This opening scene is what actually happened to me at lunch today! Well just the first part, with the baristas dancing. It was so awesome! College-age guys are just so cool and fun, I swear. Older guys could do the same thing but they might not, for fear they should be acting more professional when they are trying to look older. Aw, shucks. It shouldn't be that way. I am beyond college and still act that way! Girls can get away with these things more easily, though.
SOoooo I had to write about this, especially because I got to thinking what if someday people like those two baristas would do the same exact thing if it wasn't a girl having lunch... What if it was Kurt? And my immediate answer was: I bet these two guys totally would! Right now, today. They are artistic and friendly and confident guys living, studying and working in an urban and forward-thinking place like Boston. At a unique and locally-owned bohemian-style coffee shop. So... Yup. They would dance for Kurt to crack him up too.
(Disclaimer on not owning Glee, Darren Criss song lyrics, or lyrics to the Beetles' "Raspberry - I mean, "Strawberry Fields Forever.")
Chapter 5: Medium Drip Forever
The coffee shop where Blaine had chosen for them to meet in the city was definitely a place where Kurt could imagine Blaine being comfortable. It had tables and chairs and booths like a normal place without all those ridiculous big puffy chairs and couches so common in silly coffee shops these days. There were original paintings on all the walls for sale by local artists, and the entire wall behind the counter was a multi-colored piece of art itself filled with chalk hand-written descriptions of every coffee creation under the sun along with lunch options as well.
He was early, since Finn had dropped him off on his way to some function the football team had in town today, and Blaine was supposed to meet him here in about a half hour. They were going to the science museum together to surprise Mercedes on her third weekend volunteering for the Kids' Saturday Science program.
"Hot Choc-oh-lah-tay!" one of the baristas sang out, holding up a to-go cup with a flourish for the lady who was buttoning up her coat preparing to leave. Her mood lifted instantly, as she giggled at him, accepted her cup, and smiled at Kurt as she left him and the baristas with the place to themselves.
"I'll have a grande non-fat mocha, please."
"Coming right up! Is that all?"
"Well, I thought it was, but my goodness you have such interesting sandwiches…."
"THANK you!"
"Oh, you created these? They have such great names!"
"Yeah, well… about half of them."
"Very inventive. That 'Raspberry Fields' looks so good, I guess I'll have to try that."
"Excellent choice!" With that, the barista met the only other employee there who just got up from a table where he had been reading a textbook, and they discussed something quickly, after which the barista headed back toward Kurt saying "Whoo-hooo! One Raspberry Fields coming up!"
In response to the questioning and amused look from Kurt, he explained, "I had to make sure we had all the ingredients. YES!"
Laughing, Kurt couldn't resist the guy's infectious attitude, and said "Whoo-hoo! Raspberry Fields!" The barista pumped his fist in the air in victory, and from the back there was a little "Whoo-hoo!" as the other employee looked up from his sandwich-board to pipe in.
Kurt took his mocha off with a chuckle and settled at one of the stools along the table facing out the windows.
The barista who was already wearing a winter skully cap anyway headed outside to talk to two workers emerging from a truck marked "The Window Washing Authorities." When he passed Kurt on his way back in, Kurt asked, "Do you need me to move, are they going to clean the inside of the windows too?"
"Nah, I told them not to do it today."
"Ah, well it's a nice view anyway. The dirt adds a certain charm..."
"Yeah, it's nice to remind you that it's still pretty much winter... all that sun out there through a sparkling clean window might make you expect it to be nice and warm out there, and we wouldn't want you to have a shock as soon as you open the door!"
"Well that's certainly very thoughtful of you, clearly."
The sandwich maker brought out the completed sandwich and presented it to Kurt. He turned back around before walking too far, to ask, "Is the volume OK?" Kurt noticed for the first time just how loud the local-band music was playing.
At this, the barista stopped too, and added, "Yeah. You're the only one here, so we can make everything exactly how you want it!"
Kurt answered right away, "Ah it's just fine! I like it." But he laughed at the idea and looked around at all the empty booths and tables, smiling.
The sandwich maker said, "Yup, it's all for you right now!
The barista laughed at that and went one better, "We could dance for you even!" He demonstrated in the perfect rowdy-dance-club style.
Without missing a beat, the sandwich maker joined right in like it was a mini dance-party in the middle of the coffee shop.
Kurt burst out laughing with them, dancing a little in his seat, and said "Yay!" With one last laugh, he rewarded their efforts with the comment, "BEST lunchtime EVER!"
Still laughing, the guys headed back to their chores, the winter-capped barista saying, "That's what we're here for!"
A few minutes later, Kurt saw Blaine across the street heading over, so he got up to tell the barista that his friend is arriving, and he'll have a medium drip.
"You want to wait till he gets here to be sure? We have so many options... All these inventive creations... So colorful, he may not be able to resist!"
"No, trust me. He's a man of habit when it comes to his coffee."
By the time Blaine made it in to the shop and hugged Kurt hello, the barista had the coffee ready. Kurt motioned for Blaine to go collect it. When he did, though, the barista didn't let go of his grip on the cup, saying "Are you sure? It's just a medium drip! Look at all these options… The world is your oyster!"
With a warm and friendly laugh, Blaine told him, "No, this is exactly what I want. It's perfect. Thanks!"
Blaine shared the sandwich with Kurt, and they laughed about the names of all the coffee creations and sandwiches on the board. He sang out for Kurt to the tune of the Beetles' "Strawberry Fields" in a jocular voice, "Raspberry fields… forever!"
"Let me eat you now, 'cause I'm going to…" Kurt sang, joining the fun, and Blaine harmonized with him on, "raspberry fields!"
Kurt went on with, "Nothing is veal… Just turkey and cheese all about!"
"Raspberry fields forever!" They giggled while at the same time Kurt got goosebumps from how great the harmony sounded when Blaine's voice blended with his.
The whole time the boys were enjoying their lunch together and talking and laughing and singing, the baristas left them to themselves.
However, after the boys said their goodbyes and thanks to the employees and were on their way out the door, both baristas (obviously having planned this the whole time) burst out with a nice harmony together in the most cheesy operatic way, with big closing-number arm gestures, "Medium DRIP forever!"
And that is how both boys ended up pouring out of the coffee shop holding on to each other to stop themselves from falling over in laughter, and almost crashing in to a somewhat familiar looking group of boys. "Hey Fag!" one of them spit out, and Kurt recognized him from the McKinley football team. In fact it looked like the whole football team was passing by right then, and the guy who had spit out the slur looked like he was making a sudden movement toward Kurt, but Blaine did not wait to see if he was or wasn't, he just acted without thinking, moving to protect Kurt. Before either Blaine or the misguided high school idiot completed their motion, an arm was already blocked across the guy's chest, pulling him back away from them. Karofsky's voice accompanied it, "Hey, Tony. Come on. Kurt's OK."
Karofsky looked back at them as he walked off pulling the guy along to rejoin the rest of the team, and gave an apologetic look that also held something more interesting in it, almost like seeking approval.
They both gave him almost the same exact non-committal nod and turned to glance at each other thinking what was that?
Mercedes was spectacular with the kids. Kurt and Blaine watched the tail end of her program, and noticed how she let children of every age, even the very youngest ones there, do everything themselves, offering encouragement but never taking over anything ever, giving them confidence that they can figure things out on their own. And of course, with only little needed bits of coaching here and there, they did. She was truly empowering to these kids, and they loved her.
After the last kid walked away with her parents, looking back at Mercedes with the cutest little sad wave, the three of them explored the museum together with Mercedes as their guide to all things science and interactive-exhibit-madness. It was like a playground for adults. "Hey, I just learned something!" Kurt sang out, after pulling a lever that sent hundreds of metal balls cascading down a series of pegs on a huge board, demonstrating the model for probability.
Kurt picked up his phone when it buzzed, because it was Finn. "Hey, you still at the science museum?"
"Yeah, we're going to get a bite to eat here soon. Why? Are you still downtown at that football conference thing?"
"Karofsky told me he, uh, ran into you guys. Everything OK?"
"Oh, sure. It was… well I was going to say it was nothing, but it was interesting actually. He got mad at that Tony kid for calling me a fag."
"Sh%*. He didn't tell me that, Kurt."
"Oh it's alright. It's taken care of. Please don't do anything Finn. Hey, if you're done there, why don't you come join us for dinner? The café here has beautiful views of the river and cheap food because Mercedes gets a 35% discount!"
"Yeah, alright. That'll be cool. I'll text you when I get there."
A/N – And I'll text you when I post the next chapter! Well, OK, I won't text you. But it will show up as another posting on here with the number 6 after it…! Thanks for any comments or ideas along the way, even if you're reading this after I have lots more chapters posted... I love critical feedback about absolutely anything! Thanks!