From the Desk of Elvengirl10:

Your basic Athrun/Cagalli AU fanfiction. Inspired by an idea my friend and I had one idle day on a dog-walk.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed.

Desperate times often called for desperate measures.

Cagalli Yula Atha could attest to that statement all to well, for she was in a desperate time. She was coming to the end of her first year of University and was rather quickly approaching bankruptcy. She needed a part time job. To last her to the end of the semester at the very least.

Right now she was sitting in a job interview, and was still rather bewildered at how she had gotten there. She had bee walking around downtown and came across a small coffee shop not to far from the university campus. A sign saying "HELP REALLY NEEDED" hung in the window. Felling slightly drawn to the empty shop, and driven to find a job somewhere (as she hadn't heard back from anywhere else) she went in.

When she walked in, she was greeted by a young man with short blond hair. It was an energetic greeting, and he was positively ecstatic when Cagalli told him that she wanted a job.

"So Cagalli, do you have any medical concerns I should be aware of?" said Mu, to give the manager a name.

"Well, I am allergic to coffee…" Cagalli said, looking rather embarrassed.

Mu blinked.

"Is that so? If you drink it or…" he trailed off.

"Usually when I drink it, however I do get a slight rash if some splashes on me."

"I see. We'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen."

"So I'm hired?"

"Yes. Despite your allergies, I think you'll do just fine."

"Thank you so much!" Cagalli said, almost wanting to hug Mu for hiring her. "When can I start?"

"Tomorrow, if at all possible."

Cagalli's schedule was a lenient one. She came after her classes were over until they closed at seven and usually worked all day Saturday. She soon learnt that she was one of three employees. The others being Mu, the manager, and Andrew, who was often in the back discovering new blends. The small shop had a moderate amount of customers. Usually students who were desperate for coffee after a boring class and could wait to go a couple more blocks to the newer store.

Saturdays were the most boring and Cagalli usually took the time to catch up on homework or reading.

Cagalli twirled her pencil in annoyance, trying to determine the answer to a particularly difficult question. A loud shouting match was occurring outside the store, preventing her from concentrating.

"Yzak, we're going to be late. Can't you wait another few blocks?"

"After that? No! I need coffee now! I need to calm down!"

"And coffee's going to help you do that?"

Cagalli froze. She recognized those voices. They belonged to her old friends, Athrun Zala, Yzak Joule, and Dearka Elsman, She would know them everywhere, even though it had been ages ago. Junior high at least.

Sure enough it was them. All three walked in looking rather flustered. Yzak practically ran to the counter.

"A large coffee!" He demanded. That was Yzak, always in a hurry.

"Right away," Cagalli said. "That will be four dollars."

Yzak began to fish through his wallet for some change. Cagalli went over to the machine.

"Miss, we are in a bit of a hurry," said Athrun, looking at his watch. Cagalli nodded, her cheeks flushing. He didn't even recognize her, and hadn't they been dating at the end of junior high?

She turned with the full cup just as Yzak slammed the change on the counter. Cagalli jumped, and tripped forward. Most of the coffee ended up on Athrun's suit. Some ended up on Cagalli's hands. It didn't take long for her to start feeling an itch.

"I am so sorry," she said, realizing what had happened.

"It's alright. These things happen," Athrun said, clearly holding back his anger. Cagalli rushed forward with some paper towels.

"Cagalli?"

"Yes?"

"It is you," Dearka said, rather surprised. "I thought so. I can't believe it. It's been ages."

"Cagalli? As in the girl we hung out with in junior high?" Yzak said, "The girl Athrun was dating?"

Athrun looked at Cagalli, who looked back. Both were unsure of what to do?

"Can I get you another coffee?" she said, sheepishly.

I don't really know where it's going. I don't even know if I'll continue. Either way, I hope you enjoyed it. Constructive Criticism and Reveiws welcome. Flames, not so much.

Thanks for reading.