Piper had always hated how easy life was for people who didn't have to work.
She thought about it as she began to grind the coffee order the older gentleman at the register had just ordered. People with money never have to do this – she thought – serve people their morning coffee. Serve people at all.
For a moment, a fleeting moment, she let herself imagine a life where she lounged around a rooftop pool, attractive shirtless men making her drinks while she sunbathed and turned her coffee coloured skin a few shades darker.
Then a dark-haired Hispanic boy with an enormous grin on his elfish face pranced through the glass doors of the café and danced directly over to the stools in front of her. He took up two stools – one for himself and one for his battered green bookbag.
"What are you doing this Saturday night?" He grinned even wider.
Piper glanced at him over the cappuccino she was frothing and rolled her eyes.
"Aww," she started. "After all these years you've finally plucked up the courage to ask me out, how sweet. Sorry, but last time I checked you were still stupidly in love with your girlfriend and I don't date taken guys."
"Ha ha. You should be so lucky, McLean," the guy quipped. "I'm serious Pipes, there's a guy in one of my classes, I think you'd totally hit it off."
Piper sighed as she dusted cocoa powder over the hot beverage. "Another double date, Leo? What's the catch with this one? Blind in one eye like the last one? Doesn't speak English? Leo, you know I can't speak Spanish."
She glanced around him and yelled for the coffee's owner.
"I still think you should take some Spanish classes with me, I'm a great tutor," Leo said.
"Remind me why you take Spanish anyway? You're fluent."
"Easy A, baby," Leo grinned.
Piper rolled her eyes. "Are you going to be in my way much longer?"
"Only if you don't agree to this date." He smiled impishly.
Piper stopped and looked around the coffee shop. There were no more customers waiting in line and she had completed all her current orders. She sighed again and wheeled around to face her friend.
"Tell me about this guy then."
Leo beamed triumphantly. "He's great Pipes, you're gonna love him. He's an environmental engineering major, so you know he cares about the environment, which I know is important to you." Piper gave him a look, so he continued. "He's funny, he's charming, he's damn good looking-"
"He sounds amazing," Piper interrupted, rolling her eyes. "Why don't you date him since you're so clearly into him? Maybe invite him to a threesome."
"Ha ha," he deadpanned. Then he shrugged. "I already asked Cally, she's not game."
Piper laughed. "What's his name?"
"Percy," Leo said.
"Percy?" Piper raised an eyebrow. "What kind of a name is Percy?"
"What's wrong with it?"
"How many hot guys do you know named Percy?" Piper gave a pointed look at Leo. "It's just not exactly a sexy name."
"I know at least one hot Percy. This one!" Leo pushed. "Pipes, I promise you, you will like this guy."
Piper groaned and started wiping down the benches. "Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe I don't want to date anybody right now?"
"As a matter of fact, Pipes," he started, "I have considered that. And that is precisely why I am trying so hard to set you up."
"Are you trying to say I can't get a date?" Piper scoffed.
"No, I'm saying you have dates falling at your feet and you haven't been interested in any of them since you and-" Piper silenced him with a glare. Leo cocked his head and sighed, "So we aren't even saying his name now?"
Piper turned her face away from him to hide the tears stinging her eyes. She hadn't thought about him in weeks.
"What's your point, Leo?" she retorted.
"You haven't moved on," he said gently. "You haven't grieved. Or rebounded." He gave her a pointed look.
Piper made a noise of exasperation. "Are you really bringing my sex life into this?"
"Yes! You haven't had sex with anybody since… him." He faltered. "Look, even if you're not ready to move on emotionally, you have to at least get a sexual release."
"Ew, Leo," Piper recoiled. "Let's stop talking about my sex life immediately."
Leo rolled his eyes. "We're all adults, Pipes. You can get laid if you want."
The man who ordered the cappuccino gave Piper an unsavoury look and she mouthed the words I'm so sorry to him before rounding on Leo.
"If I wanted sex, I would have it," she hissed under her breath, ensuring no more customers would hear. "Now for the love of god please stop talking about my sex life at my place of work."
Leo sighed. "Fine. On one condition."
"Don't make me go on a da-"
"Go on this date," Leo cut across her protests.
"No," Piper stated flatly. "I won't let you terrorise me into this."
Leo's eyes glinted wickedly.
"You wouldn't," Piper narrowed her eyes at her soon-to-be-ex friend.
It only took half a second before Leo was shouting, "Piper McLean needs to get laid!"
Piper's eyes shot open in horror as she looked around at all the elderly customers staring at her.
"Piper McLean has not had sex since-"
"Fine!" Piper caved and grabbed Leo's arm. "Fine, I will go on the fucking date, okay? Just shut the fuck up before you get me fired, you moron!"
Leo grinned in victory. "You won't regret it Pipes!"
"I literally already do."
Leo reached into his pocket for his phone, ignoring her. He pulled up Percy's contact and passed her the phone.
"Send him a text," he encouraged her.
"Right now?" Piper's eyes widened again. "I'm at work."
"I'm not saying start a phone sex conversation, just say hi," Leo said.
Piper sighed and copied the number into her contacts. She knew Leo wouldn't give up until he watched her send the text, so she pulled up the contact and quickly typed a message.
Hi Percy, this is Piper. Leo gave me your number. He thinks we should go out sometime and apparently I don't get a say. How about drinks?
She let herself smile slightly before hitting send and flashing the screen at Leo for evidence. "Happy?"
He rolled his eyes, but never lowered the voltage on his smile.
"Perfect," he grinned. "Now you might have someone to take with us this summer!"
Piper stopped. "Are you kidding me? That's what this is about?"
"Well, yeah," Leo admitted sheepishly. "Your dad is taking us on an amazing vacation! I'm bringing Cally. Do you really want to go alone? To Greece?"
Piper shook her head. "Unbelieveable. And here I thought you were just concerned for my welfare."
"I am!" Leo said defensively. "That's why I don't want you to go alone. I want you to have someone too."
"Somehow I don't think some college guy you met in an engineering class is gonna be my Cally," Piper snapped.
Leo's face hardened. "I want you to be as happy as we are. Piper, you know I wouldn't be pushing this if I didn't think you would genuinely like this guy."
For the millionth time that morning, Piper sighed. "So, what? I'm just supposed to bring this guy to Greece with us?"
"Yes!" said Leo, exasperated. "If you like him, and I suspect you will, then yes."
"Leo," she started gently. "You know I'm not ready for that. I'm not over him."
His eyes dimmed. "Yeah, I know. But it's been over a year Pipes. You need to start moving on. Or at least trying to. He has."
Piper's head snaped up. "He has?"
Leo nodded sadly. "I didn't want to bring it up, but he started seeing someone a couple months ago."
Piper's head started to spin. He'd moved on? Forgotten her already? Her eyes began to sting.
This time it was Leo's turn to sigh. "Look, if you aren't ready, then you aren't ready. But this guy is the real deal, Pipes, I swear. Will you promise to give it a go?"
She looked into the eyes of her friend. She knew his intentions were pure, but she wasn't sure she was ready for something new.
Eventually she looked away. "Fine. I promise."
"But you can't just promise to give this guy a chance," Leo pushed. "If it doesn't work out with him, you have to keep trying. I want you to find someone you really like by the end of the school year, someone you can bring with us to Greece. Promise me."
"Gee, you don't ask much do you?" Piper rolled her eyes, trying to lighten the mood. Leo's unusually serious face made her pause. "Fine. I promise, okay? I'll put myself out there this year and try."
Leo held out his pinky finger, a gesture they had used since they were children. Pinky swears were serious business for them, so serious that neither of them had ever broken one.
Piper held Leo's eyes while she hooked her pinky around his and shook firmly once. His eyes lit up as she did and they gave each other a hopeful smile.
Before they could say anything else, her phone chimed. She looked at Leo in disbelief.
"No one texts back this quickly."
"Told you he's great," Leo said, sliding off the stool and heading towards the door. "Text him back! Invite him for drinks with us tonight."
"You mean at the bar where I'm working?" Piper sighed. "Great idea."
Leo shrugged before exiting the café.
She finally turned again to her phone to read his reply.
Leo certainly is a character! Drinks sound great. When did you have in mind?
Piper barely took a beat before replying.
Tonight? I'm working at Olympus but you could come hang for a while before I finish and then we could grab a bite.
His reply came through quickly.
Sounds great. Does 10 work?
She confirmed the time and put her phone away as a new customer entered and wandered casually towards the counter. She didn't know why, but for the first time in a long time she had a good feeling about a guy.