C'est Toi • Shawn Mendes (Coffee Shop AU)

Chapter SEVEN

Wednesday - January 23, 2019 - 22:31

I left my sketchbook at the coffee shop. Oh my God, I left my sketchbook at the coffee shop.  Was I really that dumb to listen to Ella and go through with her ridiculous plan? Apparently I was and I can't believe it...I can't believe I left my sketchbook in the coffee shop.

Oh my God. 

___

The last time I was at Brightside this early was over the weekend when Ella dragged me out of my room; after I promised Shawn I would see him 'tomorrow' after my incompent rambling in the midst of asking his name. They opened at seven-thirty every morning––Except on Sundays, they opened at eight.

I'm not sure what compelled me to get up an hour earlier than I usually did on a Wednesday. And I don't know why I decided to stop in Brightside before my class when I always either stopped in between my classes, for a much needed break, or after I was done for the day.

And when I walked in, hearing the familiar chime of the bell above me, I stopped right in the middle of the doorway and realized why I always came at my "designated" hours. The chime of the bell was too loud and it echoed in the absolutely empty coffee shop. And it was too late to slowly walk backwards and retreat as if I'd never opened the door.

Lola looked up from drying the counter with a rag––a beautiful smile on her face that made her green eyes shine bright––until she saw it was me.

Her demeanor completely changed.

Lola's shoulders tensed up, her knuckles turned white from gripping the rag too tight, her smile transformed into a straight line, and like all of the other time's I've seen her...She was glaring at me.

With a sigh, knowing I couldn't turn around, I slowly stepped into Brightside––took way too much time making sure the door was properly closed––and sluggishly made my way to the front counter.

I hiked my bag higher up on my shoulder as Lola and I stared at each other in a very uncomfortable silence.

"McLane," She said my name with so much distaste that I felt my left eye twitch, "What can I get for you."

I forced myself to smile at her, but I think it came out more as a grimace, "Lola, hi," I tried to sound upbeat for it being eight-oh-three on a Wednesday morning, "How are you?"

She leaned back slightly, looking a little taken aback by my offer of small talk.

"I––Fine," She picked up a yellow cup from the stack next to the register, "What can I get for you?"

I nodded my head, understanding that the pleasantries were only one-sided, "A latte with oat milk, please."

She didn't even bother writing my name on the cup; just an 'L' in a circle with oat written on the side. She placed the cup down on the counter and rang up my order on the register. After a few clicks, she looked up at me with disinterested eyes, "That'll be three-fifty."

It was like I was switched on autopilot as I pulled a five note out of my bag. Lola was just about to take the note from my grasp when I really registered her words––Three-fifty––and I pulled the money away just as she was about to take it.

Lola glared at me for an entirely different reason now.

"Three-fifty?" I asked with a tilt of my head.

Lola eyed the five note that I had hanging in the air, "Yes," she huffed out, "Three pounds and fifty pence."

I had been coming here for nearly a month and had never paid more than three pounds for a coffee. I knew Lola didn't like me, but I didn't think she would try and upcharge me.