Not long after the other students were done, Wanda and a friend of hers came into the shop. “Hey, Miles,” Wanda greeted with a smile. Her riveting, brown curls laid nicely down to the middle of her spine. She ran her pale hand to brush her bangs away from her blue eyes that shined like the sea: inviting and warm.

“Wanda,” he replied with a nod. “How can I help you ladies today?”

Wanda’s friend, Jennifer, spoke up, “Can I get a caramel latte?”

“Would you like that with coffee or tea?” Miles replied, as there were multiple options for lattes.

“Tea. It’s a little too late for caffeine,” Jennifer sniped. “Don’t you think?” Jennifer’s pixy black hair and dark brown eyes went well with her attitude. Miles thought he saw Wanda’s elbow meet Jennifer’s side, but he left it alone as he went to fetch Telsaan’s Caramel Rooibos off the back shelf.

“Is there anything you would like, Wanda,” Miles addressed her as she had not said which drink she would like.

“Can I get a hot Moroccan Mint, if you would, please.”

“Sure, coming right up,” Miles smiled to her as he also grabbed the tin for her.

“So, Miles, are you doing anything for prom,” Wanda inquired when he made his way back out front. She waited patiently for his answer as he started making the latte, heating up the milk for it.

“I’ll probably just be working here,” Miles replied as he began to bag up the teas using a teaspoon in both containers. He put the tea bags into some hot water and watched as the water slowly turned into a nice, earthy brown color for the Caramel Rooibos and a spring mist for the Moroccan Mint. “I’m not much for those kinds of things anyways.”

He wanted to save up for a car before he did anything extra. He knew his mom couldn’t afford to give him one, especially since she worked two jobs just to cover the expenses at home. Claude and Molly didn’t need to be supervised as much anymore, though they did come to Telsaan sometimes just to hang out with Miles. Evelyn loved having them around the shop as it was almost like relatives visiting since Miles and Evelyn were so close.

“Oh,” Wanda replied as Miles noticed she looked away. She went to go grab the Green Strawberry Tea first. Then, Wanda asked once she came back to the counter, “Well if you change your mind, will you go with me?” Miles looked up, a little surprised. He saw Evelyn smile as she came back to help.

“Um, sure,” Miles stuttered out, a little off guard. “That would be good.”

“Really?” Wanda beamed as she realized that he had said yes. “Great! Since the dance is next week, how about you pick me up about five o’clock, and we can go get something to eat?”

“Well, I don’t have a car or anything,” Miles started to say before Evelyn interjected.

“You can use mine; I’ll just have Will pick me up.” Will was Evelyn’s life partner; they had been together for seven years. Whenever Will would come by the teashop, Miles and he got along well. Will was like an older brother for Miles. Miles liked playing games against him as it kept his mind active as he tried to keep up with Will.

“That sounds perfect,” Wanda glowed as she smiled at Miles. Evelyn finished up Jennifer’s latte quickly as she poured the heated milk over the rich, hot tea. Miles handed Wanda her hot, Moroccan tea.

“What would you like with the Strawberry Green tea,” Miles inquired.

“Can I get 25 grams, please?” Miles nodded to Wanda's question as he pulled out a plastic, clear bag to start adding the tea in, making sure the scale started at zero. He took the metal scoop in his hand after he took off the tin top. The aroma of the tea started to perforate the air and Miles took a deep breath in. He always loved the smell of the fresh, loose-leaf tea. He took the scoop and started shoveling some tea in there, hearing the ruffling of the metal scoop pushing through the contents of the tin. Miles slowly started adding the loose-leaf tea to the bag watching as the numbers rose until it hit 26 grams—Evelyn always liked to round up onto the next number to make sure the customer would get a full 25 grams.

“Alright, then, here you go, ladies,” Miles smiled after he made sure the bag was zipped up appropriately before handing it to Wanda. Wanda’s hand gripped Miles’ for a split second before she took the bag from him. Jennifer and Wanda took their drinks and paid.

“Great as always, Evelyn,” Wanda boosted after she took her first sip of the hot tea.

Evelyn smiled at the compliment, “Thank you, Wanda. I’m always glad to serve great customers like yourself.”

“Can we go, Wanda?” Jennifer asked as she turned to her friend. Miles watched as Wanda rolled her eyes at her friend but conceded. “I’ll see you at school then, Miles!” They walked out, and Wanda looked back and waved.

“Evelyn, why did you offer me your car? I only have my permit,” Miles questioned her as she put away the tea tins.

“Well, I hope you can drive well, as Wanda will expect you to pick her up.” Evelyn smiled as she started working on bagging up the remaining loose leaf tea of the Strawberry Green Tea. There had not been much in the container, and Wanda’s order took enough away that Evelyn decided she needed to restock the tea with fresh loose-leaf tea. The remainder which she was bagging up would go on sale for someone to choose to buy.

“But I can’t promise her that,” Miles complained. “This does not seem right.”

“Miles, calm down. You are going to be fine,” Evelyn sighed as he worried about the upcoming dance. “Besides, now Wanda gets what she has been after all along.”

“And what’s that?”

“You.”