John had been working at the Java Hut coffee shop for a few months now, working long hours and putting all of his money aside to help pay his way through medical school. He had to admit that it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, or at least not since he began spending more time with his co-worker Sally. Every Friday after closing they'd go back to her tiny flat and watch movies and dish about the customers of the day, eventually it always turned into Sally trying to set him up with every guy that walked through the door once she found out he was gay.
"John come on! It's your birthday next week, we need to get you a man! What about that bloke with the brown eyes and cute Irish accent that always comes in?"
John rolled his eyes and popped more crisps into his mouth. "Sally, first off, I don't need a boyfriend, I'm perfectly fine on my own. Second off, that guy gives me the creeps, the way he looks at me is almost snake like and predatory, just the thought makes me feel all weird."
"You're no fun Johnny." Sally let out on the end of a childish huff.
The next few days went by relatively normal, the steady stream of customers a perk of working near a university. Friday rolled around and John was greeted by Sally with an enthusiastic hug and decorated cupcake with a candle in it for his twentieth birthday. After laughing and opening shop the day was off to a start, but not before Sally said she needed to step outside for a moment to fix the specials sign out front which John thought nothing of. With a huge grin plastered to her face Sally waltzed back in and they got to work, tending to the early morning business crowd and students who needed their caffeine fix. Little did John know that outside the shop in a lovely bright pink on the chalkboard was written 'Today your barista is: 1. Hella fucking gay. 2. Desperately single. For your drink today I recommend: you give him your number.'
As the day went on John was given flirty smiles and winks by the male customers and occasionally he found a stray slip of paper with a phone number on it in the tip jar, he shrugged it off as the new tight fighting t-shirt and jeans Sally had bought him and forced him to change into before shift as a present.
"Sally have you noticed the weird looks and phone numbers I've been getting all day or am I imagining things?" John said after an eager man had caressed his arm and left his phone number in his hand.
Forcing away the smirk pulling at her lips Sally turned to face John. "No, haven't really noticed that, must be because you look fucking hot in that outfit."
It was near closing and John and Sally were wiping down the counters and getting prepared to start closing when another customer walked into the coffee shop. John looked up and had to give a double take at the gorgeous man who was walking towards him, all lean angles with startling almost clear blue-gray eyes, a mop of curly near black hair and a flowing gray Belstaff draped over the immaculate suit tailored perfectly to his muscular frame.
"Hi! What can I get for you?" John asked, slightly nervous at the cool gaze of the man, it felt like he was being pulled apart and put back together under the unwavering stare.
Finally acknowledging that John had spoken the man responded in his smooth baritone "Coffee, black, two sugars."
John felt red tinge his ears when he was caught slack jawed after the man had spoken before moving to prepare his drink.
"That will be 2 pounds please." John said steadily, handing the man his drink.
Handing over the money the man grabbed his drink and took a sip, eyes closing in delight when the hot liquid raced down his throat and humming in approval. "Very good coffee, thank you John."
Feeling the blush creep into his cheeks and up his neck John smiled at the man. "Glad you like it."
"The name is Sherlock Holmes." Sherlock turned and his great coat flowed behind him as he headed towards the exit.
John looked at him before noticing the phone number that had been slipped onto the counter in neat scrawl. When he looked back the man had stopped in the doorway and was looking at him.
"You should tell your co-worker to not tell the public you're 'desperately single' when you have no problem being so, nor that you are 'hella gay' when you so obviously feel no need to divulge the information the world especially seeing as you would like to enter the military as an army doctor and they frown upon open homosexuality."
John stood gaping as the man turned to leave. "Wait!" Sherlock back with a sigh to face him. "When will I see you again?"
Sherlock smirked. "The address is 221-B Baker Street. I prefer to text, you have my mobile number and are not intolerable to look at or interact with, so whenever you would like I suppose. I've got to run, left my riding crop in the school lab." And with that he disappeared into the darkness of London.
I don't know if I should thank Sally or throttle her, but if it means a chance with him then I'll never stop telling her how brilliant she is. John thought to himself before slipping the phone number into his pocket and finishing closing.