One At A Time

*Cate Blanchett*

#1: Coffee Shop

Cate Blanchett wasn’t having the best day. In fact, it was one of the worst she’d had in a long time. The morning began with the finalization of her divorce, a draining emotional process she’d been dreading. As if that wasn’t enough, by the afternoon, she had to rush to Roman’s school because he’d gotten into a fight. The day was already unraveling, and it was only halfway through.

Now, back on the set of *Ocean's 10*, she felt utterly drained. The moment she arrived, Cate made a beeline for her trailer, desperate for a few minutes of peace. But the universe seemed to have other plans.

A knock at her door cut through the quiet. It was Sandra Bullock.

"Cate, you in there? We’re heading to that coffee shop down the block. Want to come along?" Sandra’s voice was gentle, as if she sensed Cate’s stress.

Cate hesitated. Part of her wanted to stay and wallow in her exhaustion, but she appreciated Sandra's thoughtfulness. "I think I’ll just stay here for now."

Sandy, however, wasn’t easily dissuaded. "Mind if I come in for a second?"

Cate sighed but relented. "Of course."

Sandra stepped inside and sat beside her. "Rough day?"

"You could say that." Cate forced a small smile. "I just need a moment."

Sandra gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I’ll give you that, but afterward, you’re coming with us to the coffee shop. A good cup of coffee might be just what you need."

Cate scoffed but knew Sandy well enough to realize she wouldn’t stop until she agreed. "Fine, fine. I’ll come."

Minutes later, Cate, Sandra, and a few of the other cast members were walking toward the coffee shop that had become the talk of the set. The crew had been buzzing about it for days, not just because of the coffee, but because of a particular server who seemed to have captivated everyone.

“I heard she’s working today,” one of the crew members whispered as they passed by.

“Who?” Sarah Paulson asked, intrigued.

“That girl from the coffee shop. They say she’s gorgeous.”

“Oh, really?” Anne Hathaway chimed in with a teasing grin.

As they reached the shop, they were met with a sign on the door: *Sorry, we’re closed*.

"What? Closed?" Sandra asked, frowning in confusion.

Just as they were about to turn around, the door swung open, revealing a young woman with a warm smile. Her eyes landed on Awkwafina, and her face lit up. "Nora! Hi! Oh, and hello to all of you! Why are you still standing there? Come in!"

"Hi, Y/N! Are you sure? The sign says closed," Nora asked, raising an eyebrow.

Y/N glanced at the sign and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, my brother must’ve put that up by mistake. Come on in!"

As the group entered, Cate found herself transfixed by Y/N. She couldn’t explain it, but there was something about the younger woman’s energy, her smile, that made Cate feel lighter for the first time all day.

Y/N noticed Cate’s lingering gaze and felt a rush of warmth. She wasn’t unused to attention, but something about Cate’s stare felt different—intense but not in an uncomfortable way. Her heart fluttered, but before she could dwell on it, she was called back to the counter to help a colleague.

As Y/N busied herself, Cate shook off her thoughts and tried to focus. But the feeling stuck with her—the strange yet pleasant warmth that had blossomed in her chest.

"What a look, Blanket," Sarah Paulson whispered, nudging Cate in the ribs.

Cate blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "What are you talking about?"

Sandy smirked from behind them. "I saw it too. You were practically undressing her with your eyes."

Cate felt her cheeks heat up. "Oh, stop it."

But she couldn’t deny it. There was something about Y/N, something that made Cate feel like a giddy teenager. And from the way Y/N had glanced at her earlier, she wondered if maybe—just maybe—the feeling was mutual.

"Alright, focus on your order, not on her," Sarah teased as she stepped up to the counter.

After Sarah ordered, it was Sandra’s turn. Ever the joker, Sandy leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Good afternoon, may I order one stunning coffee shop waitress for my friend here?" She gestured to Cate with a wink.

Cate’s eyes widened, mortified. "Sandy! Stop it!"

But Y/N only laughed, clearly not offended. "I’m afraid we don’t serve people here, but I can make you a great coffee."

Sandy grinned. "Good enough."

Finally, it was Cate’s turn. As she stepped up to the counter, she and Y/N locked eyes again. For a moment, the world seemed to slow. Cate’s heart raced, and for the first time in a long while, she felt nervous.

"Uh, can I take your order?" Y/N asked, her voice soft, almost shy.

Cate cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "Just a coffee, please."

As Y/N prepared the drink, Cate couldn’t help but admire her—her focus, the way her hands moved, her graceful ease. It was strange how much she felt drawn to her, and Cate couldn’t shake the feeling that Y/N was special in a way she hadn’t anticipated.

"Here you go, Cate," Y/N said with a smile, handing over the cup.

"Thank you," Cate replied, her fingers brushing against Y/N’s as she took the cup. A spark of electricity shot through her at the contact, and Cate found herself blushing again.

Y/N smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Hope to see you again."

Cate joined the rest of the group, feeling more flustered than she had in years. As they sat down, chatting about nothing in particular, Cate couldn’t resist checking her cup.

On the side, in neat handwriting, was her name: *Cate Blanchett*.

Below that was a phone number.

And a note: *Maybe next time we can talk a bit more instead of just staring? :)*

Cate’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced back at the counter, where Y/N was helping another customer. For the first time that day, she smiled—a genuine, unguarded smile. Maybe the day hadn’t been so bad after all.

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Question For Today Is (QFTI): Who is your favorite Actresses and why?

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