Look How Far We've Come

That Damn Golden Swoosh

6:45 am. Ugh it's too early, but today is the day. Well one of the days. May 18th. Cecidi's birthday. That baby. She is turning 25, so why not surprise her with her favorite Starbucks coffee before her first class at 9? My class starts at 8 so I have to get her's now.

The morning is cold, so I put on my light, gray coat and my black boots with the buckle on the side. Upon leaving the Loop Apartments, you can smell the water in the air. Eleven minute walk, through this. Yay, but it's for my C so it's worth it. I just hope it's still hot when I get back to our apartment.

There's always cars and people out and about in Chicago. The grey of the buildings is much darker than the grey of the sky. As I walk past solemn faces on North Jefferson, I pick up the sound of rubber on wet roads. Left to Madison, right onto Clinton street and we have arrived!

Inside is warm and somewhat busy already. There's a man in a grey suit and black hair ordering now. A woman with blonde waves receiving four cups in a carrier as her tan Coach purse falls off her shoulder into the crook of her arm. A guy with a brown man-bun and a girl with auburn curls smiling at something on their Apple laptop in the corner. And a redish-blondish guy with a Star Wars shirt and wavy bangs waiting in line. Upon standing behind the nerdy kid, I realize he's about my age and hella tall. Well everyone is tall to my 5' 3.75". He looks strangely familiar, and that's saying a lot for living in Chicago. Hmm. Maybe he's just got one of those faces.

I was too busy thinking of my height and that hair to notice it was my turn to order. I ask the barista for a grande hot chocolate for Lex and a coffee frappichino for "Birthday Girl." I stand awkwardly looking around as I wait. The boy in front of me is looking at his phone. I swear I know him. When he laughs at something, his golden swoosh bangs bounce out of place then right back to where they were...

He reminds me of a kid Ceci used to date, but he wouldn't be in Chicago... I think...

"Baker?"

IT IS HIM!! He gets his hot chocolate from the barista and smiles almost painfully with timidness. Dear goodness.

Baker (or to me, Bake) is... was an innocent minded, parent-approved, nerd. He was so sweet and respectful. He and Ceci were the cutest thing you ever did see. But when graduation rolled around, they decided that maybe one day, but the long distance thing wasn't for them.

I need to stop him and get C down here.

They are my OTP (one true pairing), well one of them. Bake-C will strike again!! Those two nerds were so disgustingly cute it physically hurt me to watch them say goodbye.

I take out my phone and text C quickly. 'Hey. I know it's early and happy birthday. BUT COME TO STARBUCKS on Clinton as soon as you can.'

Sent. Good. Alright. Now's my chance to stall.

"So your name is Baker? It's an interesting name. I once had a friend named Ba--"

"Lexie, I recognize you." He tilts his head and blinks slowly in a knowing fashion.

"DAMNIT." The couple on the Mac flick their eyes our direction. Bake only gives a shoulder jerk and a chuckle. "Shut it."

He smiles a bit. "So, can I expect to see Ceci walk through those doors in ten minutes?"

I purse my lips and look at my phone. The message has been read. I grin at my phone like an idiot and nod, "Perhaps."

Within fifteen minutes, the door opens, letting in a slight breeze to our table. I look over Bake's shoulder to see a 5' 7" thin, brown haired, freckled girl with black leggings, brown UGG boots, and a tan cable knit sweater. I grin widely and stand to meet her.

"Lexie, it's 7 in the morning and I don't have class until 9. What could possibly be so important?"

I smile and grab her arms lightly. "Two things. I got you your favorite coffee," I glance at the cup on the table, "and I found you a BAKEd good." The ridiculous grin widens at the joke.

We used to make jokes and puns about his name in high school. How could you not when you've got a buddy named "Baker"?

A look of confusion and "what are you saying?" spreads across her freckles, but it melts away when I hear the rustle of someone standing up behind me. I turn out of the way and stand beside C. It's like a movie scene, the way her blue eyes look into his greenish-blueish-I don't even know eyes.

"Hi."

"Hi."

I haven't stopped grinning. My cheeks hurt but it's totally worth the pain. I take my hot chocolate and back out of the shop. As I turn for a final look, I see her sit down and him sit across from her. Both faces not as they are now, but as they were ten years ago. Happy, young, and awestruck.