Coffee Cups and Cupcakes

I peek over the edge of my laptop, trying not to make my fixation on the tall, willowy dryad behind the counter too obvious. I've been a regular at the cafe for about five years, but the new barista is mezmerizing; especially her skill with the edible charms. I turn back to my homework, trying to push my nervousness down. I can barely even order a mocha with an extra dose of focus, much less try to make small talk with her. That said, it's always a little gloomy on days that she isn't working. I shake my head, trying to focus on my essay. No use busting my ass at the bakery across the street if I fail the classes I'm burning my paycheck on.

~o0o~

The shop bell rings suddenly and I drop the hot tray of donuts.

"SHIT!" I yell, without registering the level of my volume. I hear a familiar, musical laugh as I rub my foot. "Double shit..." I mutter quietly. "Uh...just a moment!" I call. Why would the pretty dryad be at the bakery at four in the fucking morning???

I stumble out, trying and failing to hide my limp. "Um, we're not open just yet," I announce apologetically. "Even if the door's unlocked, the lights are off.

"I know," She smiles. "But my boss wanted to know if you wanted to do a trade before our shops opened. Some coffee for some donuts? Are you the only one here?"

"Yeah, sorry. But uh, yeah. How many donuts do y'all want? What kind? It'll be a while...kind of a mess back there." I tug on my ear lobe awkwardly, not meeting her gaze.

"It's just my boss and me. So could we have four donuts? Two chocolate and two strawberry filled ones?"

"Yeah, I can do that. I was just about to bake the strawberry filled ones."

"Great! Will it be your usual iced mocha with a double shot of focus?"

I look up at her, startled. "You remembered all your orders?"

"Only the cutest ones. Be back in a bit," She winks, leaving the bakery as I try to figure out how to pick my jaw up off the floor.

"I'm a cute one..." I mutter to myself, drifting back into the kitchen area. "One of the cutest."

~o0o~

"Nairi!" I glance up as Euthalia comes over, two coffee cups in her slender hands. I hold up the small container of cupcakes and she beams, practically gliding across the courtyard.

"How do you think you did on your exams?" I ask as we walk to her adopted parents' car.

"I aced them."

I laugh. "I guess you would."

"How about you?"

"They weren't a problem." Eight cups of canned expresso haphazardly bought before class and guzzled down during class said otherwise, but I can pretend she doesn't know that.

"Well that just makes our celebratory date all the sweeter," She gushes with a bright smile, her pale pink sundress billowing in the soft breeze a little as I hold the driver's door open for her.

I walk around the car and get into the passenger seat, crossing my ankles casually as I close the door. "Yeah," I smile.