☕︎
ch o8.
Coffee Slips or
Tongue Slips?
Can't Choose.

"I've been meaning to tell you... something." 

I swear to Arceus, I might as well collapse!

"Yeah?" I asked calmly, despite my heart throwing itself against my ribcage. It worsened, sending a horde of warmth through my chest when the girl looked up, her ocean eyes glinting off the fairy lights. 

"I think..." 

"Could we get three pairs of Minccino Mocha?" 

We broke apart like two ends of an elastic rubber band. 
"O–of course!" I stammered, rushing past Serena to the counter. I sent a pleading look to Greninja, who was at my side at once, helping to brew the requested beverages. 

Throughout the process, I never once looked up. The anticipation that had built up in my chest was strung off a loose end, and it hurt physically when I did look up to see Serena sitting alone at her usual table by the fireplace, head propped on an arm. 

"Gren." Greninja's call grounded me back to reality, and I shook my head, slapping myself. I was definitely overimagining things. She might have just wanted to express her gratitude or perhaps wish me Merry Christmas. 

Mixing the milk with the filtered decoction we had put together, I fell into the rhythm of mocha brewing that Greninja was putting up. A challenge was a challenge.

To my delight, Stereo Love started, and we clumsily began our footwork. Talonflame was much better at dancing, to be honest. 

When the beverages were ready, I took out the guide to making cookies. Goodra went around offering everyone their cups. I blew out a stray fringe and slumped into the chair behind the counter. It was much better this way.

My eyes drifted back to Serena, who was now scratching the thorax of my fire bird. Whatever the reason was for Talonflame to grow attached to her seemed to slip my mind. 

Pikachu slipped onto the counter, twitching his ears and licking his paws to smooth his fur. I arched an eyebrow at his action; never had he quite cared what I was doing when customers were around. "Pika?" 

"You never come to me, do you?" I hissed, rubbing his back. "Hey, what do you think Serena was about to tell me?" 

"Pika?" 

"Right." I exhaled, my eyes drifting to the girl, who was now talking to Clemont. Her smile was... warmer than when she faced me. Obviously. He's her colleague and potential love interest.
 
"You wouldn't know and wouldn't care." 

"Hey, Ash-y Boy!" 

"Hey, Gary." 

The mahogany-haired boy smirked, propping up his elbow on the counter. He ran a hand through his hair, eyeing me. I arched an eyebrow and flipped through the guide to making great cookies. 

"Seems like you've got an eye on my employee?" 

I shot him a lazy look before turning back to my book. I had to act as nonchalant as possible. "I'm sorry?" 

"My employee. Golden hair and blue eyes. Ring a bell?" 

"I'm afraid I don't get you." 

"Yeah, keep up the facade. It's clear as day, Ash-y Boy. When are you hooking up with her?" 

I felt my cheeks heat up. "Yeah, sure, when you stop calling me that hideous name." 

Gary laughed before his voice turned lower than a whisper. "You better make your move real quick. You've got a lot of competitors for her hand. Take it as a warning or a boost or whatever." He stood up and made to leave but passed me a card. 

"By the way, here's my number. The show you put on the table was just as exaggerated as you are, but it might come in handy sometime. Smell ya later." 

─── ⋆⋅☕⋅⋆ ─── 

It was nearly one in the morning by the time the house was cleared. 

Goodra was helping me clean the tables and the floor while the other Pokémon focused on getting the house back to being functional for the day. However, another person sat at the table alone, almost as if she were waiting for someone. 

"For the last time, Miss Serena," I started, scrubbing at the coffee stain on the wooden table where Gary had dined. Obviously, he would do something like this.

"What?" 

I sighed, looking at her. The girl was already staring at me, her cheeks inflated into an adorable pout that made me feel things. 

"It's quarter to two, Miss," I emphasized, showing my watch. The girl's eyes briefly flitted to the clock before she turned back to meet my gaze. 

"So?" 

I exhaled again, going back to cleaning. It was high time she listened, but of course, she would never get it. "So? So! A girl like you shouldn't stay out for so long." 

"What's special about me?" 

I rolled my eyes. As if it isn't obvious.

"Because you're really pretty, and there are some fools lurking around to take advantage of—" 

I froze, realizing my mouth had spoken certain words without my mind's consent. I wheeled on my spot sharply, dropping the wet cloth to the wooden flooring with a sploosh and falling into a deep bow. "I-I am sorry, that actually really slipped!" 

The girl's giggle filled the air, and I felt something hard and moist hit my head. Straightening, I shot Greninja a glare; whoever taught him hitting others with his webbed feet was right to be damned. 

"As I said," Serena interjected, cupping her pinkening cheeks. She bit her lip as if the words were choking her. "You're the king of sweet talk, aren't you?" 

Talonflame let out a shrill cry, his eyes narrowing at me as he landed on Serena's table. Traitor.

"Ah," I stammered, scratching my cheek. "I s'ppose I ought to, owning a café and all, you know." 

"You seem to have all the lines for the day," she teased, winking. 

Abashed, I turned back to the table I was wiping. But then I realized the cloth was wasted. Since when did the fireplace get so warm?

"No, but you really ought to go back home." 

"I can, and I will! Honestly!" she exclaimed, exasperated. "I've got three Pokémon to protect me and a car to drive home with. I just thought I would drop you off on the way." 

Perhaps cleaning the house would be a lost cause. 
"What? I most definitely can't let my customer do that!" 

For some reason, the girl's face fell. I chewed on my bottom lip, confusion and guilt creeping into my chest. What have I done?

"I mean– I can't ask you for a favor, can I? I'm being paid—" 

Serena looked up, a dangerous glint shimmering in her eye. The ceiling light brought it out intimidatingly. Her lips parted, and the words tumbled out like coins being pocketed into a torn one. "You're coming with me, for all I could care!"