The Coffee House Freezing Problem

[Adelaide McLisk]

There were twenty-one thousand, four hundred coffee shops in the United States. Fifty-four percent of all Americans over eighteen drink coffee in some form or fashion, and a large majority of those are college aged students. Technically Add was no longer college aged, not by the strictest definition. She was in the process of getting re-enrolled in the local college, figuring that a degree would probably be a beneficial thing to have. Sixty-three percent of all jobs involve a degree of some kind. That number jumped much higher when you considered what kind of job Add wanted.

She entered the shop regardless, tucking her chin further down into her coat. It was fashionable, both the shop and the coat. Add knew that the coat was one of the more popular coats worn, with a fairly high percentage of young adults preferring it over the other brands. She'd been able to pick it out of a coat lineup too, knowing that it would likely handle things better. It was brown too, and she liked brown.

Add shuffled into line behind several other people. One had to be between eighteen and twenty-two; there was something about him that suggested youth and college. It might have been the messenger bag with the local college logo emblazoned on it. Another was a cop. Add didn't mind the cops; it wasn't as if most of them recognized her. The guy at the front wore a suit, a nice one, fairly new. Probability stated that he was probably some kind of businessman, though that didn't explain what he was doing in a Pilot Ridge coffee shop.

Probably got lost.

Add chuckled at her mental joke, shuffling forward. The line moved quickly, quicker than average. Add figured it moved about forty percent quicker than average. That was good, really. It should take roughly seven minutes, twenty seconds at the current rate.

The bell rang behind her. Add shifted to look over her shoulder. Young-ish, she guessed. She didn't look long. Something told her that the probabilities were lining up beautifully. The math flowed over her for several seconds. Wait, too much math: way, way to much math. Add froze in space, staring at numbers that no one else knew existed, breathing deep and trying not to look like she'd just entered some kind of trance.

The math was just... beautiful.

[Kristina Novak]

With the bell signalling her entrance, Kristina frowned slightly at the huge line. She hadn't been in a coffee shop in a while. Though she was college age and did consume a lot of caffeine, she preferred brewing it at home and carrying around a travel mug. Then, in desperate situations, Kristina would go to a shop and get it refilled. Not with any of those fancy lattes and iced drink things. Her tastes were more simple, basic even. Black coffee with one cream one sugar. Iced coffee in the summer. Kristina never understood how some people could spend so much on one cup of coffee. It all did the same thing.

She fell into the line, following the rhythm of everyone else. Kristina brushed off a light amount of snow off of her olive green jacket, staring up at the menu board. The Genmaicha tea sounded interesting, and as an avid tea fan, Kristina was eager to try new teas. She started to move forward, a force of habit in the systematic line, but nearly bumped into the girl in front of her.

Everyone else in front continued to move forward, leaving a space that was large enough for her to move forward. Kristina cleared her throat, trying to be subtle. She turned around, quickly glancing at everyone behind her. Their faces were annoyed, and grumpy. No kidding. They probably hadn't had their morning cup yet.

Not wanting a riot to start, Kristina tapped on the girl's shoulder. It wasn't hard, but firm enough to warrant attention. "Uhm... can you move forward please?" she asked. The Czech girl was confused. Daydreaming happened... but this girl seemed to be completely gone. "You're next to order anyway." she added at the end, the confused baristas impatiently waiting.

[Adelaide McLisk]

Eliminating variables reduced probabilities; that was just how math worked. The moment the girl behind Add spoke, variables locked into place, becoming certainties. Nearly countless probabilities locked into only a few more. Then the content seeped into Add's mind, solidifying several other variables as it did. Enough that the math-trance faded, leaving Add able to blink, and think, and then shuffle forward. It was a bit of an awkward movement, the sort of movement that someone would have if they'd just woken up in the morning.

Add got to the front, half-mumbled her order and reached into her pocket, producing a handful of bills and coins. She looked for a moment, doing some math of another kind. She looked up and back, seeing the girl behind her, the one who had spoken facts into the variables. Add nodded and turned to look back at the barrista.

"I would like to purchase her coffee as well," she said, pointing at Kristina, "please," and she set some of the bills on the counter, stepping aside for Kristina to step forward and place her order.

[Kristina Novak]

Assuming the girl had just zoned out, Kristina shrugged to herself. Happened to the best of us. She didn't turn around to say anything, so maybe the stranger was embarrassed. The way she shuffled seemed half robot, as if the girl still wasn't all there. Oh well, as long as she was okay. Kristina continued to follow, humming. What to do today... she wanted a nice day to relax, hang out and maybe read. Something low-key.

Now that the barista was free, Kristina walked up the the counter with a smile on her face. "I'll have a cup of the Genmaicha tea please." Reaching into her bag, she went to dig out her wallet when the barista pointed to the girl.

"Oh, thank you!" Kristina turned to face the girl, smiling. Sometimes, she forgot how nice people could be. The girl didn't seem too familiar. They probably didn't go to Hammel together. "Though, you really didn't have to do it." she added, lingering around the girl.

[Adelaide McLisk]

Tea? Add wondered if she should've gotten tea. She just sort of assumed that you got coffee at a shop like this, so she hadn't thought about it. a probability floated into her mind, assuring her that ordering tea wasn't quite as unusual as Add would have thought. She logged that one away for later. There was pointing, which made Add stiffen for a moment; Kristina's smile did not help.

"It is quite fine," said Add, shifting her feet nervously for a moment. "I wanted to repay you for helping me when I had... zoned out," she'd heard the term before and supposed it was as apt as any in describing the sort of math trances that Add occasionally found herself locked into. She shifted her foot again, reaching out for her coffee as it appeared.

Add looked over at the girl and realized that there were pleasantries that had to be observed. Add awkwardly paused for a moment, uncertain as to whether she should be asking for a name or offering thanks or stating her position or what. She did know enough to move so she was out of the way of the line, gripping her cup and staring at the girl. Probabilities lined up in Add's mind, and she found herself raking her thoughts over them, trying to determine if there was an answer laying among the math.

[Kristina Novak]

Slinging her bag up further on her shoulder, Kristina smiled as the barista handed her her cup of tea. She moved herself out of the way of the line and all the irritable grumps who hadn't yet consumed their coffee. "Really, no worries." She said with a small laugh and a gentle smile. "Happens to the best of us at the worst of times." Kristina could remember one time where she had been zoned out, so focused on capturing her art when someone noticed and loudly coughed. She tried not to dwell on the event as it embarrassed her. "It's the worst when people are rude about it." She added with a nod.

"Seriously though, thanks again. I'm... what most people like to mock as a 'starving artist' so. Thanks." Kristina grimaced, mostly cringing at her attempt of a joke. Yeah, it wasn't funny. "I don't think I've ever seen you here, new to Pilot Ridge?" she asked, taking a careful sip of her tea. "I'm Kristina and a student at the University of Vermont just nearby. Maybe you go there too, or something."

[Adelaide McLisk]

"It happens to me with much greater frequency," insisted Add, though she wasn't perhaps as insistent vocally as she could have been. Add knew of her own downfalls, and since this girl had already witnessed them, she saw no reason to wallow in them overmuch. She did agree with the fact that when people were rude about it, it got worse, so she at least provided a small nod there.

Starving artist; the information slid several variables into place, and Add already figured that she was likely a college student even before Kristina admitted as such. Add hadn't exactly memorized the roster of students at Greenview though (it was on her list of things to do), so she wasn't able to completely confirm which of the two schools Kristina had opted for. When the artist admitted though, even more variables locked into place.

Oh, a question, Add knew how to respond to questions, at least ones like that. "I am Adelaide," she said, then blinked, "I attend Greenview Community College, not the University. I have been here before; I attended Hammel about seven years ago,' she pointed in the general direction of the Institute, "and they wanted me back here for... to finish things off," that was one thing that Add didn't feel quite comfortable sharing. People didn't need to know that she'd been brought back in shame, under investigation for power abuse. She took a sip of her coffee, her mind wandering for a bit before realizing that she should ask something. "Are you studying art at the University? Or is that more of a title you like to take upon yourself?"

[Kristina Novak]

"Just means you're lost in your thoughts. And sometimes, it's just a nice place to be." Kristina said, being serious. Your own little world inside of your head. That's where she preferred to be as oppose to the outside world. She took a hesitant sip of her tea, not wanting to burn her tongue on the hot liquid.

Kristina hadn't noticed Add's thinking of variables as everything slid into place. Mostly because it didn't distract from their conversation. The girl was still able to respond quickly. Kristina thoughtfully nodded. She had been thinking about joining the college, as her friend Valerie went there and it seemed like a fun place. But she wanted to study art history and no such course was offered there. Oh well. Just meant shelling out more more to achieve her dreams.

Hammel? When the girl mentioned the meta school, Kristina perked up unknowingly. "Seven years ago I was just beginning at Hammel." She said with a sweet smile. Maybe the two had bumped into each other while there. Though, the girl did seem to be at least a couple years older than herself. What were the chances. "Guess it's a small world then. So... if you don't mind me asking, what's your ability then?" she asked, curious. Kristina nodded again. "Ah, I see. Yeah, I just graduated last year. Took me longer than normal to control my ability."

She chuckled, which was out of character. "Yeah, I'm studying in the general vicinity of art at the university. I plan on majoring in art history though. What about you? What are you studying?