The door opened again, and another non-regular customer walked in.
“Welcome to The Bean Alchemist,” Kaylee said in a deadened, overused voice. “What can I get you?”
Skylar grinned when Kaylee greeted the person properly, even putting a bright smile on. The woman beamed back, her brown eyes wide as she looked around with wonder, a book under her arm. It was obviously love at first sight.
“The Bean Alchemist. What a cool name!” she gushed.
Skylar had thought she was a genius when she’d come up with the name, cackling at the hidden joke as she typed it into the Australian Taxation Office online portal. Apparently the internet had beaten her to the idea years ago, and she was just old – not really – and these younger whippersnappers were too quick for her to keep up with what was trending.
Still, it often filled her heart with joy to see it painted above the entry doorway in silver gothic calligraphy lettering.
Especially as no one, not even Kaylee, knew just how true it was.
Or that Skylar was, in fact, a witch who meddled in alchemy every day.
Chapter
Two
Helen, the new non-regular who was totally about to become a regular, ordered the hyper-fixation.
It was any coffee drink, but with an added ‘something’ to help those who were struggling to focus. Everyone likely thought it was some kind of inside joke about the name of the establishment, especially as Skylar often winked and said she was the alchemist behind the miracles.
What people didn’t know was... she often slipped something into their coffee based on their choice. A teaspoon of potion that was non-harmful, organic, and exactly what they technically asked for. There was the ‘daydreamer,’ which was something to help one be calmer. Another was the ‘overtired,’ which gave someone that little kick they needed to go about their day without having to drink their body weight in caffeine and making themselves sick.
Skylar and Kaylee often drank the ‘sunshine in a cup’ one, which just lifted their moods to greet customer after customer, and handle the many rude ones. This shop was busy during the morning and evening rush, as it was located in a prime spot right near the train station – both a curse for the constant broken tranquillity, and great for revenue.
No one noticed the changes, likely thinking it was just a trick of the mind, but patrons often left with a smile and were perkier and happier than before. That’s what made Skylar feel good – that happiness, even if a touch of harmless magic was involved.
“A-are you sure it won’t have any allergens in it?” Helen asked, going on her tippy toes to look over the coffee machine to no avail. “A-and please make sure you don’t use soy milk or get any in it. I have my EpiPen on me, but it really sucks to have an attack.”
“I promise it won’t,” Skylar confirmed, greeting Helen’s brown eyes, before her gaze flicked up to her cute, messy bun. She then looked down at the frother swirling the milk to make sure she didn’t scald her hands again. “And don’t worry. I’ve made sure there won’t be any cross-contamination for you.”
“I’m sorry. I just get nervous when people touch my food or add things without telling me what’s in it,” Helen said back, giving an awkward cringe as she continued to peek over.
Skylar turned around to settle the steaming milk down and grabbed a spoonful of potion.Then why did you order it? Sometimes I don’t understand people.
Especially when Helen grabbed the cup with a shaking hand and stared down at it like it was poisoned. Yet she took a sip and instantly squealed with how delicious she found it, then toddled off to a seat near the sun. She placed her EpiPen on the table, just in case, and seemed to wait with bated breath to see if death was about to encroach on her.
Just as Skylar went to shake her head, the bright screen of a smartphone was shoved in her face.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I made you a hookup – I meandatingprofile,” Kaylee said, wiggling the screen that had her picture, her name, and a random bio on it.
Skylar grabbed it with both hands, and her black nails dug hard into the pink pleather phone case. “What do you meannn you made me a dating profile?” she whined. “I don’t want to date!”
Skylar pushed the pad of her finger against the screen, hastily reading the garbage Kaylee had written about how she was a strong, independent woman who seriously needed a man. Then it proceeded to state that she was a badass businesswoman, was perfect wifey material, and ready to mingle.
Appalled, Skylar opened the settings.
“I can smell the sexual desperation from over here,” Kaylee said, snatching her phone back when Skylar was about to delete the profile. “You need to get laid. Please. For the love of whatever thing it is you worship – the lord of shadows or whatever you goths are into. Get laid. Go on a date. Do... something.”
“I got laid recently,” Skylar whispered with a bite, reaching for the phone on her tippy toes.
Curse my short ass.
Her five-foot-three height was no match for the goliath, and she blew her cheeks out like a child and stamped her foot. She seriously considered smashing her heel into the soft toe of Kaylee’s worn-out converses.
The blonde woman cocked a brow. “Last year is not recently.”
