Chapter Text
“What do you mean that’s it?”
Alice rolled her eyes at Frank’s antics.
“I mean that’s it. I replaced her coffee and then she went home to study, I think. It was nice.”
“Hm, yes, so very nice.”
Alice looked at Frank. “What’s wrong with nice?”
“Nothing.” Frank busied himself with wiping down the already spotless counter.
Alice couldn't be bothered trying to convince Frank to share his thoughts with the class. She thought back to that morning and smiled softly.
“…And there it is,” Frank grinned teasingly. “Alice’s whipped face making its first appearance since she made the mistake of ending it with yours truly.” He pretended to announce and pouted for good measure.
“Shut up, Frank.” Alice chuckled fondly.
“Ugh, you’re so boring, Al.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.
“D-2.”
Frank rolled his eyes and chuckled. Leaning against the counter, he looked at Alice like he was sizing her up.
“What?” she asked, sighing.
“I have a dare.”
Alice was immediately worried. They had an old tradition from when they were children that the only appropriate response to that statement was to complete the aforementioned dare, lest they be called a chicken. Their deal was that they could have one dare to cash in a month, and it looked like Frank was about to use his.
“Are you sure? Is it really going to be worth it?” Alice questioned, mostly concerned with whatever Frank’s evil mind had decided upon.
“It is wholly worth it.”
“Oh no.” Alice whispered.
“I dare you… to make a move on Two-Sugar Cappuccino girl via the tried and tested method of cup-flirting.”
“Cup-flirting?”
“You know, when the barista writes something cute on a customer’s cup.”
“Good Lord, give me strength.” Alice put her head in her hands, whipping her tea towel over her shoulder.
Frank rolled his eyes, before looking at her mischievously.
“Is that a no?”
Alice’s head snapped up to look him in the eye.
“Over my dead body.
~~~
Narcissa caught her eye through the glass of the café’s front. Alice smiled back at her. Narcissa flushed. The fact she hadn’t immediately thrown it out or gotten upset made Alice want to dance around and sing like a munchkin from The Wizard of Oz.
Smiling, Alice leant against the counter and looked down bashfully at the till.
“What’d you write?”
“Damn it, Frank! Can I have a moment? Please?” Alice responded. “Jesus Christ,” she mumbled.
“Absolutely not. What did you write?”
“I told her she was beautiful, which is technically a loophole. It was just the truth, so…” Alice shrugged.
“Well done, young padawan. Gold star for you, you bisexual mess.”
“Thank you.” Alice and Frank chuckled as she accepted her imaginary gold star and stuck it on her apron.
When they got to their shoebox-sized apartment that evening, Alice unlocked the door and walked into the kitchen and Frank immediately began his daily tradition of cursing the number of plants that live in their home.
Alice ignored him.
As she sat down on the couch across from where he was sprawled, Alice took a sip of tea from her mug.
“So, what’s the deal with Accidental Latte Guy?” she asked, referring to a customer who repeatedly asked for a cappuccino without chocolate powder. He’d been coming to the café even longer than Narcissa had been.
Frank flushed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied, completely stone-faced.
“Yes, I do. Now spill.”
Frank glared at her.
“I dunno, he’s just cute, I guess. Nothing will come from it.”
Alice just grinned at him.
“That’s what you think.”
~~~
As Alice rushed into the library the next morning, narrowly escaping the immediate pouring rain, she plopped down at the nearest table, dropping all her stuff on the floor next to her. She was going to be so late for Mary’s music practice (her band needed a fill-in bassist; theirs was sick). Mary was going to be so pissed off.
She flopped down into the chair and tapped her chipped orange fingernails against the wood of the table before a familiar face looked up.
“Do you mind?” Narcissa asked as she looked up, her face morphing into one of surprise.
“Narcissa! Hi! Sorry, I’m just waiting for the rain to pass.”
“I can see that.”
Alice was suddenly very aware of the ice-blue eyes analysing her wet hair and face.
“Yeah. I just didn’t want to get my bass wet. That’s no fun for anyone.”
“That does sound unfortunate. I’m going to keep studying.” Narcissa turned back to her textbook.
“Oh, sure! What are you studying? Maybe I could help?”
“Economics.”
“Yeah, I have no idea about that. Maybe explaining it to someone could help? According to Frank, that’s the best way to study. I don’t know, maybe he just likes ranting about the lymphatic system on his days off.”
“I’m sure.” Narcissa responded distractedly, focusing on the papers she was holding.
“I mean, he is studying paramedicine, so I suppose it can only be expected. But he just drones sometimes, you know?"
“Mm-hmm,” was the only response that Narcissa offered.
“Oh yeah, he can get super boring about that sort of stuff. Even when he was discussing tax evasion with the Prime Minister of New Zealand.”
Narcissa didn’t respond.
“Narcissa?”
“What?” Narcissa thrust the papers onto the desk in front of her frustratedly. Taking her long blonde hair out of a ponytail, she glared at Alice as she raked her fingers through it so it outlined her face. “I’m trying to study.”
“There you are! Hello! How long have you been trying to study?”
Narcissa rolled her eyes and glanced at her watch. “About four hours.”
“Oh, yeah, okay. Break time. You have an umbrella, right?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Mary was going to kill her for bailing.
“I’m going to take you for coffee, and then I’m going to show you something.”
“What? What about your bass guitar?”
“It’ll be fine if I stash it in the back of the café with Frank. So, what do you say?”
Narcissa smiled softly.
“Okay.”
And they packed up and left the library.