Ryan lay on his bed, staring at the single sock left on his foot. The other one—the one that mysteriously vanished during his first night in Bakersfield Falls—was now the proud possession of a scruffy orange cat that prowled the alley behind Brewed Awakening.
He sighed dramatically. "Of all the things to steal, a sock? Really?"
The cat's golden eyes glinted mischievously from the shadows, as if it understood the pain of a royal exile but had zero sympathy.
Morning Mayhem at Brewed Awakening
Ryan pulled on his remaining sock (which was somehow inside out) and headed downstairs for his first proper day on the café floor. The smell of freshly ground coffee and toasted bagels filled the air, along with the familiar bickering of Ashley and a customer arguing over the "correct" temperature of a latte.
Ashley caught sight of Ryan and smirked. "Ready to make more disasters, Your Majesty?"
"Only if you promise not to yell," Ryan said, trying to sound confident but failing spectacularly.
His first mission: master the espresso machine.
The Espresso Machine vs. Ryan
Ryan studied the machine carefully, determined not to unleash another coffee flood.
He pushed a button, and a loud hiss escaped.
Suddenly, a jet of hot coffee shot straight into the air, splattering the wall and soaking a startled regular who was quietly reading the newspaper.
Ryan froze. "I call it the 'espresso fountain.' Very avant-garde."
Ashley shook her head but didn't laugh—for now.
Hailey's Arrival and Instant Judgment
Just then, Hailey walked in, sunglasses perched on her head, carrying a mountain of textbooks.
She spotted Ryan's soaked shirt and the tiny coffee puddle spreading at his feet.
With a smirk, she said, "Nice entrance, Brian. Did you bring the fire brigade, or is that just your charm?"
Ryan blushed but managed a weak grin. "Just trying to make the place more… lively."
Hailey shook her head, laughing softly.
The Great Smoothie Spill
Later that afternoon, Ryan was tasked with making a smoothie for Hailey's order—strawberry-banana, no sugar, extra ice.
Determined to impress, Ryan threw everything into the blender… and accidentally added a whole cup of coffee instead of water.
The blender roared to life, then exploded its contents across the counter, spraying Ryan's face with a sticky brown mess.
Hailey looked at him, stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Congratulations," she said, handing him a napkin. "You just invented the 'coffee smoothie'—the next big thing that no one asked for."
Ryan wiped coffee from his eyes. "Innovation is a messy business."
Unexpected Help from a Stray
As Ryan mopped the floor, still sticky and embarrassed, the orange cat from the alley sauntered in, trailing a sock from its mouth.
Hailey crouched down, reaching out. "Hey, Sock Thief. You returning the loot?"
The cat dropped the sock at Ryan's feet and rubbed against his leg like it had appointed itself his new royal advisor.
Ryan smiled. "Guess even royalty gets a furry friend."
A Small Step Toward Normal
That night, Ryan sat on his bed, sockless but content.
His kingdom was no longer golden toilets and fancy banquets.
It was messy coffee spills, sarcastic smiles, and a mysterious cat with a taste for socks.
And maybe—just maybe—this was exactly where he was supposed to be.
TO BE CONTINUED