Cream & Sugar

[Skylacticon]

Hey all. I wrote this short thing and thought I'd share it. Happy weekend :)

*****

 

I tend to prefer closing shifts at the cafe. During the week, people bustle in and out in the early mornings, on their way to work, school. The usual. But the evenings tend to be chill, the end of the afternoons when the college students come to chill with their friends. On occasion, people stop by before plays at theatre down the street, sometimes after, and I overhear all the latest critiques.

 

It’s fairly empty today; and I’m not surprised. I wouldn’t even be out if I didn’t have a shift. Outside it seems as if the angels had overturned a bathtub, or started a heated game of bowling, because the glass windows are translucent with heavy rain and I’m starting to consider spending the last of my budget on an Uber home.

 

CRASHH.

 

That is if I can get out of here.

 

His dark hair is dripping wet when he stumbles in. The thin door of the cafe rattles closed and the bell jingles, not nearly a match for the next roll of thunder that seems to shake the walls. He’s wearing only a jean jacket and sweats, and his sneakers have to be soaking, at the rate the rain is pouring outside. His shoulders rise and fall with panting breaths, and he rakes his fingers through his wet hair, combing it back over his head.

 

And if I’m not wrong, I swear I recognize him from somewhere.

 

“Jesus,” he mutters. He glances down, suddenly aware of the water he’s tracked in, and takes a step back onto the doormat.

 

“Welcome,” I finally muster the courage to say. He glances at me, a bit dazed. A half-laugh breaks loose, as he wipes his face with one hand.

 

“Hey.” He seems a bit embarrassed, water dripping from the end of his hair. “I might need to stay a bit, if you don’t mind.” He wipes water from his forehead, and wraps his arms around himself.

 

“Of course,” I offer him a friendly smile. “Can I get you something warm? Coffee? Tea?”

 

“Uh, yes. Coffee, please.” He comes closer to the counter, feeling his pockets for his wallet.

 

“Regular or large?”

 

“Uh, regular, please.” With that, a visible shiver runs through his body, and his arms go back around each other as I punch in the size.

 

“There you go, whenever you’re ready.” I nod to the machine, and turn to get him a mug.

 

“Thanks.”

 

“Crazy out there, huh?”

 

“Yeah. I was walking home, then...” he explains, tapping his card. He stops all of a sudden. I almost pause from pouring the coffee, when- “hieh’ESSCHHioo!! *snf*” A sharp sneeze breaks the silence, then a small sniff. “Excuse me.”

 

“Bless you.”

 

“Ugh, sorry. It’s freezing.” He’s fully shivering, pulling his drenched denim jacket more tightly around him. In my warm, dry clothes, my heart sinks a little as I catch a glimpse of this guy, trying to look casual as he waits.

 

“You better stay until the rain stops.” I say, as I set the coffee down onto the counter. He sits down on the barstool in front of it.

 

“Thanks.” He reaches for a couple of sugar packets. “Yeah, maybe.”

 

“Cream?” I reach for the fridge door.

 

“Yeah, uh, three please.” I hand him the cream. He acts in a nervous hurry, shaking a sugar packet and tearing it open. Then, his nose wrinkles, and his eyelids flutter closed. In that moment I realize I shouldn’t be staring at him, he probably wouldn’t like that. He quickly ducks into the crook of his elbow. “Ht’ESSCHH!! *snff* Oh my god." He blinks, and chuckles, appearing kind of dazed. "'Scuse me."

 

“Gesundheit.” I can’t help but feel a little bit amused, although at the same time concerned. “Maybe you should take off your jacket. You can put it over the heater so it can dry.”

 

“Huh’Chxgnn!-uhhh, ‘scuse me.” He somewhat stifles with some effort.

 

“Bless you.”

 

He rises and starts to peel off his wet jacket. “That might be a good idea, thanks. Where?”

 

“Back there, near the shelf.” I point to it.

 

“Thanks.”

 

“No worries.” He’s wearing a black short-sleeved t-shirt underneath that sticks to him, revealing toned arms. I quickly look down. “Uh, if you want, I can see if we have a blanket or something.” Why am I still talking?

 

He chuckles nervously. “Uh, it’s okay.” He does this cute little exaggerated shiver, and then puts his hands on the heater. “Oh, that’s nice.”

 

“You from Peterson?” I question if he’s from the nearest college, resting my hands on the counter.

 

“No. Warden. I’m uh,” his head turns a little, and he swipes at his nose with his thumb. “I’m Jake.”

 

“Ah. I go to Warden too” I knew he seemed kind of familiar. “I’m Carla.” Like some kind of cheesy horror film, a flash of lighting turns the windows white for a split second and the thunder crackles loudly. “Whoa,” I breathe. Rain seems to crash against the windows as heavily as marbles would fall to the ground. Jeez, he was walking in that? As I look from the window to him, searching for a similar reaction, his eyes are narrowed and he raises the crook of his elbow to his face.

 

“Huh’URSCHHhuh!! *snrf* Pardon. *ahem* Sorry, when I get really cold, I just start,” he scrunches up his nose, which now that I look at it, is pink in hue. “-sneezing. Non-stop.” He clears his throat softly, and gives a half-hearted swipe under his nostrils.

 

“No worries.” I watch as he runs his hands through his hair, still wet from the downpour. “You’ll wanna have that while it’s still hot.” I motion to his coffee.

 

“Yeah.” He seems to be partly elsewhere, his eyes skirting the windows, like he’s deep in thought. He rubs his arms to try to generate some warmth, his shirt darkened from being wet and barely dried yet. “So, um,” Jake’s voice trembles a little as he sits back down, his body still shivering in the slightest. “What’s your major?” He says as he sits down.

 

“Visual arts. You?”

 

“Kin.” “Ah. “Kinesiology.”

 

I’m about to ask him how he feels about it, when he turns to the side. “Huh’Eschhioo! *snf* Sorry. Excuse me.” He leans his elbows on the counter, arms folded tightly.

 

“You okay?”

 

“No, yeah, just cold.” He breathes, quietly. “I... uh...” he starts to say, but then he turns away again quickly. “Huh’TSCHhioo!! God. I’m sorry. *snf!*”

 

“It’s okay, you don’t need to apologize. Why don’t you sit on the sofa by the heater, I’ll see if I can find something in the back for you.”

 

He laughs softly. “You don’t have to do that.”

 

“No, really.” I offer him a sympathetic grin. “You’ll catch your death. Besides, there’s like, no one else here.”

 

“Thank you. Ugh.” He continues talking as I look in the back for anything useful. “Sorry, I’m a mess. I had this horrible presentation today, and I forgot that the weather forecast said it was going to rain.”

 

“That sounds awful.” Aha. I pull my hoodie from the back of the coat room, one I never really wear, but was given for uniform. I quickly dust it off, just in case.

 

“Yeah. But it’s fine. At least it’s over now.”

 

“Here.” I step around the counter and over to his table, and hold the hoodie just over his shoulders. He turns his head at stares at it. “A-Are you sure?” I suddenly notice his eyes are this rich brown colour, standing this close, and quickly snap away my gaze when they meet mine. How are guys’ eyelashes that long? It should be a crime to be that pretty.

 

“Yeah. It might be small, but you can wear it like...” Feeling bold, I drape it over him like a cape.

 

He laughs again, nervously. “Thanks. That’s... really kind of you.”

 

I giggle, moving back a little. “No worries. Are you warm enough?”

 

“Yeah-hh, I’ll be fihhne...” his nose scrunches up mid-sentence, and the hoodie drops from one shoulder as he quickly raises his arm. “Huh’ISCHh!! Huh’- kxnt!-uhhh...” He stifles, looking a bit pained after. “Scuse mbe... *snf*” he pulls my hoodie back over his shoulders. “Sorry, this- *snf* ... gets annoying.” he chuckles a bit, looking down sheepishly.

 

“Don’t worry about it. You better put on some dry clothes when you get home.”

 

“Huh’KSCHHh!! ‘Scuse be... *snf, snf* Yeah.” God, he still looks like he’s freezing, but I think I’ve done a bit much already, I don’t want to bother him.

 

“I’ll, uh.. be over at the counter if you need anything.” I say with a small grin.

 

“Thanks.” He grins back at me, and I feel glad that I could help.

 

Man. What a cute guy. Alright, back to work. I drift back to the counter and out the coffee pot where it belongs, under the coffee maker. The cups are running low, so I grab some from under the sink and stack them on top. What else? Cider mix.

 

“Huh’KxXSCHH!! unhhh- *snrf*”

 

Tea bags. There’s enough in the box, but I fill it back up. Green tea, chai. Lemon ginger tea. The scent of it is sort of relaxing. To be honest, I’ve always avoided that flavour since citrus tends to be overpowering, but I haven’t had it in a while. I guess I’m more of an Earl grey kind of girl.

 

“Hey, um,” I’m shaken from my thoughts, when Jake rises from his seat. He’s only in his black t-shirt once again, holding his damp denim jacket. “My ride’s here, so I gotta go. Listen, it was really nice meeting you. Thank you, uh... for the hospitality.”

 

“Of course. Stay safe." There's his smile again, and it's too cute to not return.

 

"You too."

 

He holds up his hand in a tiny wave, before disappearing out the door into the pouring rain, from where he once came. I see headlights out there, and there’s a bit of calmness in that, knowing he’ll probably be okay. And like that, I’m alone again. The clock tells me it’s almost time for closing, so I go over to his table and pick up my hoodie on the sofa where he was sitting. I’ll probably wash it later. I go to grab his saucer, but there’s something else sitting there, on the edge under his cup of coffee. A napkin, with a number written on it.

 

‘Let me return the favour. Give me a call sometime.

Cheers,

Jake’

 

I barely hear the next clap of thunder.

[Wow Really?]

Aw I loved this. So sweet! I’m sorry it’s over lol. Thanks for sharing! 

[starpollen]

Awww 🥰 so cute!

[Serendipity]

Very cute, loved this! 

[Privatedancer]

Very sweet

[Victoria]

On 5/1/2021 at 9:54 AM, Wow Really? said:

I’m sorry it’s over lol.

Me too!

Loved it.

[HowFitting]

Me also. I loved it  

[RipleyToo]

I loved this!! I hope there will be more!

[Alyssa1146]

Wow.  This needs to continue!

[aggedy_ann]

Love this

[MyOwnPrivateSFC]

I loved this!

[ThatSneezyGirl]

This is so cute!!! Please continue 😍