient.

Mitty: it’s embarrassing.

Alexis smiled softly. Why was that so endearing? She knew if Mitty had said that face to face she would have practically spat it, yet over text it came off earnest; vulnerable.

Lexi♡: I understand. If it’s too much, I’ll drop it.

Mitty: no, it’s fine. You can come.

Mitty: Just please don’t make a big deal out of it.

Alexis almost leapt out of her seat with joy. Mitty was letting her visit her at work! Alexis would get to see her in a cute outfit! She giggled quietly, gleefully, the sound muffled by her scarf. She looked out of her window at the people still shopping outside, and she beamed. They all had things to do with someone else, and now she was just like them!

Except one thing had slipped past her, an important detail that had gotten lost in her excitement.

She had to go to Lily Town.