Chapter Text
I didn’t usually drink coffee, but there was no way I was making it through finals without it.
I stepped into The Caffeine Machine, a café I usually pass on the way to one of my classes. It was dimly lit with multi-colored fairy lights and lamps of various models and hues. I got into line, looking up at the digital menu. Then I remembered that I know next to nothing about coffee. Doesn’t espresso have the most caffeine? I internally asked. How many shots should I get? I mean, it’s just a shot so… 15? Probably should put something with that… chocolate and raspberry syrup? Oh, and whipped cream! Before I knew it, it was my turn to order.
“Uh, can I get 15 shots of espresso—”
“15 shots?! Are you trying to meet God?!” the barista you interrupted. I looked down from the menu to properly look at you. Your nametag said Johnny with He/Him in slightly smaller letters underneath. Your cinnamon-skinned face looked at me with a baffled, concerned look. My eyes met yours, those dark-as-the-void irises making my heart skip a beat. In an attempt to focus on something else, my gaze landed on the inch-long scar on your cheek bone.
Oh, shit, I’ve been staring at him. “Uh—” I paused, “No?”
Your expression relaxed a little, but that flabbergasted look still stained your face. “Well, legally I can’t put more than 6 shots in one drink, so…” your voice trailed off, letting me finish the sentence.
“I’ll have 6 shots of espresso, raspberry and chocolate syrup, with whipped cream on top.” I scanned the display case that doubled as a counter and spotted a chocolate cake. “And a slice of chocolate cake. To go,” I added.
You nodded, your face back to the neutral expression it was at when I came in. “That’ll be $12.75, cash or card and can I get a name for that?” you said while getting a cup from the stack next to you.
“Uh, Mike and I'll pay with cash,” I said while getting out my wallet. I paid, you handed me a quarter in change and a little brown box that had my cake slice in it. I went over the edge of the room to wait for my coffee to be made. You switched with another employee so that you could make my drink.
Now that you were away from the counter, I could see more of your outfit. You were wearing a sage green T-shirt that had something printed on the front, but it was obscured by your black apron. Your shirt was tucked into a pair of baggy, brown jeans. They were cuffed at the end, layered over a pair of platform DocMartens.
You’re staring again… I scolded myself. I took out my phone from my messenger bag so that I’d have something to look at without seeming creepy. After a few minutes of rereading my old texts with Sodapop, you called my name and handed me my drink while tucking your curly, black hair behind your ear. I thanked you and left the shop, heading to the lecture hall that my next class was held in.
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After class, I went back to my dorm to gather my stuff to study at the library. With my mind not having anything else to think about, it immediately jumped to you. That cute barista at that coffee shop I went to. Johnny, is what your name tag said, if I remember correctly. Stop thinking about him, that’s weird and creepy. You don’t know him. He did look kinda familiar though. Maybe we went to school together, Tulsa is a big city. I put on my headphones and played some music in an attempt to drown out the thoughts of you.
It didn’t work.
I went home frustrated and flustered because I got basically nothing done. Which isn’t unusual, but this was worse because none of my usual tricks to get my brain to shut up and focus didn’t work and were overridden with thoughts of you.