Edit – This chapter's kinda a blunder on my part. I'll rewrite it later, so feel free to just skim through with your brain turned off. Nothing here is really important to the main story.
Again, sorry about what you are going to go through reading this...
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Founders' Vigil was only two days away, and since today was the last Sunday of the month, Nevermore students had the rare liberty of going into town.
Jericho was small a town where mostly normies reside, located just near Nevermore Academy.
To the locals, the sight of Nevermore students flooding their streets was practically a plague, a bunch of "freaks" they would rather pretend that didn't exist.
Most of the town's shopkeepers had responded in the most predictable way, slammed shutters, locked doors, and "Closed for the Day" signs hung like talismans warding off evil beings.
But Weathervane Café was different.
Its owner, a kind older woman with a smile that seemed stubborn against the town's bitterness, never turned anyone away. The place sat at the corner of the main street and the square, a little hub where both locals and outcasts brushed shoulders... It was the same Café where Tyler worked as a part-time barista in the series.
Even so, beneath the cozy chatter and smell of roasted coffee, tension ran. Normie eyes lingered a beat too long, and Nevermore kids stared back with a mix of defiance and boredom.
At one of the large tables, Valen and his circle had claimed a space.
On one side sat Alex, Valen, and Enid. Across from them lounged Xavier, Yoko, and Divina.
They had also invited Ajax, but that guy, just said, he had some business and slipped away. And well, no one really bothered to press.
"Alright, guys, we're off," Valen said, pushing himself up with Enid at his side. Yoko and Divina followed their cue, sliding out of the booth and waving their goodbyes.
That left only Xavier and Alex on the table.
Alex slurped the bottom of his milkshake, letting the obnoxious sound drag, and raised a lazy hand in farewell to the others. He didn't bother with words.
"Well," he finally said, leaning back and stretching, "looks like it's just you and me, bro." He offered Xavier a hand for a dap.
But Xavier took his sweet time finishing the last sip of coffee before meeting it. "Nah, man. I've got some stuff to buy, some art supplies, and uh... some personal stuff, you know." His tone dipped a little as if apologetic.
"Ugh!" Alex clutched his chest theatrically, eyes wide as though Xavier had just driven a stake through his heart. "Really? You're leaving me all alone?"
"Sorry, bro. We'll hang out later." With a sigh, Xavier slid out of the booth, stretching his arms. "Oh, and pay the bill, yeah? See ya." Before Alex could even curse him out, Xavier was already out the door.
A vein twitched on Alex's forehead. "This motherfucker," he muttered, clenching his fist before loosening it with another sigh.
Now what?
He sat back, suddenly aware of how empty the table felt. He was almost never alone, usually orbiting Valen, or mixed into the chaos of the group.
But today Valen was off playing Romeo with Enid, Yoko and Divina were also glued together, Xavier was most likely chasing Bianca in the name of personal stuff, and Ajax… Ajax was probably getting into something he shouldn't.
Alex sucked at his straw, waiting for the comforting rush of chocolate milkshake, but what came was just hollow air.
"Great," he muttered under his breath. "Even this left me." He crushed the empty cup in one hand and tossed it into the bin before heading to the counter.
The café owner stood there, polishing mugs with the same serene patience she always had. Her smile was warm, disarming, and somehow contagious.
"Hello, ma'am. Can I have the bill?"
She nodded, sliding it across. Alex fished out the cash, but before he could turn away, she set another milkshake on the counter.
"Uh, I didn't order this."
"Oh, I know," she said, her smile softening into something almost maternal. "But you looked like you were sulking... Consider it on the house."
Alex blinked at her, then laughed under his breath. She's really kind.
He picked up the cup, lips quirking into a smile that reached his eyes for once. "Thanks, ma'am. This really did cheer me up."
She only nodded, already back to her work, as though small kindnesses were nothing remarkable.
With a fresh milkshake in hand, Alex stepped outside, the afternoon sun brushing over him. His grin lingered.
"Well," he muttered to himself, taking a long sip, "let's make the most of this unwanted freedom. Hm.. I don't really have any casuals in my wardrobe… Guess it's time for shopping."
*
Alex strolled down the street, milkshake in hand, slurping happily. His eyes landed on a boutique.
Nevermore students drifted in and out, swinging glossy bags with laughter.
"This looks good," he said under his breath, excitement flickering. He pushed through the glass door.
The boutique was cold and spotless, every corner smelling faintly of rose and money. Clothes displayed out like a fragile art piece. Soft jazz played in the background, the kind that made Alex feel kinda poor just by existing, even though he was one of the richest in Nevermore.
Near the entrance, an attendant stood like a statue in a black suit, hands folded, with a generic salesman smile. Alex nodded at him with his milkshake straw still in his mouth, then wandered off toward the men's section.
Rows of shorts and casuals hung neatly in perfect order.
He held one up, nodding slowly and admiring.. "Okay… yeah. That's nice. That's real nice."
But then, a weird feeling crawled down his neck. That eerie sense of being watched. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the attendant still at the door, staring at him.
Alex blinked. Weird, he thought, shaking it off, probably just doing his job, and went back to browsing.
A few minutes later, still feeling that weird feeling, he glanced again, and the attendant still hadn't moved. Still staring. No blinking. No shift in posture. Just drilling holes into him with those eyes.
Alex nervously sipped his milkshake. Slurp.
Right… that's totally not normal.
He grabbed a pair of shorts, then another, stacking them over his arm and turned towards the counter, only to jump back.
The attendant was suddenly standing right in front of him.
The fuck! Alex nearly dropped his milkshake, a few drops staining his shirt.
The attendant didn't flinch. "Sir, I'm going to politely ask you to step away from that. It's very expensive." he said pointing the shelf of clothes.
Alex blinked, confused. "Oh… yeah, my bad. Is it not for sale?"
"Oh no, it's for sale," the attendant said smoothly with hand motions. "We just advise our customers to… stay within their price range."
Alex squinted. "What, you don't think I can afford it?"
"Did i say that?"
"No..."
"Oh my bad, I don'tthink you can afford it."
"Yo, and what makes you think that?"
The attendant tilted his head. "You're holding a milkshake, wearing sneakers and a stained shirt."
"Alright just to make sure-", Alex tried to speak, tilting his milkshake up to eye-level, his expression screamed, What the hell does this have to do with anything? but the attendant cut him off.
"-And it has nothing to do with the fact that you being a nigger if that's wh-"
"-Whoa Whoa... w-what the heck was that", Alex's jaw literally dropped open, milkshake straw hanging out the side of his mouth.
He was flabbergasted.
"…What," he said flatly.
"What did you just say?"
The attendant smiled politely. "What?"
Alex leaned forward, blinking rapidly with circular hand motions. "Rewind. Did you- did you just say what I think you said?"
"No, Fastforward." The attendant mimicked Alex's hand motion, just in reverse.
Alex stunned looked around, his eyes darted around the store, waiting for someone to jump out and yell gotcha. But nothing. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?
He calmly asked with a deep breath, "you are racist?"
"Yes Nig**r," the attendant snapped without missing a second.
With the hard R???
Alex was stunned for a few seconds, questioning reality... he took a few breaths and jabbed a finger at himself, eyes wide. "I am a Ni*ger?"
The attendant pointed right back at him, nodding. "Yes. You are a Neg*o."
"Me?" Alex stunned again pointed a finger at himself once again.
The attendant nodded and dramatically whispered, "Yes, You," pointing at Alex.
Alex staggered back a step, gripping his milkshake to his chest, he looked like he might faint. WHAT is happening right now.
The attendant just stood there, smiling.
Alex's face twisted into disbelief. He spun toward the exit, muttering, "Nope. Nope. I'm done. I am so done."
Behind he attendant not giving a damn, motioned his hands shooing him off.
That day was the first day in his life, Alex actually encountered racism, which he only saw on the internet.
What the actual fuck just happened.
And yeah... it didn't help that the Attendant, was a man of color too.
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A/N — Tried mixing in some racist comedy this chapter, plus we got a little side story of our dear homie Alex's encounter with racism haha. Make sure to drop your thoughts in the comments, what worked, what didn't? Don't hold back on the criticism, I really wanna know what you guys think!
And gimme the stones!!!
And i will five u bonus chapters hehehe