*Picture Source: http://triflingthings.ca/post/181253759493/working-over-christmas-can-be-cute*
Words: 1 941
Prompt from @/fanficy-prompts on Tumblr
You leant back against the counter of the empty coffee shop, adjusting the black apron which was tied around your waist. It was Christmas Eve, and since you were the only employee of the small coffee shop who did not have any big Christmas dinner plans, you had been given the last shift of the day, which tied you to the cozy, but now lonely shop until midnight. Then you could close up, and go home. Your family lived half way across the country, and this year there had not been enough money left for you to fly over for the holidays, so you had decided to stay here.
You wondered why you were even longing to go back home after this shift. What was waiting there for you except the halfheartedly decorated Christmas tree, and the now cold Chinese take-out from lunch? Your bed, with soft, cozy but cold blankets, no one to keep them warm while you were at work, no one to welcome you home, not even a cat who would cuddle with you when you sat down, or a fish who would completely ignore you. But the way it was, the flat was as empty as this shop, but less decorated. Well, Christmas this year officially sucked.
None the less, you automatically put on your customer smile and turned towards the door as you heard the bell ring. The artificial smile was immediately replaced by a real one though once you recognized the red-brown hair, and the icy gray eyes of one of your favorite regulars.
"Merry Christmas," you smiled as Andy walked over to the counter, "The usual?"
He nodded, and strode over to a table in the corner next to the window. You furrowed your brows. Usually the tattooed drummer was quiet but cheerful, and always up for a little chat. Today seemed different though, and remembering that it was not the normal Christmas Eve tradition to go to a coffee shop, mind on your own, made you understand him better. After all you had not been in the best of moods either before he entered. And you could not expect to have the same effect on him as he had on you, considering you had grown quite fond of the man.
You prepared two cups of cappuccino with almond milk, one for him, one for you, and emptied a bag of vegan Christmas cookies that were on sale, onto a small plate before stepping out from behind the counter, and strode over to him.
Andy looked up, his gaze softening as he saw you, and even a smile tucking at his lips when you sat down opposite him. You pushed his cup over to him, and placed the plate with the cookies in the middle between the two of you.
"On the house," you winked, making him finally smile properly.
The coffee shop was dimly lit, mostly relying on the many candles that were spread over the tables and the atmospheric lighting across the counter.
"Sooo..." you dragged out the word, looking at Andy who took a sip from his coffee, "what brings you here?"
He sighed quietly and shrugged.
"Family dinner spontaneously got canceled because my dad broke his ankle, and I got nowhere to be really," he answered.
"So you decide to go to a coffee shop of all places," you asked, raising your eyebrows at him.
"I was lonely," he defended, "and I was kind of hoping you would be the cursed one to do this shift."
You smiled at his confession which had made him look away in embarrassment.
"Since I got no Christmas party to attend to either, and sitting here with you is a lot better than sitting at home on my own, I doubt this shift is really cursed," you joked, before quickly taking a sip of your hot beverage as well, hoping to play over the fact that you had been a lot more confident with your words than you felt. It had not been a lie, no, not at all, but usually you were not one to say these things out loud.
Andy did not seem to mind, because he only smiled softly.
With him as company time passed quickly, and the conversation you were having made you almost forget how sad your empty apartment would seem when you returned home. He was the only customer over the entire evening, the city seemed like a ghost town, not a single person walked past the shop windows, and only one car sped down the road with howling motor. It felt like the two of you were in your own little, private bubble, surrounded by the warm glow of candles, and the rich smell of ground coffee with cinnamon. There was lots of laughing, jokes, funny stories, sometimes even the one or the other shared painful memory, but tonight it seemed alright, tonight it was okay to share these things, to talk more than usual, to open up to one another, to lay bare your hearts.
Honestly you had no recollection when, how or why Andy had taken hold of your hand, but it did not matter. His tattooed hands were wrapped around your cold fingers, and it felt like your skin was sucking up every last drop of his warmth that was possible. Your chin was resting in your free hand, supported by your elbow resting against the table, and Andy was leaning over the table as well. Only a few inches were between your faces, and your talking had died down to a whisper, which slowly subsided after hours, leaving you to stare at each other.
You had never looked into anyone's eyes for as long as you were looking into Andy's now. Every detail of his face seemed to burn itself permanently into your memory, and if you had not been in love with the drummer before he entered the shop this evening, you sure as hell were now. Sometimes you had to remind yourself that breathing was an, admittedly annoying, but necessary thing to do, too engulfed were you by Andy's eyes, which seemed to see right through you, into the bottom of your soul.
You did not know what to think of this, but then again you were not properly thinking at all anyway. It felt like you were hypnotized by the man in front of you, and all you really could think of, was how beautiful and kind he was, and how lucky you were that you did not have to spend Christmas Eve entirely on you own.
Your trance was rudely interrupted by the small alarm clock on the counter that signaled the end of your shift.
"Seems like you made it," Andy grinned, suddenly sitting back, drawing his hands away from yours, which left them colder than before.
"Seems like it," you nodded, and got up.
"Want me to help you clean up," he offered, but you shook your head.
"It's fine, there's not much left to do," you explained while picking up the cups and the now empty plate, carrying everything behind the counter.
You somehow had expected Andy to leave, maybe say good night, or even hug you, but instead he waited patiently while you cleaned the dishes and the coffee machine. He even grabbed a towel and insisted on whipping the counter clean.
Once you were finished with all the cleaning and preparing the shop for opening in the morning, you grabbed your coat, and joined Andy at the door, where he had waited.
"Are you going home now," Andy asked, holding the door open for you as you stepped outside, pulling your keys to the shop out of your pocket.
"Not much else to do, is there?"
With experienced fingers you looked the door.
You really did not want to return home. After having spent so much time with Andy, the empty flat seemed to repel you more than it had at the beginning of the evening. Did you really want to go back to the cold Chinese take-out, the halfheartedly decorated Christmas tree, the cold blankets? Secretly you hoped Andy would ask to join you home, to do something together, so you would not have to go home. Should you ask him to come home with you, invite him for another coffee, maybe tea or mulled wine? You were certain you would even face the embarrassment of rejection just to be sure you had tried everything possible. Your thoughts were interrupted by Andy.
"Anyone waiting for you," he asked.
The question surprised you. You were sure you had mentioned that you were alone, without partner or any kind of family. Quickly you shook your head, wondering what he was up to.
A small smile spread over Andy's face as he continued talking.
"Good," he whispered as he stepped a little closer to you, taking your hands in his.
They were warm, just like you remembered them from when you had sat inside. His fingers were gentle as they closed around yours tenderly, not at all holding on too tightly. Your own hands responded without much consent of your brain, intertwining with his.
You wanted to say something, tell Andy how much you had enjoyed tonight, how thankful you were for his company, how much it meant to you that he had come to see you, but your voice failed you, no words coming out of your mouth.
Andy's eyes were fixed on yours, and he seemed to sense your sudden muteness, but only smiled a little, shaking his head.
You were not sure who had leant in, maybe both of you at the same time, but suddenly Andy and you were kissing underneath the lamp post in front of the coffee shop. It was slow and gentle, careful, almost scared, but so perfect, so warm and loving, and you felt like all the sadness of having to go back to your flat was melting away, all the worries were suddenly just gone. Andy was kissing you, and holding your hands, and it felt like this was all you had ever wanted.
When you broke away, cheeks and lips red, rigid breath from excitement, and eyes closed, you gently leant your forehead against Andy's, not yet willing to give up the warmth and comfort he was radiating.
"Come back to my place," he whispered, and you could tell he was nervous.
A smile tucked at your lips, and you nodded against his forehead.
"'d love to," you answered, finally opening your eyes and meeting Andy's grey ones, that shone with such happiness, that it warmed you all over again.
"Then let's go," he decided, letting go of your one hand so you could walk side by side.
You adjusted your grip on his fingers, shoving your now free hand into your coat pocket. Andy smiled and did the same, before he lead you down the street, past windows with Christmas decorations and past the square where a fir tree had been decorated extensively.
Quietly you sighed in contentment, and rested your head against Andy's shoulder. The long day had exhausted you, and now that you even had someone by your side, tiredness started to spread through your body. You were glad to have taken the night shift for Christmas Eve, you realized; otherwise Andy and you would never have ended up here, together. You closed your eyes, allowing your feet to carry you blindly, and trusting Andy to safely lead the way. This Christmas had not at all been as lonely and sad as you had expected it to be.