Hi guys! So I've seen a TON of AUs where Percy is the barista and Annabeth's the girl who comes in every day, gets the same drink, etc. So I was bored and thought, hey, why not switch it up a bit. This is gonna be a multi-chap where it switches between Percy and Annabeth's viewpoints, probably every other chapter, where Annabeth is the barista and Percy comes in and orders something new every day. Not sure how many chapters it'll end up being, but yeah, enjoy! Reviews are awesome and very much appreciated! Love feedback, suggestions, etc. Now on to the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or anything else you might recognize.
The bell dinged as the door of the shop flew open, bringing with it a fresh burst of bitterly cold December wind.
Annabeth glanced up from the hot cocoa she was making, inhaling the steam of the warm, wintery drink. "I'll be with you in a minute!" she yelled over the noise of the frother.
A young man with shaggy black hair, scattered with melting snowflakes and peering out from under a thick beanie, rubbed his hands together as he entered the cozy little coffee shop. His cheeks and ears were red from the cold, but the absence of colorful Christmas shopping bags made Annabeth wonder why he was out on such a day.
Annabeth glanced around. Her best friend, roommate, and coworker, Piper, was helping another customer, so she quickly placed the lid of the cocoa on the festive red cup and handed it to the harried-looking woman overlaid with bags. More Christmas shopping, Annabeth thought lazily as she drifted back over to where the young man stood, examining the pastries inside the display bar.
"Hi, what can I get you today?" she asked him, drumming her slender fingers on the counter.
He glanced up. Annabeth immediately noticed his eyes were just a few shades lighter than the holly wreath hanging on the door, almost a sea-colored green. "I'm still choosing," he answered.
"Take your time," she replied, tightening her curly blond ponytail. "Holler when you're done." She quickly wiped down the counters, rinsed out a few blenders, and refilled the napkin holders, but by the time she made it over to the display bar again, the guy was still glaring at the menu.
"Sorry I'm taking so long," he apologized, squinting at the menu and putting his chapped hands into the pocket of his flannel snowboarding jacket. "I'm dyslexic, so the menu's a bit of a challenge." He laughed a bit bashfully.
"Don't worry about it," Annabeth reassured him. "The special today is mint-chocolate-mocha cocoa. I had some this morning – it was really good."
His face lit up. Annabeth almost laughed, he looked so much like a relieved little puppy dog. "Yeah, yeah, that sounds perfect."
"Ok. Would you like a large?" He nodded, and she rang it up. "That'll be $3.39. What's your name?" she asked, Sharpie poised over the red cup dotted with decorative snowflakes.
"Hmmm," he began, grinning. "I'm going to be weird and say… Kelp Face."
"Kelp Face?" Annabeth asked incredulously. "What kind of a name is that?"
He laughed at her expression. "Just a nickname I've had since I was a kid."
"Whatever you say," she answered skeptically, scribbling it onto the cup. "Do you want whip cream or not?" Annabeth began pouring milk and flavorings, wincing as the door opened with the arrival of a new customer and blasted her with frigid air and swirling snow.
"Yeah, definitely," he said. "And thanks for helping me choose." The grin on his face was infectious.
"You're welcome," she said, smiling.
"Oh wait!" he answered, snapping his fingers. "Is there any possible way you have any blue food coloring or anything?"
"Um, yeah, why?" Annabeth asked amusedly, grabbing some of the food coloring they used to dye pastry frosting.
He flushed. "I just like my food to be blue. I've liked it since I was little."
Annabeth laughed, and it was strange, considering the fact that she didn't even know the guy's real name. Piper gave her a weird look from the other side of the room, where she was patiently listening to a disgruntled elderly man rant about how his drink was too sweet. Annabeth threw her an "I'll explain later" expression as she let a few drops of blue swirl into the cup of steaming cocoa, squirting some thick whip cream in a perfect swirl on top, and handing it to the guy.
"Thanks again, Annabeth. I'd better be getting back to work now," he said, and Annabeth raised her eyebrows before she remembered she had her nametag on. Duh.
"You're welcome, Kelp Face," she answered with a bright smile. The bell dinged as he left the warm little shop, and Annabeth let her eyes wander to his tall, kind of awkward-looking figure as he crossed the street, trudged through a snowbank, and entered a new building across from the shop – the city's first aquarium, which had opened last week.
As the bell rang again and another harried Christmas shopper entered the café, Annabeth began to ring up orders and make steaming brews to warm the poor souls traipsing through the freezing weather. The guy completely slipped her mind until she got home that night.
She didn't know it at the time, but Kelp Face, on the other hand, was a completely different story.
And that's all for today, folks! Reviews are Percy's blue hot chocolate. :)
3, WM
