Phan Coffee One-Shot

Phan One-shots

I am, and always have been, an avid drinker of Starbucks coffee. Something about the rich flavor of mass production and capitalization off of beloved holidays enhances the already sweet taste of my caramel macchiato. Coffee in itself is something I can't function without, going beyond a want and far deeper into the waters of necessity, so when I woke up late one day a few weeks ago before class getting any kind of caffeine into my system was an emergency. I quickly grabbed my linguistics textbooks and rucksack, before rushing out of the door and into the crisp autumn air, not bothering to style my fringe. The brisk morning wind hit my face harshly as I started my speed walk. My tired muscles ached slightly, unaccustomed to the sudden burst of physical activity. I had only minutes before class began and the Starbucks essential to my typical routine would, due to distance as well as popularity at this hour, only further ensure my tardiness. I mentally wagered to see if my on brand macchiato was worth it, and ultimately the fear of my strict professor won out. From this point I compromised and began to seek out an alternate means of caffeination, before finally finding a small indie-style shop in the midst of downtown York.

I pushed through the door quickly, and was immediately hit by the almost tangibly thick odor of coffee grounds. Notes from a soft piano echoed throughout the shop, and the temperature difference was immediately noticeable. The warmth of the building was enveloping like a familiar hug, and it slowed my racing mind. I approached the barista and quickly ordered, ignoring the chalkboard menu hanging above. He took my name, I paid, and began to lightly pace as it was prepared, becoming more and more nervous as the time progressed. I looked up after what felt like minutes but in actuality was only seconds in order to further take in the environment around me, previously unabsorbed other than initial impression due to a the slew of anxiety clouding my mind. I scanned the room, seeing nothing but expected rustic decor until my eyes hit the large oak piano, but more importantly, the figure piloting it. He was a deep black corduroy sweater, cut only by pale skin and curly brown hair that cascaded around his face, softening and almost invalidating the harshness of his outfit. He was my age or little younger, but I didn't recognize him from uni. If I previously had seen someone like this I would recognize them.

His expression was soft and appeared to be lack of concentration, making the music soft music from the piano sound even more effortless. He was undeniably attractive in a physical sense, but even from across the room I could feel a comforting kind of magnetism radiating off of him that was drawing me in.

"Phil?" The barista's calling of my name cracked through the shop, completely knocking me out of the trance of staring I had been in. I jumped at the sound, almost yelping, causing the stranger I had been practically ogling to look up at me. My eyes met his, and they were as soft and welcoming as his surrounding glow. He smirked slightly at my reaction, and I felt my face flood with warmth, a tell tale sign that my face had entirely flushed with a deep crimson. Butterflies exploded into my stomach. I turned quickly, grabbing my coffee cup and thanking the barista before again pushing out of the heavy door and back into the British elements.

I managed to make it to class just in the nick of time. Not that it mattered anyway, because I spent the entire lecture period thinking about the boy in the coffee shop. His soft and calming eyes, the glowing energy that seemed to radiate off him and the talent he so clearly exuded. Something about him was strangely magnetic, and I felt drawn to his presence. I am not typically such a romantic, but I couldn't get him off of my mind. I knew I had to go back.

The next morning I woke up almost an hour early intentionally, hoping that if I spent a longer period of time in the shop I might be able to encounter the stranger I found so incredibly captivating the day before. Thunder clapped through the sky with an intensity that seemed to almost shake my residence hall. This was not unusual weather for York so I continued my day comfortably, grabbing my umbrella and things for my class before heading out the door into the storm, in the opposite direction of the Starbucks. Once I made it to the shop, I again heaved open the heavy door. There he was again, in the same place as he had been yesterday. I ordered my drink, and proceeded to find a seat close to him, hoping to not look creepy in the practically empty shop. Once I was within just feet of him, I realized he ordered a caramel macchiato too. I sat in a seat beside the piano. He continued his melody, and I nervously fidgeted with the straw in my drink. He momentarily paused to pick up his coffee from the floor and take a sip. Silence for a moment echoed through the shop, and I knew it was my chance. I mustered all my courage.

"You're incredibly talented" I murmured as though a louder tone would frighten him away.

"You might enjoy it more if you relax a little bit, you seem so tense. I'm Daniel." He smiled without entirely looking at me, feigning being more focused on the coffee in his hands. I shifted slightly in my chair, face blushing lightly at the uncomfortably upright posture my spine had previously been assuming.

"Fair, I'm Phil" I giggled, extending my hand. "Where did you learn to play like that?"

"A few lessons when I was younger mostly, but the rest was just self-taught." He replied, almost beaming with pride over this fact.

"That's really cool, I'm entirely lost when it comes to the realm of music. I think my fingers would just be too clumsy for something so intricate" I laughed, "I've never tried though, I'd probably wreck the thing."

"I'm sure that isn't true, you can't say that about something you've never tried. Come here" He gestured in his direction, scooting over on the small wooden bench. My heart began beating intensely within my chest, with my rib cage seemingly being the only thing keeping it from beating outside of my body like a cartoon character. I plopped down on the seat next to him, inhaling and slightly taking in his scent. He definitely had the classic and wonderful "boy smell", slightly musky yet clean

"Now what Beethoven?" I teased sarcastically. This time he blushed slightly. Score. "Okay, put your fingers here and here." He directed, pointing to a collection of different keys. "We'll start with some basic chords." He put his slightly larger hands on top of mine, guiding them gently. My heart could've exploded at the contact, and my brain was in this moment almost overwhelmed with stimulus. His lightly calloused hands pressed on top of mine, his warmth next to me that kept drawing me closer.

We played like this for awhile, laughing the whole time. Talking to him was easy, and my nervousness went away. We talked about everything, from our lives outside the small coffee shop to our favorite pieces of art and video games. His presence was so kissable, yet comfortable. I ended up missing class that day, staying within the warmth of the coffee shop, intoxicated by the energy of the boy sitting beside me. Touching me. It was entirely worth it.

I rolled over in bed this morning, my hand lazily searching for the familiar lump on the right side of the bed. Nothing. I sat up, rubbing my groggy eyes before putting my glasses on. I took a deep breath before standing up, the inklings of mocha filling my nose. I shuffled out of the room and into the illuminated kitchen to find my boyfriend preparing two mugs of coffee for us. I came up behind the slightly taller boy, wrapping my arms around his waist and nuzzling my head into his back.

"Good morning Philly" Dan said softly, wrapping his arms around mine and squeezing slightly.

"I love you"

"I love you too" He finished and turned his head to mine and kissing me deeply, smiling into it.

I don't go to Starbucks anymore. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello! I don't think anyone is reading this, but if you are: Thank you so much, and please leave some constructive criticism or a review of this one-shot! It's my very first and I'm sure it's rough, but I really want to improve so it would be massively appreciated. :) love u