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Charlie tries not to look outwardly excited when he walks in with his friends and spots who’s taking orders at the student café, lest he wants to get an absolute ribbing from his friends. The captain of the rugby team, Nick Nelson, stands behind the till, wearing an easy smile as he chats with his fellow students. Charlie never actually talks to Nick, their paths never really cross outside of the café, and Nick is usually always occupied with making the drinks whenever Charlie goes in, but that will change now.
After all, Charlie needs to order his vanilla iced latte.
His friends share not-so-subtle smug glances as Charlie announces that he’ll order for everyone but give him their orders regardless. Charlie ignores the teasing undertones in their voices as he walks away to join the queue. Okay, so maybe Charlie has a teensy crush on Nick. Since Nick had smiled at him for the first time during his first week of uni when they passed each other in the quad, Charlie had been smitten. He doesn’t know what exactly has him pulled towards the guy; he is not Charlie’s usual type. In fact, Charlie has past trauma with rugby players, so he typically stays far, far away from them.
Maybe it’s because Charlie once saw him apologise to a wall after walking into it.
Nevertheless, Charlie ignores the stares as he waits in line to order and brings up his phone to type up his friends’ orders, so if the drinks are wrong, it’s not his fault. But he keeps getting distracted because he’s never seen Nick Nelson up close, so he’s never realised how beautiful he is. His freckles are like constellations, dotted across his face and arms like they have been placed with intent, and they match his dark eyes and golden hair perfectly. Charlie feels his chest stutter as he stares, his gaze lingering on the muscles he’s gained from playing rugby. His mind drifts away momentarily to how they’d feel around him, pinning him against any and every surface…
“Next, please!”
Charlie blinks and realises that he’s next. He has to talk to Nick Nelson and look him in the eyes. Fuck.
No, he can do this. Just breathe.
With an exhale, Charlie steps forward and smiles at Nick as they face each other. He ignores the butterflies in his stomach and opens his mouth to order.
“Vanilla iced latte with a half pump of caramel?” Nick asks.
His voice is smooth, like perfectly melted butter. Just like Charlie imagines it to be when his brain focuses on nothing but Nick. Charlie has to stop himself from swooning as pink floods Nick’s cheeks, and the person at the coffee machine snorts.
“I-I mean…”
“Yes, please,” Charlie squeaks out. “H-How’d you know?”
“Oh,” Nick blanches, looking like he’s about to malfunction. “W-Well, I always try to remember the regulars. Makes it easier, y’know.”
Another snort from the other employee. Nick glares at their back and Charlie stifles his giggles.
“You’re spot on with me then,” he says, holding up his phone. “But it’s not just me today.”
Still pink-cheeked, Nick nods and Charlie reads out the rest of the orders. Now, Charlie feels awkward as silence settles between them. He does not want to make a fool of himself by saying something stupid, so he stays quiet and chews on his bottom lip.
Nick speaks as Charlie taps his card on the card reader. “I was hoping you’d come in today.”
“Really?” Charlie asks.
Nick nods, chuckling nervously. “Yeah, then I’d have an excuse to talk to you.”
Charlie beams. Nick wants to talk to him?
“Nickelodeon!” the other employee calls, holding a ready-made coffee.
Nick rolls his eyes and goes to take it off them, only to swipe it so firmly that the lid flies off, and the iced coffee drenches both him and Charlie. Charlie freezes, and Nick gasps.
“Shit, I’m so sorry! Here, let me just…”
Charlie watches with wide eyes as Nick scrambles for some napkins, slipping with a loud thud on the spilt coffee on the floor. The thud causes the café to fall silent, and Charlie feels his cheeks burn as the other employee laughs, helping Nick up.
“Go clean up in the back. This is what you get for trying to flirt on the job.”
“I’m bisexual, Darcy,” Nick whines. “I’m contracted to be a disaster.”
“Go!”
Despite being covered in coffee, Charlie giggles and watches Nick burn scarlet, stepping into the back room. Who would’ve thought that Nick Nelson, who seems to fly effortlessly during rugby games, was this much of a disaster? It’s a good thing Charlie finds it cute rather than off-putting.
Darcy, Charlie now knows, sighs in slight exasperation as they finish mopping up Nick’s spill and turn to face Charlie.
“Sorry about that, my guy,” they say. “Something must’ve been distracting him, Nick’s not usually so frazzled. You alright?”
Charlie shrugs. “Yeah, I never liked this shirt anyway. Is Nick going to be okay?”
Darcy waves him off. “I’m sure it’s nothing more than a bruised ego. Now, have you ordered?”
Charlie nods. Darcy gives him a salute and shoos him off to wait for his and his friends’ drinks, which he does with a laugh. He looks back at his friends with a slight cringe as he pulls at his coffee-soaked shirt. Isaac rolls his eyes, pulling out a jumper from his backpack. Honestly, always trust Isaac to have a solution to every possible problem. Charlie grins at him.
Charlie leans against the wall with the baskets of sugar, coffee stirrers and napkins and plucks a few of the napkins.
“Order for Charlie!”
Charlie grins and steps towards Darcy with one of the napkins he took. Darcy raises their eyebrows at him when he holds it out, taking it cautiously.
“Give that to Nick for me,” he requests, picking up his tray. “Tell him I expect his text after he finishes his shift.”