Work Text:
Dorcas had just finished unpacking her last box when she decided that she wanted to explore the surrounding area. She walked around the street for a few minutes, occasionally stopping to survey her surroundings.
Ten minutes later she found herself at a coffee shop. It was tucked between a used bookstore and a post office, strangely it reminded her of a cottage settled nicely in the woods.
When Dorcas pushed the door open she was greeted with a warm voice, “Welcome to L and M coffee. Is there anything I can get you or do you need some time to decide?”
“I’m not actually sure what I want, any suggestions?”
The girl smiled, “That depends, do you have any preferences?”
“Currently my only preference is something warm,” Dorcas replied, scanning the menu to see if there was anything that stuck out.
She nodded, “Coffee or tea?”
Dorcas gave a small laugh, “Neither, I prefer hot chocolate.”
*****
Marlene couldn’t help but feel like a fire was spreading from her heart outwards, her smile was beautiful.
“Fair enough, would you like that in a small, medium, or large?”
The girl standing opposite her took a moment to decide, “small will be good, thank you.”
“Of course,” Marlene responded without hesitation, “Name for the order?”
“Dorcas spelt d-o-r-c-a-s.”
Marlene nodded, pulling a sharpie out of her apron and writing ‘Dorcas’ in a way that could be described as something between print and cursive. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
When Dorcas shook her head Marlene poured the milky liquid into the cup before putting a lid and a holder on the side so that neither of them got burned. “It’s on the house, have a good rest of your day.”
Dorcas thanked Marlene profusely as she left, leaving Marlene hoping she would come back again.
*****
After that Dorcas decided that L and M coffee was her new favorite place outside of her apartment. Ultimately she decided that she would go back the next day before she had to get started on work.
When she opened the door ten minutes after they opened she was greeted with the same warm voice, “Welcome to L and M coffee is there anything I can get for you today?”
Dorcas made a mental note of her name tag ‘Marlene’ it was a nice name, “May I please get one small hot chocolate to go? The name for the order is Dorcas.”
Marlene nodded, “Of course your total is 2 pounds.”
Dorcas paid, got her drink, and left, deciding to go straight back to her apartment and start on the art pieces she needed to get done by the end of the month.
As she walked back Dorcas noticed a number peeking out from behind her finger. When she swapped the cup to her other hand she saw the entire thing, a phone number with ‘text me?’ Scribbled under it.
It took her all day to work up the courage and text her but she did it eventually.
Dorcas: Hey, this is Dorcas you said to text you?
In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the smartest choice to wrote her name in the text. Who knew maybe she typed the number in wrong and she was actually talking to a stalker.
Shortly after she received a text in repose.
Unknown: Hi, this is Marlene from the coffee shop
Dorcas changed ‘Unknown’s name to Marlene’
Dorcas: How was your day?
Marlene: Good
Marlene: I actually wanted to ask you something feel free to say no
Marlene: Will you go on a date with me?
Dorcas: Yes please
Marlene: Great!
Marlene: When are you free?
Dorcas: Next Friday at 4:15 pm
Marlene: That works for me
Marlene: See you then :)
Dorcas: See you then