Chapter Text
Today was the definition of too long. You had 3 separate projects due and one of them was a group project which you were the only person present to present. Your partners had sent you texts apologizing but you didn't bother to read them.
Not only that but your grades were updated and your older brother oh so lovingly scolded you. You know he meant well but Jesus did you not need it right now.
“Good afternoon my sunshine don't you look chipper.”
Looking up you can only muster up a half smile. Connie was your usual barista and in your opinion made the best drinks in the whole shop.
“Sorry Connie, not today.”
He takes a brief glance around the empty shop before leaning onto the counter to speak to you in a soft voice “Hey what's up buttercup? You usually always smile at that one.”
Your shoulders drop making you resemble atlas “Long day.”
The look Connie gives you is full of understanding and care “Hm the usual then?”
Giving him an appreciative sigh you nod “Yes please.”
Pulling your card from your wallet you’re stopped by a gentle hand. Looking back at Connie he waves you away looking mildly embarrassed.
“On me.”
This wasn’t the first time he’d paid for your drink but you were always surprised each time especially because he never asked for a favor in return.
“Thanks.”
You watch him move behind the bar making your drink with ease this time without his usual jumble of random conversation respecting your need for just a moment of peace.
Connie was nice like that. He never made you feel like you needed to match his energy which was cool on days like this.
“Your drink my sunshine.”
Just as you reach across the counter he pulls the cup back out of your grasp confusing you.
He tries and fails to hide the twitch of his lips at your disgruntled expression “A smile first.”
Raising your eyebrows you reach for it again only for him to pull it farther away “Connie you serious?”
“Deadly.”
You both stare at each other for a few seconds before Connie makes a face, forcing you to laugh.
Throwing your head back you miss the way his eyes shine with fondness.
It would seem that over the course of many months and hundreds of quick conversations Connie had developed a crush.
He didn’t make it a habit to gain romantic interest in customers but you were just—something else. You always stuck around to have at least one conversation with him and always tipped if you could, you even flirted with him if you were in a particularly good mood so that had to stand for something.
Regardless, Connie really wanted to know you more, even if it was to be strictly platonic.
“I don’t have to kiss you or anything to take my first sip do I?”
To you it was simply a harmless little flirt but to him he felt like his whole world got flipped on its axis. Originally he only thought it was a passing crush but as time went on and you continued to familiarize yourself with him he realized he had it bad.
God he had the ugliest fucking crush on you. It was honestly a little sickening and how you weren’t aware of it he’d never know.
Connie bites his bottom lip to stop the stupid lovesick smile that threatened to grow on his face “Nah not this time.”
Wiggling your eyebrows at him you dance in your spot “Ooh~ Connie wants a kiss~.”
He throws his head back in annoyance “Just drink the damn coffee.”
“You got it boss.” You laugh bringing the straw to your mouth.
He watches you sip your drink and is content with the peaceful smile you now sported. He liked when you smiled it made you light up like the sun hence the nickname my sunshine. Your smile in his opinion was your best feature.
“Uh (Y/N)?”
Pulling your straw out your mouth you hum “Yeah Connie?”
He rubs the back of his neck looking extremely nervous “You wanna hangout later? I get off in a few.”
You blink in surprise having not expected his request. You didn’t mind it honestly, Connie was super cool, but, as it would have it your day was nowhere near finished. Looking over at the clock that hung in the shop you can only grimace.
“Sorry Connie not today but,” glancing around the counter you steal the pen that hung from his apron and pull on his arm.
Carefully writing your number you ignore the wide eyed look he now wore “Anytime after tomorrow and we can hang out.”
Connie's sigh is the definition of lovesick “Ok.”
Glancing at the clock again you groan and pull yourself together. Flashing a smile to the frazzled boy you make a phone motion near your ear “Call me.”
You’re gone with a shake of a bell leaving behind a starstruck boy.
Connie looks down at his arm taking in your handwriting, the way you looped your two’s and the sharp arch of your seven. Tracing the numbers he damn near memorizes them in the quiet hum of the cafe.
Laughing to himself he holds onto the neckline of his shirt “I really—fuck yeah Springer you still got it.”
He probably looked crazy—god he felt crazy—but he just liked you that much. He didn't know why, couldn’t even begin to explain it to himself but, he wasn’t opposed to it.
Glancing down at the ten neatly printed numbers once more he can't help but jump in his spot with excitement.
You had really made his day.
Unfortunately, Connie didn’t end up calling you only because he ended up forgetting the numbers imprinted onto his skin.
As it would also have it you didn’t visit the coffee shop for the rest of the week either. And slowly the promise of a hangout slipped from your mind until Connie quite literally crashed into you.
“Oh shit im so sorry—sunshine?”
Balancing yourself by holding on to his arm you thank everything above that you didn’t drop the coffee you were holding “Hey speed demon you know this is a sidewalk right?”
Abandoning his skateboard he gives you a worried once over “I really am sorry—is that Starbucks?”
His change of topic only throws you off for a second, you knew he’d feel offended once he recognized the cup in your hand.
“You cheating on me? Im hurt really.”
“Sorry baby it just wasn’t meant to be.” Taking a slow sip of the iced coffee you give him a sly smile and a shrug.
Connie holds his chest feigning heartbreak making you laugh, as strange as it was you missed his presence.
“All jokes though my brother didn’t want it and gave it to me for coming to bother him.” You don't know why you felt the need to clarify where you got the drink from but you did anyways.
Connie drifts closer to you easily fitting in your personal space but it's not like you minded either way “What’re you up to today?”
“Ah nothing much waiting for this really cute barista to call me.”
“You gave someone your number?” His stare reminds you of a lost puppy and when you raise your brows at him he gasps in realization “Oh me?!”
“Yeah baby keep up.”
Connie had subconsciously begun to follow you down the sidewalk board in hand “Shit sorry Sunshine It totally slipped my mind and I ended up washing it off.”
Bumping into him you give him a fake pout “Damn am I that forgettable? I used my grade A flirting skills too.”
That makes Connie laugh while latching onto your arm letting himself be pulled along wherever you went.
“Connie! Where you goin’?”
You both stop in the middle of the sidewalk to see Jean standing about 10 feet away holding his own skateboard. He looked a little annoyed at being forgotten.
Connie gets really flustered, finally coming back from the planet you took him to “Shit—hold on Jean!”
You and Jean trade short glances, his disbelieving and yours uninterested. You were used to the people who had come in contact with you in one form or another giving you that same look and honestly it was getting old at this point.
Turning back to Connie you watch him unlock his phone and hand it to you with a soft smile.
“Here so I don’t forget.”
Connie was looking at you with hopeful eyes as if he were scared you’d take the offer back.
He was adorable.
Typing your number into the device you give him a teasing look “You better actually call me or you can consider this friendship dead.”
Connie looked two seconds from jumping around in his spot “You got it captain—I’ll see you around?”
Pushing him away you lightly kick at his board “Yeah if you ever slow down sonic,”
“Never gonna live that down.”
Tapping his arm you dismiss yourself with a wave “See ya.”
He watches you disappear down the sidewalk before drifting back over to Jean who looked mildly concerned.
“Connie?”
Losing your form to distance Connie gives Jean his full attention “Yeah dude? What's with the face?”
“You...know who that is right?”
Connie tilts his head innocently not picking up on the tone his friend was using “Who (Y/n)? Yeah they’re cool why?”
Jean thinks back to the stupid smile Connie wore when talking to you and can only shake his head in reply “Nothing lets go.”
Brushing off his weird behavior Connie steps down onto his board.
“Race you to Eren’s.”
“You’re on you lanky bastard.”