❁starbucks❁

❁seven❁

It was a cold and dark afternoon in Minneapolis. Snow was gracefully falling from the sky onto the passing cars and people as the city prepared for the holidays ahead.

And Nini was driving to Starbucks. Like always, it seemed like. To get her last cup of coffee from Ricky for two whole weeks. She felt butterflies in her stomach. Nini didn't know why she was nervous, but she accepted her emotions and took a breath to attempt control of them. She hummed along to Harry Styles' Sign of the Times as she pulled in to the parking lot. When she got out of her car, she instantly felt the snow falling onto her dark hair. When Nini opened the door to the Starbucks, the smell of coffee and the warmth of the heater ushered her inside.

"Hey, Nini! Have fun with your family. Ricky told me you'd be gone." Ashlyn greeted her.

"Thanks, Ashlyn! Happy holidays!" Nini smiled as she stepped in line for her drink.

"Hiya, Nini!" Ricky smiled at her when it was finally her turn at the register.

"Hey, Richard." Nini responded.

"Lemme just grab your drink and I'll go on my break. Just sit, sit!" Ricky waved her away as he punched away her 4.58. Nini obliged as she sat at her normal spot at the bar, waiting for Ricky. He soon arrived, with two drinks in hand.

"Who's the other one for?"

"Me. I need coffee too."

There was comfortable silence for a moment before Nini spoke up.

"Sorry I'll have to cheat on Starbucks while I'm away."

"I'll give you permission just this once." Ricky laughed. "How much time do we have to talk before you have to get back there?"

"I gave myself enough time to hang out with you on your break. So when it's done, I'll leave."

Ricky groaned. "God, you're so cute when you're being smart." Nini felt her face get red as she nervously giggled.

"Thanks. It really isn't that smart. It's called effective time management."

"I would have no idea." Ricky laughed.

"Figures." She paused. "Is your apartment messy or clean?"

Ricky looked at her and laughed. "What?"

"I don't know. You seem like a person who would have an organized mess of an apartment."

"Your guessing skills are impeccable. Because that is exactly what it's like." He laughed. "And you seem like a person whose apartment is, like, mental asylum clean."

"My half of the dorm is. My roommate, Kourtney, is an entirely different story." Nini giggled. "You two would probably bond over being messy."

"I'm not even that messy! Come to my apartment sometime and I'll prove it to you."

This caught Nini off guard. Inviting her to his place? They had never been together outside of his place of employment.

Not that Nini didn't want to go. Because she definitely, definitely did.

"Maybe. When I'm back." Nini smiled. This answer seemed to satisfy Ricky.

"I'll hold you to that, Nina." He smiled. Shock waves ran through Nini's veins. "So. What's Christmas vacation like in the Salazar-Roberts clan?"

"My grandma comes over. My moms cook and do 800 puzzles. We play board games. Child cousins come over for Christmas dinner and wreak havoc on our house. I retire to my room to stop them from climbing on me. Adults argue about politics at some point. They leave." Nini giggled.

"Sounds interesting. And fun. Christmas at my place is just me and my parents. Our extended family lives way out of state." Ricky said, sipping his beverage.

"Our holidays are hectic, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Keeps it all interesting, you know?" Nini said. "Plus, I get to read a ton of books."

"We have very different definitions of fun. I'm just gonna watch a ton of YouTube and Netflix."

"That's fine too. I probably will indulge myself in a few episodes of Gilmore Girls and the Office."

"I've never seen Gilmore Girls but I love the Office! It's so funny."

"Right." Nini smiled and looked at the clock. "It's been fifteen minutes, Ricky."

He put a hand to his heart jokingly. "It's almost like you want me to leave." He said, mocking a wounded gasp.

"I just don't want you in trouble!" Nini laughed. He stood up to leave.

"Bye, Nini."

"Bye, Ricky."

a bit of a shorter filler today! there will be a longer one next time because i have an idea that i am really excited to write about ! also!! thank you so much for 1k reads and all the votes and comments! i appreciate them a lot! :)