Work Text:
[3:14 AM] hi number neighbor!!!
[8:05 PM]: first of all, why did i get a text from a random number at 3 in the morning
and second of all, who is this?
[8:05 PM]: OMG you actually responded!!
i’m your number neighbor!
[8:05 PM]: … you’re my what.
[8:05 PM]: your number neighbor dude i’ve said it like 3 times
our numbers are only one digit apart at the end
[8:05 PM]: okay?
is that all you wanted or
[8:06 PM]: nooo i’m trying to start something here!
[8:06 PM]: you never answered my original question
[8:06 PM]: oh
you mean why i texted you at 3 am?
idk i was awake and bored
[8:06 PM]: so you only texted me out of boredom? gee, i’m flattered
[8:06 PM]: aw c’mon i didn’t mean it like that
[8:07 PM]: well it was nice talking to you i guess
[8:07 PM]: wait!!!
we’re supposed to be friends :’(
[8:07 PM]: just because we happen to have very similar phone numbers?
[8:07 PM]: i mean. you’re still texting me aren’t you
[8:08 PM]: … so maybe i’m at work right now and it’s slow and this is mildly entertaining. sue me
[8:08 PM]: you’re at work at 8 at night? where do you work?
[8:08 PM]: why would i tell you that
and don’t say because we’re number neighbors
[8:09 PM]: UGHHH
i thought we were having a moment
[8:09 PM]: over what?? i know nothing about you
[8:09 PM]: well let’s change that shall we
the name’s lance
DID YOU REALLY JUST LEAVE ME ON READ
now is the part where you tell me your name!!
[8:09 PM]: to a complete and total stranger???
[8:09 PM]: i’m not a stranger i told you my name!!!!
[8:09 PM]: don’t you have better things you could be doing right now??
[8:09 PM]: technically i should be studying but it got boring so i’m taking a break
[8:10 PM]: studying?
[8:10 PM]: for an astronomy midterm, yeah
are you super impressed
[8:10 PM]: so you’re in college?
[8:10 PM]: if i tell you will you tell me your name?
[8:11 PM]: not a chance
[8:11 PM]: worth a shot
oh well i’ll tell you anyway
yes i’m in college
second year
[8:11 PM]: huh
what’s your major?
[8:12 PM]: hmmmmm someone’s curious
[8:12 PM]: ugh whatever i was just wondering
my brother studied astrophysics in college so astronomy was one of his courses
[8:12 PM]: OMGGGG
[8:12 PM]: ??? what??
[8:12 PM]: YOU SHARED!
[8:12 PM]: oh my god, seriously
[8:13 PM]: this is groundbreaking
hang on i gotta screenshot this
[8:13 PM]: you’re ridiculous. goodbye
[8:13 PM]: NO WAIT PLEEEASE I’LL STOP
to answer your question i’m actually a marine biology major
i just really like space stuff so i’m taking astronomy on the side
[8:14 PM]: oh
that’s cool i guess
[8:14 PM]: it’s cool? you guess???
uh, try AMAZING
[8:14 PM]: whatever you say, lance
[8:14 PM]: YOU USED MY NAME
omg this is a true bonding moment
alright well now you have to tell me yours
unless you want to remain “mysterious number neighbor” in my phone for the foreseeable future
[8:15 PM]: i’m not telling you my name
[8:15 PM]: well it’s either that or i’m gonna start guessing
at least tell me what it starts with
[8:15 PM]: no
[8:15 PM]: alex
[8:15 PM]: no
[8:15 PM]: max
[8:15 PM]: no
[8:15 PM]: cory
[8:15 PM]: no
[8:16 PM]: jesse
[8:16 PM]: are you just guessing names that work for both boys and girls
[8:16 PM]: uh. maybe
[8:16 PM]: may as well give up now
[8:16 PM]: omg pleeeease
i just wanna know one tiny thing about you
that’s all i ask
[8:16 PM]: … fine.
[8:17 PM]: YES
[8:17 PM]: but i’m only showing you this because i miss him
[8:17 PM]: miss who? your brother?
[8:17 PM]: IMAGE SENT
[8:17 PM]: OMGGGGGG
YOU HAVE A DOG???
HE’S SO CUUUUUTE AHHHH
what’s his name??
[8:18 PM]: his name is kosmo
[8:18 PM]: ooo i like it
awwww look at his little face
[8:18 PM]: don’t be fooled
he steals my socks
and drools everywhere
[8:18 PM]: and yet you miss him
[8:18 PM]: ugh. yeah i do
[8:18 PM]: how come? won’t you see him tonight?
[8:18 PM]: no, not until winter break
[8:18 PM]: AHA
[8:19 PM]: what
[8:19 PM]: SO YOU’RE IN COLLEGE TOO!!
[8:19 PM]: … you can’t prove that
[8:19 PM]: why else would you have a winter break?
[8:19 PM]: who said i have winter break? maybe it’s my brother
[8:19 PM]: nice try but you said your brother studied astrophysics
past tense
as in he is no longer in school
[8:20 PM]: maybe i made the whole thing up
i have no brother and i have no dog
[8:20 PM]: i’m offended that you’re this opposed to me knowing anything about you
[8:20 PM]: god FINE okay
yes i’m in college too
second year
[8:20 PM]: i KNEW it!!!
what do you study??
[8:20 PM]: absolutely not i’ve already said enough
[8:20 PM]: accounting
[8:20 PM]: please don’t start guessing
[8:20 PM]: agricultural science
[8:20 PM]: what
[8:20 PM]: anthropology
[8:20 PM]: lance
[8:21 PM]: biology
[8:21 PM]: are you really just going through a catalog right now?
[8:21 PM]: desperate times call for desperate measures, Mysterious Number Neighbor
[8:21 PM]: why did you capitalize it like that
[8:21 PM]: biochemistry
[8:21 PM]: FIIINE if i tell you will you promise to leave me alone
[8:21 PM]: no promises :)
[8:21 PM]: ugh
painting
[8:21 PM]: wait for real?
i didn’t even know there was a major for that
that’s super cool tho
[8:22 PM]: oh
[8:22 PM]: oh what?
[8:22 PM]: idk
most people try to give me some sort of speech about how i won’t make enough money with an art degree or whatever
[8:22 PM]: seriously?
who cares about the money
as long as you love what you do that’s payment enough
[8:22 PM]: that’s… surprisingly insightful
[8:22 PM]: i am very wise
[8:23 PM]: moment ruined
shouldn’t you get back to studying?
[8:23 PM]: ugh
yeah probably
[8:23 PM]: something tells me you’re still not going to study
[8:23 PM]: that would be correct
[8:23 PM]: you’ve been “taking a break” for like twenty minutes now
[8:23 PM]: yeahhh
ugh
okay so maybe i have a tiny confession to make
[8:24 PM]: uh oh
[8:24 PM]: don’t be mean!!
anyway
i may have possibly been using our text convo as a reason to stall
[8:24 PM]: firstly, i’m offended
secondly, stalling for what?
[8:24 PM]: well you see
i go to this one coffee shop off campus to study a lot
and there’s this really cute barista there and i’ve kind of been trying to work up the courage to ask them out
i was gonna do it tonight but i keep chickening out
[8:25 PM]: oh.
well, i can’t really help you there
i’m not exactly an expert in the girl department
or the dating department, in general
[8:25 PM]: i figured
[8:25 PM]: alright that was just rude
[8:25 PM]: WAIT I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT HDSHFSK
i mean
considering the gay pride flag hanging on your wall in the picture you sent me of kosmo
and the boxer briefs sticking out of your drawer in the background
[8:25 PM]: … would you believe me if i said they’re my brother’s
[8:26 PM]: nope
[8:26 PM]: ugh. goodbye forever
[8:26 PM]: nooo dude please c’mon i need some moral support
[8:26 PM]: i already told you i can’t really help you
and you agreed with me
[8:26 PM]: i’m nervouuus
[8:26 PM]: then go get it over with
just. ask her out
[8:26 PM]: who said it’s a her?
[8:26 PM]: what?
oh
[8:27 PM]: not that i would be opposed if it was
[8:27 PM]: is this your really weird way of coming out to me over text
[8:27 PM]: yeah lol i’m bi
seeee look at us bonding!!!
anywayyyy HE is super cute and i’ve been like dying to ask him out
[8:27 PM]: again
just do it
[8:27 PM]: i have to ask
have you ever asked anyone out
and if so is this really the pep talk you’ve been giving yourself and does it work
[8:27 PM]: …
i thought we were “friends” why do you keep attacking me
[8:28 PM]: it sounds like i should be the one giving you advice
any cute guys you have your eye on 👀
[8:28 PM]: don’t change the subject
[8:28 PM]: that’s a yes
omg give me the deets
[8:28 PM]: there are no deets to give
[8:28 PM]: oh come on some random stranger is giving you the chance to gush about your crush and you’re not gonna take it?
[8:28 PM]: so you admit that you’re a stranger
[8:28 PM]: don’t change the subject!!
[8:28 PM]: ??? i literally said that two minutes ago
[8:29 PM]: 👀
👀👀👀
[8:29 PM]: oh my god stop
UGHHH fine
there MIGHT be this one cute guy
and MAYBE i wouldn’t mind if he were to ask for my number
[8:29 PM]: OMG CUUUUTE tell me everything
[8:29 PM]: and let you stall even more?
[8:29 PM]: yes obviously
what’s he like
[8:29 PM]: i don’t know?? it’s not like i know anything about him other than his coffee order
[8:29 PM]: his coffee order you say
omg
do you work at a coffee shop???
[8:30 PM]: uh
no
did i say coffee order
i meant. not that
[8:30 PM]: are you this bad of a liar in real life
omg we’re both at coffee shops right now it’s a sign
[8:30 PM]: a sign. sure
[8:30 PM]: ANYWAY BACK TO THE MATTER AT HAND
is he tall? dreamy? effortlessly charming?
[8:30 PM]: … are you just describing yourself right now
[8:30 PM]: awww you think i’m dreamy?
[8:30 PM]: i didn’t say your self-description was accurate
[8:30 PM]: meannnn
[8:30 PM]: ugh the worst thing about it is yes
he’s all of those things
[8:31 PM]: aw you’re in loooove
[8:31 PM]: i’m not in love oh my god i hardly know him
he probably doesn’t even know my name
[8:31 PM]: are you sure? don’t you have like a name tag?
do you know HIS name?
[8:31 PM]: maybe
[8:31 PM]: uhhh hello share
[8:31 PM]: … it’s taylor
[8:31 PM]: oh??
that’s funny
[8:31 PM]: why is that funny
[8:31 PM]: no reason
have you ever thought about asking taylor for his number instead?
[8:32 PM]: i guess
i’m just worried it would go really badly
i’d hate to make him uncomfortable
he comes here a lot and i wouldn’t want him to feel like he has to avoid coming back
[8:32 PM]: that’s actually really sweet
i mean you never know
has he ever seemed to show any interest?
[8:32 PM]: our hands brushed once
[8:33 PM]: would you be mad if i said that i laughed
[8:33 PM]: yes
[8:33 PM]: what if we make a deal?
[8:33 PM]: what kind of deal
[8:33 PM]: i’ll ask out my barista if you ask out your regular
[8:33 PM]: ughhh i don’t know lance
[8:33 PM]: come on worst case scenario is we both get rejected and then we have each other to mourn over our rejections with
[8:34 PM]: idk if i can do it
plus he already ordered so it would be weird if i went up to him
[8:34 PM]: so he’s there right now?
[8:34 PM]: yeah
but he’s been smiling and laughing at his phone for like the past half hour so i’m kind of paranoid he already has a girlfriend
or boyfriend
whatever
[8:34 PM]: idk man people smile and laugh at their phones all the time for different reasons
maybe he’s looking at memes
or texting his number neighbor
[8:35 PM]: i guess you could be right
[8:35 PM]: i always am
[8:35 PM]: wow very modest aren’t you
[8:35 PM]: yes
ok i think i’m gonna go for it
wish me luck
NEVER MIND WE MADE EYE CONTACT AND I PANICKED
[8:35 PM]: UGH ME TOO
[8:35 PM]: WAIT REALLY DFJFJDSK
wow we really are both disasters huh
[8:36 PM]: it’s not even my fault
like how can anyone look that good in just a plain blue T-shirt and jeans
[8:36 PM]: wh
wait is that what he’s wearing
[8:36 PM]: yes obviously that’s what he’s wearing
[8:36 PM]: ok this might be a really weird question
but
does taylor’s coffee order happen to be a small latte with an extra shot and a bunch of cinnamon mixed in
[8:36 PM]: …….
ok
how could you possibly know that
Lance’s head snaps up from his phone to look toward the front counter of the shop, his eyes immediately falling on the barista—Keith—who’s frowning down at his phone screen from where he’s leaning back against the counter.
“No way,” Lance mutters to himself, glancing back and forth between Keith and the text conversation still open on his phone. He ducks his head a little when Keith looks up momentarily, gaze sweeping across the shop before returning to his screen. “You’ve gotta be kidding.”
[8:37 PM]: ok don’t freak out but like
do you work at Café Altea?
[8:37 PM]: um???
[8:37 PM]: and is this keith???
They look up from their phones at the same moment. And this time when their eyes meet, they’ve both put enough of the pieces together that they don’t look away. Even so, Keith still looks infinitely confused, so Lance fires another quick message and watches as Keith glances back down at his phone.
[8:37 PM]: you think i’m cute???
Keith slaps a hand over his face and Lance barely manages to stifle a laugh, already pushing back his chair and standing. By the time he makes it up to the counter, Keith still hasn’t looked back up, so he clears his throat. Keith peeks out from underneath his hand, and his cheeks are so adorably red that Lance can’t help but grin, propping his elbows against the counter and leaning forward.
“Hi there.”
“Hi,” Keith croaks.
“So, I would totally ask for your number, but…” Keith’s eyes flick down as Lance slides his phone toward him, biting down on his bottom lip so his smile doesn’t get any bigger. “I kind of already have it.”
Keith’s face disappears again behind his hand. “Oh my god, this is so embarrassing.”
“To be fair, I feel like this is actually the best case scenario in this situation.”
“If by best case scenario you mean totally and utterly mortifying, then you’re absolutely right,” Keith answers, voice muffled.
Lance laughs, flipping his phone over and sliding it back. “I already told you, I always am.”
Keith groans, finally peeling his hand away from his face. “I thought you said your name is Lance.”
“It is.”
“Then why—but you always say Taylor whenever we ask for your name!”
“It’s an inside joke,” Lance explains, sounding a little breathless from smiling and laughing so much. “It started with a couple of my friends and it just sort of stuck.”
Keith stares at him. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.”
Keith lets out a breath and glances away, cheeks still dusted pink but the corners of his mouth tilted up into a smile. “Well, now I just feel stupid.”
“My fault,” Lance admits with a chuckle, standing a little straighter. “But now that we’re here…” His heart flutters a little when Keith looks back at him, chewing on his lip and his expression so adorably hopeful that Lance couldn’t hold back his smile even if he wanted to. “I know the circumstances are a little strange, but I think I’d be pretty disappointed in myself if I didn’t take the chance to finally ask you out.”
“Oh. Well—“ Keith’s cheeks flush a shade deeper and he clears his throat, gaze flicking sideways. “Um, I get off at nine, and then I have to help close up shop, but… I have a couple of midterms I need to be studying for. And I know you said you were studying earlier, so maybe—I mean, if you wanted, we could, like. You know. Study together, or something?” He grimaces when he looks back up to see Lance grinning at him full force. “I told you I’m not good at this.”
“It’s a date then,” Lance says cheerfully, drumming his hands against the counter and pulling back to stand at his full height. “I’ll meet you outside whenever you’re done.”
Keith smiles, and then Lance turns and heads back in the direction of the table where he left his things. He makes it maybe five minutes before he texts Keith again.
[8:43 PM]: how does it feel to know you’re the reason i was smiling and laughing at my phone for like half an hour?
He glances up in time to see Keith read the text, and turn away to hide his smile.
[8:43 PM]: worst number neighbor ever
[8:43 PM]: and yet
[8:43 PM]: ugh.
and yet
[8:44 PM]: :)
see you soon, barista boy
[8:44 PM]: please don’t start calling me that
… see you soon lance
:)