“Welcome to Babucks. What do you want?” The barista barely lifted his head as his monotone voice dripped with disinterest. The heavy sigh that followed made it clear—he would rather be anywhere else than here.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” Maya replied with a bright smile, trying to maintain her cheer while her caffeine-deprived brain screamed in protest. If only she could afford just a small cup.

  The dusky-skinned man with long white hair and a name tag “Fifi” let out an exasperated groan, letting his arms hang and roll his eyes at Maya.

  His irritated scowl contrasted comically with the fluffy Baabucks sheep logo on his shirt, and his little sheep cap perched at an awkward tilt, as if barely clinging to its will to stay upright. “You can’t sit in our establishment without ordering something.”

  "Ma’am, you can’t just sit here without ordering something," he grumbled, crossing his arms like a weary and underpaid guard for overpriced latte.

  “I’m sorry.” Maya tried to sound cordial against the man’s visible annoyance of her presence—or just any life at all. “I’m waiting for my friend. We’ll leave then.”

  Fifi tapped aggressively against his notepad. “That's not how it works—” Fifi turned as his manager, a blond and fair-skinned, tall man, whispered something from the back to the barista.

  Whatever it was, it worked.

  “One order, miss,” Fifi reminded her. “Or I have to ask you to leave.”

  Maya mumbled inaudibly into her palm.

  “Come again?”

  “A pumpkin spiced latte… please,” Maya mumbles softly.

  Fifi threw up his arms. “Fricking finally—”

  “Ahem!” Fifi’s manager cleared his weary throat, reminding him to be friendlier.

  Fifi groaned into the ceiling. “A pumpkin-spiced latte, coming right up.”

  When Fifi left, Maya sprawled herself over the table. She had given in, even though she said she wouldn't buy anything. Money was tight this month.

  Even buying one single cup of coffee to keep Maya’s senses working put her at risk of getting a loan from the bank.

  How am I gonna survive this? Worried Maya, ruffling up her coils. I need to find a job… Should I risk working in retail again?

  The barista rang the bell at the counter. “Who ordered a pumpkin spiced latte?”

  Maya raised her hand, standing up to get her order. “Here—”

  “That’s not my order,” complained a customer, snatching the coffee from Fifi’s manicured fingers.

  “Did you order a pumpkin spiced latte?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then that’s not your order!” shouted Fifi so the entire Baaabucks could hear him. “You’re getting decaf, mister!”

  “Wha—”

  “Here’s your pumpkin spiced latte.” The friendly manager brought Maya’s order instead, offering her an apologetic smile. “I'm sorry for my friend. He's not good with people, or others… not even me…,” he sighed, deflated.

  “Yeah, Fifi doesn't seem to like his job.”

  “Not like we got a choice.” The manager, ‘Eli’ read the name tag, suppressed a strained laugh. Money is tight.”

  Maya whined, “Tell me about it… do you have a free job offer?”

  “I’m sorry, but we don’t.” Eli and put a small plastic package next to Maya's coffee. “Here's a cookie as an apology, enjoy. Gotta go back and lock the decaf shelf.”

  The tall blond walked back to resolve another argument caused by his coworker. Maya sipped on her latte and nibbled on her treat as she watched the scene.

  Though it didn't take long for her company to arrive for the best parts.

  “How I missed the chaos,” laughed a familiar witch, light and mischievous.

  “Fey!” Maya practically launched from her seat to her friend, wrapping her in a tight hug. “I missed you.”

  Fey steadied herself with her crutch, trying to bear all the enthusiasm she shot at her. It has been a few months since the last time they saw each other, and Fey was worried how she should approach Maya after everything that happened.

  Should she be her confident self? Be more mellow and remorseful? Whatever it was, when Fey saw Maya, she knew it didn’t matter as long as she recognised her witchy letter friend.

  “Did you miss me?” asked Fey, tapping Maya’s neck and giving her a toothy grin.

  “Of course I did. You were gone as suddenly as I met you.” Maya sat down on the cushioned cafe chair. “How have you been?”

  “Trouble, you know me.”

  Her ever mischievous grin played on her lips. A faint hint of makeup accentuated her sharp eyes. Her curled hair cascaded past her shoulders, revealing her slightly pointed ears, while a ribbon tied neatly around her neck and framed her beaming face.

  As she sat, she put her healthy leg over the over. Her long, high-waisted skirt, slit on the right side, adding a dramatic flair to her look, and polished black boots. She wore a lavender blouse today with the collar of her crisp white undershirt casually popped open.

  As always, Fey dressed to impress.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “It’s nice to be back. Had a few things to take care of back home.” She rested her crutch against the windowsill and looked out as she sighed. “Moving here from Sweden left a lot to be desired. Had to pack my clothes, my witch stuff, my zombies, and my pet. Can't leave Missy all alone with my family.”

  Maya sputtered on her drink. “Wait, you’re moving here!?”

  Fey listlessly turned her head to Maya. With her chin on her hand, she smirked at her. “Know any good places? I could use a friend. How’s life?”

  “Mhiserwable,” Maya mumbled into her latte.

  Fey leaned closer. She smelled juicy details. “Trouble in paradise?”

  “No, what? No, it’s-”

  “Wait.” Fey held up her hand. “I need lunch for this story.”

  “Oh, lemme get something for you.” Maya was about to stand up before Fey stopped her.

  “No need, I can do that myself.” Fey scanned the Baaabucks, and spotted the barista furiously taking orders. Maya had a bad feeling. “Hey, barista!”

  Oh noooooooo, don’t.

  The barista turned his head their way. His eyes focused on them like the headlights of a prison encampment.

  “WhAt!?” Fifi yelled. “Don’t you see I am serving a customer?”

  Said customer was inching away towards the exit.

  “I wanna order!” Fey barked back, matching the barista’s tone. Maya covered her mouth with her hands and breathed slowly.

  “Do I look like a waiter? Wait at the line like a normal person!”

  “Well, no, I can’t!” Fey swung her crutch with emphasis. “Some extra service, please.”

  Fifi groaned, mouthing curses under his breath. He made his way towards their table and slammed his hands on the surface. “What’cha want?”

  “A bagel and matcha latte,” she replied, leaning closer to Fifi in a challenge. Maya squeaked at her seat and Eli bit his nails, hoping Fifi wouldn’t slug her.

  Fifi huffed. “Coming right up.” And left back to the counter.

  Maya—alongside the manager—let out a long sigh of relief.

  “How did you do that?” she asked.

  “Practice.” Fey shrugged. “Now, tell me what I missed.”

  “I'm barely gone, and it feels like Hel broke loose.” Fey took a bite out of her bagel and flicked with her wrist dismissively.

  “Tell me about it.” Maya nibbled on her cookie. “But we managed... somehow.”

  “Still, a troll?” Fey drummed her fingers over her left temple. “You need to be more careful. If there had been a giant… I don't know what would have happened.”

  Maya noticed how Fey nervously rubbed her bad leg.

  She decided to keep quiet about Austin’s identity as an Earth Giant. Even if it didn't bother her—Austin was a friend, after all—it wasn’t her place to reveal something he had struggled to share for so long.

  Besides, she wasn’t sure how Fey would take it.

  A giant had crushed her leg years ago, shattering not just her ability to walk properly but also her dreams of a gymnastics career. Even if Maya wanted them to be friends, now wasn’t the time.

  “Why the sudden move?” Maya switched topics. “Will you be staying indefinitely? And why were you here in the first place?”

  This had bugged Maya for a while. What was the reason Fey was here at the same time as Val popped up into her life?

  What are even the chances? She wondered.

  “Magic,” replied Fey. Her gaze drifted off. She lost interest in her drink entirely. “I've received a tip of unusual activities in this country. Something that would give me an edge dealing with giants… but for the reason I am here now… I need a new lease in life.”

  “What kind of lease?”

  “A change. An escape,” Fey explained wildly, lost in emotions. “Ever since the giant incident, I was… lost and stuck with my life.” She started explaining, but a confused sense of pain clouded her eyes. “My mom and grandma took care of me for a long time, but I realised I couldn’t be around them anymore. So, I left everything behind and ran away, thinking I'll find what I'm searching for.”

  “What are you searching for?”

  Maya took Fey’s hand, trying to keep her grounded as she searched for words.

  They’ve only known each other in person for a short while, but the letters and troubles they shared bound them together. Maya knew if she could help her somehow, she would.

  But right now, it wasn’t enough.

  “Who knows?” Fey pulled back her hand and nipped on her mocha. “I just knew it was not back home. I took the gamble, and here I am. Now I have to figure out how to manage my existence here. Don't have a degree, dropped out of highschool, and I refuse to work a dead-end job.”

  Seeing Fey waving with her hand, Maya saw a trace of green mist leave Fey’s painted nails. Maya tightened her hands on her empty cup.

  “I understand.” Maya nodded. “I burned through my funds without realising. And now I am job hunting between my studies… My last part-time job was a nightmare.”

  “You mean the one time that store manager fired you over getting vaccinated?”

  “That!” Maya exclaimed, and groaned, throwing her head back. “Val is working part time at the place we had dinner at since my card was declined. Do you know how embarrassing that was—”

  Fey burst into laughter and spit out her mocha over the table. She snorted like a piglet, almost falling off her chair.

  Maya's face turned beat-red at the reaction. “Stop it! That’s not funny!”

  “I can't.” Fey hit the table repeatedly with her fist in laughter and buried her face in her arms. “I wouldn't, even if I could. Hahahaha.”

  Maya folded her arms and pouted angrily at Fey. “Fine, get it out of the system then. Not like I almost died in shame when it happened!”

  “Sorry, sorry.” Fey almost caught herself before laughing again, drawing the attention of the entire cafe to them. She then pointed at Maya's drink. “Wait, since you're broke, can you even afford a drink from Baaaabucks?”

  A whine escaped her friend. “I can't, but the barista made me order one! I’m weak against social pressure.”

  Fey rummaged in her purse.

  Maya leaned over the table and noticed a plastic card in her hand. “Fey, what are you—”

  “Hey, barista with the funny name!”

  Fifi replied with a calm, “WHAT!?”

  “I wanna pay for our drinks.”

  “Fey, no,” Maya hissed, reaching out for Fey’s arm. “I don't want you to pay for me.”

  “Don't care,” said Fey. “I pay before you end up as that guy's coworker.”

  Fifi narrowed his eyes at Fey when he came with the card reader. “Did you say something about me?”

  “Nope, and no, don’t ask; I won't tip you,” she replied sharply.

  “Dafuq is a tip?” asked Fifi. Maya and Fey gave each other a knowing look. Apparently, no one was willing to tip Fifi for his exemplary service.

  “You know what? Five percent sounds good, no?”

  Fey swiped her card and gave Fifi a cocky. Maya shook her head.

  Fifi looked at the tip in disbelief. A tear rolled down his cheek. “Thank you,” he said genuinely, and left with a giddy step.

  “That was… anticlimactic,” said Fey, disappointed, and an eyebrow raised. She turned back to Maya. “Where were we?”

  “Me complaining,” murmured Maya and shifted in her seat. “But thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Fey’s smile became as genuine as Fifi’s response. When she looked at Maya, she felt lighter. “Say, would you like to work for me?”

  “Huh? How? You barely got here.”

  “That's why I need some help,” said Fey. “I need a witch apprentice to help me with customers. My undead are terribly bad at customer support. What do you say?”

  “I- are you sure? I mean—”

  “Just say yes.” Fey grinned at her, steepling her fingers like a businesswoman. “I can offer dental and as much coffee as you can drink—”

  “I accept!”

  Maya grasped for Fey’s hand and shook it before her friend could realise how bad Maya’s caffeine needs were.