September 2018
"…The only thing bitter about The Falcon is that one barista's fucking attitude. Like, Jesus, I get that everyone hates their job, but a skinny dolce cinnamon latte with almond milk and two extra shots of espresso isn't that weird of drink choice. They do it at Starbucks, for heaven's sake." Rose took another sip of her drink, and sighed. "Want a taste? I swear it's good." Rey gave the sweet-smelling cup a tentative glance, and shrugged.
Oh, it was delicious.
"Well I'm sure that guy doesn't work every day. You could just go on the days he's not there."
"That's just it though, Rey. He's the only one who can make this drink right. The other barista, Finn I think, well, he's super cute, but the guy can't make anything more complicated than a cappuccino. I had him once, and it was…bad. Too sweet." She blinked. "The drink, I mean. And the only other main barista is Poe, and he's the manager, so he's usually busy with other things." She took another sip. "So you see my predicament."
Rey nodded. The need for caffeine was bottom tier on every student's hierarchy of needs. But, as she and Rose approached their last year of university, the need for good caffeine, something to drown out the stress and anxiety that came with being a senior, was becoming tantamount to oxygen. "I guess you just have to weigh your options. Or find a new coffee shop."
Rose took one last gulp of her drink, and turned to throw the empty cup away, sighing dramatically. "But The Falcon is the closest to my dorm. The next nearest is like five kilometres away. God, this is a harder decision than retaking micro-bio."
Rey patted her lightly on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll make the right decision." She stood up, shouldering the messenger bag that was straining against the weight of the multiple textbooks she had packed. "Anyway, I gotta go; I asked Dr. Kanata to look over my proposal, and she's only on campus until 3."
"Okay, see you later, Rey!"
October 2018
It was about a month later, and right in the middle of midterm season, when Rey finally found herself gracing Falcon Coffee Co. It wasn't close to her apartment, and had Rose not consistently raved about the coffee and bemoaned the sporadic customer service, Rey wouldn't have noticed the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, with its peeling wood door, and soft amber light that filtered out into the busy street. As it was, Rose had come down with a terrible cold, and nearly begged Rey to drive across town and fetch her her signature drink.
"I don't have time to sleep, Rey," She had snuffled from beneath a pile of kleenex. "I have to finish this paper tonight if I'm going to have time to study for my midterm on Friday. Please?"
"Rose, are you sure that much espresso is smart? It's like," She checked her phone, "6:30pm. You'll be up all night."
"That's the plan."
She sighed, "God, I can't wait until this is all over."
"You're telling me. I found like three grey hairs last week."
"At least you're not losing hair. I swear I loose a millimetre of my hairline for every paper Dr. Holdo assigns. You could just dye your hair."
"You'd look hot bald, though."
"That." She ran a hand through her soft brown hair (which was in desperate need of a wash). "Is not true." She paused. "Fine, I'll get you your damn triple espresso extra whatever, you dumb caffeine addict. Just promise you'll try to sleep when you're done the essay."
"I will! I love you to death, my hairless beauty."
"Yeah, yeah."
"I'll fight that barista, if he's mean to you."
"God, I'd love to see that."
And so she found herself nearly drenched from the short walk from her car to the coffee shop, trying desperately to remember Rose's (not!) complicated coffee order.
Falcon Coffee Co. gave off the vibe of a cafe that might have been popular twenty years prior, but due to neglect and the fickle nature of trends and time, had fallen into obscurity. Regardless, Rey spied new barstools lined up against the high, distressed wood counter that spanned across the full-wall window that dominated the shop's left side. The paint on the walls was peeling and stained, however, someone had thoughtfully placed a sticker over one of the larger stains that proudly proclaimed "We now have WiFi!" The floors, though scratched and worn, were clean, and the shine spoke of a new wax job. It was like a rusty, dented truck that, despite the unappealing exterior, and little monetary worth, was clearly loved and valued by its owner.
Rey smiled.
That is, until she caught the eye of the barista, who, although her presence had been announced by a cheerful bell, had been resolutely ignoring her. He was tall, with dark hair tied back into a half-bun that drew attention to a long, angular face. A face that looked supremely grumpy.
"Hi, um, could I get a… ah…" She mentally kicked herself for not asking Rose to write down her drink order. "A triple espresso, skinny, almond milk, cinnamon dolce latte? Please?" She added when she saw his eyebrows rise.
"No."
"Sorry?"
"No. You can't have that."
"Um, I don't understand. Why not?"
He sighed, dragging a large hand across his face. "Are you illiterate?"
"What?"
"Can. You. Read."
"What the f-of course I can read. What does that-."
He jabbed a finger at a small sign sitting next to the till written in calligraphic script. It read,
"Out of almond milk -Sorry!"
"Oh." She stammered under his heavy gaze. "Um. I guess I'll just have it with regular milk, then? I think?"
His facial expression remained stony. "You think."
"Yeah, if it's possible."
"If it's possible for me to make a latte out of regular milk?"
She glared back at him, quickly losing whatever embarrassment had just been brought to life to anger.
"I'd like to order a drink, please. If it's not too much trouble for you to make. You know, as someone who works at a coffee shop." She said, rigidly.
His eyes darkened for a moment, and then he straightened up. His large body was thrown in odd contrast with the short counter and the small apron he was wearing. He looked entirely out of place in this cheery little shop, with his large hands, long legs and unpleasant expression. But, if Rose was to be believed, he was a regular employee here.
"That'll be $6."
She blinked, "What?"
"$6. For the latte with milk. That you just ordered. Five seconds ago."
Rey blushed. "Here." She shoved a ten dollar bill at him. He moved towards the till and started counting out her change. Slowly. She sighed, finished with this entire encounter. "Keep it."
"What?"
"Just…Just keep the change, okay?"
He blinked, and then turned his back to her to start prepping the drink.
Rey walked away from the counter and sat down at a near by table to wait for him to finish. The coffee shop was playing music from some generic jazz playlist, and Rey found herself relaxing as she watched rain streak down the paned glass. She pulled out her phone and tapped through to her's and Rose's text conversation.
Rey - 7:05pm
"You'd better get ready to fight."
Rose - 7:06pm
"Oh goddddd. What did he do?"
Rey - 7:06pm
"He literally asked me if I was illiterate. They're out of almond milk btw."
Rose - 7:07pm
"What an asshole! I'll kick his ass! And that's fine about the almond milk, I'm not allergic or anything, I just like how it tastes. Thanks again Rey you're the best :)"
Rey - 7:08pm
"No problem! Love you :)"
"Triple espresso, skinny, regular milk, cinnamon dolce latte." The barista's voice cut across the cafe. Stowing away her phone, Rey turned to towards the door.
"Thank you." She paused. "Have a nice day."
He appeared not to have heard her.
Rey walked out of the shop wondering how on earth she had ended up tipping $4 for the worst customer service she had ever experienced in her life.
Hard-earned coffee in hand, Rey ran to her car. Traffic wasn't horrible, but the rain had made visibility difficult. She clutched at steering wheel, trying to merge, mind still somewhat in shock at the strange encounter at the coffee shop. What was his deal, anyway? According to Rose, that guy was always moody, but the way he had simply glared at her made the encounter feel personal. Rey didn't even know his name.
She supposed some people were just assholes. And she comforted herself with the fact that she didn't ever have to see him again.
She had driven about a block when there was a loud screech of tires and a loud thump, followed by the sharp revving of an engine. Rey slammed on her breaks, shocked out of her thoughts. The car that she had been following sped forward erratically, cutting off traffic in the opposite direction, and disappearing down a side street.
Lying on the side of the road was a prone figure, who had clearly just been the victim of a hit-and-run.
"Holy shit." Moody barista forgotten, Rey flipped on her hazards, and scrambled out of her car into the rain. "Oh god, fuck, are you okay?" She fell on her knees to the side of the man laying prone on the ground. She reached forward in an attempt to help him sit upright, then quickly withdrew her hand, recalling a vague memory of a first aid class she had once took. "Hey, hey, um, I don't think you're supposed to move."
The man groaned, using a shaking hand to pull himself into a sitting position. Rey widened her eyes. Apparently he was better off than she thought.
"Well, um, hey, just stay there then." She pulled out her phone, placing a hand on the man's drenched shoulder. She dialled 9-1-1 with shaking fingers.
"9-1-1, do you need police, fire or ambulance?"
"Um, ambulance, and police too probably? I don't know, ah, I just saw a man hit by a car."
"What's your address?"
"Um, I'm not sure. I'm a block away from Falcon Coffee Co. Coruscant street I think?"
"Okay, we'll send an ambulance over. Is the man conscious?"
"Yeah, but he doesn't look good." The man next to her groaned, clutching an arm that was bent at an unnatural angle. "I think he has a broken arm?"
"Alright dear, I need you to stay with him until we get there. Can you do that?"
"Yes, of course."
"Alright, we'll be there in a few minutes. I'm going to hang up now, okay?"
"Okay."
The line went dead.
Rey turned back to the man. He looked about her age, with dark hair and skin, wearing a t-shirt that was quickly becoming soaked with rain. "Here, um." She shrugged out of her rain jacket, and placed it around the man's shoulder's.
"Thanks." He said, eyes screwed up in pain.
"I'm Rey, by the way. I'm gonna stay with you until help comes."
"I'm Finn." A wave of pain seemed to pass through him "I'd shake your hand, but…"
"…Yeah, not a good idea."
Rey sat down next to him on the sidewalk, placing a cautious hand on his back, and when he didn't seem to mind, gave him a gentle hug.
"That was fucking insane, though. I guess you wouldn't have really been able to see the guy who hit you, but he didn't even slow down to look. Just drove off."
"Just my luck, I guess. Did you see if my phone was anywhere? I lost it when I went flying."
Rey looked around and spied the rectangular device several feet away. The screen was completely cracked, and when she pointed this out to Finn, he grimaced.
"Maybe it still works?"
Rey pressed the home button. "It's dead, I think."
"Shit. I was on my way to work, I gotta call…" His face screwed up as a fresh wave of pain passed over him. He panted, "I was late anyway, but Ben'll be pissed if I don't show up at all. He's got something up tonight."
"I'm sure this Ben will just be happy that you're alive."
Finn shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. Dude never smiles. In any case, I should let my manager know."
The sound of sirens approaching interrupted them, and soon an ambulance arrived in a flurry of flashing lights. Rey waved them over, standing back as an EMT approached and began asking Finn a series of questions. Rey wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly. Finn was lifted into the ambulance, and although the EMT assured them both that it was just for cautions sake that they were taking him for x-rays and to check further for any internal bleeding, Rey felt a shiver of anxiety pass through her. She felt responsible for the man with the warm eyes and pained expression.
"You coming with us, Miss?" The EMT asked, prepping to leave. She paused.
"He's going to be okay, right?"
"Your friend will be just fine. As I said, just being cautious."
"Oh, he's not- I mean, okay, then I guess not." She looked up at Finn, strapped in the emergency stretcher. He smiled down at her.
"It was nice to meet you, Rey! Thanks for staying staying with me."
"No problem! Hey, did you need someone to call your manager?"
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot. I work at the coffee shop down the road. I don't remember the phone number by heart, but could you possibly run down there and tell them what happened? My manager's name is Poe Dameron. He's usually in the back, so just ask Ben up front."
"Sure! Which coffee shop?"
"Falcon Coffee Co.! It's the one with the peeling door."
Rey felt her heart sink.