oneshots // newtmas

Better Than Coffee

    It was a Tuesday when Newt first saw the brunette barista who almost made him spit his coffee all over his shoes and spill the contents of his wallet across the floor. The way he laughed made every hair on Newt's arms stand up and when he asked him where he got his "maze runner" hoodie, Newt was ready to get on his knee and ask for his bloody hand in marriage. Newt always came to that quiet Barnes and Noble in the plaza by his house, it was his safe haven. However, Newt had never noticed the barista before that day. The boy had to be new because Newt came in at least once a week and the brunette had a face he most certainly would have remembered.

    Wednesday was the first day Newt started sitting at a new table. His new seat just happened to have the cash register settled perfectly in his line of vision. He sipped his mocha, smiling at the small scribbled handwriting on the side of the cup. The barista was turning out to be just a huge distraction, Newt noticed as he glanced down at the half written chapter outline spread out on the table in front of him. Normally he would have been done by now, but the boy's face was there and really, how could Newt not stare? Newt had an internal battle in his head, eventually deciding that his grades were more important than a boy who looked like god himself had crafted him out of marble. He packed up his stuff and tossed the half finished mocha in the garbage before walking out of the store. He could finish the outline in his dorm.

    It was Friday when Newt finally got a name. Thomas. The barista's name was Thomas. He had heard a strikingly pretty girl with hair as dark as Thomas' yell it at him when he was furiously scribbling down the notes his best friend, Minho, had sent him from the class he missed yesterday.
    "Thomas! Can you get out here please?!" The girl had shouted as a line started building up at the counter. Newt's head shot up, not a second too late, because he caught Thomas come scrambling out the swinging doors that led to the kitchen.
    "Sorry Teresa!" He apologized quickly as he started grabbing cups and pumping various syrups into them. "I couldn't find the chocolate chips!"
     She shook her head but Newt could see a small smile pull across her lips as she called the next customer in line to the register. "You better hope you drinks are as pretty as your face Tom, that's the only way I'll forgive you."
    Thomas threw an empty cup at her.

     Newt didn't see Thomas again til Monday. He went home over the weekend, deciding to visit his little sister Lizzy. Newt went through his usual routine, ordered his mocha and sat at his table, cracking open his anatomy textbook. He was powering up his laptop when a voice startled him, making him jump slightly in his seat.
     "Newt?"
     Newt looked up and almost choked. It was Thomas, smiling and holding his drink.
     "Yeah," Newt mumbled, probably seeming grumpier than he was.
     "I, uh, here's your..." Thomas trailed off as he placed the cup on the table.
     Newt cocked his head slightly. "I could have gotten it, you didn't have to bring it to me."
     Thomas almost looked hurt, but the smile that Newt swore could cure cancer, quickly reappeared back on his face like it never faltered in the first place.
     "I know, but you're a regular right? I thought I'd do something nice." Thomas elaborated as he gestured to the cup.
     Newt looked at him then back down at the cup, he was honestly at a loss for words.
     Thomas took the silence as a parting and awkwardly nodded before turning to leave.
     Newt cursed under his breath and watched the boy walk away. "Thanks Tommy."
     Thomas turned around, but Newt's face was already buried in his textbook, trying to hide his burning cheeks. Of course the first time he had a real conversation with the guy he had to make a complete fool of himself. Newt was so busy hiding his embarrassment, he missed the bright wide grin on Thomas' face.

     On Thursday Minho came with him. They had a test coming up and decided that two brains were better than one. Newt let Minho shove another table into his regular one, wincing at the scraping sound it made on the floor when he pushed it.
     "Alright Newtie, let's hit the books." Minho grinned as he smacked a pile of review sheets onto the table top.
     Newt rolled his eyes and pulled a pen out of his bag, uncapping it with his teeth. "No need to be bloody annoying."
     "You love it." Minho shot back as he picked up the textbook, holding it away from Newt so he couldn't see it. "Alright if the body is in anatomical position..."
     Newt toned out the rest of what Minho was saying because right at that moment, Thomas walked in. He put on his cap and tied his apron as Newt's eyes followed him the entire time.
     Newt jumped as Minho smacked the textbook down on the table. "Are you even listening to me?"
     Newt quickly nodded and gestured to the air around him in a desperate attempt to make some sort of answer pop up in his head. "Uh the left ventricle right?"
     Minho sighed and rested his forehead on the palm of his hand. "Newt I was asking you about the brain."
Shit.
     "Why are you so unfocused today?" Minho asked as he unscrewed the cap on his water bottle and took a sip.
     Newt shrugged and chewed on the end of his pen. He was about to come up with a completely bullshit excuse when Thomas walked by to clear an empty plate on the table next to them. He saw Newt and smiled. "Hey."
     Newt's eyes flickered to Minho then back to Thomas' as nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Hey Tommy."
     Thomas was barely even back behind the counter before Minho was talking Newt's ear off and smacking at his chest.
     "That's why you're distracted! You were eye-fucking him! Who is he?! He's hot Newt, if you don't go for him I certain-"
     "Slim it Minho!" Newt snapped, which caused to Asian's boy's eyebrows to shoot up.
     Newt sighed at Minho's expression and shook his head. "Sorry Min, can you just not embarrass me, please?"
     Minho genuinely looked shocked. "I never embarrass you!"
     Newt gave him a look and Minho pursed his lips. "Okay maybe there was that one time..."
     "Can we just get back to the heart or the brain or whatever you were asking me about?" Newt asked as he took a breath and risked one more glance in Thomas' direction.
     Minho nodded and cleared his throat obnoxiously. "If the body is in anatomical position..."
     Newt stared at Minho, trying to keep his mind on the textbook and not on the very nice to look at brunette barista who was bent over, picking up crumpled receipts from the floor because he'd certainly rather be studying that.