Behind The Counter/ Chace Crawford

Muffin

Months passed and the morning rush had given way to a steady stream of customers, and Tisch was deep in the rhythm of her routine. As the familiar hum of the espresso machine and the clinking of coffee cups filled the air, Tisch found herself in the kitchen, meticulously cleaning up after a particularly busy period.

The café had always been her sanctuary, her haven. The decision to open it had been influenced by her love for *Friends* and her dream of finding her own Chandler Bing. But today, as she scrubbed the counters, her thoughts were interrupted by Shane's voice calling out to her from the front of the café.

"Tisch, you might want to come out here," Shane said, his tone slightly teasing.

Tisch wiped her hands on a towel and walked out of the kitchen, her curiosity piqued. Shane and Mike, who had been working side by side, were exchanging amused glances.

"It's been two months since the last time Chace was with another blonde," Shane said, barely containing his grin. "You might want to do your dare now."

Tisch's eyes widened in surprise. The dare they had concocted a year ago had become a running joke among the staff. The rules were simple: if Chace—who had become known for his ever-changing parade of blonde companions and fake names—came in and ordered coffee with his real name for a full month or two, they would reward him with a coffee and a muffin. There was even talk of a "Certificate of Appreciation" for his cooperation.

She recalled the day they had first come up with the idea, sitting in the break room and laughing about how Chace's consistency with different names and dates was a café phenomenon. They had joked about how he would never stick around long enough to claim his reward.

With a resigned smile, Tisch nodded. "Alright, I'll get it ready. Just give me a moment."

She headed back to the kitchen, preparing the coffee and muffin with a mixture of apprehension and amusement. The thought of confronting Chace, especially after so long, felt oddly surreal. She finished packaging the reward and took a deep breath, bracing herself.

Shane and Mike watched her, their eyes twinkling with mischief and encouragement. They exchanged a quick nod, signaling her to go ahead. Tisch took another deep breath and walked out into the café, the small tray in her hands feeling heavier than it should.

As she approached Chace's usual spot, her nerves got the best of her. She found herself hesitating, glancing back at the couple behind the counter, who were now giving her an encouraging thumbs-up. Determined, she straightened her shoulders and walked over to Chace, who was absorbed in his laptop.

"Excuse me, Chace?" she said, her voice slightly wavering as she approached.

Chace looked up from his screen, his ocean-blue eyes meeting hers with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. "Yes?"

Tisch forced herself to maintain a firm smile, though she could feel the flush creeping up her cheeks. "We've been waiting for you to use your real name for a while now. So, here's a little reward for being honest." She handed him the coffee and muffin, her smile faltering slightly as she continued, "I hope you enjoy this, and I'm sorry if this seems a bit strange."

Chace stared at the tray in confusion, then glanced up at Tisch with a puzzled expression. "Is this a joke?"

Tisch's anxiety spiked as she realized how her actions might be misconstrued. "No, it's not a joke," she said quickly, looking down at her feet. "We just had a bet among ourselves. If you used your real name for a while, we'd give you a coffee and a muffin. It's kind of a silly thing we started."

Chace's confusion quickly turned to amusement. He laughed heartily, the sound echoing warmly through the café. "So, you've been keeping track of me for a year? That's pretty funny."

Tisch's face turned even redder. "I'm sorry if it seemed like I was making a big deal out of it. It was meant to be lighthearted. We're not trying to make you uncomfortable or anything."

"No, it's pretty endearing," Chace said, his laughter subsiding into a genuine smile. "I appreciate the reward. It's not every day you get something like this. I didn't realize I'd been the subject of a bet."

Tisch felt a wave of relief wash over her as she saw the warmth in Chace's smile. "I'm glad you think so," she said, her tone more relaxed now. "Enjoy your coffee and muffin."

As she turned to walk back to the counter, she could hear Shane and Mike laughing quietly, their earlier teasing now a cheerful backdrop to her embarrassment. The interaction had been awkward, but it had also broken a kind of ice that had been building between them.

The rest of the day passed with a lighter heart. Tisch was able to focus on her work with a new sense of ease, her earlier anxiety dissipating with each passing hour. The dare had been a whimsical idea, but it had brought a smile to her face and, surprisingly, to Chace's as well.