Coffee Shop

Falling

He caught himself staring. Again. The lively chatter of his group of friends didn't even reach his ears as he just stared at her. She worked in the small coffee shop near their school dorms, filling the place with so much light, he felt like he was looking at the sun. The way she walked, served costumers, apologized to the grumpy ones — even though she made no mistake and they just wanted to make a scene — and rolled her eyes behind their backs. The way she laughed at her coworkers when they made a stupid joke or how she complained when the milk frothier broke again — which seemed to happen quite often. 

At first, it was just a little interest. The first time his friends — he would never openly admit they were — dragged him to this shop, he was in a sour mood. Adding to that, the new employee messed up his order, so he just wanted to make a scene like the grumpy customers he now came to dislike. That was when she swooped in and took over. She apologized for the newbies mistake and handed him the correct order with such a gorgeous smile, it made him pause in his outburst. 

The following weeks, he always went to the shop when his friends invited him. So he just sat there, watching, paying attention. And he noticed more and more. The Guy that messed up his order noticed it first. He nudged her shoulder and nodded in his direction, a smug smirk on his face. She followed his gesture, locking eyes with him. He didn't look away, a small smile forming on his lips as he watched her getting a little embarrassed and swatting her coworkers shoulder.

He began to visit more frequently, often coming without his group of friends. Every time he came in, she would look at him and give him a small smile. She didn't take his order often, leaving that to her coworker, but he didn't mind that. For him, it was enough that she occasionally glanced at him. Those secret looks became more and more often — and he enjoyed them every time. 

After a little while, Bakugo Katsuki found himself—falling. Everything about her mesmerized him. He really fell for a girl he didn't even know the name of — they didn't wear name-tags and he just never asked. But that didn't matter. At least not for him. 

Saturdays. Katsuki didn't like Saturdays. On those days, her shift was longer, so it was always dark outside when she finished and went home. On those days, he was always worried something might happen to her. So one Saturday, he gladly took over Kirishima's turn in grocery shopping.

It was quite late when he stepped out of the 24 hour convenience store, almost dropping his bags at the scene he saw. Anger overtook him. There she was. Walking alone in the dark, glancing behind her to the Guy that followed her. He didn't wear a hood like in those shitty horror movies. No, he looked so normal, if Katsuki had seen him on the street in the day, he would have never guessed that asshole was a creep. But right now, he was clearly following the girl Bakugo Katsuki fell for. But the thing that angered him most wasn't the asshole. 

He hurriedly crossed the street, before casually walking next to her, hand gripping onto his bags, so he didn't blew the Guy behind them up. "Sorry for making you wait. I have everything, let's go", he said loud enough for the stalker to hear. She looked at him surprised, before realizing what he was doing. A sight of relief escaped her lips. "Thank you." Katsuki just nodded, a grim look on his face. 

Because it was then and there that he realized it. And the person he was most angry at, was himself. Because all the glances and all the small smiles she gave him until now were exactly the same she just gave her stalker. And Katsuki finally knew, they were her signs of being nervous and scared.

All this time, she had been scared of Katsuki. And he knew oh so damn well why. Because he behaved like a fucking stalker. Him sitting there, in this small coffee shop, just silently watching her, almost every damn day, she must have been terrified. 

"I'm sorry I behaved like a stalker 'till now", he mumbled, a slight tint of red spreading across his cheeks. God, he was such an idiot. 

Her tense posture relaxed a little, a soft smile forming on her lips. "I'm glad you noticed."

She didn't accept his apology and Katsuki was more than okay with that. Because he didn't feel like he deserved it. He would make it up with his actions, not just words. 

When they reached the train station, she stopped and looked at him. "My Dad is going to pick me up in a minute." Her gaze trailed down as she shuffled her feet. "Thank you for—helping me and uhh—", she trailed off, playing a little with her finger.

"Bakugo Katsuki", he just said and held his hand out. His intention was clear, if she took it, he would keep visiting the coffee shop — not as often though — if she refused, he would try to move on and never bother her again. He wasn't sure if he would get over her so fast but that didn't matter to him. If she wanted him out of her life, he would back off. 

She blinked at his hand a few seconds, before the soft smile returned on her face. Katsuki's heart skipped a few beats when she actually took it, shaking it shortly, before going back to playing with her finger. "Nice to meet you." 

The ringing of a phone brought him back to reality and he felt his cheeks redden. Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head and looked away, while she checked the message she just got. "My Dad's here. Thanks again", she said, drawing his gaze back to her. She dipped her head in goodbye, before hurrying towards the other exit. 

"Ah", Katsuki frowned, as he remembered something. "What's your name?"

She looked back at him, not stopping her pace but grinning widely. "You'll have to find out yourself." 

A smirk formed on his face. He really would make it up through his actions and hopefully earn her forgiveness. Because right now he knew, he fell pretty damn hard. 

〜(＞＜)〜

It feels rushed. Perhaps it sort of is, but I just had the idea and really wanted to write this. But it also feels weird because I normally don't write oneshots or in that kind of pov. Anyways, I just wanted to write about how not every girls glances and smiles are actually positive. Quite a lot of people smile because it's their coping mechanism. That's something everyone should keep in mind. 

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