Dakota Yu's Story

“Chrissy and Jackson have been addicted to methamphetamines for the past eight years. Chrissy was once a lawyer and Jackson previously owned his own antique shop. After eight years of selling all that they owned to be able to afford higher grade meth, they eventually went broke. They came across each other only two years ago and have been together since. Neither of them are able to afford their own homes anymore and squat in abandoned warehouses and dilapidated apartment complexes.”

The words were cut off as the mocha-skinned Cajun sat on the couch with her laptop early in the morning making the finishing touches to her latest documentary. She had spent the past three months following two meth-heads and questioning their every decision. She had a friend who had majored in Psychology help her with the interview’ as well as a lot of the commentary, helping the future viewers somewhat understand the addicts. She had done documentaries before on potheads, crackheads, and heroine addicts, but she had yet to cover many other drug addicts. She rubbed at her eyes some having gotten up at three in the morning to finish up the film, now finally putting together the credits after a last review of the two hour long footage. She put her laptop down as she finished before glancing at the clock. It was already past six...She had to hurry and get ready for work. With a yawn and a few stretches, she closed her laptop and made her way to the bathroom where she delighted herself in a short shower. When she was finished she made sure to rub down with cocoa butter, paying special attention to her tattoos. She hated when tattoos faded. Every now and again she would look at the space that she had left and ponder what tattoo she would get next. She was thinking of getting a dandelion with the seeds being carried away over her shoulder by an invisible gust of wind. That was always a delicate classic. Maybe too classic. Perhaps a quill dripping ink onto her shoulder and just below it a nice little quote from Gandhi. Or Professor X. Professor X was the shit...He was Gandhi of the comic book world.

A smile danced across her features as she dressed in her uniform of a simple black pair of shorts and a green t-shirt with an apron before slipping on a pair of shoes and dashing down to the cafe with her bag. “Ah! Charlie horse! Charlie horse!” She caught herself on the stairs, dramatically falling to the floor as she let go of her bag to grasp her calf while letting out a howl of deep pain. “Good God, I'm dying! I've been shot! Someone help me! Woman down! Woman down!!” She gave a whimper only for the pain to subside. lt hadn't been that painful — But where was the fun in not overreacting like your every action was being filmed for a cheesy sitcom? Kept her on her toes and made her less bored when she was alone. She quickly recomposed herself and brushed off her apron before calling out to the other apartments above her, “No worries! False alarm guys! I'm all good.” Grinning t0 herself. she skipped her way down into the cafe, using her key to get in. Eight years. That's how long she had been working at The Mighty Bean. Slinging coffees, waiting tables, making little sandwiches and baked goodies and stuff. It had been a wonderful eight years. Dakota still didn't seem to understand Cajun's attachment to the place when she had the accreditation to work much higher paying jobs. Nobody understood her attachment to the place. It was her first job. When she was younger and struggled for rent a few times, Gordon would pay it for her and never asked her to make it up. She loved meeting the people there and the fun that went on within the walls.

She pulled her hair back, her strange silver eyes dancing across the place as though she hadn't been there in years. She moved to the kitchen and began to prepare a breakfast enough for five people. She was never sure who would decide to pop in so early, but she liked to make sure that she made enough food. It would never be more than four people and hardly less than two others. She was simply sweet enough to make sure that they weren't wolfing down disgusting toaster strudels from the store or choking down a greasy breakfast burrito from a fast food restaurant that was just barely scraping by to pass health standards. The thought of it made her stomach tumble and her throat close up as though filled With sponge cake. Ugh. She hated sponge cake. It was so suffocating. She did a documentary on it before. It was only twenty minutes long. But it was nice. Doing the running man, the woman maneuvered her way around the kitchen while preparing large omelets and toast, turning on a fan so that the scent would waft up through the vents and into the apartments above. She put her iPod in the kitchen dock and put on her "Taste of Home" playlist, jigging around the kitchen as she tossed various veggies into a searing saucepan.

“I was cuttin' the rug down at a place called the Jug with a girl named Linda Lu. When in walked a man with a gun in his hand lookin' for you know who. He said, "Hey there fellow with the hair colored yellow! What you tryin' to prove? 'Cause that's my woman there and I'm a man who cares and this might be all for you. I was scared and fearin' for my life, shakin' like a leaf on a tree. 'Cause he was lean and mean and big and bad, Lord pointin' that gun at me. Oh, "Wait a minute, Mister! I didn't even kiss her! Don't want no trouble with you. And I know you don't owe me but I wish you'd let me ask one favor from you". I said, "Won't you give me three steps, gimme three steps Mister. Gimme three steps towards the door? Gimme three steps. Gimme three steps Mister and you'll never see me no more".”

The bubbly Southerner was unable to keep herself from smiling as she simply basked in the scents swirling around her, adding a dash of pepper here and a sprinkle of her special seasoning there with a dollop of love all around. She loved this kitchen and often spent forever cleaning it before going out to buy fresh ingredients. Sometimes she could get Gordon to come with her sown to the fish market. He was one of the only people that she knew that absolutely loved the smell of fresh fish. She didn't mind the smell, but the man had often wished that they had a fresh fish scented candle. He was a strange man but she did enjoy his company very much, even as they worked alongside one another under his father's employment. She wished that she could take him up on his offer of becoming a manager but she just didn't have that kind of time. She didn't have time to worry about who was showing up for work and who wasn't and who needed a raise and who needed to be fired. All of it just...it made her itch. She was comfortable with her above minimum wage position doing whatever someone needed her to do within her five hour work days. She couldn't add managing ten employees to her list of things to do. She absolutely adored the place, no doubt. But her passion was her an and she would go where it took her. Still...This little place was one of her favored sanctuaries. She was dishing out plates containing omelets, hashbrowns, sausages, and Belgian waffles, leaving them under a heat lamp just to keep them warm as she began to squeeze fresh orange juice.

---

---

"So, I was thinking that you, you, and I could work on the wedding cake while we let Savanna and Annie work on that small birthday cake." Cali said to her twin, Dakota as she looked over her phone schedule, having her husband wrap his arms over her shoulder as he kissed her cheek. This was the reason Dakota hated being around her younger twin sister, she had everything. She had a husband, a daughter, and another one on the way while Dakota had just broken off her engagement not even five months ago. Even if she did act like she was over it, on the inside, it still broke her heart to think about it or Jacob. She sighed before looking at her sleek black phone to text her assistant baker, Savanna to get started on this cake for a little girl's Cinderella themed party. "Yea, we can talk to that couple when we get there. See what they want on it and everything." After doing so she looked up from her phone and at her sister and brother in-law who both looked at her in concern. "You okay, Kota?" Cali asked her as she softly nudged her twin.

Dakota just looked at the rug in her living room before sighing. "Dakota, you know that you made the right choice, right? I mean, if you felt like he was just going to hurt you then you should be happy." Her brother in-law, Nate told her as he raised an eyebrow. Dakota nodded. She knew that was true and to be honest, this was the first time she could feel herself regretting it, for the past few months, she's been doing everything she could to keep her mind off the subject. Knowing that it could end up with her going to him ask if he would take her back and him laughing in her face over it wasn't something she was ready to see. "Yea, yea, I know that! Nate, thanks for telling me something I already knew." She told him, becoming her defensive self, abandoning any sign of weakness.

"Look, no need to be defensive. I'm just saying--"

"Yea, I know what you're just saying. It's the exact fucking thing I've said this whole time but, no at first you two thought I was just overacting. If I didn't believe it, I wouldn't have done it in the first place. Okay? So I don't need you to try and comfort me, got it?!"

"Ok, Kota, Nate. That's enough from both of you. Nate, go down to that coffee shop down stairs and get us a table while my twin and I talk about something." Cali said in a calm voice, she always was the piece maker of the two. Something that constantly annoyed Dakota throughout their life.

Nate didn't say a word as he threw his hands up and defeat before grabbing his black jacket and going out of the apartment. Cali turned her attention from her husband to her sister who's dark eye looked like they were staring into her soul. "What?"

"You know what. You know we are just worried about you right?" Dakota just sighed and nodded before resting her head on her hand. "I know, I know. But, I don't need your husband to get involved."

Cali shook her head before putting her arms around her sister and giving her a hug, something that the older twin roll her eyes. She truly wasn't one for be comforted especially out of sympathy. "I know. How 'bout we go down, get our coffees and then go to work to vent our feelings about men." Dakota chuckled before nodding. "Sounds good to me."

Dakota slipped on her short heels before smiling at her sister as they both got up and walked towards the wooden door. Cali opened the door and bowed before speaking. "Age before beauty." The young Asian rolled her eyes before messing up her twin's hair. "Too bad we're both the same age and both have the same exact face." Cali mocked Dakota before shutting the door behind the pair and walking down the stairs. They walked into the Mighty Bean, letting the smell of coffee and bread swirl around them. She looked around and saw Evan probably flirting with Blair, Harper who Dakota surely wanted to stay away from, knowing that it would end badly. And of course, not far from where the twins were, there was Jacob. Just looking at him for a second broke her heart.

Looking at him for the seconds that she did, she could tell that in the last few months, he had got more muscular than he was when they were together. In all honest... She thought he looked good. She wasn't going to tell him that by any means, but it didn't mean she couldn't think about it. When she turned away she saw her sister scurry over to her husband and kiss him lightly on the lips before sitting down at a booth near the windows. Dakota looked at Nate the same way he looked at her, in a way that said they has so much to say to the other but couldn't say it around Cali.

The group sat down as Dakota took out her scheduling book, a gift from her sister as a joke. She flipped to the February section and grabbed the pen connected to the paper. And with that, the business partners began discussing their week.

Greyson rolled over in his bed as the sunlight streamed in through the open blinds that he had forgotten to close the night before. He buried his head further into the pillow as he slowly woke up, hoping to hide from the outside world for just that little bit longer. Blair's voice came and went as he lay there, and he just stayed face down. Greyson Walker was not a morning person, in fact, he was rather the opposite. He preferred the night, the cover of darkness and the freedom that it provided him, especially in his line of work. The brunette male liked to keep his nighttime activities private.

A soft moaning noise next to him alerted him to the fact that he wasn't alone, and he slowly turned over onto his side to look at who it was that was intruding on his solitude. A blonde lay with no clothes on underneath his duvet, her long, slender legs curled around the covers, quite sexily, he had to admin. She was rather attractive, but Grey didn't know her name. In fact, he barely remembered her face from the previous night, only that she had been the Maid of Honour at that bridal party... or was it the bridesmaid? Who knew. Groaning softly again, the male pulled himself out of his bed and stepped onto the cold floor, wiggling his toes slightly. He then stretched up tall, his arms in the air, ridding himself of any of the ails from his sleep.

"Baby? Come back to bed..." The silvery soft voice of the blonde that was in his bed spoke out, and Grey almost scoffed.
"No can do, love." He shrugged, before walking into his bathroom and locking the door behind him. He hadn't done that once and a girl had followed him inside - this was a new precaution. The male spent a good fifteen minutes in the bathroom, letting the hot water of his shower bring him sweet relief, running down his chiseled body. Grey let his eyes slide closed as he the let water wash away all evidence of the girl and his job off of his body, and he ran a hand through his hair before he opened them again. When he was done, the male took in a breath before he stepped out into the cool air, and quickly grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist.

Shivering slightly at the chillness of that morning, Grey walked back out into his bedroom having finally unlocked the door, the steam from his hot shower billowing out behind him. As he had thought, the blonde was still there in his bed, but now she was laying in an extremely provocative position, causing his eyebrows to raise slightly. Was she really going to try the oldest trick in the book on him? Please - he'd invented that move in his teenage years. Shaking his head, Greyson walked over to his wardrobe and dressed in a simple pair of semi-tight jeans and a plain white t-shirt, before he picked up her dress from the floor and tossed it towards her. The expression on her face when he tossed her the dress was almost laughable, but he bit down on his bottom lip slightly, keeping it in. "You're kicking me out?" She spoke looking at him as if he were mad.
"I need you to get up and get dressed, love. I'm already late."

This time, Greyson couldn't help but smirk as the girl stormed out of his bed with a face like thunder and dressed herself, before stomping her now heel clad feet towards him, and slapping him in the hard in the face. His eyes widened at the movement and he raised his hand to now rub at his now red and sore cheek. "Wasn't that a little uncalled for, love?" He called after her as she stormed through the hallway of the apartment and flung open the door, slamming it behind her. Greyson didn't care. He'd never see her again anyway. But that slap had hurt.

Rubbing his cheek again slightly, he made his own way through the apartment, stopping to take his keys, wallet and phone off of the side before he left the apartment, making sure to grab his jacket before he left.

As he walked into The Mighty Bean, Greyson took in a deep breath, inhaling the delicious scent of the freshly brewed coffee. He instantly spotted his friends and roommate on the other side of the café surrounding Evangeline, but someone else caught his eye - Dakota, sitting with her sister. "Morning, darling." The male spoke, bending down to press his lips to the top of the woman's head before he sat down on the couch next to her, draping his arm over the back. It only took a minute for the waitress to come over and ask him if he wanted anything, and he ordered a black coffee before turning to her.

"Want one? I'm buying."

---

---

Harper let her phone relax by her side as the line moved up an inch or so. Just then the perky waitress on the other side of the counter had come around to stand by the man in front of her. “Hey! I've got a plate already cooked up if you want it. Oh — I'm getting off early today! Swing ‘round by my place around lunch? If you can, that is.” Harper forced her eyes to the ground, trying not to look like she was dropping in on their conversation. It was almost impossible not to- her chippy voice was impossible to ignore and they were standing right beside her. Luckily, her phone vibrated in her hands, allowing her a legitimate distraction.

From: Amber
Message: My apologies, Harper. I was a little late getting in. Be there in fifteen.

Harper clicked the screen off and let the phone go back to her side. No point in sending a text with one word. With nothing left to distract her, she found herself drifting back into the stranger's conversation. "....come over and we can play some video games or watch a movie. I'm pretty sure Greyson isn't having a party tonight so no worries there....That is if your not busy tonight." Luckily, the man had just received his coffee and Harper was able to side step him and order hers. She was standing by the pick up counter when Amber came breathlessly to her side. "Sorry it took me so long. Pleasant morning?" "So far so good. How did everything..." Harper trailed off as she noticed Amber texting and then glancing over to the door.

Sure enough, there was the guy she was always around- Finn. A grin brushed up the corners of Harper's mouth as she took her coffee and turned to Amber. "Oh, Ambs..." A giggle bubbled in her throat as she nodded toward the counter. "That boy is hopeless. You getting anything?" Shaking her head, still smiling, she looked across the cafe. Her boss had come in, and shortly after him came Dakota. Harper's jaw locked and she made an effort to resist rolling her eyes. "And that's my cue to leave... I'll meet you outside." With a 'I can't stand that bitch' look and nod in Dakota's direction, Harper swiftly made her way out of the shop.

Shane looked up at the sound of the bell going off, and stood when he noticed it was Harper. "Sorry, boy, we had to wait on Ambs. Just give her a few." With a huff, and as if he understood, Shane sat back down and whimpered lightly up at Harper. Glancing up, Harper noticed an older man staring at her with one brow raised. Right.. she was talking to Shane in public again. Slowly, Harper sat on the bench outside to wait for Amber. "If I'm not careful they're going to think I've gone insane, Shane," she muttered under her breath to the dalmatian who sat at her heels.

When Amber joined them, Harper stood and untied Shane from the bench. "So, tell me all about it! How'd it go? Meet anyone? Any luck? Deets! I need deets." With that, Harper nodded toward the sidewalk which would lead them to the end of the block and to the neighborhood park. As she walked, she slipped her phone into her pocket and looked over to her friend.

Evangeline couldn't help but let her smile grow as her sinewy male friend lifted her off of her feet even as he held his coffee. She took a moment to tap her chin at his proposal before giving a crestfallen expression as though she weren't going to be able to join him and it hurt her deeply. But her expression quickly changed into its usual cheerfulness once more. “Of course I'll be able to make it. And the plates right in the back. As long as I make him a plate and let him dock the cost of ingredients from my paycheck, Gordon's letting me make meals here for you guys when I'm working.” Her head turned a bit as she put the conversation on pause to notice Jacob enter followed shortly by Kota, Cali, and eventually Greyson. She gave Jacob a light grin before looking to Blair again.

“Hold that thought.” She allowed herself to dash out of line to run into the kitchen balancing three plates on a tray. “C'mon guys! Let's get those sweet rolls topped and sent out front! Y'all are movin' slower than molasses in December!” She scolded the others in the back before heading back out front, handing one of the plates to Blair, reconfirming that she could meet him later. “l can definitely swing by when you're off work - l got the new Battlefield and Madden! But I still don't see why you won't let me give you a tat for free.” She rolled her eyes with her seemingly never ending smile as she moved to Dakota's table.

“And here you go.” She set the remaining two plates in front Cali and Kota, giving Greyson a light wave before excusing herself to the kitchen where she could hear others calling for her. “What's the hold up on those cookies?! Let's get it moving people!” In all honestly, for the past year she didn't do as much baking in the kitchen as the others did. While she constantly denied the position of manager, she did perform many managerial duties. She interviewed potential employees when Gordon couldn't or simply didn't want to, kept a record of the sales, bought new ingredients, monitored the work of the other employees, and sometimes helped Gordon make out and hand out the checks. The only reason why she denied the official managerial position was because she didn't want to take on a full time position at the place. Plain and simple.

If she did, she would get sucked into it. More than she already was! How was she supposed to achieve her goals if she was stuck at The Mighty Bean all the time? This was all only temporary. Soon she was going to make it big in the world of entertainment and be renowned outside of San Francisco. She just had to work harder. “Ralentissez! Pourquoi êtes-vous déménagez si lent? Nous avons des clients! Ne me donnez pas ce regard. Je jure devant Dieu que je vais tirer la prochaine personne à commencer à se relâcher.” She clapped her hands, ushering everyone in the kitchen to finish up and to do so quickly. The great thing about The Mighty Bean was that they didn't serve meals. There were only three other people working in the kitchen with her and they usually got to go home early if they baked enough to last the day. She really hated it when they cooked as slowly as possible just to collect hours though. She moved around the kitchen with them, popping out front every now and again to arrange the food in the displays. Gordon made his way into the kitchen where he waited for her before lifting a brow as she smacked Jamie's arm. “Way too much syrup. Now it's going to get soggy all over and give somebody diabetes.”

She huffed softly before turning to her boss.

“Get out, Evan.”, he stated plainly.

She gave a confused look, narrowing her eyes. “Are you firing me?” The other bakers paused to see what drama would unfold, majorly disappointed as Gordon answered. “No, you twit. I'm telling you to leave for the day. It's your birthday weekend and there's no need for you to force yourself to be here for five more hours doing virtually nothing.” He spoke in a matter-of-factly tone, sipping some of his coffee. Evangeline heaved a sigh of relief before giving Gordon a tight hug. “Thanks, Gordy!” She gave him a tight hug and a peck on the cheek before grabbing her bag and dashing out of the kitchen. “Hey, text me if you need me today.” She called out to Dakota before quickly leaving. To the park! Or somewhere. Anywhere but here right now. Ha! She had a whole day to do whatever the fuck she wanted.

“Beep beep! Comin' through!” Evangeline shouted to nobody in particular, the hyperactive woman zipping through her apartment and throwing together two duffel bags of things she felt she might need for the day. She had no intentions of returning home until later that night and there was no telling where she was going or what she was going to do. Prior planning prevents poor performance. She remembered that from some high school JROTC kids she had interviewed once when she did a film on how such programs affected kids. Juno and Voodoo jumped around and barked at her. They could come too! What the hell, they could all come! She whistled the "Hi-Ho" song from Snow White, bouncing around while she got dressed and began trudging everything downstairs to her truck.

When she was finished she went back upstairs to usher her herd of pets out the door, locking it behind her with her Sugar Glider safely caged in a small hamster sphere. Just as she turned around she came face to face with the landlord. He was nice to her once upon a time. But time had not made him any kinder. He gave a frown as he looked at the creature in her hands before looking back at her. Evan hated talking with him over the past few years, always dodging him whenever she could. Like now. “Sorry! l'd love to stay and chat with ya, but I've got a real busy schedule. Good day to you, sir!” She cut him off just as he opened his mouth, quickly dashing down the stairs. That was a close call. Well, she loaded herself up into her truck and she was gone, baby, gone.

---

---

"So, we can have the colors be gold and maybe off white, I'm not sure." Dakota just nodded as she listened to her twin, writing everything down not looking up at her. "I like that idea but I was also thinking--."

"Morning, darling." Dakota looked up to see the man behind the voice. Greyson, of course. The woman offered him a smile before replying. "Hi, Greyson." She closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead and when he pulled away, she just rolled her eyes and smirked towards him before looking at her Cali and Nate. Both who seemed to be surprised that Dakota was so easy going about a man kissing the top of her head. They knew of him and his reputation but not how Dakota and him interacted together. Which wasn't any of the business any way. She slid over a bit to make room for Greyson so they weren't side by side when he draped his arm behind the back of the couch. She looked at the waitress once she scurried over to take Greyson's order and when he asked if wanted one, she just shook her head. "I'm okay. Thank you though." She told him before turning towards her roommate as she walked over to their table and set two plates down in front of them. "Thank you, beautiful."

She smiled towards her best friend before watching her leave to talk to her boss. She turned her attention back to Nate as he cleared his throat. "As you were saying."

"About what?"

Nate rolled his baby blue eyes before sighing. Hearing his wife chuckle towards him. "About the colors of the cake... You know, for the wedding we have next week. Earth to Dakota, just because your little boyfriend or boy toy or whatever he is, no offense, came over here doesn't mean you have to forget everything."

Dakota rolled her eyes before looking towards Greyson and raising her eyebrows. "He's neither for your information. He's a friend. Nate, meet Greyson. Greyson, meet my jackass of a brother in law, Nate." She said before turning back in her seat. And picking up her pin, she wrote down the rest of the ideas she had before closing her notebook putting it in her purse which was on the floor between her and Greyson. She looked at him.

"And unless you want to waste seven hours of your young life at a bakery, I guess this is where we say good bye, Greyson-san." She smirked before kissing his cheek and sliding out from the booth, a sly smile on her face the whole time. In all honesty, she had forgotten that Jacob was in a booth not far from their own. She looked towards him with an awkward smile before looking away before she could feel the tears wanting to come out and stream across her cheeks like they have the last few time she's seen or thought of Jacob.

She turned towards her sister and brother in law as they got up, Nate offering Greyson a handshake and smile before getting up and wrapping his armk around his wife as Cali kissed his cheek softly, pulling away with her eyes looking into his before kissing him softly. Dakota just scoffed in fake disgust before pulling on her gray coat and buttoning up. "If you truly are that bored we do need help." Cali told Greyson with a cute pout on her face. Dakota just looked away and opened the door not even looking back at the group.

"He probably has better stuff to do than being around two Asian cupcake makers all day. Let's go, we need to open the store." The young woman said before walking out, seeing her sister in her light pink coat walking up to catch up to her older twin. Cali watching her husband go the opposite way to his car before driving off, waving towards the twins as they walked not even a block away to their bakery.