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To Katie Gardner, this was a normal Wednesday afternoon at the cafe she was working in. It was called Hyacinth Cafe, located in the food district of UCLA. Katie’s shift was all normal, which ended in about 10 minutes, then she had an hour to get ready for her classes. It was an average, normal day until Travis Stoll walked through the door. Katie was making someone's vanilla latte when he came in, but when she turned around and saw his mischievous smirk, even though she couldn’t see the future, she knew that at this exact moment, her life would be different, and it would be all his fault.
“What do you want, Stoll? Are you here to annoy me for the 3rd time this week? My shift ends soon, so hurry up.” Katie said, annoyance filled her voice. She was replacing the water in the vase of some light pink ranunculus. cardigan by Taylor Swift was playing on the speakers.
“What? I can’t say hi to one of the only people I know here?” Travis said, his smirk somehow growing bigger. “ And what if I wanted to get something?”
“You mean steal something?” Katie snarled. “I still remember you taking someone's coffee that one time.”
“Oh come on! They ordered the same thing as me!” Travis put his hands over his heart dramatically.
“You didn’t even order anything!” Katie tried to yell quietly, so as to not disturb the customers. “Like I said, my shift ends soon, so if you desperately want to annoy me … do it during our mythology and folklore class.” Katie and Travis knew each other since they were in middle school. He and his younger brother, Connor, would constantly prank her every chance they got, and of course Travis had to go to the same college and have the same minor as Katie because the world apparently hates her!
Travis made a clicking noise. “Ah Katie-Kat, while I’d love to do that, you know I can’t wait that long.” The way he said it sent shivers down Katie’s spine. She had no idea why, but she resisted the urge to slap Travis right there.
“You’re so impatient.” Katie rolled her eyes with her arms crossed in front of her, “By the way, there’s someone behind you.” She tried her best to smile sympathetically to them.
“Alright, alright, I’m going. I’ll see you later, Gardner.” Travis walked out the door.
“To kiss in cars and downtown bars, was all we needed, you drew stars around my scars, but now I'm bleeding, cause I knew you, stepping on the last train, marked me like a bloodstain, I, I knew you, tried to change the ending, Peter losing Wendy, I, I knew you, Leaving like a father, running like water, I, and when you are young, they assume you know nothing”
~𓆩🌿𓆪~
Katie was in her apartment, getting her notebook and pens, putting them in her bag, and grabbed her phone. She noticed there was a text message from Travis. How did she even get his number? She then realized that he took her phone while they were talking in the cafe and added his contact, like how he used to when they were younger.
Travis - are you coming?
Katie - can you stop stealing my phone to do this?
I keep changing my password, how do you keep unlocking it?
Travis - a stoll never tells their secrets <3
and class starts soon so you better hurry
Katie looked at the time, and he was right. She had 8 minutes to run to leave and run to class. She quickly removed his contact, even though it wouldn’t do anything as he would just add it back, and ran out of the apartment building, crossed the street, running as fast as she could, and luckily made it with 2 minutes to spare. Katie saw Travis waving at her, but she rolled her eyes, and sat at the opposite side of the lecture hall from where he was. She took out her things, and she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Travis, grinning.
“Fuck!” Katie yelped, surprised. “What do you want, Stoll?
Travis dramatically frowned. “Remember our conversation at the coffee shop?”
Katie sighed, “Why did I have to say that?” she mumbled. “Just sit over there,” she pointed at an empty seat in the row in front of her. “and don’t distract me while I’m taking notes. You almost made me get a B in history in junior year that one time.”
“Ah Katie-Kat, that was years ago! Why were you so obsessed over your grades back then, anyways? A B isn’t bad!” Travis said, walking to his seat. “Anyways it’s not my fault you - actually nevermind.” His face was slightly pink, but Katie dismissed the observation.
Professor Brunner came in, with a bright orange blanket with a pegasus design all over it, which covered his legs and wheelchair. “Okay, everyone!” He yelled, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. “I hope you all had a good day so far, and if not, hopefully it gets better. Now can everyone open to book 13 of The Odyssey?”
~𓆩🌿𓆪~
It was one week later when Katie was working at Hyacinth Cafe, Call It Fate, Call It Karma by The Strokes was playing, and Travis Stoll came in. Of course he had to come when Katie’s shift just started.
Katie sighed, placing a bouquet of forget-me-nots on the counter and filled a vase with water. “What do you want, Stoll? Here to cause chaos?” She thought about all the times he came in and tried guessing what he would do this time. Steal? Ask to “borrow” her stuff? Say some shitty pick-up line? Put chocolate bunnies on her car and tell her to check it out (it usually happened during Summer, and yes, Travis did end up cleaning it, it was still annoying)? It could truly be anything.
“Can I waste all your time here on the sidewalk? Can I stand in your light, just for a while?, I've waited around to wait in a room, having a hard time watching you”
Travis smirked, his blue eyes the same color of the forget-me-nots Katie was putting in the vase. “Girl, are you from Tennessee, cause you’re the only ten I see.” he ignored Katie’s question and put up finger guns.
Katie rolled her eyes. “Stoll, shut up, we’re both from New York. Anyways, unlike you, I actually have a job, so are you going to order something?”
Travis gasped and put a hand over his heart. “I’m hurt Katie-Kat! And I do have a job, for your information! I work at that post office a few blocks away.” he said as Katie took someone’s order.
“Well, isn’t there a saying that names are prophecies or something like that? Also, I don’t understand how anyone would hire you, but good for you.” Katie matched the curly haired boy’s smirk.
“Well, Gardner,” The way Travis said her last name made Katie’s heart slightly race. “Why're you working here, then?”
“I’m majoring in botany and biology, Stoll.” Katie replied, placing a drink on the counter.
Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Katie’s manager, came out from the back. She was a senior majoring in politics. “Katie, why are you talking to that boy that keeps coming in here and always steals something?”
“Hi, Reyna. Anyways, if I don’t answer him, he’ll keep annoying me.” Katie glared at Travis. “Trust me, I’ve tried telling him to leave every time he comes in, but he keeps coming back.”
“I can see your little antics, boy, on the cameras.” Reyna said, intimidatingly. “As long as you don’t steal our customers' orders and distract our employees, I could care less of what you do.” She soon turned to Katie, “I'm about to leave, but I needed to ask if you could cover Silena's shift since she's taking the day off on January 19th next week , and you’re the only one available during her shift. Are you able to cover it? I’ll of course pay extra if you do.”
Silena Beauregard, was also a senior like Reyna, but majored in business and graphic design. Katie rarely talked to her because her shift was during the night while Katie’s was during the afternoon, but the times the two did talk, Silena seemed nice.
Katie took a second to think if she needed to study for any tests, but she had none. “Uhm, yeah, I think I’m available.” Reyna nodded then left the cafe.
“Looks like I have more time to annoy you, Katie-Kat.” Travis said, startling Katie, who forgot he was there.
“Don’t you have class?” Katie scowled at him. “Or your job?”
Travis shook his head. “I don’t have accounting today and I have the day off.”
“Why don’t you call Conner or something? Or do you just do useless shit in your free time?”
“1. He has class right now, 2. I am offended, but honestly, yeah.”
“How about you support this small business by actually buying something?”
“Alright, Gardner, since you’re forcing me, what do you think I should get?”
“Look at the menu!” Katie smiled passive aggressively.
“Hmmmm,” Travis tapped his chin, “I’ll get … a black coffee.”
Katie stared at Travis in disgust. “W-what? Are you actually insane?”
Travis showed his trademark mischievous grin. “Well, my dear Katie-Kat, you did say to ‘look at the menu’ and I did!”
“But … without anything? Just plain, black coffee? Y’know what, nevermind. What size? And do you want it iced or hot?”
“Medium and hot!”
Katie sighed. She never cared whatever someone ordered, even if it was black coffee, it’s just that she was bored and felt like fucking around with Travis. If he was being a little bitch, why couldn’t she? “Okay, that’ll be $5.75, and don’t even think about taking my tips.” bad idea! by girl in red was on the speakers.
“Wasn’t going to, Gardner.” Travis handed Katie the money and she soon started to make the coffee.
There, he did it again. Katie thought. Why did her heart flutter whenever Travis said her last name? It’s been like this for over a year, and she tried suppressing any feelings or ideas she had about it, but lately, it’s been getting out of hand. “It’s nothing, it’s nothing.” she muttered to herself over and over. Katie looked over to the bright, sky blue forget-me-nots, which symbolized true love and never forgetting someone.
“I don’t care if you come over next week, just don’t bother me too much, my dear Stoll, '' Katie said, placing Travis’ black coffee on the counter, who looked surprised, his cheeks flashed a pale pink. She hoped this wouldn’t be a mistake.
“You put your hands under my shirt, undid my bra and said these words, ‘Darling, you're so pretty, it hurts’, you pushed me up against my wall, threw my clothes down on the floor, ‘Darling, are you ready for more?’, it was a bad idea calling you up, was such a bad idea, I'm totally fucked, it was a bad idea to think I could stop, was such a bad idea, I can't get enough”
~𓆩🌿𓆪~
Katie was back in her apartment, writing an essay for her biology class. She couldn’t stop thinking about her interactions with Travis earlier that day. They sat near each other during mythology and folklore, but didn’t speak the whole time, which was very irregular for the two of them. Katie decided that she was too distracted so she called her half sister Miranda, who almost immediately picked up.
“Hi Kates! How have you been? You haven’t called in forever!” Miranda said. She was two years younger than Katie, so they were both very close.
Katie laughed, “I called you last week, Mir! Anyways, I’ve been good. Stoll won’t leave me alone, I’ve got a bio essay to finish in 2 weeks, and I have an extra shift for work. Basically the usual. What about you?”
“Me and Sherman are going on a date in 3 days on Friday!” Miranda smiled.
“Oh I’m so happy for you Mir! Do you need any tips or something, because you can always ask me?”
Miranda shook her head. “I’m fine, this is only our 4th date, but hey, I didn’t even think we would’ve even gotten anywhere near this! Now tell me what Travis did today.”
And that’s exactly what Katie did. Everything spilled out of her. She may have let a few things slip. ‘ … y’know, his eyes are the same color as forget-me-nots’ ‘… and the way he said “Gardner” … I don’t know .. something about it made my heart … I don’t even know how to explain it?!’ When Katie said all that, Miranda just stared at her.
“God, Kates, you’re so stupid! Think about what you just said.” Miranda exclaimed.
Katie thought for a minute. She got lost in the heat of the moment and stupidly revealed that she has confusing feelings for Travis fucking Stoll. “Wait, wait … M-Miranda.” Katie stuttered. “I-I …” her breathing started getting heavy, “No, no, no I-I can’t … have f-f-” Katie couldn’t even say ‘feelings for Travis Stoll’ because she couldn’t even admit it to herself.
Miranda could clearly see Katie was on the brink of crying. “Hey, hey, Katie, remember when I realized my feelings for that one really sweet guy I dated last year?” Katie nodded, wiping away some tears that fell on her phone screen. “Well, everyone called him an asshole and all that shit, and even I started to believe it, but I started to get to know him and then we dated for a few months. We both knew it would have never lasted, but it was still a nice experience, I mean he’s one of my closest friends! Now, honestly, I’m not sure what my point is, but … I don’t think you should be worrying this much about some crush that probably won’t last that long.”
Katie tried to slow her breathing. Her mascara ran down her blotchy tear-stained cheeks. “Mir, thank you. I don’t know if I’ll ever do anything about this … but thanks.” Katie sniffled, “Now, I have to get back to writing this essay. Good luck on your date!”
~𓆩🌿𓆪~
Katie was in Hyacinth Cafe, working a normal closing shift. Kiss Her You Fool by Kids That Fly was blasting on the speakers while she adjusted the position of some purple liatris. This was an average, normal shift so far. Katie was able to mostly avoid Travis to figure out her feelings. Right now, she was sure that she might have a small crush on him. He started coming over less and less, which confused Katie, but the last time they talked, they were both acting a little off.
There were only a few people left in the cafe, when Travis of course had to come in 15 minutes before the cafe closed.
Travis wore an oversized orange hoodie and baggy black jeans. God, was Katie a sucker for guys in anything oversized or baggy. “Hey, Katie-Kat.”
“What do you want, Stoll?” Katie greeted him. “Do you want to get black coffee again? Or are you here to steal something?”
Travis laughed. Katie Gardner made god damn Travis fucking Stoll laugh . Her heart skipped a beat. “Nah, I just haven’t talked to you yet.”
“ Cause you’ve only got one chance, you’ve only got one chance, kiss her you fool”
If Katie wasn’t furiously blushing already, she definitely was now. The two bantered for a few more minutes before Katie realized she was alone with just Travis and it was closing time. “It’s past 9:30, I should start cleaning up around here. You can go.”
“I can help you, Gardner. I don’t have anything else to do anyways.” Travis replied. cardigan by Taylor Swift was now playing in the background.
Katie was trying to put away some coffee beans in a cabinet, but she was too short to reach it.
Travis grabbed Katie’s wrist, sending electric sparks across her whole body. “Here, let me help you.”
Katie didn’t want to, but she pulled away. “I can do it myself, Stoll. And really , why are you helping me?”
Travis pursed his lips. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Katie lowered the coffee bag and left it on the counter. Her heart was racing, she couldn’t handle her emotions anymore. She shoved Travis to a wall.
“ But I knew you'd linger like a tattoo kiss, I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs the smell of smoke would hang around this long, cause I knew everything when I was young, I knew I'd curse you for the longest time, chasing' shadows in the grocery line, I knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired, and you'd be standing' in my front porch light, and I knew you'd come back to me”
“K-Katie-Kat,” Travis laughed, a laugh Katie could recognize when she was sleeping, a laugh she could recognize in a crowd of thousands of people, a laugh she yearned to hear when she was alone. “Wha-what are you-”
Katie put her finger over his mouth to shush him, “Is it okay if I …” she trailed off. Travis nodded.
And so, their lips connected.
Katie ran her fingers through Travis’ curly brown locks. Travis had his hand over Katie’s crochet daisy kerchief. His fingers moved to Katie’s long, wavy brown hair, which he started playing with, causing Katie to giggle through their kisses. Her hands made their way to the back of Travis’ neck, making Katie pull Travis in closer. The two could have stayed like that forever, but they pulled apart, gasping for air. Then they collapsed in each other's arms.
“Okay,” Katie said, as soon as she caught her breath. “ Before you say anything , I have absolutely no idea why I did that.” She usually wasn’t as impulsive as she was when she kissed Travis. “And since I’m on a streak of embarrassing myself, I-I-” These were the same words she couldn’t even think without crying just a week ago, “I like you, Travis Stoll.” Katie has never ever in her whole life called Travis by his first name. Tears rolled down her cheeks, “Hell, I really like you, Travis Stoll!”
Travis gently held Katie’s face in his hands and wiped her tears away. “Kates,” That was a nickname she hasn’t heard in years , “I-I like you too. I’ve really liked you … for … as long as I can remember.”
Katie stared at Travis, surprised. “You-you have? But … then why have you been … What about all those years when we were younger and you could never leave me alone cause you wanted to see my reaction to your stupid pranks? And even now when you’re coming in here everyday just to fuck with me?”
“Katie-Kat, I did all of that to … well have fun, but also to get your attention.”
Katie started giggling hysterically, “Oh, Stoll, you’re so stupidly sappy!” Travis dramatically pulled Katie in and kissed her. After they pulled apart, the two touched their foreheads. “Why couldn’t I realize my feelings for you earlier?” she whispered.
“Cause we’re both stupid, oblivious idiots?” Travis smirked. “Now come on, we should go it’s … oh fuck it’s 10:17! How long did we make out?”
Katie was laughing even harder now, “I honestly don’t know, it felt like forever! So … I know how this is gonna sound, and I don’t mean it like that, but wanna come over to my apartment?” Her crochet daisy kerchief was on the ground and both of their hair was messy, but they didn’t care, they were in love.
“Katie-Kat, I know you have a type, guys with scruffy, curly hair and baggy clothes.” Travis teased as she punched him in the arm. “But alright, sure. Y’know I didn’t you were this kind of person, Gardner. Inviting someone to your apartment after just kissing them?”
“Be quiet, Stoll!” Katie laughed, helping Travis get up. They both got in Katie’s car and drove to her apartment. They talked about silly memories they had, making fun of each other. When the two arrived at apartment D4, Katie collapsed on her bed.
Travis sat down next to Katie. “Uhm … so where can I sle- OH!” Katie grabbed Travis’ waist and pulled him in.
“Here if you want.” Katie mumbled. “I have an extra blanket if you want to sleep on the couch.”
Travis lied down and started running his fingers through Katie’s hair. “Nah, it’s alright. I can sleep here.” he wrapped his free arm around Katie’s waist, the two now spooning.
“I can’t believe this is even happening, Stoll.” Katie whispered, sounding exhausted.
Travis kissed the top of Katie’s head, “Me too, Katie-Kat.”
“Did you know your eyes look exactly like forget-me-nots?” Katie asked.
“No, Kates, tell me more.”
At this exact moment, Katie Gardner knew that she would never forget Travis stoll. He would live in her memories forevermore