Okay, he's got this, it's going to be a piece of cake. He's not nervous, he's asked people out plenty of times before, no biggie. He just needs to stroll up to you, lean casually against the counter where you're working, and just ask the question, right?
Hey, you, me, some popcorn, maybe a movie, sound good?
No, god, that's terrible.
Okay, so, new strategy. Maybe he can be slick about it, ask if you like, uh, cheese? You would just look at him like he's an idiot, but what do you like? He's known you for a year now, mainly because he keeps coming back to this coffee shop in an effort to talk to you. He wonders if he's that obvious.
You glance up from behind the counter, giving him a smile as you see him in line. He gives a small, awkward wave in response before nervously rubbing his palms against his jeans, wondering if he's going to make a fool of himself.
He doesn't particularly like the coffee here, so if you say no, it's not going to bother him to never show his face around there again. Still, he hopes you don't say no, he likes you; you're funny, you're into the same stuff as him, you like discussing tattoos and music, but you always smell like coffee beans --- or maybe it's just that he's never seen you out of this shop and everything smells like coffee beans.
Oh god, you rang another person up, he doesn't have much time. He thought he had a plan, he'd been thinking it over for a few days, but now he can't remember anything! His entire script went out the door the moment he saw you there, looking cute in your green apron, your multi-colored hair lightly twirled in a bun at your nape. You were just tapping at the register, the lights gleaming off the piercings in your ears, and it's like Ryan just lost his mind and drooled instead.
He went full caveman.
Do you like cavemen? He hopes so.
He clears his throat nervously as he takes another step, one person left in front of him. The clock is ticking, but he's gotta do this, this is his moment. He's gonna ask you out, it's gonna go great, you're gonna date for the next ten years and it'll be the best decade of his life --- Ryan and Coffee Girl, as his friends refer to you as. They know he's been mooning after you for a while, and after some casual social media stalking, he knows you're not dating anyone, which is why he garnered the courage to ask you out.
Well, he thought he had the courage, but maybe he's actually a coward.
You turn your bright smile on him, and Ryan realizes in horror that he's up next, he's the person who has to get coffee now. He hesitantly moves forward, his eyes focused completely on you as your fingers hover above the register keys.
"Hey, same as usual?" You ask, fingers poised to punch in his order. He always gets the same thing, he's kind of predictable, but you know he doesn't really like the drink; he always grimaces when he tries it. You've offered that there's plenty of other options for him to try, but he always just shakes his head.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Ryan bobs his head, swallowing as he tries to casually lean his arm against the counter, hoping it doesn't go out from under him and he bonks his forehead on the surface instead --- a concussion would be so embarrassing. "Same as always."
"You know you can try something different," you say, just like you always do when he visits once a week. "Trust me, I think you'd like some of the sweeter drinks."
"You know what? You're right. Surprise me." Ryan says after a moment, and you arch one perfectly styled brow at him.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Something new sounds... sounds good." He clears his throat, wondering if he's giving off the nonchalant vibe that he's trying for. He shifts a little, reaching for his wallet out of his backpocket, the silver chain keeping it attached to his jeans. He offers you his card as you ring up his mystery drink, and you quickly swipe it through the machine, the lights glinting off the dark glitter on your nails.
"You have a busy day today?"
"Not too bad, but we don't get too much business on Wednesdays. It's slower around this time," you reply, seeing as there's no one else in line behind him. He always comes in like clockwork, you kind of expect to see him. "I could almost skip my shift and no one would notice."
Oh? Really?
Ryan takes a breath. Here's his opening, here's his chance; brain, do your best! "We could always skip out, y'know, get some... coffee or something."
You snort. "You want to get coffee?"
Oh shit.
Why the hell did he just ask that, you work in a coffee shop!
Brain did not do it's best!
"Ah, y'know, just ---," Ryan shrugs his shoulders awkwardly, stumbling over his words nervously. "Ah, kidding. It would be weird to get coffee, you're probably sick of it. Hah," he rubs the back of his neck, his face turning bright pink.
You bite your lip, handing his credit card back to him. "How about we get dinner instead, Friday night, at the Italian restaurant beside the movie theater?"
"Oh." Ryan blinks, curling his fingers around the hard plastic. "You want dinner?"
"And maybe a movie, so long as you don't suggest coffee to me ever again," you reply, offering his receipt with a grin. "I'll meet you there. Do you want my number?"
"Yes." His answer is immediate, and his face brightens as you rattle your number off to him.
Holy shit, it worked! You want to go out with him! He did great, he swept you right off your feet, it's gonna be a great story to tell his grandchildren one day!
But... wait.
Are you the one who just asked him out?
