3. Gem’s a Humanitarian

Chapter three

Gem's a Humanitarian

By the time Oliver got home, he was exhausted from the disappointing day, and he didn't particularly feel like socializing with his roommates. Thankfully, Dennis was already in his room with his girlfriend, and judging from the rhythmic creaking of a bedspring, they wouldn't be surfacing anytime soon.

His other roommate, Tracie, was in the kitchen, but her headphones were in, and other than a vague wave in his direction, she didn't look away from her phone as she stirred a pot of macaroni and cheese on the stove. Oliver let her be, crossing the main living space where his best friend lounged across the couch watching a hockey game on the flat screen.

At Oliver's appearance, Jude muted the game and sat up. "How did it go?"

With a groan, Oliver collapsed onto the couch, falling against Jude. "Didn't even make it to Greed."

"What? Why?" Jude demanded, shoving Oliver off him. "Did you chicken out?"

"No!" Thoroughly offended, Oliver slouched against the armrest of the couch and glared at him. "They cancelled my first train, then I missed the second."

Jude guided Oliver's feet into his lap and proceeded to remove his shoes. "How could you miss the train?"

"They said it was delayed, then it suddenly wasn't delayed anymore and they left without me!" Throwing an arm over his eyes, he released another groan. "It was a nightmare. Purgatory is the worst."

"That's probably why they call it Purgatory."

"Probably." Oliver slid his arm up and over his head as Jude absently rubbed his feet. "But I might have another job offer, or at least, an interview."

Jude's hands paused. "How did that happen?"

"There's this cafe right outside the station. Super cute. The staff are… eccentric, but Gem said he'd give my number to the owner. Hopefully, she'll call me in for an interview."

Leaning into the back of the couch, Jude furrowed his brow. "Wait, a cafe? In Purgatory?"

"Yeah, it was bizarre. I made this tree cry on accident, then the pink raccoon was all emo and rude. Then me and the spider—er Araknis—became friends somehow."

Jude blinked.

Oliver started over, explaining in more detail the happenings of his day and the half hour he'd spent inside The Passing Through Cafe. He finished with, "So now I just gotta wait and see if Glyma calls me. Or maybe Gem will? I'm not sure."

Focused on rubbing Oliver's feet, Jude took a moment to digest everything before he spoke. "Do you want to work there, though? You have a degree in accounting, and now you want to sling coffee with demons?"

Oliver frowned. "Didn't think you were speciesist."

With a click of his tongue, Jude shoved Oliver's feet from his lap. "I'm not! I'm the one who told you to apply to jobs in Hell. I'm just… surprised, I guess."

"Well, beggars can't be choosers. I need a job. Dennis isn't gonna let me keep crashing here if I can't pay rent."

Jude's hand landed on Oliver's knee, olive-toned fingers tightening in comfort. "I have some money left over from my student loans. I can—"

"I'm not taking your money," Oliver grumbled.

Jude was still in the middle of his master's program, and though he worked parttime to afford his own rent, Oliver knew his student loans were what kept him afloat. And regardless of how desperate Oliver was, he wasn't going to take any of Jude's money.

Jude had been Oliver's best friend ever since they'd met at the LGBTQIA+ club during Oliver's freshman year at college. They'd dated briefly before deciding they were better as friends. Even though Jude had been several years into his bachelor's program, he had helped Oliver adapt to college life as a twenty-one-year-old surrounded by fresh-out-of-high-school kids, and Oliver had encouraged Jude to pursue his master's after he'd recovered from top surgery two years ago.

Jude's family was strictly Jewish and had essentially disowned him when he came out as queer and trans when he was eighteen. So Oliver had been his family, and Jude had become part of his. They'd moved into the loft with Dennis and Tracie during Oliver's junior year of college and hadn't left.

Not that Oliver could have afforded to, not with Chicago's massive expansion after the port to Hell had opened. Not only had there been an influx of demons into the city, but humans from all over the globe who worked in Hell had moved here. The city had practically tripled in size and population in the two decades since the port had opened.

The housing market had long passed the point of insanity, and the job market wasn't far behind. Hence why Oliver was still unemployed, and two-months late on rent.

Focusing back on the conversation at hand, Oliver placed his hand on top of Jude's and squeezed. "Thanks, Jude. I appreciate the offer, but I'm a big boy. I'll figure it out."

Jude sighed but nodded. "Just know I'm here to help, okay? And if you want this job at the cafe, I got your back. Working in Purgatory sounds so cool."

"Well, I don't even have the job."

"Yet," Jude said with a gentle smack to Oliver's leg. "You hungry? I bet Tracie's almost done making mac and cheese. We can steal some."

Since Oliver had only eaten a muffin since breakfast, he nodded. "God, yes. I'm starving."

Tracie took her meal to her room, still riveted by whatever she was watching on her phone, so Jude and Oliver ate on the couch. They finished the hockey game, though Oliver didn't pay that much attention to it. He enjoyed playing sports rather than watching someone else do it on a screen.

He checked his phone every few minutes, but the later the night grew, the less optimistic he felt. Maybe Glyma wasn't as open-minded as Gem had said. Maybe she couldn't afford another employee. Or maybe Gem had never intended to follow through. Perhaps it was a normal demon pastime to fuck around with the hopes of humans.

Lying in bed, Oliver stared up at the ceiling and fought the wave of hopelessness threatening to pull him under. He'd put on a brave face for Jude, but alone in his room, he surrendered to the overwhelming worry. He was two months behind on rent. The job market was shit. And he couldn't even land a barista interview.

He was such a monumental failure!

His phone lit up on his side table, and he scrambled over his bed to grab it. The charging cord sprang free, falling over the side of the bed, but he didn't care. He'd fish around for it later. He was too fixated on the message from an unknown number pinging across his screen.

Hey, Ollie the human. It's Gem. I talked with Glyma and she wants to meet you. Can I give her your number?

Oliver scrambled to reply, fingers misspelling half the words in his haste. Thankfully, autocorrect fixed most of the mistakes before he sent the text.

Hi, Gem. Yes, please, give her my number. Hanks so much!

Thanks*

Good deal. So stoked! We've never had a human before but it's gonna be siiiiiiick! ??

If I get the job.

Babe, please. I referred you, so you're getting the job.

Thanks, Gem. Seriously. You don't know how much I needed this.

What can I say? I'm a humanitarian.

Haha humanitarian. Get it? 'Cause you're human.

lol Very clever.

But really. Thanks, Gem.

You're really welcome. I have a feeling we're gonna be best friends. Just you wait ??

Oliver smiled to himself as he typed out, "Sounds good to me."

Okay, enough mushy shit. I'm off to the club with Toni, but we'll talk soon! Have a good night??????

Oliver wished Gem a good night in return, but he didn't respond. Turning onto his side, he plugged his phone back in to charge, then settled into his bed. The day hadn't been a total wash after all.

Upon waking, Oliver had a text from another unknown number.

Hi, Oliver. This is Glyma, from Passing Through Cafe. Gem gave me your number, and I'm following up to see if you'd like to come by for an interview? Let me know!

Oliver scrubbed the sleep from his eyes as he hurriedly typed a response.

Hi, Glyma. It's nice to meet you. I would love to swing by. When would be a good time for you?

She didn't immediately respond, so Oliver jumped in the shower and ate breakfast, checking his phone every few minutes as his anxiety twisted his stomach into knots.

Around nine, a text pinged.

This afternoon, if you're free? Any time after two would work for me.

Yeah, I can definitely do that. I'll see you at two thirty?

Looking forward to it!

Slumping into the couch, Oliver exhaled in a rush, then fist-pumped. He video-called Jude on his lunch break, and they went through several outfits until Oliver was satisfied.

"Still think you should go with the orange shirt," Jude said as he shoveled a bite of salad slathered in ranch dressing into his mouth.

"Yeah, but your fashion sense leaves much to be desired," Oliver said as he straightened the collar of the black polo shirt.

"Bitch, you called me," Jude mumbled around his bite.

"Right. Thanks."

"Good luck, asshole."

They rang off, and Oliver slipped on his nicest sneakers before palming his keys and taking a deep breath.

"Okay, Oliver," he said to himself, "let's do this!"