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“Bleh,” Dani stuck her tongue out, holding back from gagging at the smell alone. “It smells like unicorn vomit.”
Sat together at one of the many small cafés across campus, Dani leaned back in her couch chair. They were surrounded by dark brown upholstery and old tile floors. From their small table by the back wall, they were in their own isolated bubble. The white noise of indistinguishable chatter vibrating around them, accented by the whirring of espresso machines.
“It’s just the caramel,” Fi said, holding out a hand so Dani could pass her drink back.
“Take it.”
Fi took a sip, the white mug handle warm in her palm, “It tastes fine to me.”
“Well,” Dani coughed, shifting to throw her legs over an arm of the small couch and crossing her arms. “Some of us want to taste the coffee. The pastry is for the sweetness.”
Her own plain latté sat untouched between them, steam blowing in small curls. She picked up the plate with her chocolate muffin, Fi already having scarfed down her sandwich.
Fi hummed, “If I were in the future, I hope scientists figure out how to make coffee flavoured pastries.”
Dani paused, the muffin halfway to her mouth. “You mean pastry flavoured coffee?”
“Oh. Yeah, that too.”
The conversation reached a lull, Fi focusing on finishing her food. Every now and then she looked up to the other woman, only to see her already looking at her.
Awkward.
Although, this was par for the course for a coffee date, Fi assumed. They didn’t know each other, even if they knew of each other.
“Is your coffee okay?” Fi asked, nodding towards the still untouched drink.
Dani chewed slowly, kicking her feet slightly as she hummed. “Yeah, it’s… fine.”
From Dani’s side angle, it was easy for Fi to notice the way that the red blotch on the bottom of her cheek blossomed, delicate veins thickening and expanding its wiry reach out to her jaw and weaving through the moles on her face.
“You sure?”
Dani rolled her eyes, “Yes, I’m sure.”
Fi blinked, trying to hide the smile building behind her carefully neutral expression. “So… try it.”
“What?”
“Try it.”
Dani looked at Fi and down at the drink, the gears turning in her head. “It’s… too hot.”
Fi’s brows furrowed. “Is it not supposed to be hot?”
Dani wouldn’t look at Fi, just taking a small bite of her muffin. “... Yes.”
The silence stretched between them, Dani’s growing blush more than enough to make up for it. Once Dani finished her muffin, she placed the plate down. Her hand hovered over her mug, and she hesitated again. Then, she looked up at Fi, puppy dog eyes widening. With her mouth twisted up slightly, she suddenly let out a big huff, dramatically falling back into her chair.
“Okay! Fine… I give up.”
“You… what?”
Dani crossed her arms over her chest again, pouting slightly, her face fully a-flame. “I…” she lowered her voice, muttering something under her breath.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
Dani’s lips were pressed together in a tight line. She shifted to have her feet back on the ground again, arms still crossed together. She spoke again, and Fi could only hear the word “temperature” before it was cut off by a man laughing a few tables away.
Fi smiled awkwardly, “I’m sorry to ask again, but-”
“I had to ask for kid's temp!” Dani yelped, a hand going to cover her mouth.
Fi probably looked similarly started, almost dropping her own mug. “Oh…?” She prodded.
When Dani pulled her hands away, Fi had to restrain herself not to coo at how embarrassed the other woman looked.
“I,” she huffed. “I always burn my tongue on coffee and it takes ages to cool down, so- so I always ask if they can just make it the temperature they make the kid’s hot chocolate.” She pouted, “But it sounds sooooo lame,” and whispered “I really wanted you to think I was cool or whatever.”
Fi hated seeing Dani curled into herself, practically itching her skin from how uncomfortable she looked.
“I… don’t think it’s lame.”
Dani looked up at Fi, tilting her head slightly in confusion. “You don’t?”
“I’d rather you be happy and comfortable than change yourself for me. That’s lame.”
Fi watched how Dani’s face transformed, little beads of light reflected in the depths of her eyes. “Have I already messed this up, then? Can we do a redo? Um… of the redo?”
“Actually, hold on.” Fi got up on her feet. “Stay here for a second, yeah?”
The other woman’s sly smile returned, the confidence shining through as it melted into her skin. “You could tell me to do anything and I’d do it.”
Fi clicked her tongue and pointed her finger, “Cheeky shit. Don’t embarrass yourself while I’m gone.”
She giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Okay.”
Fi walked past the girl, purposefully adding an extra sway to her step as she made her way to the front counter.
After a few minutes, she returned back to their table. Two to-go cups along with a brown paper bag tucked into her arm.
Dani’s back straightened, lips pursing together. “Uhhh… well I wanted to tell you I loved watching you walk up to the front, but I’m now confused.”
“About me walking or the drink?”
“Well, if you’d do it again it would probably clear up my confusion.”
Fi scoffed, holding out one of the cups for Dani, “Just try it.”
Dani looked at the drink suspiciously, her nose wrinkled slightly as she sniffed the top. Finding nothing abhorrently strong in its smell, she proceeded to take a small sip.
Fi watched the way her throat bob, noting the hint of milk foam on her top lip when she pulled back. The way her tongue poked out in an attempt to swipe it off.
“Oh… that’s pretty good, actually. What is it?” She blinked up at Fi.
“Latté, but I asked for a half pump of vanilla. I think it’s not as overwhelming as the caramel, but still good. And I made sure it was at the right temperature. It’s okay, right?”
Dani looked between the drink and up at Fi again, and she grinned, kicking out her feet under the table and melting into the couch chair. “Maybe.”
Fi rolled her eyes fondly, “You’re very particular, you know that.”
Dani’s eyes roved from where she could see Fi’s hips and back up to her face. “I know what I like.”
Fi tried not to squirm, instead turning towards the exit. “I was thinking we could go for a walk outside since it’s not raining anymore. Plus, I got some surprise treats for us to try out and I don’t want you to throw a fit if they’re too sweet,” she joked.
“Are you sure you can handle walking and eating at the same time? Do you not remember when you almost ate shit walking down the stairs yesterday?” Dani snorted, wrapping her dark jacket around herself and hiking her backpack over her shoulders.
“That’s because you were being awfully distracting.”
“I’m hearing more distracting than awful.”
Fi looked down to Dani’s empty hand. She wanted desperately to reach out and hold onto it, feel the texture of her skin beneath her own, but she knew it wasn’t the right time.
Not here, in front of the albeit small group of people surrounding them.
And definitely not walking around campus anytime soon.
Fi put her coffee on the table one last time, opening the brown paper bag to reveal a large chocolate chip cookie. With both hands, she split the soft cookie in half, passing one piece over to Dani.
“Everyone likes chocolate chip,” Fi said.
Dani gently took the piece from her, electric where their fingertips barely brushed.
Fi wanted to believe Dani did that on purpose. And maybe she was right, with the way Dani blinked slowly. Pulling away to take a bite for herself.
Fi startled when she heard Dani moan loudly, whipping her head around her to see if anyone else had heard it.
“God! These cookies are orgasmic.” Dani chomped down another bite and moaned again.
“Jesus!” Fi laughed. “Warn me next time, yeah?”
Dani swallowed, her smirk growing into a full grin, “Why do you wanna know when I-”
“Stop! We aren’t having this conversation in the café! We’re going outside,” her voice lowered, “now.”
Dani fluttered her lashes, leaning in as close as she could reasonably get while holding her cookie piece. “As long as we talk about it beforehand, anything’s fine with me.” And before Fi could respond with anything, Dani breezed past her, the keychains on her backpack clanking together as she walked.
Fi gulped on nothing, barely remembering to pick up her own coffee before smiling to herself as she happily chased after Dani.