The morning rush is Beca's favourite part of the day. It sounds stupid, right? The busiest time of day should be the worst, when you're run off your feet and everything is chaotic. But it's that perfect blend of chaos and order that makes it thrilling. There is always something to do during that time and you just get in the groove. Beca loves organized chaos.
"We need more chestnut praline syrup! Benji, can you grab more 2% from the back? Jesse, I need you to find me some soy beverage, and Fat Amy, I swear to God, if you keep stuffing those cranberry bliss bars into your pockets when you think I can't see you, I will put you on separate shifts from Bumper for the rest of your life!"
So yeah, maybe Beca also just likes the power trip. And the free coffee that feels really well-deserved after the rush, before she schleps off to class for the afternoon and leaves the up-and-comer Emily in charge.
Technically, Luke's the manager and Beca's just the assistant, but Luke's hardly ever there so really she's the one in charge. She makes the schedules, chooses the day-to-day playlists (which yes, usually feature her own mixes), and gets to decide when she works. It's a pretty good gig. Plus, she rarely has to cook for herself. Living off the day's uneaten sandwiches and close-to-expiry coffee makes student living a lot easier on the budget.
Luckily, school's almost over for the semester and everyone will leave for Christmas break. Her Starbucks technically stays open over the holidays, but no one ever comes in, so she spends most of it making mixes behind the counter and trying to create fun, new experimental beverages.
It generally works like this: The first week or so of classes of the new semester go by pretty slowly. People are still well-rested from their time at home and are living off care packages that mean they don't need to hit the Bux twice a day just to look alive.
Week three is when the crash hits, when it seems like everybody and their mother are going into sleep-deprivation and midterms and papers are coming due. Then, it plateaus for the rest of the semester until the three weeks surrounding finals. Beca has her fingers on the pulse of Barden's student body. She holds the keys to the caffeine.
So imagine her surprise when she gets a customer on New Year's Eve. She'd spent the morning with her laptop hooked up to the shop's sound system, foregoing her headphones because no one is going to come looking for coffee, so she might as well make use of the subwoofer. And then a girl walks in right as she's fiddling with the bass for a "Titanium" remix.
The girl looks around at the empty shop and then finds Beca sitting on the counter, laptop on her crossed legs. Beca glances over when she hears the door chimes, before her eyes go right back to her screen. When it registers that there's actually someone in the shop, she jumps off the counter, shoves her laptop underneath the till, and pulls on an apron as quickly as she can.
"Sorry, are you open?" The girl asks, slowly approaching the counter.
"Yes, we are. Sorry. Wasn't expecting anyone to come in over the holidays." Beca smiles at her as she opens up the till. The girl is cute, bundled up in a puffy winter coat, a hat with earflaps containing what looks to be a lot of red hair, and a lovely blue scarf that draws attention to the girl's eyes. "What can I get you?"
The girl beams. "Well," she pauses as she scrutinizes Beca's chest. It's over so quickly Beca doesn't even get to say 'Hey, my eyes are up here,' before the girl continues. "Beca, I'd love a peppermint mocha. Venti. 3 extra pumps, extra topping, and oh, give me an extra shot of espresso to end the year."
Beca nods. "Usually I'd ask for your name, but considering you're the only one here, I'm going to assume you know the next drink's for you."
The girl laughs and unbuttons the top of her coat. "My name is Chloe."
Beca smirks, and makes a great show of popping the top off of her Sharpie to write Chloe's name. C-L-O-O-E-Y, she writes, purposefully giving it the most ridiculous spelling she possibly can. Chloe hands over her Starbucks card, but Beca waves it off.
"Tell you what," Beca barters, filling with end-of-year, now-or-never confidence, "Have a nice little conversation with me, let me ask you a couple of deep, probing personal questions, such as what your favourite colour is, and it's on the house." It sends a rush through the barista. She's never flirted with a customer before, never offered anything on the house. She worries about rejection as soon as the offer leaves her mouth.
Chloe positively glows, though. "That'd be awesome! It's blue, by the way. I don't have anywhere to be."
Beca feels a warmth in her chest and tries to hold onto that feeling as she bustles around, making Chloe's drink that's more sugar than coffee. When she's done, she presents it with a bit of a theatrical flourish, hoping that Chloe will find it endearing, and she's not disappointed.
"Milady," Beca announces, offering the cup with a bow. Chloe laughs as she takes it.
"Thank you kindly, young miss," Chloe volleys back. Beca darts back behind the counter to refill her own mug of black coffee, and just as she's putting in a pump of vanilla syrup (because why the hell not) she hears Chloe groan.
"God, I hope you don't actually think my name is spelled this way," Chloe pouts. It's Beca's turn to laugh.
"No. I just felt like messing with you. It hasn't exactly been a busy day."
Chloe nods like she understands. Then she tilts her head to one side. "Where'd the music go? I could've sworn something was playing when I came in."
Beca swears. "Shit, sorry. I adopted the sound system since I wasn't expecting anybody. I'll put on some Christmas music." The DJ heads back for the counter, but Chloe tugs on her arm.
"No, whatever was playing before was good. I'd never heard it before and I liked it."
There's a blush creeping up to Beca's cheeks now. "Did you?"
The redhead nods enthusiastically with a smile before taking a sip. "Yeah, what was that?"
Beca heads behind the bar and pulls her laptop back from under the till. "Oh, just one of my mixes. I like the sound in here when there's no one around. It's a different feel than in my headphones." She finds a playlist of her newest stuff, songs that haven't yet graced the Starbucks speakers, and hits play. As soon as she does she feels like smacking herself upside the head. What am I doing?! I don't let anybody listen to my stuff! Jesus Christ, Beca, rein it in!
"Wait, you made this?" Chloe asks, a mix of awe and disbelief colouring her words. Beca nods. "That's amazing! So you're a DJ?"
Beca nods as she sits down across from Chloe, who reaches out to grab Beca by the wrist. "I think we're going to be fast friends."
Beca smiles. "Me too."