A quick drabble-like thing that came to me after watching Wayside. Nya, these two are cute.
I don't own Wayside.
"Cappuccino, please. For here."
Maurecia blinked lazily at the red-haired man before her. "That'll be a while. You should take a seat, and I'll bring it to you, later."
"Thanks."
That awkward way of walking… She could picture him in baggy pants, brown, with more pockets than he used. A blue T-shirt, with a long-sleeved, white shirt underneath. …Holy crap!
As she continued watching him, she realized that the man who'd just told her to get him a cappuccino was, in fact, Todd.
…Damn.
He'd gotten taller – but so had she, so that's not saying much – with messier hair – but she'd always liked that about him – and the same, lean build. In middle school, she'd dreamed about being embraced from behind by him. It would be gentle, because he was Todd, and he didn't do anything roughly.
It was romantic, but still, just a fantasy. Life had taught her otherwise. Her last boyfriend had smoked, and the one before him had persuaded her to drink while she was underage.
The tomboy that she was didn't do anything for any other guys. She'd had crushes after Wayside and all of them had been like Todd. Weaklings, as her brothers would put it. Crushes numbers one and two at her new school had gotten her suspended for punching them. So, maybe, they weren't like Todd at all.
"Thanks," the red-head said when she brought his drink to him, "Actually, could you get me a muffin, too?"
"Yeah, sure." Jerk. He hadn't noticed? Well, she'd make him notice. And get fired. Again.
"Thanks." Had he even looked up from his newspaper? Ooh, she really wanted to hit him, now.
"Spit on his muffin…" she mumbled to herself on her way back to the counter. Wait… Would that be – indirect kiss? She shook her head. She was twenty-two. Really, the grade-school thoughts must stop.
She placed the plate in front of him gingerly.
"It might be against the policy, but how 'bout a hug, for old times' sake, Todd?"
"M-Maurecia?" the newspaper slipped from his hands and landed in his coffee.
She smiled coyly, "I'll get you another one."
He stared after her.
Now, she felt stupid. She had hit him and made him extremely uncomfortable with her constant advances. He was probably mortified that she was here.
And, really, what did it matter, anyways? She had known, even in middle school, that the 'dream' would never happen for them.
Where he would be running behind their roller-skating seven-year-olds in case they fell and she was skating in front of them, with soda and sandwiches that they'd eat in the park together. Where they'd be going back to Wayside again, on Parents' Day.
She set the coffee down quietly and began to walk away, when he hugged her quickly from behind. There was a strange curve to his ribcage that could be felt even through the gray suit on him. A card was slipped into her hand.
"I'll pay." He said brightly, and left the coffee shop quickly.
On the back of the card was the address of a Mexican restaurant that she and Jenny had yet to try out. And on the table was the money for his coffee, which he had yet to drink and the muffin, again, untouched.
She smiled to herself, taking a bite of the pastry. "Jerk. Didn't even leave me a tip."