The Coffee Order
Lexa straightened her posture again, folding and unfolding her hands on the table. She glanced at her watch for maybe the hundredth time since arriving at the coffee shop just off campus. 7:23 PM. Clarke was due to arrive for their date in seven minutes.
Lexa tediously readjusted the fresh cup of coffee once again, nudging it slightly to the left to ensure the logo was positioned correctly. She wrapped her hands around her steaming cup of tea, allowing the warmth to seep into her body as if the heat would burn away her nerves. When her present course of action didn’t work, she dropped her head to the cold wooden table mumbling to herself, “Get a grip, Woods. It’s only a date with the woman of your dreams. There’s no need to panic.”
“There’s no need to panic about what?”
Lexa popped her head straight up at the sound of that voice. She felt the corners of her mouth begin their inevitable tilt upwards at the sight of Clarke Griffin standing in front of her. Clarke just smirked as she pulled out the chair across from her and situated herself, apparently waiting for an answer.
“What?”
Clarke chuckled again, and the playful little roll of her eyes nearly had Lexa sighing at the sight. “You look beautiful. I love that color on you.”
Lexa involuntarily tugged at the hem of her blue shirt and quickly cleared her throat. She gestured towards the cup in front of Clarke. “I ordered for you. I hope you don’t mind.”
Clarke’s eyebrows nearly hit her hairline, but she quickly reached for her coffee and took a grateful sip. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she hummed as the coffee undoubtedly warmed her chest. Lexa just smiled at the sight, entirely content to make Clarke feel good.
“Thank you,” Clarke said as she set her cup back on the table. “This is my absolute favorite. How did you know that?”
“I’ve been on road trips with the soccer team for the past two years. You always order a quad grande flat white with one pump of vanilla,” Lexa stated with a wave of her hand. “What?”
“Nothing,” Clarke shook her head, her eyes full of wonder. “I just can’t believe you learned my coffee order.”
“You’re not exactly a quiet person, Clarke. I’m sure every patron in every Starbucks we have ever stopped at has heard your order.”
Clarke chuckled again and reached her hand across the table to squeeze Lexa’s. “But you took the time to remember it. Just admit it, tiger. You like me.”
In a move far bolder than Lexa realized she had in her, she turned her palm upwards and gently drew patterns with her thumb on the back of Clarke’s hand. “I wouldn’t have agreed to this date if I didn’t like you.”
Clarke sighed and pulled her hand away to take a sip of her coffee. She nodded towards Lexa’s cup. “So how’s your London Fog with nonfat milk and sugar-free vanilla at 140 degrees?”
Lexa took a long sip of her tea latte and hummed, “Perfect.” It took her about one second to realize exactly what Clarke had said. “Did you just-”
“You’re not the only one who has paid attention to her crush here.”
After a few hours of smooth and comfortable conversation, and well after the dregs of their drinks had gone cold, Lexa stood in the doorway of Clarke’s dorm room with, quite possibly, the dopiest little grin on her face. “I had a lovely time tonight.”
“Me too,” Clarke nodded. “Would it be all right if I called you tomorrow?”
“Yes, I think that would be fine.”
“Well, okay then,” Clarke grinned. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”