The Barista and The Regular

It was such a cliché. Follow along.

Girl works at a coffee shop. Girl has a repeat customer. Girl falls for the repeat customer.

And now that customer was currently standing in front of Girl, waiting on her order. Like always.

“So when are you going to tell me that you like me?”

That was new. 

The Girl-Gemma- freezes with the repeat customer’s hot chocolate (extra whipped cream and a slight caramel drizzle) in her hand. She snapped to quickly, placing the order on the counter. 

She then leaned on it in what she thought was a casual manner.

But it was anything but.

“W-what are you talking about Elle? I d-don’t like you.”

Elle raised a dark brow as Gemma immediately started backtracking.

“I mean I do like you but only in a way you like nice polite customers. You know?”

The woman picked up her drink, chuckling quietly.

“Really? Is that so?”

Of course she was lying, Gemma had a huge crush on Elle. Massively huge. But she was worried her feelings weren’t reciprocated and Elle was only asking so she could be let down easy.

So Gemma nodded, tucking stray black hairs behind her ear.

“I’m one hundred percent sure I do not like you in the way that you are insinuating.”

Elle hummed. “That’s too bad.”

She took a sip of her drink.

“I was definitely going to ask you out on a date.”

The barista gaped as she stood straight up. She had to be joking. Teasing her for sure. There was no way she meant it.

“Wait really?”

The brunette took another sip.

“Yep.”

She then let out a sigh.

“But it’s okay. I guess I misread the situation.”

Gemma choked on her tongue as Elle waved and went off to her usual table at the shop. She sat down, pulled her laptop out of her bag, and started to work like she always did. Gemma looked at her, sighing wistfully.

She missed her shot.

“I have never seen such a train wreck of a conversation before in my entire life.”

Gemma’s head turned to the side. Staring at her with an amused expression was Damie, her co-worker and close friend.

“She gave you an open to ask her out and you choked. Then she asked you out and you choked again.”

She tsk’d shaking her head.

“So sad. And very unfortunate to watch.”

Gemma rolled her eyes as she folded her arms. The redhead mimicked her, an action that annoyed the younger barista.

“She did not want to me to ask her out,” she said, lying through her teeth. A weak attempt to justify her stupidity. “Her saying she was going to ask me was just her teasing me. A bit of friendly banter and all that.”

Damie’s expression went blank.

“You really think she was teasing you?”

Gemma stared at her. Of course she didn’t think that. She was just trying to make herself feel better. She totally fumbled. She could’ve been floating on cloud nine, excited that she was going on a date with Elle. But no, she got self-conscious and shot herself in the foot. Now her opportunity to go out with her crush was over.

So back to pining from behind the counter for the rest of the day Gemma supposed.

And the day after that…

And the day after that…

Each day Elle came in, ordered her usual, sat worked, and when she was done, she would say bye to Damie and Gemma. Then she would leave.

Rinse and repeat. Nothing had change. Elle talked to Gemma like nothing had happened. Like they were just customer and barista again.

It was four days after “The Trainwreck” as Damie liked to call it and Elle had just left.

“I see why you’re single now.”

Gemma scoffed wildly, flailing at Damie’s words. A few customers looked over, the redhead waving apologetically.

“Why do you always have to bully me?” Gemma whined, her braid falling off her shoulder as she stomped like a petulant child. “Why can’t you be supportive?”

The other woman walked to the tea holder, ignoring her friend’s behavior.

“Because you have idiotic, clueless tendencies and I will not support them,” she replied plainly as she made herself a cup of tea.

She then turned back around, looking at her friend.

“Now if you wanted to be bold and ask Elle out, I would definitely support that.”

Gemma pondered over what Damie had said. She really wanted to tell Elle her feelings but the more she thought about it, the more she got nervous. She already screwed up. What if Elle wasn’t interested anymore? Gemma didn’t know much about Elle, but she knew enough to know that they’d be really good friends if they spent time outside the shop. She also knew that she valued the time she did get, and she wanted to keep it. Trying to ask her out now and she might get creeped out.

She sighed. She had no idea how this happened, her massive crush, but she knew when it started.

Elle had been coming to the coffee shop for years, starting with her sophomore year of college. Gemma was a freshman and a new hire. It was raining pretty hard that day, so it was fairly slow.

Then in came Elle. She ordered a hot chocolate (something Gemma had found weird at first until later she learned about Elle’s dislike of coffee). Then she took a seat as she waited for her order. She noticed Gemma was new, something that caught her off guard initially. They talked while Gemma fixed her drink, giving her some pretty solid advice. That day turned into many more and soon Gemma was hooked on Elle’s line.

That was three years ago. Now Elle was a senior preparing to graduate, something that dampened Gemma’s mood every time she thought about it. She was going to miss seeing her.

Had a chance to see her more before their time together was over and she ruined it.

Ugh.

“Good after evening Lovelies!”

Damie and Gemma both looked up. Their other co-worker was bouncing in, a bright grin on her face as she said hello and made her way behind the counter.

“Hey Marianna,” Damie greeted. “You’re a bit late today.”

The woman’s brows furrowed in confusion, glancing at her phone.

“What are you talking about? I’m like fifteen minutes early.”

Now Gemma and Damie were confused. They stared at the clock that hung above the door.

It was a quarter past three. Marianna was correct.

“Huh. You are early,” Damie stated. “Normally you’re coming in as Elle’s leaving and she left a while ago.”

Marianna hummed. “Really? That’s weird. She tell you why?”

Gemma shook her head no.

“Probably didn’t want to be around Gemma,” Damie commented. “You’ve been gone so I have to tell you how bad Gemma screwed up with her.”

The young woman slapped the redhead’s arm, eyes narrowing into slits as Marianna gasped.

“After the week I’ve just had, I am absolutely ready for some gossip.”

Gemma draped herself over the counter, sighing dramatically.

“I want to be mad at you, but I can’t because I definitely did screw up,” she grumbled. “Big time.”

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And screwed up she did. Gemma hadn’t seen Elle show up at the shop in two weeks. At first Gemma thought she hadn’t shown up at all, but after talking to the morning shifters Jasmine and Hazel, they mentioned that Elle comes in during their shift, stay for a little bit, and then leave.

Before Gemma came in for work.

She felt like garbage. She messed up so bad that Elle was rearranging her whole schedule just to avoid her. The others tried to reassure her, but their words fell on deaf ears. She for sure felt horrible.

“It’s been two weeks, three days, and several hours since Gemma’s seen her lady love Elle.”

The woman rolled her eyes. She had been in a bit of a foul mood and she was over Damie and her antics. But the redhead had been dealing with Gemma and her attitude for so long that it didn’t faze her. And that’s why she kept going.

“Will Elle ever come back to her usual time and face Gemma? Or was Gemma’s fatal mistake permanent? Stay tuned for the next episode!”

“…fuck off Damie.”

The redhead chuckled as she went to clean some of the empty tables. It was fairly quiet, not many customers in at the hour. People’s conversations and the ambient music eased and relaxed Gemma as she tidied the counters. Then refilled the creamers and other additives.

She was wiping up some sugar she spilled when the bell above the door rang out.

“Hello. Welcome to-”

The greeting died on Gemma’s tongue, her heart beating out of her chest.

Elle walked in, looking even better than Gemma remembered. Her hair color was different for one. Gone was the brown and in its place was a dark gray that complimented Elle’s features very well.

“Good afternoon Elle,” the barista said, slapping a smile on her face as the older woman came to the counter.

She smiled back, the action warming Gemma’s chest. She missed her smile.

“Hey Gemma.”

Oh she really missed that.

“Would you like your usual?”

Elle gave her a nod, her smile growing bigger. “Of course. You already know.”

Gemma’s spirits lifted. Things were normal. She was relieved that it wasn’t weird between them. 

Maybe she wasn’t avoiding her.

Money exchanged hands and Gemma set out to make Elle’s hot chocolate, making a conscious effort to make it extra perfect today. They chatted casually like always. But then Gemma started getting in her head about it. Maybe she was just being nice and she really wasn’t happy with her.

The thought made her mood plummet to the depths.

“Hey Elle! Long time no see!”

Damie came over with a bright grin. Elle matched her expression, a pang of jealousy in Gemma’s chest, her heart beating erratically.

“Hey Damie,” she replied with a wave. “It has been a while hasn’t it?”

The redhead nodded, leaning on the counter.

“I was starting to worry that you’d found another coffee shop to go to.”

Elle shook her head, letting out a small laugh.

“I love this place too much to find a new one. Plus I was still coming here, just came in a bit earlier than usual.”

Damie hummed. Before they could talk more, a highly annoyed Gemma placed Elle’s drink down a bit harder than necessary.

“Your hot chocolate is ready,” she said with a faux sweet tone.

With brows knitted together, Elle picked up her order with a quiet thanks. She then left to take her usual table. Bag down. Laptop out. Work started.

Back to her same routine.

Damie turned and looked at Gemma with wide blue eyes.

“What the hell is your problem?” she questioned. “Elle’s back and so you act like an ass?”

Gemma huffed, crossing her arms. She was not acting like an ass. She was protecting her feelings.

At least that’s what she thought. And technically it was true. But really she just wanted Elle to leave the counter because she couldn’t handle her heart beating out of her chest.

She still liked her and that frustrated her. Obviously Elle didn’t feel the same way anymore if she had to avoid for weeks.

“You’re self-destructing again.”

Gemma snapped out of her thoughts, giving her attention to Damie.

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” the elder said. “You’re setting yourself up for failure.”

The again was heavily implied.

Gemma opened her mouth to argue, but the other barista held up her hand.

“You have a chance to redeem yourself Gem,” the redhead continued.

She moved towards Gemma and placed her arms on her shoulders. Blue eyes stared up at deep brown. Gemma forgot sometimes how short Damie was compared to her, even with her boots.

“So go over there and get your redemption.”

Damie started pushing Gemma from behind the counter.

“Apologize for everything and make it right.”

Gemma tried to move back to the counter but Damie blocked her way.

“You can’t come back here until you talk to her.”

A huff.

“I need to do my job.”

Damie turned and looked underneath the counter. When she came back up, she slapped down a rag and a bottle of cleaner.

“Wipe the tables that I didn’t get to,” she told her.

She grinned, patting her friend’s shoulder.

“Now you’re doing your job.”

Gemma scoffed, glowering at Damie. She tried to get her to back down, but the redhead was steadfast. And serious.

With another scoff, the younger barista grabbed the items and went off. She started cleaning, while keeping an eye on Elle. The woman was looking down, writing furiously in a notebook.

Gemma kept her rounds up until she was at a table right beside Elle. She noticed that brown eyes were on her before they went back to paper.

She dreaded having to talk but she figured she might as well bite the bullet and get it over with.

“Excuse me. Elle?”

She acknowledged Gemma’s presence, glancing up from her laptop. “What’s up Gemma?”

The barista sat her cloth down, hands going to her braid.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Elle motioned for her to take a seat. Gemma slipped into the chair across from her as Elle closed her notebook.

“So what did you want to ask me?”

Gemma’s nerves started to fray. She folded and unfolded her fingers, shuffling in her seat.

“A-actually I wanted to apologize,” she told her. “For being snappy a little bit ago and um…”

She tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

“For saying that I didn’t like you when I most definitely did.”

Elle tried to respond but Gemma’s words kept spilling out of her mouth.

“I like you a lot and I’m so mad at myself for not telling you and now you’re avoiding me and changing your schedule to do it-”

“Wait what?”

“But I want you to come back to your regular time because seeing you really makes my day so much brighter and-”

“Gemma, that’s really sweet but-”

“I want to take you out on a date and get to know you better and-”

“Gemma.”

The woman promptly shut her mouth Elle’s firm tone. The older woman reached across the table and grasped Gemma’s hand, rubbing it softly with her thumb. Gemma thought she was going to explode over such a simple gesture.

“From what I gathered from your speech, you like me and you’re sorry for saying the opposite.”

Gemma nodded slowly.

“And you think I changed my schedule because I was trying to avoid you?”

Another nod.

Elle stared at Gemma, face unreadable. The barista was starting to sweat, praying for Elle to say something.

Anything.

Silence fell between the two. And then Elle started laughing.

A full bodied, shoulders shaking, laugh. Gemma’s shoulders slumped, pouting slightly.

“Why are you laughing?” she whined, crossing her arms.

Elle quieted herself to simple giggles.

“Gemma honey I wasn’t trying to avoid you,” she told her. “I had a group project scheduled for the past few weeks.”

Now it was Gemma’s turn to stare. She could not believe she immediately assumed the worst.

“But you didn’t say that,” she murmured. “Normally you’d tell me.”

Elle tsk’d, frowning.

“I didn’t tell you? Aw man. I’m so sorry! I thought I mentioned it.”

Gemma squeezed her hand reassuringly.

“It’s fine,” she replied. “I’m just glad we’re on the same page now.”

Elle agreed.

“So what do we do now?”

The barista wondered what she should say. When she did come up with a response, she smiled.

“I think we should go on a date if you’re still interested,” Gemma suggested. “I know you’ve had some time to get over me.”

Elle snorted, shaking her head.

“I have literally had a crush on you for years and I knew you were bullshitting me,” she retorted. “But yes I am absolutely still on board with going on a date.”

Gemma couldn’t contain her excitement, a wide grin breaking out.

“This is so awesome!” she exclaimed.

Elle allowed herself to be swept up in Gemma’s good feelings, a huge smile of her own growing.

They planned their date (a nice outing to a shopping center at one on Saturday) and spoke for a little bit longer until Elle left for the day. But before she was gone, she gave Gemma her number on a lavender color slip of paper with a panda in the corner. The barista slipped it into her pocket with a pleased expression.

When she made it back to the counter, Damie clapped.

“I’m so proud of you,” she said as she wiped fake tears from her eyes. “You did it.”

Gemma shook her head as she moved around her friend. But she was proud of herself too. Judging from their talk, Saturday was going to be great.

“I can’t believe I almost missed out on a great person because I misread the situation.”

Damie nodded. “Yeah man. It’s almost like I tried telling you multiple times that she said that she had a group project and that she wouldn’t be in during her usual time for a few weeks.”

Gemma whipped around. “What.”

The redhead shrugged her shoulders.

“You were too busy pining that you missed it when she told you directly. I knew this and tried to tell you but you were too busy whining and crying about how much she hated you.”

The black-haired barista wanted to say that it wasn’t true and that she was not whining but it was definitely true. So instead of arguing, she said,

“Thank you for trying to tell me Damie.”

The older woman nudged her.

“You are so welcome Lil Gem Gem.”

Brown eyes rolled at the nickname.

“Now on to more important topics,” Damie continued. “What are you going to wear?”

Her and Gemma spent the rest of the shift going over what she should wear, going back and forth. When Marianna came in, they settled on a cute sundress and sandals.

Which Elle complimented her on when they went out.

Fin.