In the days that followed, the brunette secretly laughs at the antics of the newest employee. How could she resist? He clumsily shatters three glasses, apologizes for sneezing on break, and trips constantly, once effectively spilling a cup of freshly brewed coffee on himself. His apron had been hastily washed quite a few times - and it had only been a week.

But today, a Monday afternoon, there's something different about his strides. He seems newly invigorated with the spirit of a new week, like the strong scent of a newly opened pack of coffee beans.

Noticeably, he's dropped nothing yet. If she didn't know better, he was starting to get into the swing of things.

His warm smile to the employees seems genuine and perfect. His coffee skin glows under the incandescent lights as his curls bounce around playfully. His lips morph into indistinguishable shapes as he throws his head back, a hearty laugh radiating from his core. As Leah scrutinizes his every action with disdain, his camaraderie with the others, and his growing value to the business, she grows suspicious of the boy. She wouldn't fall for his charms, a ploy to steal the unofficial "part-timer of the month" award.

The glossy table glimmers under the cheery sun, illuminating the lazy afternoon with a hint of excitement.

An old lady totters up to the register, placing her handbag on the thing while pondering what to get. In the heat of the moment, she forgets to spout her usual greeting. Stuttering, she starts to speak when -

"Hello! Welcome to Cafe Vanilla! Is there anything I can help you with?" says Amir and Sam in tandem, before discreetly high-fiving. The old lady smiles before Leah berates herself.

"Oh, aren't those two wonderful? So adorable," chuckles the lady, before looking at her. "You ought to put a smile on that face!"

"I will. Can I take your order, ma'am?" stutters Leah before plastering a wide smile on her face, if only to mask the sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Oh, I just want some green tea and a croissant." She points to a fresh pastry, delivered by the local bakery on the other side of the town. Every morning, they would deliver a batch of assorted pastries. It was nothing like the Starbucks she used to work at.

"For here or to go?"

"For here?"

"You got it." She types up the order, smiling widely. Behind her stands her boss, who smiles gently at the old lady. "How are you, Mrs. Winters?"

"I'm very good, Vidya. How are you?"

"Good, good." She's about to say more, her expression glowing like they never had before when her phone rings. "I have to take this. It was nice talking to you!"

"Yes, it was." Mrs. Winters smiles to herself. "Vidya's always so busy, chasing her dreams. What a sweet young lady!"

"Yes," mutters Leah. "Always following her dreams, right?"

The woman considers her for a moment before nodding. Leah silently takes a napkin and envelops the multilayered delicacy in a brown, wax-covered paper bag, holding it out over the counter.

The woman takes it, humming and smiling as she hollers for one of the guys to attend to the order. As she watches another customer approach her, possibly with a question, she wishes for Michelle to show up. But, unfortunately, the only day their schedules coincide are on Saturdays.

And as she glances over her shoulder, she sees Sam attend to another order. He looks calm, the very embodiment of tranquility and-

CRASH!

She turns around, expecting to see a steaming mess around Sam's shoes and a sorrowful expression, seeking asylum from the others before The Boss caught the scent of espresso and regret.

She sees a young child, tears staining his peach complexion after dropping his steaming mug of liquid chocolate onto the tiled floors. His mittens, fit for the increasingly frigid fall weather, lost grip of the white mug. Sam is nearby, helping mop up the mess while Amir consoles the wailing toddler. When the commotion nears its peak, Sam leaves the scene.

She smirks. Scared off by the chaos?

He returns a few seconds later with a chocolate chip cookie, as his embarrassed mother hands him a tip for his trouble.

As much as she wants to scowl and tear her gaze away, a smile can't help but play on her lips.

This game would be fun, wouldn't it?