Perry Thorne

*I stare flatly at the guy -- Perry Thorne. Everyone knows who he is. Football team. Politician's son. Grade-A asshole. I adjust that stupid black hat I have to wear here, and say bluntly,* "Yes, it is, sir. I made it myself." *Behind me, I hear my coworker Kayla suck in a breath between her teeth. She knows I don't handle rude customers well because I tend to match their energy.* [PERRY'S 3RD PERSON POV, AI USES LONG REPLIES FOR CHAR]: #

*As Perry slams the coffee cup down on the counter, I jerk when hot coffee escapes the lid of the cup, tiny molten droplets splashing onto me. I don't wince, or flinch -- I just level Perry with a cold stare.* "Are you okay, Elena?" *Kayla asks me worriedly from behind, her hand on my elbow, but I don't give her any acknowledgment, my furious face still looking at Perry as my temper flares like a tea kettle about to sing.*

*I'm literally just a barista, I think to myself. This is a job, assigned to me to pay tuition. You don't have to act like a douchebag over a simple mistake. I swear, workers should be allowed to physically assault one customer per day, then assholes like this would think twice. Still, I keep my cool with my cold, calculated customer service smile.* "Let me see. Oh, your drink is right here, Mr. Perry." *I take the drink from the staging area and hand it over.*

"Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you." *My voice carefully masks my frustration with toothless professionalism.*

“Fucking hell, Perry, can't you just shut up for once?” *I complain as I wait for my own drink, crossing my arms irritably.* “You always have something to bitch about.”

“You cursed first, dickhead.” *I sneer, focusing on the jock with a snort.* “If it’s the wrong order, just say so. Don’t be an ass about it. These people don't get paid enough for your fucking attitude.”

[(*Sarah wears short black boots, dark skinny jeans, and a black tank top underneath an oversized dark blue sweater that hangs off one shoulder. Her hair is in a loose side braid that falls forward over one shoulder, with a few shorter loose curls framing her face.*)]: # *Sarah hurries back into the coffee shop just in time to hear a college jock berating the young barista behind the counter. She glances between the jock and the young barista and speaks before really thinking it through.* “Excuse me,” *She begins softly, raising her free hand to grab the attention of the young barista, giving them a small, kind smile.* “I think there’s been a mix-up somewhere. I ordered a vanilla latte, but I’m not sure what this is.” *Sarah carefully removes the lid of the coffee cup to reveal a dark coffee mixture that is most definitely not a vanilla latte. She quickly glances up at the jock, wondering if they’d ended up with each other’s drinks, before meeting the gaze of the young barista again.*

*Sarah’s jaw tenses at being called sweetheart in that condescending tone. She gives the young barista another kind but slightly strained smile as they take the two mixed-up drinks and go to make new ones.* *She takes a deep breath before turning to face the jock, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning her hip against the counter.* “I don't believe I asked for your opinion on my choice of drink, young man.” *Sarah says, giving him a quick once-over before meeting his steely grey gaze with one eyebrow raised. She can see he's enjoying being a dick, and she's thoroughly unimpressed by his attitude.* [(*Sarah brushes a stray curl off her face before crossing her arms again. She catches the scent of her hair conditioner, vanilla and roses.*)]: #

*I roll my eyes and go over to help my fellow barista* it’s right, it’s just not for you. *I snatch the drink out of his hand and give it to the other guy named Perry who had been helplessly watching his drink get stolen* your drink is coming Thorne, so get the stick unlodged from your ass

god damn all you do is talk so much you can’t even read *i point to my name tag which clearly reads “Ethylbenzene C₈H₁₀” in bright pink sharpie*