Coffee in Colorado
Monday
When Hunter had returned to Colorado, he always figured it would be to pursue the military career that his father had planned for him. He did not, however, expect to be working in a coffee shop to help pay the bills while he pursued a career in singing. No, that was definitely never expected, not from a Clarington, and especially not from Hunter. Yet here he was, on a Monday afternoon working in Sunrise Coffee, after a day of studying music at 'The College of Performing and Visual Arts'. It was the same pretty much every day, save for the weekends, when he would work Saturday mornings and early Sunday afternoons. Day in and day out, he would take the orders of the few customers who ever came in, make their drink, take their payment and then they'd be on their way and he's still be stuck behind this stupid counter wearing this stupid apron surrounded by the strong smell of coffee that never failed to make his nose scrunch up and his stomach turn slightly every day when he first entered his place of work.
He figured today would just be like every other day. He'd stand there for approximately 6 hours –sometimes a little shorter, if his boss was in a good mood-, blanking out the majority of the shift, then 10pm would roll around and no one was interested in getting a coffee buzz by that point, so he'd lock up, then he'd walk for 7 and a half minutes to his bus stop, probably wait close to 20 minutes for a bus that was supposed to be there 11 minutes before that and then he'd take the 45 minute journey back to his apartment, where he'd heat up a microwave oven meal for one and spend the night watching whatever random junk was on the TV until his eyes burned from lack of sleep and he'd crawl into bed and fall into a deep sleep. But no, he was very much wrong, today was most definitely not a normal day.
"…Hunter?" Hunter turned around at the sound of his name. "Hunter Clarington?".
"Yeah?" Hunter asked, not looking up at the customer and instead fiddling with something on the counter, the disinterest obvious in his voice.
"Well, well, well", the guy continued, "this is definitely a sight I never expected to see. Not that I'm complaining, it's always nice to see you" he drawled. "I have to say, still looking as exceptional as ever, Killer".
At the use of the old nickname, Hunter's head shot up only to be met with that damn prize smirk plastered across the face of Sebastian Smythe.
"Seb..Sebastian? Wow…I…you, uh…wow, how are you?" Hunter stumbled over his words, still unable to process that Sebastian Smythe was standing in front of him, hair falling carelessly yet artfully across his forehead rather than being coiffed up, as Hunter's still was, like back in high school. His green eyes were just as bright, and shone like emerelds beneath the fluorescent lights and he was dressed impeccably in a black tailored suit, the crisp white shirt pulled over his chest, making it obvious that he was still as toned and fit as ever. Not that Hunter could talk, he was just as toned and buff as he always had been. Not that he'd ever admit he was buff, he'd just been told, on several occasions, by several people.
Sebastian laughed, a sound that brought joy to Hunter's ears, happy to hear something other than the whirring of coffee machines and the quiet but annoying buzz of the patrons that he was so accustomed to hearing. "I've been good. In fact, I've been excellent. Even better to see you though", he added with a playful wink, and Hunter knew that he hadn't changed in the slightest . "And yourself?"
Hunter smiled and shook his head, looking down at his feet. When he looked back up, he met Sebastian's curious gaze and told him, "uh, well, I've been good, you know, just…yeah…good". He blushed ever so slightly and ducked his head, trying to hide his embarrassment from Sebastian, but the other male noticed easily and grinned. Hunter was just as adorable as he always had been, and he sighed to himself when he thought back to Dalton, and how many nights he would lay awake thinking of just how adorable the guy in front of him was.
"Good. Glad to hear it".
"Oh, right, uhm, what can I get you?"
"I'll talk a medium coffee, black, please."
"With a shot of Courvoisier?" Hunter added cheekily as he moved around making the drink, remembering Sebastian's tendency to ask it of the barista at the Lima Bean.
Sebastian laughed once more and said "well, if you're offering. You know me, Killer, I take what I can get."
Both boys looked at each other and smiled, before Hunter cleared his throat and handed Sebastian his drink. He took it gratefully and checked the watch that adorned his wrist.
"Damn, looks like I have to head out. It was great to see you again, Killer" he said with a smirk, throwing a wink over his shoulder to Hunter, who just shook his head and replied with "goodbye, Sebastian."
He went to turn away from the door, but something small and white on the grey counter caught his eye. He picked it up, and recognised Sebastian's familiar scribble across it.
His phone number.
Oh, well that could come in useful.