Sneak Preview: Chapter One
#3 of Jayne
A sneak preview into the first chapter of the fateful meeting between buck and roo
"Morning, Jayne, how was night shift?" the short and somewhat pudgy badger behind the counter asked as she steamed some milk for an order. Dressed in a loose, yellow, floral print blouse, she had a paisley bandana tied to her head and a green apron with the name 'Denise' and the company logo embroidered on the front. She had made sure to make the buck feel welcome from the first day he had visited, and he had become a regular at the shop early on.
"Not too bad," the buck replied, leaning on the counter and waiting his turn, arms folded beneath him as he rested on his elbows. "But it's what's coming later that has me most excited..." he smirked coyly at the motherly badger woman as she turned away from the large chrome machine to take his order.
"Is that so?" she lifted an eyebrow curiously, punching in the total to the old antique till that she used, bronze keys worn and shiny with use. "Well are you going to tell me, your dear friend or will i have to hold your coffee ransom." She smirked right back at him as she handed him back his change, Jayne huffing in a quiet scoff.
"I do believe I am the deer friend here," he retorted, Denise rolling her eyes at the horrendous pun, "And I am going on date for your information." He sniffed with mock injury, tucking his wallet away into his back pocket. The barista always made his day brighter, and she was good morale boost before the fateful date. "Or rather, I'm staying on a date. We have elected to utilize the premises of your fine establishment as the locale for our first meeting." The deer paced along the counter to the pick up spot as she went about her business, making his hazelnut infused black coffee with light cream.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, young man," she huffed loudly over the hiss of the whipped cream, which he had not ordered.
"No but it will get me fine confections from the sweetest lady I know," he grinned, taking the cup from her smaller paw and reaching across the counter to peck her pudgy cheek affectionately, as he would his own mother. She blustered a moment before batting him off with a blunt clawed paw.
"Honestly if I were twenty years younger, you wouldn't have been single for as long as you have been!" she exclaimed loudly, "Now shoo! Away with you! You've got a date and you're holding up my line!" This was not entirely true as the next two customers had only just ambled through the door on the cold lazy monday morning, but Jayne just chuckled and waved, turning back to go sit outside and wait.