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“Excuse me.”
The blonde behind the counter of Magic Beans Coffeehouse looked up with disdain at the small brunette woman standing in front of her. As if trying to cram every bit of judgment and disapproval into her words, she rolled her eyes and asked, “Yesssss?”
The brunette blinked in surprise at the nasty attitude. “Uh … I just want to point out … the code to the bathroom isn’t working.”
“Bathrooms are for paying customers only,” the blonde delivered with as much venom as she could. What the hell. This freeloader.
“Riiiight,” the brunette answered. “I AM a paying customer. I've been here for five hours … right over … there…” She pointed at a table about fifteen feet away. “I bought three lattes, a scone, and a chocolate muffin from you during that time.”
The blonde stared directly at the smaller woman with a dead look. “Maybe you punched it in wrong.”
“Nope,” the brunette replied. She was desperately trying to keep her temper under control, but this blonde bitch wasn't making it easy. If she didn’t have to pee so badly, she would just leave and go home to do her business. There was no way she would make it, though. “I punched it in right. Only five numbers. The door won’t open.”
“Yes, the door won’t open if you punch the code in wrong,” the blonde delivered in the most condescending tone she could generate.”
“Look…” the brunette read the other woman’s name tag. “… Aubrey. As I just said, I’ve been here for five hours drinking tons of coffee. If we DON’T figure out this door soon, you’ll need to get a mop.” She quirked her eyebrow up in challenge.
Aubrey dramatically sighed. “Fiiiiiiiine, let’s go see the door!” She stomped out from behind the counter and walked to the bathroom. The little brunette followed along. When they reached the door, she glanced down at the other woman and sharply gestured to the door. “Punch it in.”
Now the brunette rolled her eyes. She moved up to the pad and said the numbers as she pushed them. “2 - 3 - 5 - 5 - 2.” Then she went to wiggle the handle. Nothing happened. “See? The door won’t open.”
“Move,” Aubrey snapped. “You probably hit the wrong button.” She pushed 2-3-5-5-2 and tried the handle. Nothing. She punched it in again. Nothing. “Maybe someone is in there,” she said sharply.
The brunette shook her head. “As I’ve said several times … “ Aubrey scowled. “I’ve been over there for … FIVE … HOURS. Nobody has gone in there. The pad is messed up.”
“It isn’t messed up,” Aubrey argued. “You probably locked it up by pushing it too many times.”
“What are you talking about?” The brunette couldn’t believe her ears. “I didn’t do anything! You’re just making shit up.”
“Well, clearly you did something,” Aubrey growled. “I don’t have time to stand here and babysit you.” She spun to head back behind the counter.
“THERE ISN’T ANYONE HERE!” The brunette waved her arms around. The coffeehouse was definitely experiencing a lull.
Aubrey was about to unload both barrels, but at that moment a redhead walked over. She had come out from the back and heard the commotion. “Bree? What’s going on?”
“Chloe, this … person … broke the door panel,” Aubrey shot.
“No I didn’t!” The brunette protested. “I didn’t do anything. The door just won’t open.”
Chloe looked over at the other woman and beamed. “Oh, hey Beca!”
“Hey Chloe,” Beca replied with a little smile.
Aubrey’s eyes bugged out. “You know her?
The redhead got a flirty grin on her face. “Yes I do.” Beca’s face flushed bright red.
“Of course,” Aubrey mumbled under her breath.
“Let’s see what’s going on with the door,” Chloe announced, winking at Beca and striding to the bathroom.
“Look, Chloe,” Aubrey complained. “You aren’t going to be able to do anything with it. I’m pretty sure it is broken…”
“There we go,” Chloe chirped, swinging the door open.
“Thanks!” Beca said, and she dashed into the bathroom.
“What did you do?” Aubrey gasped in disbelief.
“I punched in the code,” Chloe answered. “2-3-5-5-2. BELLA.” She grinned widely.
“BUT … but …” Aubrey stammered. “That’s what we pushed!”
“What can I say?” Chloe asked. “I just have the magic touch.”
“Whatever,” Aubrey grumbled. She scowled at Chloe. “What’s the deal with her?” She gestured to the bathroom.
“Beca?” Chloe questioned, again grinning widely. “She’s pretty great, right?”
“NO!” Aubrey screeched. “She’s annoying. She’s pushy and … and … she busted the door … and she’s … like a grumpy little alt goth girl.”
“She’s hardly goth,” Chloe said, rolling her eyes. “And she’s a music producer. She produces albums, does dance mixes, puts together DJ sets. She’s really a brilliant musician.” Then she waggled her eyebrows. “Plus, she’s pretty cute.”
“Chloooooo,” the blonde groaned. “Why can’t you just find a nice normal person to go after? Why do you always have to go after the strays?”
“Oh, someone like Stacie?” Chloe asked with raised eyebrows and a knowing look.
“That … she … what are you talking about?” Aubrey was bright red.
“I’m talking about how you do … that …” Chloe pointed at Aubrey’s face. “Whenever anyone so much as mentions one Stacie Conrad. Let alone if she comes in here.” The redhead moved her head and peered out the window. “Ha. Speak of the Devil; here she comes.”
“What? Where?” Aubrey jerked around wide eyed. She tried to comb her hair down with her hands and smooth her apron.
“BWAAAHAAAHAAAA.” Chloe bellowed in laughter. “Oh, God, I’m going to pee.”
“NOT FUNNY!” Aubrey growled. “And don’t try to change the subject,” she snapped. “This is about you and the little goblin.”
“C’mon, Aubrey,” Chloe chastised. “She isn’t a goblin. I could see a gnome, but goblins are freaky and ugly.”
“You’re so weird,” Aubrey whined. “I’m going back to work.” She stomped back behind the counter, crossed her arms, and glowered.
Beca had come back out of the bathroom while Aubrey and Chloe were arguing and gone back to her seat. Now she was back at her table, finishing up her work so she could leave. Somebody slid into the seat across from her. She looked up and saw Chloe grinning.
“What are you so happy about?” Beca asked.
“I just love jerking Aubrey’s chain,” Chloe answered with a wink. “There’s this girl, Stacie, that she is head over heels for. She acts like such a dork whenever anyone mentions her.”
“Stacie … Conrad?”
“Yeah,” Chloe said, nodding. “You know her?”
Beca laughed. “Oh, yeah. She and I have been friends for like … twenty years.” The brunette tilted her head around Chloe to look at Aubrey, who was still leaning against the counter and shooting daggers at Beca. “Aubrey? Has a thing for her?”
“Yup.”
“I can make sure she comes by here later to wind her up,” Beca offered with an evil grin. “Stacie loves a challenge.”
“This day just keeps getting better and better,” Chloe sighed. She didn’t leave the seat. Rather, she kept looking at Beca.
“Something else I can I do for you?” Beca asked with a smirk.
“Nope,” Chloe said brightly. “I just wanted to see you.”
“Oh,” Beca said. “Well, I’m still here.”
“Actually, now that I think of it, there is something you can do for me…” Chloe announced, still looking just as bright and happy.
With a smug look on her face, Beca leaned back in her chair and asked, “Really? And what might that be?”
“Go out with me Friday night,” Chloe said, leaning towards the brunette. “Dinner and a movie.”
“I don’t like movies,” Beca answered, looking awfully smug.
“Really?” Chloe asked with a tone of surprise. Beca nodded. Chloe shrugged. “Well, dinner … and then something else.”
“Wait,” Beca said, leaning forward. “It doesn’t bother you that I don’t like movies?”
“Not really,” the redhead shook her head. “Not everyone likes the same things. I don’t like coffee.”
“But … you work at a coffee house … how?” Beca furrowed her brow, looking thoroughly confused.
“What can I say? I like the work … and I like tea,” Chloe said. Then she smirked and continued, “And the perks are great. Like the view.” She dragged her eyes slowly up Beca’s body and then waggled her eyebrows. Beca blushed a deep crimson. Chloe chuckled. “Why did you think the movie thing would bother me?”
Beca cleared her throat to give herself a moment to get collected. “Um … my ex … always got on my case because I didn’t like them. I thought they were boring and predictable. But he kept trying to force me to like them.”
“Sounds like a prick,” Chloe observed.
“That he was,” Beca mumbled. “Which is why he is L.A., and I’m … here.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re … here. So,” the redhead persisted. “Friday? You want to go out?” She started to lose a bit of confidence, especially with the fact Beca’s ex was a guy. “It doesn’t have to be a date or anything,” she quickly added.“We could just … hang out … or something.”
“Sure,” Beca nodded. “I’d love to go out on Friday … with you … as a date.”
“Yay!” Chloe clapped and danced a little in her chair. She handed over her phone. “Put in your number. I’ll text you with details.”
Beca typed them in and then texted herself. “Done.” She handed the phone back. “Oh, hey, quick question.”
“Yeah? Shoot,” Chloe said as she started to get up.
“How the hell did you get the bathroom door unlocked? I know I punched the code in right.”
Chloe broke into a huge grin. “Oh, that. Yeah. I turned the keypad off about an hour ago. I wanted to have an excuse to talk to you.” She turned and walked towards the back, swaying her hips as she went. She looked back over her shoulder and winked. “Bye, Becs.”
Beca sat in her chair, stunned. Then she laughed and said to herself. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”