A/N Photo Sam Heughan As Alexnder Strong
The next day I rushed into Vicky's cafe on main street.
"Everyone stay calm. Give me chocolate and a croissant and nobody get's hurt" I said pointing my clasped fingers at Marta.
On Saturdays, I worked in a local cafe called Vicky's Cafe with Marta. I came in to find my best friend Marta making coffee for Mr. Wallace. After the TS-17 virus she had developed a barista technique where she stood behind the espresso machine making noises in her mouth and then pouring hot water on instant coffee granules. This was a big hit with the locals as the barista in the nearby Starbucks just gave their customers a cup of hot water. I was the only one in 30 miles who could work the espresso machine properly. Weirdly Starbucks still got more customers.
"Hi Kaitlyn how's your mother?" said Marta's Mom Vicky, when I arrived behind the counter. She was sitting at table, with bits of paper arranged around her computer screen trying to do the accounts.
"I'll be right out but I've spent all morning trying to get these numbers into the computer."Vicky said." But for some reason the stupid thing, it's not working. I swear this machine as got the TS-17 virus."
"Mom says hi. Oh!" I said. I pretended to fall forward and caught myself on the power switch.
The computer came to life and the screen came on. Now the machine booted up.
Vicky squealed in delight.
"Kaitlyn your so my good luck charm. The computer fixed its self" she said.
"It's just dumb luck" I lied.
I high fived Marta and got to work wrapping an apron around me. The word had got out that I served the best coffee in town. Which was right. I could actually use the Expresso machine and Vicky could spot when coffee or milk was low and order more, another example of my dad's 'routine still works' in action Theory.
I knew all of our regulars and what they had. Some days it was like one big happy family. I looked over in the window and watched old Mr. Wallace looking deeply at his chess board. Vickey had me told me before the TS-17 virus, he would lower his snow haired head and play games of chess against all comers. In the summer Mr. Wallace would sit outside all day and do the same. Dad knew him they had both worked together once. These days he was content with following the moves from his little chess book. I thought I knew everyone. Everyone except the strange friend of Mr. Wallace who was sitting with him now. The man he was sitting was young and good looking he had long hair and a dark narrow face. Mr. Wallace and he were sitting drinking coffee and talking occasionally. Marta I noticed couldn't keep her eyes off the stranger.
On the walls we proudly showed off all the government emergency posters in the order they had been published. The first one said 'If you are resistant to the TS-17 virus your civic duty is to report yourself and join the homeland defense project'". The next one had come out a few months after the infection 'If you can read this then perhaps your not affected by that bad virus. Folk like you need to come and talk to folk like us at of homeland difference*'. The one next to hit had a picture of a cat with 'Wazup. You smarts to? Like wezz really nedz your helps. the department of homeland defiance and stuff #TS-17'. finally, there were the new one which had gone up a few weeks ago 'The possessed are everywhere. Have you seen one? Report immediately. #possessed.'
I wondered if the posters worked. Non-infected people were in short supply. l guess most were like me and my dad, most were now smart enough not to respond. The general population were being slowly taught that those resistant to the virus were dangerous untrustworthy intellectuals, who threatened the safety of the country. We had been originally described as 'those in possession of great intellectual gifts'. Eventually, the term 'possessed' came to describe anyone who was clearly smart enough to think for themselves. Failing that it also applied to anyone who could tell the difference between margarine and butter.
Mr. Smith talked while he queued to collected his, tall macchiato coffee from me.
"Unlike you peoples the Smith is smart," said Mr. Smith to the people of the cafe "You should read books people. I do and I know things. Like I know who really shot Kennedy, yep that's right, me people. I alone know who did it I figured it all out. Einstein had nothing on me."
"Someone as smart as you should go and join the department of homeland defense project Kenny," said Marta collecting cups from the tables.
"Well I is smart but I isn't possessed if that's what you think. I don't know about this defense project Kenny but I love this country. God bless where ever we are."
I was just glad he didn't break into 'God bless Vicky's coffee shop land of the free.' again. I didn't mind but everyone joined in and few could remember all the words so must of them just hummed along until they got to bits they all knew. It was like Auld Lang Syne at new year when they did it.
I had just taken my thick rimmed glasses off to clean, when a man dressed in a morning suit and a woman in a designer dress came in through the glass shop door. The man look confident and I could see why. He had male model looks and a glint in his smile and a confidence in his step which suggested he knew it. His dark hair was cut to an expensive degree of perfection and suited his angular jawline perfectly. His morning suit couldn't have been rented it looked to precise, cut as it was to his chiseled physic. His dark eyebrows funneled your attention to his exquisite eyes. Everything about him seemed there purposefully to arouse a young girl's desire. What's more to my surprise it worked.
I tried to calm myself. Somewhere inside me, despite having a large person shaped gap next to my heart I needed a man like Amber Rose needed a wardrobe full of hair straighteners.
The good looking man walked passed Mr. Smith and the others to the front of the queue.
Mr. Smith began to complain and the woman with to Mr. Good looking just said "Do you know who he is? This is my brother billionaire Alexander Strong heir to the Strong Company. He's richer and so more important than you that, if you bother him again he will sue you for wearing a loud plaid jacket in a crowded area, and believe me with his lawyers HE WILL WIN."
That rather unconventional threat of legal action convinced the rest of the queue to go away.
"Off to a wedding ?" I asked as they came up to the barista bar.
"Wow, I've never met a psychic barista before," said Alexander Strong.
"She can't be psychic" began the woman next to him "she doesn't have a mask or a cape of anything and she's far too tall."
Took me a moment to get that one, side-kick, yeah right, good one coming from a woman who dresses up to go out for a coffee.
"Sure. Whatever. What can I get you?" I said smiling enough to look friendly but not enough to show my braces.
The girl paused for a moment and looked at the ceiling.
"I'd like a big mac to go," she said.
"I'm sorry," I said " this is Vicky's coffee shop. Not a McDonalds. The hint is in the name. I could get you a muffin if you like?"
She looked at me, "that depends, does it come with fries?" she said.
"We will have an americano and a cappuccino to go," said Alexander waving a $50 bill at me.
I made one of my best americano coffees and took the money myself. In most places if you handed cash over people gave you random change back. I liked to give everyone a fair deal even them, so I made sure to give exactly the right change. Alexander looked at the change in his hand and sipped his coffee in his paper cup.
"By the way," said the woman "you know you shouldn't wear white after labor day?"
I looked down at my tee-shirt and white apron.
I manage to keep back 'that's fine advice coming from the kind of woman who dresses like she charges by the quarter hour.' all that came out was
"It's not even August yet."
Call me Miss diplomatic, I blame a desire to not be caught, what's your excuse?
"Would you like to come to a wedding as my plus one?" said Alexander Strong to me. Marta nearly dropped the tray she was carrying.
I looked up at him. He was famous for having countless glamours girl friends. He'd been on some TV programs so I didn't take any chances, this could be another weird reality TV show. Clearly, this was some weird trick.
"Seriously?" I said.
"Would you like to come to a wedding as my plus one." said Alexander in a low sad voice, while frowning.
"Why is she smiling?" said the woman.
"No reason," I said.
"So I'll pick you up at 9:00," said the playboy.
"I don't see why you want to pick her up- she's clearly quite capable of walking by herself" said the woman. "anyway she's too shifty and unpretty to talk to. She can't even get me a big mac. What kind of famous international executive goes out with a girl who can't even get a big mac? "
"Ignore my sister," said Alexander smiling. "I do and I find it really does help."
Alexander turned to his sister. "Megan. Oh I don't need you for the wedding anymore. I have someone new to go with. You're fired."
She looked at him "You think you can actually fire you sister from going to a wedding with you?" she said.
"Sure I can. You're really are actually fired" said Alexander.
"You can't fire me. We are family!! You can't fire your own sister like one of your lousy workers" she shouted "... SO I quit being your sister! That's right I resign, how do you like them fish ? "
I was sure Alexander would get a letter of resignation on Monday - as soon as she learned to write.
Before I could say anymore, I saw a number of people in uniform come in the door. Along with Al the local sheriff, there were a few men in black with teeshirts with the words "Homeland Deference" printed on them. It was the real homeland 'defence'*, I had seen them before and wasn't sure they had yet noticed the miss-spelling on their t-shirts. I assumed no one would mention it. I guess if anyone was smart enough to notice and tell the homeland 'defence' guys then they would be immediately arrested as being possessed. One the room was secure someone came in behind them.
The were from homeland defense.
"No one move. We have a warrant to search the place for the possessed" shouted the first man next to Al.
"When he says no one move it's OK to breathe and blink. That's fine, no problem, but getting up is banned.... even if you want to pee. Wanting to go home isn't a good excuse either" said Al.
That was me out of options.
****
A/N You know what would go really well with this chapter? A nice little vote, just to round out the look of the page. Not that we are pan handling for votes or anything. RK+Reb.
*Yeah defence not defense or diffrence  it's deliberate. I don't know how long we can keep this up.