The Coffee Case ~ Cryde

The Coffee Case

Craig wiped down the counter with a damp rag, looking around at the scarcely populated coffee shop. Very few people came in, probably because of the nice weather outside Craig assumed. The coffee shop was dimly lit, with several low hanging light fixtures above tables. The walls were a deep scarlet with swirled patterns painted in gold, while the floors were simply black tile. The area behind the counter was small and often got very cramped when multiple people were working a shift. Luckily, since it was slow, Craig was working alongside a girl his age named Nicole. She was currently on her lunch break, leaving Craig alone at the counter.

Craig tossed the rag into the sink at the counter across from the front and glanced at the clock adorning the wall above said sink. It was nearing two, and Craig had been there since eleven. He sighed and planned out the rest of the afternoon in his head. He would work until four, maybe grab some dinner on his way back to his dorm for him and his roommate, then he'd spend the night working on his term paper. Hopefully it wouldn't take all night to finish. College was really starting to kick Craig's ass. He knew classes would be hard, but not this hard. He found himself with a hand on the counter leaning against it, when the jingle of the bell on the door hit his ears. He turned his head to glance at the door, his blue eyes meeting with those of the newcomer. He was tall with broad shoulders and brown eyes. His brown hair was mussed up in the I woke up like this style. God was he attractive. Craig noticed he was accompanied by another male, equal in height with ebony skin. The strangers strolled across the floor to the counter, and Craig found it difficult to look away from the brunette.

"Hi, what can I get you?" Craig said as the two reached the counter, deciding to turn on the charm. The brunette answered with a 'hi' and looked up at the menu to determine what he wanted. Craig leaned against the counter, looking at him.

"So, you come here often?" Craig managed to say flirtatiously. God he hoped he didn't sound stupid.

"What? Oh, uh, no. This is the first time I've been here." the brunette was obviously oblivious to Craig's attempt at flirting...or Craig was just terrible at it. He didn't even look away from the menu while he spoke. Brown eyes met blue as the visitor decided what he wanted. "I'll just a have a cafe mocha."

"Coming right up," Craig grabbed a cup from under the counter and a Sharpie marker from beside the register. "Can I get a name for that?" he asked, pulling off the cap to the marker.

"Clyde." Craig practically melted while listening to his voice as he scribbled down on the cup and set it down on the counter. He looked to Clyde's friend.

"And for you?"

The dark-haired male shook his head and muttered a 'no, I'm good." Craig nodded and capped the sharpie and swapped it for the cup. He walked to the coffee machine, giving Clyde a flirty smile, and started a fresh brew. Craig added the mocha flavoring to the cup and poured the coffee in along with it after it brewed. The stirred the two substances together and placed the lid on top. He brought the cup back to the counter and slid it across the counter to Clyde.

"What do I owe you?" the brunette rummaged through his wallet until Craig's hand rested itself atop his own.

"It's on the house." Craig smiled, letting his hand return to his side.

"Well, thank you,"Clyde smiled back and picked up his coffee and began to turn to leave. "Thank you."

"No problem. See ya again." Craig wanted to see him again, hopefully he'd catch his little hint.

Clyde and Token walked out is the coffee shop side-by-side. Clyde took a sip of his hot drink, his eyes scanning over the side of the cup. He raised an eyebrow at the writing on the side of the demitasse. He turned it in his hand and brought it up to eye level to read the scribbled hand writing.

"Hey, my name's not 213-"

"Clyde," the brunette looked over to his friend who has stopped walking and had his fingers pinching his nose in frustration. "It's his phone number! He was flirting with you the whole time." Clyde thought back to the coffee shop experience. The dark-haired employee had been extremely nice to him. Only then did Clyde pick up on Craig's flirting. Clyde groaned and mentally kicked himself. How was he so stupid that he couldn't even pick up on flirting?!

"At least I got his number!"