coffee + pick up lines; ryden au

one

It all started because Ryan needed a job.

Ryan had graduated in May, and yeah, the first week was pretty great. No homework, no annoying kids in the halls, no bitchy teachers, no boiled corn dogs for lunch, you get the gist.

But after a week life got pretty boring. Ryan didn't do anything besides play video games, drabble on his guitar, and write. Oh, and eat when Spencer reminded him to.

Spencer, being the motherfucking Mr. All Knowing he is, told Ryan to get a job. And he realized that he probably needed to get out of the house.

(Probably need to get out of the house, Ross?! Dude, you've been sitting in your room for the past three days and you've eaten nothing but double stuffed Oreos, you definitely need to get out of the house.)

So, that's all it took for Ryan to get a job.

He applied at the cute little picturesque coffee shop on the boulevard and he got the job. Two weeks later, here he is, serving up coffee and other treats on this ordinary Tuesday morning.

"Hey Ry, could you get up here and take orders? Gabe's here." William called from the front.

And that's all it took for Ryan to be darting up to the front, covering his eyes while doing so. He's learned from prior experience that Gabe being there meant extensive making out with Bill, and Ryan really didn't want to live through that again.

There was entire line of costumers, waiting to be served, and fucking Will has to go frolicking with Gabe. Ryan sighed softly.

"Hi, what will you be ordering today?"

***

Ryan looked around the shop, blinking at the light. The shop was dead now, so he pulled out a book and began reading.

Few minutes later, Will came strolling past the counter in his regular clothes.

"My shift's over, have nice afternoon or whatever." Will called out to him. Ryan glared at the back of his head.

He continued reading until he heard a familiar jingle at the doorway. Ryan kept his face hidden under the book and let his eyes slightly peek through.

It was a brown haired guy with chocolate eyes and he was glancing around the shop. He took a seat at one of the tables and glanced at his phone. Maybe he was waiting for someone, Ryan thought.

Ryan continued reading his book and the guy continued glancing around the shop. A couple minutes later, a tiny chime rang out and a grumble came four seconds later. The guy strides up to the counter and Ryan put his book to the side, because well, that'd be really rude if he didn't.

That's where everything went wrong.

Okay, that's actually not where everything went wrong, Ryan just always wanted to use that line because he's always been a little dramatic.

Ryan goes to say his "Hi, what would you like?" but it all catches in his throat when he sees the guy's expression change. It went from neutral, to awed and bliss, and then to a mix of awed and terrified. The poor guy looked like he was about to pass out.

Ryan eyed the brown haired man in concern.

"Uh sir?"

The boy's chocolate eyes looked up from his shoes. They widened, and a squeak escaped from his lips.

Okay, Ryan did not get proper training to deal with this shit. Pete asked him three questions and told him where the things were and that was it. The guy looked like he was having a panic attack, and Ryan's been through a shit ton of those, so he tried to calm him down.

As he opened his mouth to speak though, he was cut off by mumbled "I- uh- nevermind" and then the guy bolted out of the store.

Ryan stood there for four minutes and twenty seven seconds (Yes, he counted.) blinking and staring at the door where the boy dashed out, just minutes prior.

What had just happened? Was there something behind Ryan that triggered it? The guy looked fine until he looked at- Oh God.

Ryan had caused that panic attack on that poor guy. Now he was guilty because the guy was probably embarrassed and humiliated and Ryan had caused that on the boy. Man, Ryan really was a dick. Why hadn't someone punched him before?

Ryan was cut off from his thoughts as Spencer walked through the door, continuing the ritual of picking him up and going to his house.

"Hey Ryan, I just got the new Left 4 De- woah dude you okay?" Spencer looked slightly worried.

"Spence. Spence, I think I caused that kid an anxiety attack."

Spencer rolled his eyes fondly, opened the car door, and gave Ryan a look that said 'tell me everything'.