Tea Guy

Pay your own popcorn

The next day after work you went to the cafe to have your usual tea, hoping to meet Tom again. You'd given him your number yesterday but he hadn't called or texted you- of course, he might've been busy. Maybe he'd call now.

It was Friday, so you left work early, and he probably wasn't done filming yet. He played a rather big role in the movie they were filming. You were pretty excited to see it when it reached the public.

Since it was only four o'clock there were barely any customers at the cafe; most people worked until five. You sat in the corner with a cup of Earl Grey and went through some notes for the story you were writing at home. Your thoughts often ran away with you during boring parts of work and you ended up getting a great idea that you had to write down, and today had provided you with plenty.

You muttered a little to yourself while sipping your tea and, hoping it would be Tom, looking up every time the clock rang as the door opened, but he didn't show up.

At last, you'd been sitting there for an hour. You stuck your tongue out at a kid who was staring at you and when he turned away you stuffed your notes into your handbag and were about to leave when your phone beeped. On the screen was a text message from number you didn't recognise.

Hello, darling, it's Tom. Want to go watch a movie tonight?

You heart skipped a beat. Yes, yes, of course you did! You smiled and replied,

I'd love to, when and where and what movie?

While waiting for his reply you added his number as a contact named "Tea Guy". You had funny names for all your contacts, for example your mum was "Master Ovary" and your dad "Master Testicle". "Tea Guy" was actually a rather nice name compared to the things in your contact book.

While you were getting up, Tom sent you the details and suggested an action movie. You replied positively and asked for a time to meet up.

In an hour outside the cinema?

You frowned, only one hour to get there. You'd make it but you had to hurry. While walking towards the exit you replied,

Cool, see you there!

And then you hurried home.

You unlocked the door and stepped in while pulling the keys out of the lock in one motion. Whipping around, you threw the keys on a little table by the door, above which the mirror hung, and glanced at yourself in the mirror. You cursed; you needed a shower.

You stripped on your way to the shower, perhaps a bit more effective than sexy, but nobody was watching anyway. Throwing your bra off, you started the water and ripped out some makeup while it was getting warm.

After beating Tom's record in quick showering you blew the dust off one of the mascaras and eyed it suspiciously.

'Are you expecting me to know how to put it on?' your mind asked and you had to admit it had a point. Damn, you were crazy. You left the makeup in the bathroom and hurried to your bedroom where you pulled out some nice clothes and even a dress which you hadn't known you owned until now.

"What the fuck?" you asked yourself loudly while rummaging through the drawers with clothes and finding nothing acceptable.

'What if he comes there all dressed up and I show up in jeans?' you thought to yourself and glanced at the dress. You hadn't worn a dress in years and weren't planning to anytime soon. Damn, he'd better be good if you're wearing a dress for him...

At last, you settled for a pair of pale, tight jeans and a white t-shirt, hoping it didn't look too sloppy. You chose the sexiest underwear you owned in case of and nodded to yourself in front of the mirror.

And now you had fifteen minutes to do a twenty minute drive. You cursed and threw a white jacket on while stepping into your sneakers and running out, only to return seconds later for your car keys, cursing loudly while you ran up the stairs.

You lived on the first floor of a three floor building and the stairs were faster than the elevator, but they were exhausting. You were panting when you finally got into your little red Mini Cooper, a present from Master Testicle, and started it. You left the parking lot with a roar and raced through London.

After parking nearby and half running to the cinema, you found Tom nervously waiting outside. Thankfully, he wasn't dressed up; jeans and a blue shirt. You found yourself longing to rip that shirt off and ignored your sexy fantasies while scolding your sex drive.

"Hello," you greeted him and he smiled.

"You're late."

You swallowed and looked at your clock.

"Only a few minutes, right...?"

He laughed.

"Yes, only a few minutes, but after yesterday I got the impression that you were quite good at keeping time."

You smiled nervously.

"Depends how much time I have, today I was in a hurry," you explained. "I broke your record in fast showering."

He laughed that "ehehe" laugh and suggested you walk in. You agreed and you both entered the cinema. To your surprise, he'd already bought you a ticket, and when you insisted on paying him back he refused. At last, you gave up, but you paid your own popcorn.

The movie was great. While walking out of the cinema, you and Tom had a wild discussion about the hero, which led to talk about other heroes, and that couldn't possibly lead anywhere but to the Avengers, and who plays the villain in that movie?

You went for a walk in the moonlight while discussing Marvel and you talked about your comic collection at home. Tom mentioned that it would be interesting to see it sometime, and when you agreed you realised that meant he would come home to you. The plain thought made your knees shake; Tom Hiddleston in your apartment? It was about as impossible as... something impossible.

Tom walked with long strides which you had to fight to keep up with; his legs were much longer than yours. You only reached his chin in height. He seemed not to notice how you were almost jogging to keep up with him.

At last, you had to beg him to slow down and he excused himself.

"I'm sorry, darling, I didn't think, I'm sorry, I'll slow down..."

You laughed.

"Don't say sorry, it's alright, just don't run away from me," you joked and he laughed.

You walked into a park and continued in silence for a while. He walked slower now and had his hands in his pockets, pondering something, if you judged the frown on his face correctly.

Then again, you weren't good at reading people.

Suddenly, he stopped and turned to you.

"How about Sunday, 8 o'clock at Berners Tavern?"

You swallowed. That was a fine restaurant, one of the finer of London's, and way out of your league.

"I can't afford that," you admitted quietly and looked down. He chuckled that breathing laugh again and lifted your chin with a gentle movement. His warm hand left your cheek to rest on your hip as he moved closer.

"I'll pay," he said quietly. You heart was pounding in your ears; he was so close. If you wanted to you could kiss him.

If you wanted to? Of course you did! But you didn't know how to kiss! What if he wanted more after that? What if-

"Darling? Is that alright?"

You could feel his breath hit your lips, that's how close you were. You swallowed and nodded in response.

"I'll make it up to you somehow," you said and started searching for a good way to repay a dinner at such a restaurant. What he said next made your heart jump.

"Your company is enough, love."