Epiphany

17

Clara was halfway through folding laundry when Penelope Garcia's cheery voice chimed through the phone. Before she could fully protest, Garcia had convinced her to go out for coffee. "You've been cooped up for far too long, my dear Clara," Garcia had declared. "You need caffeine, pastries, and sunlight—all in that order."

Reluctantly, Clara agreed. An hour later, Garcia's brightly coloured car pulled up outside Clara's apartment. True to her style, Penelope's outfit was vibrant, and her energy was contagious.

When they arrived at the café, Clara froze in the doorway. She recognized it immediately. The warm smell of freshly brewed coffee and the cozy ambiance were the same as when she'd first met Beck. Her heart did an awkward flip as her eyes scanned the room—and there he was, standing behind the counter with his signature easygoing smile.

"Clara?" Penelope's voice broke through her thoughts. "You okay, hon?"

"Yeah," Clara lied quickly, forcing a smile. "It's... nothing."

They joined the line, and soon Beckett noticed her. His surprise was evident, but his grin widened as he stepped closer. "Clar," he said warmly, his tone light. "Didn't expect to see you here again."

Penelope perked up, immediately intrigued. "Oh, you two know each other?"

Clara's cheeks turned crimson as she avoided eye contact. "We've... met," she mumbled.

"Beckett," he introduced himself, offering Penelope a charming smile. "And you are?"

"I'm Penelope, Clara's fabulous friend," she replied, giving him a once-over. "And you're... Beckett. Hmm."

"Penelope," Clara hissed under her breath, feeling more embarrassed by the second.

Beckett chuckled, unfazed. "What can I get for you two today?"

As they ordered, Beckett's attention flickered back to Clara occasionally, his curiosity evident. After they sat down with their drinks, Penelope leaned across the table with a mischievous smirk. "Okay, spill. Who's the cute barista, who calls you clar and why do you look like you want to melt into the floor?"

Clara sighed, stirring her coffee unnecessarily. "He's just a guy I met here before. It's not a big deal."

Penelope raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Honey, if the blush on your face is anything to go by, it's a bigger deal than you're letting on awww you two would be so cute together."

Clara groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Can we please talk about literally anything else?"

"Fine, fine," Penelope said with a playful wink. "But I'm officially invested in this saga."

Clara couldn't help but laugh a little despite her embarrassment. As the two chatted, she caught Beckett glancing her way a few more times, and for the first time in a while, she didn't feel quite as heavy.

As Clara and Penelope stood by the café door, preparing to leave, Beckett caught sight of them. Quickly, he stepped out from behind the counter, calling her name.

"Clar!"

She turned, startled, and Beckett was already walking toward her, his smile a mix of confidence and nervousness. Penelope raised an eyebrow but wisely stepped aside, pretending to check her phone while keeping a watchful eye.

"Hey," Beckett said, stopping just a few feet from Clara. "I, uh... I was wondering if I could ask you something?"

Clara tilted her head, confused and curious. "Sure. What's up?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his earlier confidence faltering slightly. "Would you want to grab dinner with me sometime? Like, a real date."

Clara blinked, caught off guard. She glanced briefly at Penelope, who was grinning like she'd just witnessed the most entertaining part of her day.

"I—um," Clara stammered, her cheeks flushing. "Yeah, I guess that could be nice."

Beckett's smile grew. "Great. How about Friday? I can pick you up?"

"Okay," she said softly, still trying to process the unexpected turn of events. "Friday works."

"Awesome. Just text me your address," Beckett said, his grin now fully confident. "I'm looking forward to it."

He handed her a slip of paper with his phone number, and Clara nodded, clutching it tightly as she turned to leave. Penelope immediately looped an arm through hers, whispering gleefully, "I told you this saga was going somewhere!"

Clara groaned, shaking her head with a mix of embarrassment and excitement as they walked back to the car.

Penelope Garcia could barely contain her excitement as she and Clara walked back to the car. She was practically bouncing with energy, a wide grin plastered across her face.

"Oh my gosh, Clara!" Garcia squealed, clutching Clara's arm. "A date! A real date with a totally dreamy barista! This is like something out of a rom-com!"

Clara groaned, pulling her jacket tighter against the chilly breeze. "Penelope, it's just dinner. It's not that big of a deal."

"Not that big of a deal?" Penelope gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart like she'd been mortally wounded. "Clara, you haven't smiled like that in ages. Don't think I didn't notice."

Clara tried to suppress the small smile tugging at her lips but failed. "I'm not smiling."

"Oh, you so are," Garcia teased, poking her playfully in the side. "And you deserve this, you know. After everything, it's about time you let yourself have a little fun."

Clara sighed, her expression softening. "I don't even know what I'm doing. It's been a while since I've... done this kind of thing."

Penelope gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Just be yourself, Clara. Beck clearly likes you for a reason. And if he doesn't treat you like the absolute queen you are, well... let's just say the BAU has ways of handling that."

Clara laughed despite herself, shaking her head at Garcia's over-the-top theatrics. "Thanks, Penelope. You're the best."

"Don't you forget it," Garcia replied with a wink as they reached the car. "Now, let's plan your outfit for Friday

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Yall i did it i finally updated 

are u proud of me xx