Chapter Text
He was about to go on break when she walked in.
She had red hair pulled back in a ponytail and the prettiest brown eyes. Her purple top had long sleeves that hung loosely around her arms until they gathered at her wrists. She wore light jeans and yellow vans, and Jack couldn’t seem to stop himself from staring. She was beautiful.
So when she came up to the counter that Romeo was managing, Jack couldn’t help the pang of jealousy he felt.
“Well hello, hello, hello beautiful,” Romeo smirked.
Oh, what the heck. His break could wait a few minutes.
“Oh, step aside, Romeo, nothing more concerns you here,” he said, pushing Romeo out of the way and ignoring the glare the shorter boy gave him, “Mornin’ miss!” He greeted, turning to face the girl and leaning against the counter, “May I interest you in a cup of the finest coffee in New York?” He asked, smiling at her widely.
“That is why I came, yes,” she replied without missing a beat. For whatever reason, that made Jack like her even more.
“Well then Red, what can l getcha?” He asked, smirking.
She rattled off the order and Jack typed it up quickly, repeating it back to her to make sure he got everything.
“Your total will be $10.37,” he told her, and he watched as she pulled a wallet from her small brown purse and handed him a card. He swiped her card and gave it back to her, but she didn’t move.
Jack raised an eyebrow. “Everythin’ alright miss?”
“Don’t you need a name for my order? You know, so you can call me up and I can actually get what I ordered?” She asked.
Jack smirked. “Oh, don’t you worry ‘bout that. I would be happy to deliver it to you personally,”
She blinked at him, then said, “yeah, so the name is Katherine, K-A-T-H-E-R-I-N-E, thank you!” She walked away, and Jack watched her go, making note of the table she sat down at.
A little bit later, he picked up the coffee and pastry she ordered and threaded through the small crowd of people to her table, finding her bent over and writing furiously in a notebook. He set her order down, and she glanced up at the sound. “One coffee and muffin for Katherine, K-A-T-H-E-R-I-N-E,” he said, smirking, “Now, how ‘bout a tip? Ya know, for takin’ the trouble of bringin’ it over to ya and all that?” Jack asked.
She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. “How ‘bout a cheeky boy that does things I specifically told him not to gets nothing for his ‘troubles’?” She replied, peeling the news printed muffin liner from the muffin.
Jack grinned, “Well thank ya, Red for crushin’ all my hopes n’ dreams,” Katherine ignored him, taking a bite of her muffin.
Jack didn’t want this exchange to end just yet, so he decided to change the subject. “Whatcha writing’ Red?” He asked, looking at her notebook.
She covered the pages protectively, “An article for The New York Times,” she responded stiffly, “And don’t you have work?”
“Nah, l’m on break right now. What’s your article about?” Jack asked.
Katherine opened her mouth to reply when a voice made them turn.
“Hi, Kath!” Davey said, grinning.
Katherine spun around, jumping up to give Davey a hug when she recognized him, “Hey David! Are you off now?” she asked him, stepping back from the hug.
“Yeah,” Davey answered, “Now, I wish I could stay and talk, but I promised Les I’d help him with his homework.”
“A week into the school year ‘n they’s already givin’ out homework? That’s harsh.” Jack commented, shaking his head.
“l know, but l can’t do anything about it. Anyway, see you tonight Kath. Bye Jackie,” Davey waved to them as he left the shop.
Katherine sat back down, sipping at her coffee.
“Well, uh, l best be gettin’ back to work,” Jack mumbled, standing up.
“But it’s onIy been a coupIe of minutes! Surely your break isn’t over yet,” Katherine said incredulously.
“What, ya want me to stick around or somethin’ Red? Cause I’d be happy to oblige-” teased, staring to sit down again.
“No! No. I’d prefer if you left, actually. I have a lot of work to do,” Katherine replied, looking away from him.
“Mhm, that’s what I thought ya’d say. See ya ‘round, Red,” Jack waIked away, rubbing the tattoo on his wrist and trying to ignore the pang of sadness and jealousy he felt.
“Ayyy Jackie’s back from his break!” Race called, grinning, “How’d it go?” he asked, taking a sip of what was probably straight espresso.
“She’s datin’ Davey,” Jack muttered.
Race choked. “ What ? That’s Davey’s girl? How do ya know?”
Jack shrugged. “I mean, she hugged him, and he said he’d see her later tonight. It makes sense,” he sounded absolutely miserable.
Race squinted at Jack for a moment before whipping out his phone. “I’m checking your facts,” he muttered, clicking on the coffee shop group chat.
Jack knew Race, and he knew Race was going to make this into a big thing, so he too went to the coffee shop group chat to watch it unfold.
11:07 am in Barista Bromance <3<3<3
DanceDanceRevolution: So Davey.
BigBrain: Ooh, this is serious I see, we’re using capitals and punctuation. What’s up?
BigBrain: Also can I get a name change? I don’t like this one.
DanceDanceRevolution: albert
MisterStealUrSoul: im on it
DanceDanceRevolution: Are you dating the cute ginger that was sitting in the back of the cafe today? Cause Jack thinks you are.
MisterStealUrSoul has changed BigBrain’s name to “MightBeDatingTheCuteGinger”
MightBeDatingTheCuteGinger: What? No! Kath and I are friends, nothing more.
MisterStealUrSoul changed MightBeDatingTheCuteGinger’s name to “ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger”
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: I don’t know if this name is better or worse.
DanceDanceRevolution: good bc jackie boy was jealous
AngstyArtist: i was not!
AngstyArtist: also can i get a name change?
DanceDanceRevolution: no
MisterStealUrSoul: no
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: No.
DanceDanceRevolution: weve kept that name going since I gave it 2 u 2 yrs ago
DanceDanceRevolution: we r not changing it now
DanceDanceRevolution: also davey y did u say no u kno u have no pwr here
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: I know, but it’s important Jack knows everyone except for him supports his name.
ARoseWithAName: can we go back to the fact that Jack has barely talked to The Cute Ginger and he’s already in love with her?
DanceDanceRevolution: yes yes it is v sweet we stan a love at first sight trope
AngstyArtist: it’s not love at first sight.
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: Why did you think we were dating in the first place?
AngstyArtist: she hugged you and you said you’d see her later tonight.
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: Jackie.
AngstyArtist: what?
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: Jackie did you seriously forget?
AngstyArtist: did i forget what?
DanceDanceRevolution: omg he forgot
AngstyArtist: WHAT THE HECK DID I FORGET?
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: The party, Jackie! My mom’s birthday party is tonight. That’s why I said I’d see her tonight. She’s coming to the party too!
AngstyArtist: oh my gosh I completely forgot about that.
AngstyArtist: i’m an idiot guys.
MisterStealUrSoul: yeah we knew that
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: Idiot or not, I can help you.
AngstyArtist: what, you mean help me flirt with her?
NotDatingTheCuteGinger: Yeah!
AngstyArtist: i’ll have to pass.
MisterStealUrSoul: look davey I love you as much as the next guy but I would not trust you for flirting advice if my life depended on it
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: Rude.
TwoEyesAreForCowards: David, Dave, Davey boy
TwoEyesAreForCowards: We know you can’t be all bad since you’ve got a girlfriend now but let Jackie work his magic
AngstyArtist: so your saying i’m good at flirting.
TwoEyesAreForCowards: No I’m saying we need you to work your magic to drive her away bc we all know you’ll be the worst once you get a girlfriend and we’d like to stop that
AngstyArtist: the worst how?
TwoEyesAreForCowards: If you had a girlfriend you would not shut up about her
AngstyArtist: that is not true!
ThankfullyNotDatingTheCuteGinger: Yes it is.
MisterStealUrSoul: facts my guy
ARoseWithAName: so true tho.
DanceDanceRevolution: can confirm
Elmer’sGlue: He’s not wrong.
HonoraryBaristaBro2.0: Stop trying to deny it
Little: he’s right
HonoraryBaristaBro: Jackie it’s true.
AngstyArtist: you stay out of this Crutchie.
HonoraryBaristaBro: No. <3
AngstyArtist: :(
PolkaSpot: Shut up.
PolkaSpot: I didn’t check my phone for ten minutes and got 59 notifications.
DanceDanceRevolution: stop trying 2 shut us up u have almost no pwr
PolkaSpot: And I hate it.
DanceDanceRevolution: too bad
DanceDanceRevolution: luv u spotty <3