Jeff stared miserably ahead, groaning as his hands tightly gripped the steering wheel. How could he have forgotten that today was the first day of the remodel of his Starbucks. He was already running late, hungover, and not in the mood to go to the office without some sort of pick me up.

"I swear..." he mumbled, fishing his phone out of his pocket and opening his maps. The nearest Starbucks was (thankfully) only a few blocks away, and also (again, thankfully) on the way to the office. It was not, however, a drive thru, and Jeff grumbled to himself as he sped off towards his destination.

He walked into the small store (so small, in fact, he'd nearly driven by it) and was nearly overpowered by the aroma. Had he really not been in a cafe in that long that he forgot what coffee smelled like? He shook his head and skulked to the counter, patting his pockets for his wallet as the brunette at the grinder shut the machine off and turned to look at him over her shoulder, "Hey there! Be right with you."

He grunted softly as he finally located his wallet and looked up to meet the small barista's gaze after she found her way to the register, and it took everything in him not to go slack jawed. Her bright blue eyes were almost as brilliant as her smile, and when she quirked her head to acknowledge him, he finally found it within himself to mutter, "Hey."

"Good morning!" She laughed, leaning forward which gave him, at his height, the perfect view down her shirt (he was sure that it wasn't to her knowledge). "You seem like you definitely need some Monday mojo."

"Yeah, um, a tall americano with hazelnut."

"No problem." Her smile was so genuine he almost thought he was getting punked. Like... everyone was always nice but this girl seemed to be genuinely... happy? Excited? Was she in charge? Why would anyone be so genuine and pleased to work this early in the morning, let alone at a job as thankless as a barista? "Sir?"

"Huh?"

"I asked for your name," she laughed, still smiling. "You sure you don't want a grande? You seem pretty tired."

"No, I'm good, thanks. And my names Jeff. What's yours?"

She stopped short of what she was doing (presumably typing his name in for his order) and looked up at him as if no one had ever asked her before.

"Annie."

"Hi Annie." He seemed to suddenly remember that he knew how to interact like a human being, especially with attractive women. "And if it's not too late, I will take a grande."

"It's never too late, Jeff," her smile returned, and Jeff thought she batted her eyelashes. "You've never been here before. Were you displaced from the drive thru on main?"

"Yeah," he laughed, handing her a five. "Is it that obvious?"

"Mmm just a little." She handed him back his change and straightened up a bit, "but we'll make regulars out of all of you soon enough. We actually know how to make drinks."

"Then this better be the best damn americano of my life."

"Please, Jeff," she smirked at him and made her way to the bar, "I'm making it. You'll never go back."

He couldn't help but smiling and thought maybe the drive thru being closed wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.


A/N: This is my first fanfic in a LONG time, haha. I hope it's as fun for everyone else as it is for me.