Quinn is standing behind the counter, working in a coffee shop. She is wearing a red apron and her hair is tied in a loose ponytail, reading a book. Every few minutes she lifts her head and looks out the windows to see if anyone will come in.
The shop is not too big, not too small. Everything is wood, the floors, the walls, the tables and counters. Across one wall is a long chalkboard with inspirational quotes in neat handwriting. Behind the counter is another chalkboard with the menu. There is a jukebox towards the back and neon signs of open and a coffee cup. Different carpets scatter around the room of different colors. There are four different couches all around, as well as tables and chairs. The shop is really vintage and homey.
The phone rings, Quinn closes her book and reaches for the phone.
"Q's coffee, how can I help you?"
Quinn stands tall, one hand on her hip, stretching her back. Her co-worker Amy responds.
"Hey, it's Amy."
"Oh, hey what's up?"
"Just wondering what time you need me in, boss."
Quinn puts her elbows on the counter and her hand under her chin.
"Don't call me boss and honestly, I don't think I need you again today. It's just...not busy."
Quinn sighs.
"Quinn, you just opened, it'll get better."
"Yeah, I hope. I'll call if I need you, okay?"
"Alright."
Quinn hangs up and sighs. She walks around to one of the cool vintage couches, sits down and puts her feet on the coffee table.
She reaches into her apron pocket, pulls out her book and begins to read.
One hour later and Quinn is now asleep, her book flattened on her chest. She is startled awake by the bell of the door. She jumps to her feet and brushes her apron with her hands.
A guy at the door, short brown hair slicked to the side wearing a black v-neck and jeans, pauses and looks her up and down.
"Did you just wake up?"
"What...no way." She puts a piece of stray hair behind her ear. Quinn's lying is evident. The guy raises an eyebrow at her.
"Business...kinda sucks, so yes I took a nap to distract myself from getting upset."
She walks around the counter, tightening her ponytail in the process.
The guy walks to the counter.
"Why would that make you sad? I work across the street at the music store and I love it when no one comes in, gettin' paid to just hangout and do nothing."
Quinn places both hands on the counter and lifts her eyebrows.
"Do you own that music store?"
Quinn points out the window and to the store across the street.
"No, why?"
"Well, if I didn't own this then I wouldn't be upset either."
The guy looks at her sympathetically.
"Oh, shit, listen I'm sorry I-'
"I don't even know why I'm telling you this, I don't even know you. I assume you want coffee?"
The guy grabs her hand off the counter and shakes it.
"Hello, I'm Puck and now you know me."
Quinn is just staring at him.
"And well, no I didn't come for coffee, more to welcome you...but coffee does sound good."
"Don't pity me, if you don't want the coffee, don't buy the coffee."
"I'll have a medium black coffee and one of those muffins, they look good."
Quinn turns around and makes Puck's coffee. She takes out a brown paper bag before Puck stops her.
"No, I wanna eat here, I'm on my break so I don't want to spend anymore time than I have to eating in that dirty, old store."
Quinn puts the bag back under the counter and takes out a blue glass plate. She puts the muffin on top and hands it to him.
"$3.00."
Puck takes out his wallet and takes out five one-dollar bills. He hands Quinn three dollars and puts two in the tip jar that is sitting on the counter.
"Thanks, but once again, you don't have to pity me. It's been three days...things will get better."
Puck points to the plate.
"This is lunch," He takes it off the counter. "That is to keep me awake." Puck points to the coffee sitting on the counter. "And that is because you're hot." Puck points to the tip jar. He winks at her and walks towards one of the couches and shouts to her over his shoulder. "No pity!"
Quinn watches him leave her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Puck sits on the couch, eating his muffin. He sees the book Quinn was reading and grabs it.
"The Weirdness...?"
Quinn walks over to him and grabs the book.
"Sorry, I'm not really being that professional. I'll just be over there if you need anything."
She nods her head toward the back bar of the counter. She begins to walk away.
"What's it about?"
"Maybe I'll tell you, next time you get coffee."
Quinn winks at him, making fun of his wink from earlier. Puck is smiling and lets out a light chuckle. He follows Quinn to the counter.
"Well, breaks over." He hands her the plate. "That muffin...bangin'."
Quinn smiles, rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
"It was nice meeting you..." Puck leans in and squints at her name tag. "Quinn. Ah, Q's Coffee...now I get it."
"Yeah."
Puck backs away from the counter, still looking at Quinn.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Quinn."
The bells ring and Puck is out the door.
Quinn watches him run across the street. He grabs a random stranger and she sees him pointing at her coffee shop and talking to the older man. The man crosses the street and walks in her shop. Quinn smiles.
"How can I help you?"
It is now nighttime. Quinn is sitting on the stool behind the counter, drinking a cup of decaf coffee. She looks at the clock that reads 8:00 She walks to the open neon sign and unplugs it then she walks over to the door and locks it. She stands behind the counter and begins to count out the register.
"$103."
Quinn sighs and shakes her head. She looks up and sees Puck walking across the street with a girl. Her face shows disappointment.
Puck sees Quinn inside counting money. He walks by the store and knocks on the window. He waves.
Quinn looks up and sees Puck. She waves and smiles and looks back down at her money.
Quinn is outside of her apartment. She unlocks her door and walks inside. She throws her keys on the coffee table and looks at the phone receiver. The number four blinks, she walks over and pushes play.
"Hey Quinnie, it's mom. Just wanted to see how things were at the shop. Call me back, love you."
BEEP.
"Hey it's Rachel. Just checkin' in. Haven't gotten a chance to stop by the shop yet, you know how strict my schedule is. I'm gonna try to make it there this week. I'll talk to you soon."
BEEP.
"Hey Quinn, it's me...for the tenth time this week. I miss you and I hate the way things are between us, please call me back. Please I-"
Quinn hits the NEXT button.
"Hey girl! I just got back from the studio, wanted to see how everything is going. I hope it's everything you wanted and more. Sam keeps calling me...please get this white boy off my back and call him."
BEEP.
Quinn takes off her coat and throws it on the couch. She walks to her bedroom, sets her alarm and gets into bed.
Quinn plugs in the neon open sign and walks behind the counter. She walks towards the back room and pushes the swinging door open. She lifts up a tray of muffins, bagels, croissants, scones, and cookies and begins to separate them into different plates. She hears the bells of the front door ring. She grabs a plate of muffins and walks back to the front of the store.
"Can I help-"
Quinn is met with Puck, his hands in his pockets, looking up at the menu.
"Yeah, give me a second."
Quinn slides open the door to the glass case and puts the muffins in. She walks towards the back and grabs the tray of bagels in one hand and the tray of scones in the other. She walks back to the front.
"Okay, I'm ready."
Quinn slides the trays into the glass case and walks towards the counter.
"Alright, what can I get you."
Puck is still looking at the menu.
"I'll have 3 plain bagels with butter."
"Toasted...?"
"Nah, two black coffees and 1 hot tea."
Quinn turns around and grabs a basket of tea bags and places it in front of Puck.
"Shit, I don't know you pick something."
She grabs a lemon Lipton tea bag and pulls the basket away from Puck. She turns around makes the tea and puts in a carrying tray. She grabs three bagels and butters them, quickly. She wraps them in tin foil and puts them in a bag. She starts the coffee pot.
"What size?"
"Uhm medium's fine, I guess."
She pours the coffee in two to-go cups and puts them in the carrying tray.
"Anything else?"
Quinn looks at Puck as he is still staring at the menu.
"Yeah, I'm here so you can tell me what that book is about now."
Quinn raises her eyebrows and begins pressing buttons into the register.
"It's about a man who wakes up and finds the Devil on his couch, who makes, apparently, the best cup of coffee known to man. And he tries to get the man, Billy, to do him a huge favor. Ten dollars."
Puck opens his wallet and hands her a ten-dollar bill. He also puts two dollars in the tip jar. He grabs his coffee from the carrying tray and takes a sip.
"Now, I don't know much about the Devil's coffee...but I bet yours is better."
He puts the coffee back in the carrying tray and grabs the bag of bagels and starts to walk away.
"Hey!"
Puck turns around.
"Thanks, I mean for yesterday...I saw you talking to that man, so thanks."
Puck smiles at her and walks out.