Asked Out | Short Story

Natalie looked at herself in the mirror while tying her apron around her waist, checking her appearance over quickly before she started her shift. Natalie worked at the little cafe on campus Beanies, the busiest spot as it was connected to the campus library. Students could often be seen hogging the coveted cafe tables all day, religiously studying or frantically working on an assignment due the next day, depending on the type of student they are.

Tucking a stray lock of curls back up into her bun, Natalie turned from the mirror and opened the bathroom door. Stepping out into the backroom, Natalie nodded at the girl who worked back of house making cookies, muffins and mini cakes for the cafe, continuing out front to the counter so she could start her shift. Quickly pouring a cup of her favourite roast into her thankfully free first choice mug, Natalie greeted her fellow barista.

“How has it been so far today?”

“It’s been good,  not too busy but also not slow.” Larissa responded, giving Natalie a quick smile while putting a fresh pot of the new blend on.

“Nice! Hopefully it stays that way!” Natalie hoped for, grabbing one of the pots of coffee and making her way towards the closest table to see if anyone wanted a top up. The middle of Beanies was filled with comfortable couches in groups of three’s, placed around cute little wooden coffee tables, and then wooden cafe tables along the walls. It was a great hangout spot with a cozy vibe to the place.

As the day went on, Natalie worked her shift, pouring cups of coffee for the various students coming in, and plating the delicious sweets for those who couldn’t resist them. Natalie loved her job, not only could she drink premium coffee like water all day for free, but Natalie was also very much a social person, and loved to chat away with the many students.

It was nearing 4:30 in the afternoon, 3 hours into her shift, when Natalie’s favourite customer walked in. Natalie was mid chat with a girl despairing about failing her Chem Lab exam when she saw him, and immediately stopped talking, forgetting what the conversation was about. The girl she was chatting with gave her a confused look, before looking to see what caught Natalie’s attention. Letting out a small laugh, Chem girl gave Natalie a devious smile.

“So, what’s tall dark and handsome’s name?”

“Ughlp….. ummm, what?”

“Oh wow girl, have some self respect!”

“Sorry, my brain stopped working for a minute. I’m gunna go switch pots, this one is getting cold.” Natalie practically ran away from the cackling girl, radically accepting the fact that half the school would hear about the dumb barista girl who literally got tongue tied at the site of her crush by tomorrow. Cursing her ADD brain for it’s trouble staying focused on things, Natalie refused to look Larissa in her knowing eyes.

“Well, that was embarrassing.” Larissa couldn’t help but comment.

“Oh my god don’t! I thought you liked me. Just shut up!” Natalie grumbled, chugging her to hot coffee on purpose to burn her tongue and distract herself from the embarrassment with pain.

Larissa just gave a small chuckle and nudged Natalie with her shoulder, sharing a conspiratorial smile with Natalie. “So, when are you going to say something to him?”

“When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dr”

“Oh god stop you nerd. You quote that line all the time what is wrong with you.” Larissa cut her off.

“She has taste in shows obviously. Or is it books?” A deep voice said from behind Natalie. Larissa stared her dead in the eyes with the face of a statue.

“…. Why can’t it be both!?” Natalie practically yelled as she turned to face Darren, cheeks tinting pink as the group at the couches closest looked up at her. “It doesn’t have to be one or the other.” She continued at a much quieter volume.

“True, you don’t have to pick one.” Darren replied, giving Natalie a fond smile.

“Just you're usual for here?” Natalie asked him, grabbing the biggest mug available.

“Of course.”

“You want something to snack on too? Maddie made these delicious coffee cakes.” Natalie was sneaky with her upselling while pouring Darren a pot of his favourite dark roast.

“Why not, I could use a cavity.” Darren replied, accepting the mug from her and making his way over to the table no one liked to sit at because the staff hogged it as their sit down spot for tasks.

Natalie grabbed one of the middle sized coffee cakes with the cake slicer and gently plated it, before turning to bring the cake to Darren’s table. Darren was sitting sideways in the chair with his back against the wall, sipping at his coffee and watching Natalie come towards him. As Natalie placed the slice of coffee cake onto the table in front of him, Darren caught her eye.

“So I have to say, I’m disappointed in you?”Darren suddenly spoke up, catching Natalie off guard with his comment.

“Then that means your expectations are too high, sounds like a you problem.” Natalie snarked back, getting comfortable again, like she usually did once being around Darren for longer than five minutes.

“You’r supposed to be this super confident, outgoing girl, aren’t you?” Darren asked her. Confused about where this conversation was going, Natalie sat down across from him.

“Where are you going with this?” Natalie asked Darren, getting right to the point. She wasn’t patient enough for this shit.

“Well I’m just wondering why you haven’t asked me on a date yet.” Darren stated.

“What!?” Natalie choked out, suddenly giggling nervously. Great, know she sounds crazy.

“Well I’ve been waiting for you to ask me out, figuring I wouldn’t have to with how confident you are, but I’ve been waiting for two months and you haven’t yet.” At that Natalie’s brain abruptly stopped working, and she just stared dumbly at Darren, who stared back for a second before gifting her that soft smile she’s started realizing she only see’s him give her, and deciding to have mercy on her.

“So, since you’ve completely dropped the ball on this, I guess it’s up to me. Don’t make plans for this Saturday night, I’m taking you out to do something.”

“What are we doing?” Natalie thankfully quickly rebooted, and fired back after him.

“Nope, it’s a surprise.” Darren grinned cheekily at her.

“Nah, forget that. I hate surprises, just tell me!” Natalie was getting excited now. This was everything she could have ever wanted in her dramatic 19 year old life. Quickly getting on her knees on the seat, Natalie leaned over the table grinning at Darren.

“To bad, I don’t know what we’re doing yet. This was kind of spontaneous.” Darren admitted, getting a bashful look on his face. Natalie’s grind only got bigger. She was gunna start chattering away about how excited she was, when Larissa saved her from the embarrassment.

“You planning on working anytime soon Nat?” Natalie shot Larissa a wide smile, ducking her head in embarrassment at her friends amused look.

“Sorry.” Natalie shot back, gifting Darren a soft smile before getting out of her seat to help Larissa with the customers. As Natalie continued to work her shift, she couldn’t help but keep glancing back at Darren, who would alternate between drinking his coffee, eating his cake, and watching her. At the last, Natalie would quickly look away when catching him with a red face.

Roughly four hours later, two hours after Darren had left, Larissa turned off the open sign while Natalie poured the employees one more cup of coffee each before dumping the pots. Once that was complete she grabbed a cloth and started wiping tables down, quickly joined by Larissa.

“So, that happened.” Larissa spoke up.

“What happened?” Natalie replied, scrubbing at something sticky on her current table. She wasn’t even sure what they sold that would harden like this if spilled.

“Larissa rolled her eyes, muttering something about being a scatterbrain, and continued. “Darren and you have a date this Saturday.”

“OH MY GOD WE DO!” Natalie shouted at her friend. To be honest, Natalie had kind of forgotten, being so distracted with work.

Larissa smiled at her, and the two quickly began tossing out date ideas. As both girls worked to clean the store front, the only discussion was the upcoming date, what Natalie would wear, what they thought Darren would plan, and how they thought it would go. Natalie, of course, was convinced it would be perfect.