Work with a new coworker.

Maybe the idea of ‘feeling like an adult’ is in itself somewhat childish, but I did feel like one going to work in my own car for the first time. That said, it also felt a bit weird to be going in such a big van when it was just me. I’d need to see how much fuel it used during the trip to and from the coffee shop and see if just taking the bus was cheaper.

I lucked out and found a spot to park near the shop. I locked the van and went into the coffee shop. Two tables were occupied, one by two office women and the other by the old couple that always came by.

“Oh, Oliver,” the old lady greeted me. “You’re here on a Friday?”

Man, they came so often they knew my schedule already, Then again, it had been over half a year that I’d been working there. “Yes, ma’am. I’m changing my shifts for a while. Is everything okay? Do you need something else?” I asked them as I picked up my apron and put it on.

“No, dear. The coffee is as good as always. Thank you.”

The old man raised his cup to me and went back to drinking. His wife was the chattier of the two, so I think he appreciated that I kept things short. Entertain one of them and retreat before being a bother to the other. What can I say? I had it down to a fine art.

“I saw you parking,” Maria told me, grinning. “Nice van. And congratulations on graduating.”

“Thank you.”

“How does it feel?”

“I thought I’d be happier, but it’s just weird. Not that I’m missing anything, just… It’s an awkward feeling.”

“You’re weird. I was bawling my eyes out when my graduation came.”

Yeah, I could see it.

It might have been a different day, but the things I had to do were the same. I saw some dirty dishes in the kitchen and was about to go wash them when I heard the bell at the door. Customers, I thought, but not. As I fell into the usual routine, I had almost forgotten the whole reason I had changed shifts.

Fernanda was here.

“Ah, Fern, good. Come here,” Maria called her. Also, Fern? Already close enough for nicknames? Then again, that was Maria for you. She probably started doing it to try and make Fernanda feel more comfortable.

The girl’s eyes fell on me. Her eyebrows rose, her jaw half-hung and she almost stood by the door for a whole minute before she finally walked behind the counter.

“You already know him, but this is Oliver. He’ll be working different shifts because I want Isabelle to start handling things on her own. She’s practically letting Oliver do all the work.”

A blatant lie, but it came from a good place. Better not to make her feel worse by telling her she brought me here to help her in particular.

“I… see.” Fernanda swallowed hard. She looked tense.

…

Despite all the growth I’d done over the past year, I was still no expert when it came to socialization. I couldn’t work a miracle and suddenly make Fernanda get over whatever issues she had. It doesn’t work that way. To begin with, change comes from within. So what was the best I could do in this situation?

“Fernanda, right? There are some dirty dishes in the kitchen. Would you mind helping me with those?”

Her eyes widened again and she answered as if by reflex. “Ah! Yes…?”

I held back a chuckle. She ended it as a question, frowning in confusion, pursing her lips and tilting her head a bit. I bet she was wondering why I’d need help doing the dishes, or why I didn’t just tell her to do it by herself.

She followed me to the sink, but before we started, I had to remind her, “Don’t forget your apron.”

She flinched. “O-Oh, right.” She clicked her tongue, made a quick turn and was about to go get it, but…

“No need to run,” I told her, chuckling only to make it clear I wasn’t chastising her or anything. “No one’s hurrying you and it might cause an accident.”

Fernanda stopped mid-step, took a deep breath and went to get her apron. When she came back I had already started on the dishes.

“Can you dry them with that towel as I wash them? We’ll get it done faster that way.”

Fernanda kept her lips pursed but nodded and did as I asked. She stood beside me, diligently drying the dishes and leaving them in the drying rack. I don’t know if Maria understood or approved of what I was trying to do, but she still left us to our own devices.

We didn’t talk as we worked. She didn’t say anything and I didn’t think she’d enjoy small talk at the moment. She seemed too nervous, too stiff. Still, I didn’t want the silence to make her feel worse, so… I started humming.

I almost dared to hope she would start humming along, but she didn’t. She kept quiet and continued drying the dishes. And yet… Well, I don’t mean to brag, but I do have powers and I spend most of my time around women. So when I tell you that I knew Fernanda had relaxed, you have reasons to believe me.

I saw it in her shoulder, in the way they loosened and dropped. I heard it in her breathing as it became steadier. I noticed it in the faintest smile that crossed her lips, even as she tried to hide it from me when I glanced her way.

I asked her to do everything with me save for waiting on tables. She came with me to throw out the trash, sweep the floors and clean the tables. I shared with her my technique to take notes quickly, telling her to only use it if she found it useful. When I snuck a peek at her notepad, I saw she was, indeed, using my notation or something similar to it. She didn’t talk much, but she was very willing to follow instructions and take advice, even from a guy younger than her.

I really respect that.

Patreon.