"I'm telling you, he's the one."
I added a bit of cinnamon to Mabel's frappe, listening as she rambled on about her date last night. Mabel and I go way back. We dated a few months ago, but it just wasn't working out. Luckily, we were able to remain close friends afterwards. Now, I get to listen to her and her relationships everyday as I make her coffee each morning. Normally Mabel get's a regular hot coffee, but with the heat wave hitting San Francisco lately, she's been ordering frappes, along with everyone in the café.
"Rachel?" I look back at Mabel, realizing I didn't hear her question. "Can you repeat that?" I yell as a few blenders blare behind me. I slide her coffee to her, leaning on the counter. She giggled, taking a sip. "And your love life?" I roll my eyes, walking over to a cup with the order sloppily written on it. "Same as always," I reply. "So, non-existent," she replies with a smirk. I ignore her, adding caramel to the sides of the cup. "Ugh, you are hopeless," she says, before checking her watch. "Crap. I gotta go. I'll see ya' later!" She says leaving the café with a wave. "See ya..." I say to myself, watching her go. I hate to admit it, but I'm jealous of her. I was the one to break up with her, even though we both knew that our relationship was going downhill. But, in the end, she recovered from it quickly, where as I was a hopeless mess for two weeks. Now, she is off, dating again, while I'm here politely avoiding anyone who does anything remotely flirtation in my general direction...
Nine cans of whipped cream, and at least 10 pots of coffee later and I'm off to my lunch break. I step outside the café, taking a deep breath of fresh air. As much as I love the smell of coffee and cafés in general, it gets stuffy after 5 hours... I pull out my phone, and plug in my earbuds. Opening up an audiobook, I walk over to a sandwich shop just down the street. After paying for my sandwich, I sit down in the outdoor seating area in front of the shop. I wipe my forehead, and fan myself with my hand. Being inside the café all day, I didn't realize how hot it really was outside. "Maybe I'll treat myself to a iced coffee when I get back," I mumble to myself as I finish off my lunch and walk back to the café.
~ ~ ~
"Morning Rachel!" Mabel says, placing her cash on the counter. "Morning," I reply, double checking the money, and placing it in the register. I grab a cup, and a sharpie, scribbling Mabel's usual order. "Oh, Rachel, I have someone I want you to meet." I look up from her order to see a guy standing next to her. He looked dorky, as he looked up from his phone. He smiled, exposing a dimple on his left cheek. He gave me a shy wave, which I returned. I was confused though. He seemed very far from her type. Mabel is into the super extroverted, adventurous types, where as the guy standing next to her seemed more introverted and shy. But, I didn't think about it too hard; no need to judge a book by it's cover. He stepped up to the register as I reset the receipt machine. "What would you like this morning?" I asked, not looking up at him. He didn't say anything, so I glanced up at him. He was looking at the menu, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. I'd hate to admit it, but he looked pretty cute. Mabel chose well on that front at least. "Uh...I'll just have a large black tea." I was shocked by his answer, but didn't show it, as I rang up his order. "Iced or hot" I asked. "Uh...iced," he quickly replied. I picked up a cup and a sharpie. "Cream or sugar?" I asked, looking back at him. "Sugar," he replied with a small smile, exposing his dimple. I nodded my head as I finished scribbling the order on his cup. I finished ringing him up, and I began working on both of their orders. I noticed that the two weren't showing any PDA. Usually, Mabel would be holding hands with her new partner, but they were just chit chatting, standing off to the side. I continued their orders, but I could feel someone looking at me. I glanced up at them a few times, only to see them still talking to each other. The fourth time however, I looked up to see him looking at me. His face turned pink, and he immediately looked away. Weird...but I shrugged it off, finishing their orders.
I video called Mabel after work, and we talked about nothing for a couple hours. "So, what did you think of that guy?" she asked. I shrugged my shoulders. "I mean, he seems far from your type, but I can see it working," I replied honestly. She gave me a quizzical look, before bursting out into laughter. "Oh my GOD! You thought he was my date from the other day?!" I nodded, confused by her sudden laughter. "You are so dense! I brought him for you," she said, still giggling. Then it hit me. I could feel my face heat up. "You we're trying to hook me up?!" I said in shock and slight anger. She nodded. "He's a friend from college. He takes my advance literature class. He's single, and totally your type," she said, smiling at my still red face. I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "You know I'm not interested in dating," I muttered though my hands. "So you say, but you really need to put yourself out there and at least try meeting new people. Try dating, parties, something. I can't stand to see my friend living her life as a hopelessly romantic cat lady," she said. I rolled my eyes, before my gaze landed on her smirking face. "You know it's true," she said, that smug look never leaving her face. I sighed, looking at the clock. 12:10 am. "It's really late. I'm gonna go to bed," I said. "Same, I'll see ya tomorrow," Mabel replied. "Yup," I said before ending the call. I closed my computer, crawling into bed. I grabbed the current book I was reading, turning on my bedside lamp. I read for a while, my kitten curled up next to me.
The next morning was cooler, in comparison to the previous few days. The sky was covered in clouds also, and it almost looked like it was going to rain. I walked to the café to find a few of my coworkers already there. Odd, considering I'm normally the one to open up shop, and start brewing the coffee. It was a nice change, seeing as last night I stayed up reading, instead of actually going to bed. Not long after we opened for business, Mabel walked in. She ordered her usual hot coffee, and we chit chatted, before she left for work. The day was relatively slow until a few hours after lunch. I was taking care of a line of people, when I noticed him walk in. My mind started freaking out a little as Mabel's words from last night echoed through my brain. I sighed, giving the next person their change. She is right, I should be putting myself out there; try and find someone, or at least make some more friends. This wasn't my first rodeo with Mabel bringing in her single classmates or coworkers to try and hook me up with; at least get us to talk.
I contemplated the situation as he inched closer to he counter, one order at a time. Why was I nervous? I've always been casual with these suitors that Mabel throws at me. Maybe it was because he actually seemed cute and my guy type? I don't know, but I need to decide whether or not to go through with this kid or not. And I need to decide quickly, because I have two people left, with him being the last one. I gave the lady her change, before being greeted by the shy smile, left dimple and everything. "Hey," I said cheerfully. "Hi," he said, looking at the menu again. "I'll have a large green tea," he said confidently. I nodded ringing him up. "Cream or sugar?" I ask. He shook his head in response, and he handed me his money. I gave him his change, grabbing a large cup and scribbling his order on it. He stuck near the counter as I made up his order, watching what I was doing. Ok, just...say something. I took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the awkward conversation to inevitably come. "So, you're more of a tea guy huh?" I ask. He nods. "Ever had a coffee?" I ask. He shook his head, before stooping and thinking for a moment. "Well...once. But it was too sweet and milky," he said. "I mean, I'm known for having a sweet tooth, but even it was too much for me," he said with a small, awkward laugh. He really is cute, goddamn it. "Well, it sounds to me, like you've never had a good coffee before," I say finishing off his drink. I grabbed the sharpie, scribbling something on his cup, before cleaning it up and handing it to him. "Come by sometime, and I'll make you a real coffee," I say with a smile. He nods, smiling back.He took a sip of his tea, as he walked off. I began a new order, looking as he stopped at the door, looking at his cup.
'What is your name?'
A couple days later, and he was back. I checked my watch to see when my lunch break was. Meh, I have a few minutes to spare. I can throw in a couple more orders. I look up to see his less nervous, but still shy smile. " Hey," we said in unison. I giggled, a light blush dusting my cheeks, as he turned away, blushing. He cleared his throat, before looking at the menu. "I'll try a small hot caramel coffee," he said, as if the word coffee sounded awkward coming from him. I was initially surprised, but smiled as I rang him up. He handed me his money, but I shook my head. "This one on the house," I said. He nodded, putting his money back in his wallet with a small smile. I began making his order and he watched. "Michael," he blurted out. I gave him a slightly quizzical look. "My name is Michael," he said more comfortably. I smiled. "Nice to meet you. I'm Rachel," I say. "I-I know," he stutters, pointing to his chest, mirroring where my name tag was. "Oh...right," I chuckle awkwardly. Now it was his turn to let out a laugh. Unlike his normal shy and nervous laugh, this one was full of confidence, natural, and freaking adorable. I blush, looking down at his order. "Also, Mabel has talked about you a lot," he adds. This makes me blush more. I finish off his order, taking a deep breath. Am I really going to do this? I grab the sharpie, and write my number on his cup. I hand him his coffee. "Thanks," he says taking a sip. " Well?" I ask, as his face lights up. " It's delicious. Not as good as my tea, but something I could see myself getting again," he says with a genuine smile. I smile widely, as he begins to walk off. I watch as he stops, looking at his cup. He looks back at me, and I give him a smile. He smiles back, blushing, before nodding. He leaves the café with a spring in his step, and I giggle, checking my watch, before heading out on my lunch break. I felt weird, but great. I put myself out there. It is something I normally never do, but I did it today, and I feel proud of myself. Once I reached the sandwich shop, I felt my phone buzz
'Hey. It's Michael :)'
I smile, looking at the new text thread.
'Hey :)'
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