❝Tʜᴇʀᴇ's ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ʙᴏʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄʜᴀʀᴍ.❞
College was absolutely stressful no matter how smart you may or may not be. It was somewhat better than High School in that you could show up to class in your PJ's and no one would bat an eye. Or that you could skip certain classes and not fail. Though other classes? You could close your eyes a second too long and suddenly your wonderful 97% went down to a terrifying 33%. Also- you had to pay for college. Crazy right? You were paying money to a place that caused you infinite amounts of stress- just so that one day you could make money from a job that, hopefully, didn't cause you even more stress.
In order to pay for college though, you had to go up to your eyeballs in debt- and for all that debt, not everything was covered. You still needed food and clothes- you know, basic necessities required to live? Yeah, your loans didn't cover those, so guess what? You got a job. A job as a barista [how cliché]. It wasn't too bad a job though- save for when there was a rush. Ugh- rushes were the worst- or customers who ordered every damn thing on the menu. Regardless, the pay was pretty okay, and sometimes customers tipped you nicely- plus, a cute boy loved to come in to flirt with you.
The cutest boy you'd had the pleasure of meeting actually- only you didn't meet him through this job. You see, you and this cute boy were High School Sweethearts. Dating since Junior Year and still are in your Junior Year of College. His name was Peter Parker, and you loved him to pieces. At the start of your relationship, he was adorably shy and awkward. It was so endearing and sweet you fell for him even more. His stutter was cute and the way he toyed with his lip when he asked you out on your first date had you swooning. He often still did it now- but not here in this café. Something about this place made him a different person. Sure, maybe it was just him finally starting to grow confidence with you, which was wonderfully welcomed- but really? It was as if this place gave him a surge of confidence.
He worked for the Daily Bugle, selling shots of his alter-ego known as Spider-Man to a grumpy old man with salt and pepper hair. Why he did so was something you were unsure of. You had known Peter was Queens hero some months after you two began dating, and while you worried for him, you were proud of him too. Of course your sweet boy was a hero. Of course- but why would he let that crusty old man slander his name like that? Ugh-
Ding.
The bell at the front door went off, signaling a new customer. It was slow today, so this would be about the third customer you served. It was just you and one other person today, so the place was pretty quiet.
"Good Morning, welcome to Manhattan Mocha, what can I get for you today?", you asked as you made your way to the register, fighting back a wide grin as your eyes met with a familiar chocolate brown.
"It's definitely a good morning now. Could I get a caramel cappuccino? Extra sweet, like that cute little smile of yours?", his voice was smooth, almost honey-like as he spoke to you.
You bit your lip, "Anything else, sir?"
He pretended to think for a minute, chocolate brown eyes twinkling with playful mischief, "A kiss, maybe? Think that'd wake me up more than the sweet caffeine."
Man oh man- he was pretty cheesy, but it was so cute. "A kiss? Are you asking for the new Hershey's Kiss doughnut we have on the menu? They're here for a limited time only."
A soft laugh left him, sending your heart a flutter, "No. It sounds pretty tempting but uhm, was kinda hoping for an actual kiss. You know, from you? A kiss from a pretty girl like you would absolutely make my morning."
"Oh. Sorry, we only sell coffee and pastries here.", you teased.
"Mhm. Right, makes sense. Wouldn't want random guys popping in here trying to just take what's not their's right? Still though- can't bend the rules a bit for me? I am one of your best regulars after all. I'll gladly return the kiss if need be.", his smile was bright and wide. This was a fun game for you both- one of your favorites in fact. It made your bad days instantly better and your boring ones full of amusement.
"That you are, but I'm still not on the menu."
"You sure? Man- could've sworn eating something last night that came from here..", his voice was but a husky whisper now, only allowing you to hear him. A smirk played on his lips, one which grew when he saw a slight pink creep to your cheeks.
"You just might be mistaken. Is that all though?", you asked, trying to seem casual despite your burning cheeks.
"You're right, I probably am. Shouldn't be eating anything like that in public anyway, not appropriate, unfortunately.", he feigned a sad sigh, "I guess that'll be all. Unless you wanna rethink on that kiss?"
"Employees generally aren't allowed to be seen eating or drinking on the job.", you replied with your own playful grin, "If that's all, your drinks on the house for today. It'll be up in a minute."
"It is? What's the special occasion?"
"No special occasion. I just might have a thing for sweet talkin' guys with cute brown eyes and adorable curls.", you said, grinning softly as you took a cup and moved behind the counter to make his drink, "Meet you at the pick-up counter, sweetness."
He let out that cute laugh of his that you loved- the one he often let out when you'd successfully flustered him. Even after all this time- even here, you could have him all pink and giggly.
You finished his drink rather quickly, sneakily scribbling onto his sleeve before moving to the pick-up counter to give him his drink.
He took it with an appreciative smile, eyes instantly falling to the sleeve of his drink. You always gave him a sweet little name or note on it, depending on how the little game went or how much time you had. Today his sleeve had a nice bright red lipstick stain with the word "Candyman' written next to it neatly.
He raised a brown, "Candyman?"
You smiled and tapped your ear softly in response. Listen.
He did so, now hearing the song softly playing inside the café.
❝Hᴇ's ᴀ sᴡᴇᴇᴛ-ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴ', sᴜɢᴀʀ ᴄᴏᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴀɴᴅʏᴍᴀɴ.❞
It clicked instantly, and he couldn't hold back his adorable little laugh. Flustered once more. It didn't matter how confident he became or how cozy he got- something about you always sent him spiraling in the best way. It was a feeling he never wanted to go away- not even when you both were incredibly old. He hoped to grow old with you- to have that feeling you gave him stay with him forever even once he was married to you. The feeling was his favorite- even if it had him mumbling silly nonsense. You'd always said you loved it and so he eventually stopped feeling so embarrassed by it [though the feeling did creep up sometimes].
"Well, I'll be on my way now, gotta go take these photos to-"
"You're forgetting something.", you said, cutting him off.
"Hm? Did I leave my wallet up there again-"
You laughed softly, "No. I believe you asked for some sugar earlier, didn't you, Candyman?"
"Sugar- oh. Well yeah- but- you don't have to..", he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. An old nervous habit you loved.
"Whoever said I was being forced? You know your girls got a sweet tooth."
He smiled now, "That I do..", he hummed out, stepping closer to the counter as you leaned forward. His lips met yours, warmth instantly filling up your lower stomach. His lips had always had such an effect on you, their soft touch always had you forgetting everything for a moment or two, maybe longer. They also had maybe perhaps earned you detention once or twice- for the both of you- but that was only because his cuteness had your brain screaming for you to kiss him- even if you had been in class.
❝Hᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ʟɪᴘs ʟɪᴋᴇ sᴜɢᴀʀ ᴄᴀɴᴇ. Gᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏʀ ʙᴏʏs ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀɪᴛ. Hᴇ's ᴀ ᴏɴᴇ sᴛᴏᴘ sʜᴏᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟ ʙɪɢ ᴜʜ- Hᴇ's ᴀ sᴡᴇᴇᴛ-ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴ', sᴜɢᴀʀ ᴄᴏᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴀɴᴅʏᴍᴀɴ.❞
He pulled away only because he had too, offering a teasing grin at the lyrics that had just played through the café.
"So uh.. see you tonight?", he asked.
"Mhm hmm. Come hungry."
His cheeks instantly turned red, but he didn't falter when he said, "Don't I always?"
❝Hᴇ's ᴀ ᴏɴᴇ sᴛᴏᴘ, ɢᴏᴛᴄʜᴀ ʜᴏᴛ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴ' ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀɴᴛɪᴇs ᴅʀᴏᴘ. Sᴡᴇᴇᴛ, sᴜɢᴀʀ, ᴄᴀɴᴅʏ ᴍᴀɴ.❞