Falsettos College AU

Marvin's Ex

Cordelia

Work is draining. Three people have already yelled at me today for getting their orders wrong, and I'm kind of humiliated. It's not my fault. Well, yeah, it sort of is. But I've only been working here for a few weeks, and I'm still trying to find my way around.

My mood immediately brightens when I spot Charlotte walk in. I met Charlotte the other week, and she hasn't been in here much, but when she is, we have a great time. I'm not sure what it is that connects us exactly, but we relate to each other so well. We shared our coming out stories last time she was here, and found out we both liked Arctic Monkeys. So basically, we're soulmates.

She doesn't see me, because she's on her phone and all the way at the end of the line. I want to speed up the process before my shift ends so we get a chance to talk again. It's not like I have a crush on her or anything, it's just that I think she's charming. Okay, she's really charming. And she's so compassionate. I mean, a doctor? I couldn't do that. I'm more interested in cooking and working with food. Not, like, people.

Chill out, Cordelia. You guys are just friends. And you haven't even known one another for that long, anyway. Just cool it.

"Hey, Cordelia!" Charlotte greets me warmly as she approaches the counter. I've been too busy thinking to notice that the line's moved up, and I almost drop the cup of hot coffee I'm holding.

"Hi!" I exclaim in a shrill tone. I turn away quickly and curse myself under my breath.

Charlotte doesn't seem to notice, or at least doesn't show it. "I'll have my usual," she says, and I can tell she's waiting to see if I remember it. The good thing is, I do. Normally I hate when customers ask for their usual, but Charlotte's is the one I've completely memorized. So I nod and start making it while simultaneously trying to strike up a conversation.

"How's school going?" I ask her. "I don't think I've seen you around there yet. Maybe we should meet up so we don't always have to talk while I'm making coffee."

Charlotte grins. "Good idea. I think I have some time off tomorrow. We should go for lunch or something."

"Sounds great." I try not to show how excited I am that we're finally going out together. Well, obviously not going out, but we're spending some time together at least. I hand her her coffee with a smile and she takes it, pays, says goodbye, and leaves.

Great. Great, Cordelia. You didn't screw that one up. I bite my lip to keep from smiling any wider and go back to preparing other people's orders.

Marvin

I'm still trying to think of what to do about Trina. I'm pretty sure she didn't see me and Whizzer that day in the hall, so I could possibly go on avoiding her for four years and she won't know I ever went here.

But that's not the case. That's never the case.

I'm just trying to find a study room that isn't occupied so I can actually get some work done, since my dorm is always filled with the sounds of my neighbors and Whizzer's place always has him or Cordelia wandering around. I find one and sit down at the table, glancing around to see who else is in the room. Nobody I know. I'm probably going to need to get to know most of these students if I'm spending my entire college experience with them, but I don't want to.

I just want to study, no, I don't want to study, I have to study. What I really want to do is go home or go hang out with Whizzer and Cordelia. I'm so tired. In fact, I've almost fallen asleep at my study table when I'm awoken by somebody sitting next to me.

I'm afraid for a second that it's Trina, but it's just Mendel. I put my head back down on the table.

"Hey, Marvin," he says, ignoring my state. "How's it going today?"