Gil hummed as he danced into the feast room with his favorite mug, on which were the words ‘Character Tears’ with sobbing silhouettes scattering it. It had been gifted to him on ‘boss appreciation day’ by the others collectively— which was fitting being many here were part of the Authors Collective. He sighed as the song he’d had in mind ended and walked up to where the coffee station was.

Or had been. There— WHAT?! How was there no— Gil’s eyes darted around for the suddenly vanished coffee machine. He crouched down to check the other shelves that were mixed with the supports of the table— ALL THE COFFEE BEANS AND POUCHES WERE GONE TOO?! Gil stood up and rushed out to the manager’s office, bursting into the room without the caution of possible screams.

He sure did get a scream. “GILBERT RYAN KISSLING!” Megan screeched, gripping the arm rests of her chair as she flinched back, her seat rolling back from her desk and her eyes widening only to narrow like the thin blades of a sharp knife. “You—”

“Look, Meg, Susie, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t an emergency!” He put his hands up. “The coffee machine is gone!”

“Then eat the coffee beans—”

“Those are gone too.”

Megan gasped.

“The coffee is gone?!” Lorelai called from a few offices down, peaking out for once. Oh she was actually there today. Gil glanced down the hall and frowned. “Lorelai, you can’t keep vanishing and coming back. You know that doesn’t count as leave when your leave is longer than your stay—”

“I know, but you’re not even paying me,” she shrugged. “So, what is this about the coffee machine?”

“He’s missing!”

“Oh no, not Bob the Coffee Machine!” Nicole gasped dramatically.

The three flinched and turned to find Nicole standing further down the hall, she must’ve gone to the Meeting Room to drop off a snippet for the Share a WIP board. “Now you have to rely on real energy.” She smiled with all her teeth. “Like me!”

Energy that clearly didn’t hide the purple under her eyes.

“Nickie, coffee is natural,” Megan argued.

“So is venom.”

“Good point, but coffee is considered consumable,” Gil pointed out as the sleepless author walked past.

Nicole shrugged. “Well, the coffee machine is missing and there’s no budget for a new one, so you’ll have to go without it!”

Gil opened his mouth—

“Wait...” Megan sniffed the air. “Nickie.”

Nicole paused and glanced back. “Yeah?”

“Why do you smell like coffee?”

“Hm? What?” Her eyes flicked around. “Coffee? Me? You’re getting coffee withdrawal.”

“No, ‘cause I didn’t smell any coffee until you walked by.”

Nicole popped her mouth. “Well, that’s strange.”

“M-hm.”

“Nickie, did you take the coffee machine to prove we don’t need coffee?’

“Psh, no.” Nicole tossed her head.

.

.

.

“Yes.” Nicole bolted with that, giggling as she scurried down the hall. “YOU’LL NEVER TAKE HIM BACK!”

“Oh yes we will! Nickie! NICOLE SOTO!” Megan war cried as she rushed out of her office and after the other. Gil followed suit. It was best to be there in case Megan got to Megan-y. He could call for the ambulance.

Nicole Soto "Do it for the Fame!" A Contemporary/Semi-Dystopian novel touching on revenge and Corruption. Following Emeric through his fight with the Game Show Empire of Fame! Written Californian Author, Nicole Soto, we all are sad because it is... NOT YET RELEASED! Click ​HERE​ to read more about Nicole!

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