Donuts Disaster!

After some thought and a few conversations with his family, Jake had decided to take the job at Dough It Right, the new donut shop that had opened just a few blocks from his parents' house. While it wasn’t the most exciting job he’d imagined, the proximity of the shop made it convenient—and, of course, it was a paycheck.

Jake had met Daniel, the manager, who turned out to be the cousin of the shop’s owner. He was laid-back but firm, and Jake could tell that Daniel wasn’t the type to micro-manage. That gave him some confidence—he’d be trusted to do his job well.

The day had finally arrived. After school, Jake quickly got ready. He slid into his favorite superhero-themed boxers—his go-to for a confidence boost—before pulling on the shop’s purple polo, a pair of white shorts, and a purple apron that hung loosely on his hips. It wasn’t required, but he decided to wear the shop’s purple cap too, hoping it would give him a professional appearance.

With everything in place, Jake grabbed his backpack and headed out. The shop was just a short walk away, but his nerves had already begun to bubble up. Although he had been through the training, nothing could fully shake the feeling that tonight’s shift might be a little overwhelming. His coworker, Yuna, would be working with him tonight. They were the same age, having met in art class, and she had already been working at the shop for a couple of weeks. Her friendly nature made Jake feel at ease, but he couldn’t help feeling nervous about working with her.

As Jake stepped into the shop, he was greeted by the familiar smell of fresh donuts and the lively atmosphere. He waved at a few of the other employees before heading over to the staff lockers to put his things away. He was about to settle in when a familiar voice called out behind him.

"Hey, Little J!" Yuna’s voice rang out, followed by the sound of footsteps. Jake turned around to see her approaching with her usual bright smile. She was wearing the same purple polo as him, her long hair was half-up in a sleek ponytail with a white ribbon, the rest flowing loose.

"Yuna? You’re working tonight?" Jake asked, surprised but relieved to see her.

"Yup," she said with a grin. "I figured we could start our shifts together, make it a bit less nerve-wracking for you." She playfully ruffled his hair, the same way she did in art class, and Jake blinked in surprise. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention from her, but it felt... nice, in a way.

"Thanks, I guess," Jake stammered, feeling his cheeks warm up a little.

Yuna chuckled at his reaction, then started to move towards the counter. "Come on, let’s get to work. I’ll show you the ropes."

Jake followed her, trying to push his nerves aside. He had always liked Yuna, but it was a bit strange seeing her in this new role, as his coworker. They worked together as a team, restocking the shelves with donuts, filling coffee orders, and getting the shop ready for the evening rush.