Chapter Text
When Ava found out J.C. was interested in another girl, he was holding her hand. They were sitting across from each other, the screen of his phone reflected on his sunglasses. By the third or so photo he clicked on, Ava thought, “Not bad.”
When Ava found out they were in correspondence, his phone was face up on the couch and the notification showed her username with the message “hey” which could have been a reply to a previous conversation or an initiation of a new one.
That night she stalked the girl herself. Her feed was filled with desaturated colors, her posts were mainly lyrics, her stories were mostly song links. Rarely did she post anything going on about her life. In the few posts that she did, it was either too vague or too superficial: “hungry”, “too soon!”, “what was that…”
The photos of herself were not the typical ones a guy would be caught frothing at the mouth at. No revealing clothes with a dangerous plunge or strategically posed bikini shots. Instead, they were a set of photos no different than Ava’s feed: her looking at a sunset, her posing on a bench, her reading. Ava couldn’t decide if this made it worse.
When J.C. first talked to her, Ava was with him. He suggested they should try the new cafe that opened a few weeks ago.
“Try something new, you know.”
The girl was a barista there.
From the time they got out of the car, he kept his distance. Maybe so that Ava wouldn’t hold his hand or so that the girl wouldn’t think they were together.
If the girl recognized J.C. from his profile, it didn’t show on her face. The girl was lean, statuesque, almost his height. Her brown hair was neatly tied to a ponytail, a section of it rested over her shoulder. Her uniform was a yellow polo with black bands over the chest, no creases, no stains. Aside from her height and maybe her forearms, there wasn’t anything else to her. But the look that J.C. gave, you would think she was perfect, far too much to be real and attainable. Which, Ava guesses, may have been what propelled him forward in pursuit.
When the girl repeated their orders, J.C. lingered.
When a different barista brought their drinks, he visibly deflated before hiding it with a toothy smile. That smile would remain as their conversation ebbed and flowed. His words tumbled steady as ever but in an octave lower than his normal register. His shoulders were squared, arms posed to make them broader, legs in a wide berth, hair that got raked with his fingers every few minutes. From watching him, it reminded Ava of birds that showed off their vibrant plumes during mating season.
Ava assessed what it was about the girl that was appealing to him. If there was anything that he saw from the words she typed and the music she shared online, it did not appear to Ava. If it was in her appearance, or her voice, there was nothing that she could see.
It became clear that Ava had to talk to her. From the moment she found out he messaged the girl, she already knew she had to leave him but that didn’t necessarily mean she had to leave him immediately. If his pursuit was to get the girl, Ava’s pursuit was to understand why.
J.C.’s gait towards the bathroom was stiff. He stole a glance towards the barista, which proved to be pointless as she had her back to him, preparing another order. A strange feeling, to be aware of the person you are with long for someone else. An even stranger feeling, to ask “ Why her?” and not “ Why not me still?” or are these the same question?
Ava found herself taking out the lid of her coffee cup with the paper straw with it. It was already half-empty, a line of caramel stuck to the side, the ice cubes bobbed as she walked over to the counter. The barista had just finished wiping a table from water rings when she looked up to find Ava with her cup in hand.
“Did you want more ice?”
Ava must have nodded because the barista’s hand came to get the cup. It was inevitable to have their fingers brush during the exchange.
The girl ducked momentarily. There was a crackling of ice as she scooped a handful.
Wanting to stand there longer, Ava heard herself say, “Can I also have one to take out?”
“Sure. What will that be?”
“The same order.”
“Perfect,” she said as she logged Ava’s drink. “Anything else? For the other person you were with, perhaps?”
Ava blinked. “Um, this is for him.”
“Oh! Well, what about you?” She leaned her weight onto the counter, and her voice softened, “Do you want anything?”
J.C. came back from the bathroom just then. From Ava’s peripheral, she saw him do a double take. Neither Ava, nor the girl, turned their heads to him.
Ava’s eyes flashed down to the name badge. “Beatrice.”
She gave a funny look. “Yes?”
“I – ”
“Hey!” J.C. came over. Ava froze.
Beatrice shifted her gaze from Ava to J.C. and flashed him the smile she gave to Ava only a moment ago.
Ava felt a pang of jealousy, no, envy.
“Yes, sir?” she said.
“Um - uh,” he looked at Ava like he wanted her to go away, like she was ruining his shot with Beatrice, like she couldn’t take a hint. “Can I have a glass of water?” he said.
“Certainly, I’ll have that over for you right away.”
It was dismissive.
He could only nod. And to Ava: “You coming back?”
“Yeah, I’ll be over with your water. To save her the trip.”
He pressed his lips together before nodding once. Ava watched him slide awkwardly in their booth.
When Ava turned back to Beatrice, she already had a glass full of ice. “Should I start making your order now?”
“Yes, please.”
When she saw Ava still standing there, she said, “Wanna take a seat?” as she gestured to the bar stool.
The machine whirred as Beatrice made an espresso shot. “So, how come I’ve just seen you today?” Ava watched her measure some fine powder Ava couldn’t even name.
“Oh, we thought that we should check this place out.”
She poured milk from another cup. At an angle, she brought out the frother and looked at Ava. “Huh... He’s a regular here. It’s his third time this week, I think.”
As much as that news surprised Ava, she didn’t miss a beat. “Maybe he has a crush on you.”
Beatrice laughed lightly. “Or he just really likes our coffee.”
Ava shrugged, “Could be both.”
Beatrice gave her a once-over. “Aren’t you his girlfriend?”
“No.” It was a dishonest answer but it felt like the correct one.
She nodded slowly with the barest hint of a smile. “So you are being his wingman right now?”
There was a cool voice that spoke and Ava was stunned to hear it was her own. “No. You’re too pretty for him.”
Her brows rose. “Am I?”
Several responses ballooned in Ava’s chest but she went with a simple shrug.
“When I saw you come in, I thought you were his girlfriend.” Beatrice admitted.
“Am I too pretty for him?”
She leaned in and whispered, “Yeah.”
They shared a laugh.
Beatrice shook her head. “It didn’t make sense anyway. Any time he comes here, he’s always… here , you know? Always tries to force a conversation before making a pass at me. And then he found my social media accounts.” Ava could see the rising irritation in her face. “When I saw you, I thought, finally he found somebody else. But now, I think, he just brought you to, I don’t know –”
“To make you think you blew your chance with him.” Ava completed her thought and Beatrice agreed.
Before the silence could take root and before Ava could fully process the depth of J.C.’s betrayal, she was mesmerized by Beatrice’s show of pouring the frothed milk onto the coffee. After she drizzled a layer of caramel in a checkered pattern, she lifted the drink towards the light that spilled through the windows. “Always nice to have sunshine in your coffee.” As she did, light also touched her face, and the brown of her eyes revealed itself. It was then that Ava understood what J.C. saw in her.
“Wait, this is for him, right?” Then she covered the cup with her hand and lowered it back to the shadows. The pettiness made Ava laugh and Beatrice gave her an unexpected wink. The gesture undid Ava and she felt her heart speed up.
Beatrice squinted her eyes. “Not to meddle but I think he’s waiting for you to come back.” When Ava’s gaze landed on J.C., he quickly turned to look away from them.
“I’ll be with him shortly. Unless you want me gone?”
“No. Do you want to be?”
“Want what?”
“Be with him?”
The clarification still had another follow-up question: be with him in that booth or be with him? Regardless, both had the same answer. “No.” But as soon as Ava said it, she was overcome with dread. A realization that she was no better than J.C.’s muscle-flexing a moment ago. When Beatrice’s mouth curved into a half-smile and Ava noticed for the first time that she had a peppering of freckles on her cheeks, Ava struggled to be mad at him, and struggled, too, to blame him.
Ava had to reel it back in. “What about you? Do you want to be with him?”
Beatrice gave a dry chuckle, taking it as a joke. But whether Ava was driven by self-sabotage or something more sinister, she pushed Beatrice more. “Does he have a chance?
Beatrice’s smile disappeared. “Oh. You’re serious?”
“He’s a nice guy.”
“Sure.”
“Funny, too.”
“Okay.”
“So, should I get your number for him?”
Beatrice’s eyebrows knit in a way that suggested she wasn’t expecting this conversation to get here. That makes two of them.
“Uh,” Beatrice slid Ava’s order in a paper bag and pushed it towards her, “I’m good.” It was spoken in the tone of someone who had no intention of changing their mind.
Ava looked at the bag, unmoving, unsure of how to proceed or what she wanted.
“Oh, your friend’s water.” She said and pushed the glass towards Ava. Just like J.C., she was also being dismissed by the promise of hydration.
Ava walked over to J.C. with cautious steps like she might trip any second.
“Wait!” Beatrice’s voice was loud enough that everybody in the cafe turned. She gestured an apology. “Your drink with more ice,” she said quietly.
Ava felt the disappointment wash over her. She placed the glass of water and the paper bag on their table and began the long trek towards the counter. Ava’s eyes didn’t look up at Beatrice as she silently retrieved her drink.
She plunked down on their booth as she set the cup in front of her.
J.C. leaned in and whispered, “What was that about?”
She sighed and looked at him, her fallen comrade, equally wounded from the battle. “We just talked about coffee. I asked her how to make this at home from alternatives.”
Ava looked at the cup then and saw the string of numbers and the writing at the bottom, “ I’d rather you have my number. Call me. X .”
Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Notes:
Contrary to the title, I fully intended this to only be a one-shot AU. But I’m fairly new to publishing works on here and you guys have been so lovely and welcoming and most of the comments wanted a part 2 and with the renewal announcement – it was such an easy decision! Let’s find out what Ava does next, shall we?
#WarriorNunSaved
Chapter Text
Ava bit her thumb as she stared at the empty cup with Beatrice’s number. Her eyes could bore through it with the way she has been glaring at it for the past hour. It sat innocently at the window sill next to the pilea that she always forgets to water.
Ava has been in a state of mental unrest for a few days now. Reviewing their first meeting with a fine-tooth comb. Breaking down their interaction into bite-sized moments that Ava has turned over and over in her mind, recalling what Beatrice said and how she said it or what Ava herself said and how Beatrice reacted to it. It was like a drug, how addicting it was to dissect things like that.
Although her mind would wander away from Beatrice, it was never long, and she never got too far before eventually returning to her freckles, the way her eyes crinkled along the edges when she smiled, the way her forearm bulged a bit when she pulled the lever of the espresso machine. It was cyclical and detrimental to Ava’s peace of mind.
The first two days were easy. Although she would still daydream about Beatrice, her work at the bookstore provided her some five to ten minutes of break in between. The presence of other people also pulled her back from it no matter how deep in thought she got. But the third day, this day, has proved to be too much to handle. When she had nothing to do, no one else, and nothing else to think about.
Maybe she was reading too much into it. Don’t people casually hand out their numbers? Ava has done it before. But after the exchange of initial messages, the momentum would almost always taper out. The bitter truth is that sometimes chemistry is dependent on the right circumstances, namely (1) a carefree night out at a bar and (2) alcohol in both of their systems.
She has been entertaining the idea that maybe it would be different with Beatrice since they met in broad daylight, not in a bar, and without alcohol. But the risk was too great and the chances were too slim. Ava didn’t want to make any hasty decisions.
Aside from the fact that she wasn’t confident that a call or text would go well for her, she also didn’t want to commit J.C.'s mistake of leaving evidence. It already took great effort to cover Beatrice’s number by holding the cup only on one side and another burst of effort to give an excuse why she brought home an empty cup. “It’s a nice cup. I’ll use it to hold my pens.” She did use it to hold her pens. The number usually faces the window so it won’t haunt Ava. But today, she removed the pens and faced the cup head on. Finally heeding the calls it has been making to her and the call she herself has yet to make.
Which reminded Ava of the moment they left the coffee shop that day. When both of them finished their drink, she was conflicted on whether or not she should say goodbye to Beatrice. Followed by a horrible realization that J.C. must have been thinking the same thing. It proved to be worthless because Beatrice was the one who said, “Please come again!”
The sweetness of the invitation may have seized them equally as Ava and J.C. both turned to her unison. Ava could swear they had the same thought bubble floating above their heads, “ Who did Beatrice want to come again and who did she want to never return?”
Ava wanted to find the answer from her gaze but Beatrice’s eyes shifted from Ava to J.C. before entertaining another customer who had to squeeze between them because they blocked the entrance.
Ava groaned at the memory. With the high out of her system, she realized Beatrice said that to both of them and to the rest of the customers that came and went because she was a fucking barista. But even so, Ava has ceased saying the same thing to the customers who left her workplace because she didn’t want to confuse them like that. But then again who would be confused by that? Only Ava and J.C. who were still in a relationship but actively vying for the same girl.
Ava got up and snatched the cup. She didn’t really need it anymore. She already had the number memorized. It was the message that held her captive. It was the “ I’d rather you have my number ” and the “ Call me ” and the “ X ”. The last one really did a number on her.
Did J.C. have something like this? No.
Maybe he does? Ava’s thoughts countered viciously.
It was possible. If Ava was hiding this from him, he would certainly keep something like it from her. He did have a head start. What did his invitation look like? Maybe Beatrice wrote it on a napkin bearing the shop’s logo or on the paper bag if he got something to-go. Or on a coffee cup. Just like Ava’s.
Ava huffed. She turned the cup to face the window once more, grabbed her keys and went to where the barista worked.
***
The burst of confidence only lasted her at the coffee shop’s parking lot. Now her knuckles were turning white with how tightly she gripped the steering wheel. Her breaths were coming out shallow. She felt the stiffness of her body, wrought with tension, anxiety, and nervousness.
She needed another burst of confidence. She found that she only needed to remind herself of the days J.C. has visited here. She imagined him ordering his stupid drink, chatting Beatrice up, and then talked to Ava like nothing happened. She was his consolation prize.
Ava undid her seatbelt.
***
When Ava entered the coffee shop, another barista was there. Petite in stature and with short curly hair that suited her perfectly. She welcomed Ava with a good morning and a smile. Ava tried to cover whatever expression of disappointment she had in her face with a smile of her own and a nod.
With all her overthinking she still forgot to consider that maybe Beatrice wasn’t on shift today. J.C. would know her shift. He’s diabolical like that.
“Oh, hello.”
Beatrice was suddenly next to her holding two bags of ice. Before Ava could reply, she walked past her and disappeared in the staffroom.
“What can I get you today, Ma’am?” the other barista called for Ava. “We have a Saturday special combo! Get a large iced irish cream mocha and we’ll throw in a free chocolate –”
“I got this, Camila.” Beatrice reentered and was soon manning the counter. Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes and it hit Ava’s chest like a barbed arrow.
“Iced caramel macchiato?” Beatrice suggested. Ava felt the swoop her stomach made and tried not to fall into the implication that Beatrice remembered her order. It really is a common order.
“Sure.”
“Alright, I’ll have that over for you at your table–” Ava was already sliding on a bar stool that faced the counter. “–or here.” Beatrice finished.
Ava watched how Beatrice made her order again. She followed the same steps as she went through the motions, but Ava could feel something was off. If she brought a hand out she would have felt the thickness of the wall Beatrice has put up.
Ava took caution. “You didn’t ask for my name last time.”
“Ava.” She said simply without looking up from what she was doing.
“How do you know?” She felt the swell of her heart at the prospect that maybe Beatrice looked her up online. Asked about her from so and so, gathered general information about Ava because she wanted to know more about her.
Beatrice held a measuring cup at eye-level. “J.C. told me. Yesterday. And the day before that.”
“H-he came back here?”
“Yes.”
Ava took note on how, instead of being affected by J.C. going behind her back to hit on another woman, she was more affected that he went behind her back to talk to Beatrice specifically.
“What did he say?”
“Just stories. He just says whatever he can think of. It seemed like your friendship goes way back.”
From her responses, Ava could assess that J.C. was also actively omitting the lovely fact that they were together. She was thankful that they reached that understanding, although telepathically.
“Did you give him your number?” Ava prepared herself for the answer she didn’t want to hear.
“No. But he always asks for it. Hey, you should give him my number. Since you didn’t make any use of it.” Beatrice looked at her then. It was a look that could wilt a flower. Ava made to reply but Beatrice purposely turned the frother on and the loud whir of the machine cut out her words
Beatrice gave a dry smile before turning it off. That was the reason Beatrice was colder than the drink she was making. Ava failed to consider that with her overthinking about how to call Beatrice, Beatrice must have been overthinking why Ava didn’t call.
“I’m –” Ava tried, “I’m not like him. I don’t know how to do this.”
It was the truth. Ava was used to receiving passes but she never made a pass at anyone. Not sober and not with full intention. Flirting is different when you mean it. Moreso when you’re really, genuinely, helplessly, attracted to someone.
Beatrice slid her order in front of Ava before crossing her arms. “You have the opposite of his disease. He tries too much. You try too little.”
Ava didn’t look away from her, not even when she handed a paper straw and their fingers brushed a little. “Help me out? What does he do? I’ll do it better.”
There was a tiny smile that faded too soon, Ava wasn’t sure if it even happened. Another customer approached the counter and Beatrice removed her gaze from Ava with a slow crawl before entertaining the guy.
The lull in the conversation was welcomed. Ava turned her attention to her drink, willing her neurons to regroup, to crash into each other, to figure out how to talk to a girl. Beatrice passed on the making of the new order to Camila which gave her the chance to return to Ava.
Ava stole a glance at Camila who had a sly smile and mouthed “go on”. Ava couldn’t control the surprise in her face which caused Beatrice to look over her shoulder. Camila carried on like nothing happened.
Beatrice looked confused but decided to drop it. “I’m not gonna tell you what he’s doing. I would be coaching you. So. What do you wanna do, Ava?”
Ava could hear the Windows shutdown sound as all the lights in her brain turned off. From behind, Camila moved to the coffee machine and mouthed a word that Ava immediately repeated to Beatrice, “Date.”
Beatrice’s face remained unchanged. She’d be a whiz at poker.
“I want a date. With you. I want a date with you.” Ava tried again.
Beatrice took her sweet time. It was torture for Ava. There was soft music coming from the speakers and the coffee chatter from the occupied tables but there was silence that was shared only between them. It was uncomfortable but it was charged.
“Okay. I’ll go on a date with you.” The moment of celebration was short-lived when Beatrice continued, “But not tomorrow. I have a date with J.C.”
“He asked you out?” Ava heard the tonal shift in her voice, something guttural and ferocious. Beatrice heard it, too, with the way she shifted on her other foot. “Yeah, he has been pestering me for a while. And I just thought this would shut him up.”
“Where is he taking you?”
“He said dinner. I don’t know where, though.”
“Dinner?” Ava scoffed, “Creative.”
Beatrice laughed through her nose. “Weren’t you the one indirectly asking him for tips?”
“Yeah, I changed my mind. I think I’m better off without ideas from him.”
“You are, Ava. You just need his…audacity.”
“You’re gonna regret that. You won’t like me with all of his audacity. He has a lot of it. ”
“I think I’ll like you just fine.”
For the second time and within the span of less than five minutes, Ava’s brain short-circuited. “Are you saying yes to a date with me to shut me up, too?”
The amusement in Beatrice’s face was apparent. “Quite the opposite. I want you to talk more.”
Ava didn’t know how Beatrice did it. Her flirty remarks always came so quick and so concise. It always left Ava reeling from the aftershocks.
“Does he know about what you’re doing?” Beatrice asked. “Is this one of those 2000s romcom plots where both of you made a bet on who could pick up a girl the fastest?”
There were no bets made, but there was a gamble , Ava thought. “No. Actually I–I would prefer it if you didn’t tell him what I’m doing.”
“And what exactly are you doing?” The glint in her eye was playful.
“Hijacking his plans to get the same girl.”
Her face crinkled in good humor. “You want me to lie to him then?”
“This is kind of wrong, isn’t it? He likes you and I knew that he liked you. I tried setting you up with him but then I got a date with you instead. That’s not being a good friend.” Not being a good girlfriend actually but Ava didn’t want to delve into the technicalities.
“You’re guilty because he called dibs on me?” Beatrice folded her arms atop each other on the counter as she leaned in. The move gave Ava an exquisite view of the dip of her collar. Ava swallowed involuntarily.
“So you wanna clear the way for him?”
“N-no.”
“Step back and be a martyr?”
“No.”
“You think he has a better chance of sweeping me off my feet if you stopped trying?”
“No.” Ava said the last one with more grit and resolve.
Beatrice smirked. “I thought you wanted to be a good friend?”
It was a challenge, an invitation, and temptation all rolled into one. “Fuck him.”
Ava couldn’t fully process what happened next as she watched Beatrice swoop down and take a sip of her drink with her straw. As she sucked, she looked at Ava beneath her lashes, her eyes dripping with dark desire. Ava’s lips parted.
Beatrice came back up. There was a flash of her tongue as she licked her lips. “Good. I’ll see you on Monday.”
Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Summary:
Beatrice and J.C. go on a date. Ava doesn't take it well.
Notes:
I love all of your comments so much! Getting a move on with this story because I might get busy next week and I'm equally as curious of to how a reserved Ava handles a very forward Beatrice
Chapter Text
Today was J.C. and Beatrice’s date. Ava spent the whole night brainstorming on how to distract herself for today. In the end, she decided she will simply not think about it. It hasn’t been working too well.
Beatrice said they will have dinner. Ava looked out her window and willed the sun to get stuck there forever.
Was Beatrice getting ready now? Was she nervous? Was she going in her usual barista uniform? Ava wanted her to show up in sweatpants and a hoodie because J.C. simply wasn’t worth the effort. Ava pictured her wearing something casual like that. She actually would not mind that at all. She pictured Beatrice lying on Ava’s chaise couch. Beatrice in pajamas with fuzzy socks, Ava’s blue polka dotted blanket partially covering her up to her neck, cradling a bowl of popcorn and her patting the seat next to her, inviting Ava over –
“Jesus,” Ava breathed, exasperated.
Ava sent an experimental text to J.C. “Where are you? I wanna watch a movie.” She knew he was going to lie, she just wanted to know how good the lie would be.
The text bubble appeared and disappeared. Twice. Oh, the lie will be bad.
Ava hadn't confronted J.C. yet because she wanted to get inside information from him. There were two crucial points to a breakup, the moment where one party decides that it’s over and the moment of the actual breakup. The first one, Ava believes, is where the breakup happened. Breaking up with J.C. has now become a mere formality that Ava has pushed back until further notice.
His message came in, “I got stung by a bee.”
She rolled her eyes before looking back out the window where the sun had significantly lowered. She groaned and threw herself on the couch. The coffee cup perched at the window sill stared at her again, Ava could only make out the “X”. It gave Ava a thought so horrifying that she frantically typed out Beatrice’s number from memory. In the text box she wrote, “ Don’t kiss him. ”
Her finger hovered on the send button. The message would be implying a lot of things. That (1) the date will go on without a hitch, (2) there was a chance of them kissing, (3) Beatrice was willing to kiss him, and (4) Ava believes that J.C. is enough of an asshole to go the extra mile of cheating by kissing another girl.
She hit send and balanced her phone on her forehead. She heard it ping not a minute after. “ Ava? ”
“ Yes, it’s me. Don’t kiss him ”
“ I wasn’t going to ”
“ Ok. Cuz you shouldn’t kiss somebody on the first date right off the bat. ” Ava sat up and typed hurriedly. “ Unless it’s with me ”
“ You’re the exception huh ”
“ You wouldn’t wanna kiss me? ”
“Depends”
“On??”
“ How badly do you wanna be kissed? ”
Ava bit her knuckle. She started typing out “ I want you to kiss me and more ” before rapidly hitting backspace. “Too much , ” Ava said to herself. She touched her neck when she noticed her temperature shoot up. “ You don’t deserve to know that yet ” she typed instead.
Ava’s phone rang, she picked up immediately.
“Hi,” Ava breathed.
“I don’t deserve to know?” she teased.
That got a laugh from Ava. “Are you…getting ready now?”
“No, I just got off work. I needed to put my feet up for a sec.”
“Sounds like you need a massage.”
“Are you offering?”
She heard her reply before she could think it over. “Yeah. I’ll even do it for free.”
Beatrice fake-gasped, “Ava! Shameless.”
Ava plopped back down on the couch. Her voice became quiet and breathy, like she didn’t want Beatrice to actually hear her. “Don’t go out with him. Stay on the phone with me.”
She heard Beatrice sigh. “I need to. He already made plans. It wouldn’t be fair.” Beatrice’s voice dropped an octave lower like she moved and made herself more comfortable, laying down perhaps, like what Ava was doing. If she closed her eyes Beatrice could be lying next to her.
She cursed the reality of the empty space on her couch. “How do you think the date will go?”
Ava could hear that she was smiling, “I think I’ll be thinking of you during and after.”
Ava bit her lip. “Bea,” she groaned.
“Yes, Ava?”
“When you say things like that…”
“You want me to stop?”
“No, but could you just dial it down a bit? I can’t handle it.”
As if she could not get any crueler, Beatrice dropped her voice deeper, this time with a dangerous edge, “You want me to handle you instead?”
Ava pushed her face to the couch, muffling her voice as she shouted, “BEA!”
Beatrice’s laugh bubbled from the phone. “Okay, okay. I have to go anyway.”
“For the date?”
“Yes, Ava. For the date. With your friend.”
Ava pouted. “Stand him up.”
There was a shuffling sound like Beatrice was moving. “Hey, now. Let’s give the guy a chance.”
Ava didn't want to dignify that with an answer. “What are you wearing?” Ava heard how it sounded but it was too late. Beatrice, who never missed an opportunity to tease her, said, “Nothing but underwear in your favorite color.”
Ava almost fell off the couch. “Not what I meant!”
“Oops. Ahh, you meant for the date? Sorry. I’m stupid like that sometimes.” There was a thud and Beatrice sounded far. “I don’t know yet. He said to dress formally.” There was scuffling. “I have a black dress. I’ll send you a pic.”
Ava was expecting a picture of the dress on a hanger or laid on a bed. What she didn’t prepare for was a picture of Beatrice wearing it herself. Earlier, she imagined Beatrice in her usual barista uniform or comfy pajamas. Both did it for her. But never did she think about what Beatrice might look like in a seductive dress, oozing with elegant charm. She had her hair down on one side, her arm with its dips and curves on full display as she held up the phone, the other hand placed strategically on her chest. But the one feature that screamed for Ava’s attention was the leg that was deliberately put forward as she posed in the mirror. There was a slit on the dress that ran up the side, stopping just above her hips.
Ava felt her throat dry up.
“It’s too skimpy.” Beatrice said.
“Fuck, yeah.”
“What?”
“Uh, yes. Not formal at all. What else do you have?”
“Nothing else. You know what, this’ll have to do.”
She’ll wear this fatal dress just for J.C.? Ava stood up so suddenly she almost knocked over her coffee table. “NO!”
There was silence on the other end. Long enough for Ava to think she dropped the call. Ava grabbed a handful of her hair and silently cursed herself. “I mean, y–you could just go in jeans.” She forced a laugh. She covered the phone and held it away from her face as she chided herself.
The next time Beatrice spoke, her voice was nearer, like she actually had the phone to her ear. Ava couldn’t have prepared herself for it. In such a calm tone of voice that Ava’s stomach quivered, Beatrice said, “Don’t worry, Ava. He’ll only get to look. Somebody else gets to take it off.”
***
It took a preposterous amount of effort for Ava to not text Beatrice or J.C. while their date went on. She considered taking a melatonin and calling it a night but she was holding on to the possibility that Beatrice might call her after.
Ava found herself at a 7/11 buying three bottles of beer. She considered drinking there but she thought of a better place. Soon, she parked right across the coffee shop that was lit only by its outdoor light fixtures. She opened her first bottle and easily emptied it halfway. She looked at the clock on her dashboard. Their date has lasted for over an hour and a half now. How long does a date usually last?
Ava gave her thoughts free reign tonight. With the comfort of alcohol, she willingly fell into every hole her mind led her, no matter how dark it got. J.C. breaking up with her first because Beatrice liked him after all. Beatrice kissing him. Beatrice inviting him to her place. Them spending the night together. Ava didn’t realize how tightly she gripped the bottle. She finished it in one final gulp and reached for another before realizing that she had drank every last one.
It was then that she felt the intoxication finally hitting her. She slumped on the wheel, realizing she’s in no state to drive back to her house safely.
She entertained the idea that came floating in her mind. Considered it, weighed it, before acting on it.
“Ava?” Beatrice answered.
“Hello.”
“Hi. I’m still at the restaurant.” There was a slight echo in Beatrice’s voice. Ava guessed she was in the bathroom.
“Oh. It’s still not over?”
Beatrice laughed lightly, “No. He was actually late. We’ve been here for like half an hour, I think.”
“Will it be over soon?”
“How long does a date usually last?”
“That’s what I was wondering!” Even Ava heard the slur of her voice on that one.
A pause. “Have you been drinking?”
“No.”
“Where are you?”
Ava reached behind her to recline her seat. The sudden movement jostled her brain that was swimming in alcohol. She saw the coffee shop fracture in triplicate copies. A groan escaped her as she held her head steady, willing her view to focus.
“Ava.”
“Huh?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m–it’s embarrassing.”
“Let’s hear it.”
Ava squeezed her eyes shut. “Coffee shop.”
A few seconds pass before, “Okay. Wait there.”
Ava didn’t know how much time passed, only that another car was pulling up beside hers. In a familiar gray car with familiar gray dents. J.C.’s car.
“Shit.”
Beatrice got out of it and practically sprinted to Ava. She heard the clacking of her heels. Beatrice wrenched her car door open and Ava gave a lazy blink and a serene smile.
Beatrice gave a loud sigh.
Ava squinted, “You’re mad.”
“Confused.”
Ava heard another door open. From behind Beatrice, she could see J.C.’s silhouette get out of the car. He gave a little peek over the roof, careful not to reveal himself.
Without turning to him, Beatrice said. “You can go home, J.C.”
Ava saw him flinch. He probably thought he was done for. Ava could guess that he was banking on the fact that she was drunk enough to have possibly missed what Beatrice said. Joke’s on him, she would never miss whatever words will come out of Beatrice’s mouth. Ava wanted him to get close so she could ask where the bee stung him and watch him squirm.
J.C. didn’t need to be told twice. He pulled out of there fast and Ava had Beatrice alone with her.
She ducked in the car and undid Ava’s seatbelt. “Move over,” she commanded. With sloth-like movements, Ava ambled towards the passenger side. She had to clear the seat from the plastic bag of empty bottles, the glass clinking as it hit the floor. Ava knew Beatrice had something to say but she thankfully remained silent, instead, she slid in the driver’s seat.
“Hey,” Beatrice took her hand.
Ava turned her head to really look at Beatrice. She was so goddamn beautiful. She put on a little make up, her hair slicked back, and that sinful dress. Ava had to pull back a bit to take in the whole length of her, “Fuck, Bea. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.”
Beatrice laughed through her nose before resting her elbow on the wheel and tilting her head to look at Ava, a smirk of amusement on her lips.
“I’m serious,” Ava added, she put a hand on her chest. “I think I died just looking at you.”
Beatrice snorted and suddenly leaned in. There was a moment where Ava thought they might kiss before realizing that Beatrice was only reaching for Ava’s seatbelt. She clicked it into place and Ava caught the whiff of her perfume and it was as equally intoxicating as the alcohol running through her bloodstream.
“You smell so good,” Ava heard herself say.
Beatrice leaned back and put on her own seatbelt. “You’re full of compliments tonight.”
"I have an endless list for you."
"Do they have to be so cheesy, though?"
Ava swatted her arm playfully. She felt the car move as they eased out of the parking lot.
“Give me directions to your house.”
Ava opened her mouth to answer but she saw the flashes of what her house looked like, pictures of her and J.C., in frames, on cork boards, on the fridge door. Her house was infested with evidence of her definitely being more than friends with that man.
“I don’t wanna go home.” Ava met her eyes. “I don’t wanna be alone tonight.”
Beatrice’s face softened. “Okay. Do you wanna go back to my place?”
Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Summary:
In which Ava and Beatrice spend one night and one morning together
Notes:
The way I had to change the rating to teens and up just because of this chapter. Let's hope that it doesn't go any higher. Or should we hope that it does??
Chapter Text
Ava may have accidentally dozed off along the way because when she opened her eyes, Beatrice was holding the passenger door open, looking at her, expecting an answer.
“Huh?”
“I said, can you stand?”
“Of course.” Ava slid off the car and stood beside Beatrice.
“I take it you can’t.”
In reality, Ava was still slumped on the carseat.
Beatrice was suddenly only a whisper away from her face, sliding her arms around Ava’s waist. It was the scene from her dreams, forced into existence. So ideal, in fact, that she thought her intoxicated brain was tricking her again. But she felt Beatrice breathe on her neck at one point and she didn’t give her brain that much credit to know how good that would actually feel.
Typical of Ava to be experiencing a night she would want to ( need to ) remember but she would later find that she could only remember it in flashes: Ava being handed a cold glass of water by Beatrice in her kitchen, Ava struggling up the stairs, Ava leaning on a wall feeling a cat slinking between her legs.
By the time Ava sat on a bed, she felt better, her head still felt like it had bubbles of fizz, but she felt better. She observed the bedspread patterned with cartoon dinosaurs.
“Something funny?” Beatrice came in holding a mismatched pajama set.
Ava gestured to the bed with an amused smirk.
Beatrice looked horrified. “Oh, no. Look, it’s one of the relics from my childhood room, okay? And it’s still in perfectly good condition. I can’t just throw it out.”
Ava sputtered a laugh. “I’m not judging! I think it’s cute.”
Beatrice shook her head as she handed Ava the pajama set. Ava unfolded the oversized shirt that read “ I am not as think as you drunk I am ” in comic sans.
Ava glared.
Beatrice held her hands up innocently. “It was too perfect.”
“I don’t need the pajama bottoms.” Ava said before hoisting her shirt up.
Beatrice’s eyes rounded and she quickly turned.
“You can look, Bea.”
“I shouldn’t, Ava.”
“I want you to.”
“I–I still shouldn’t.”
After having donned the oversized shirt, her eyes landed on Beatrice. Her dress was even more sinful at the back. It had a low dip, flaunting the curve of her spine. Obscuring the direct view were strings that criss-crossed all over the back, ensuring that the garment hugged her in all the right places. The whole thing did wonders for her ass –
“Are you done?”
Ava swallowed. “Uhuh.”
“Are you sure you’re not gonna put on the…” Ava left the pajama bottoms still folded on the end of the bed along with her discarded shorts.
“I normally sleep like this. But I could put them on if it bothers you?”
“No, it–it’s fine, Ava. Whatever you’re comfortable with.” Beatrice kept standing there, looking at Ava’s face with such determination as though it was taking a lot for her to not lower her gaze.
“You still have your dress on.” Ava observed.
She looked down at herself like she just noticed. “Yes, I’ll get changed.” She started to turn when Ava said, “You said I could take it off.”
Beatrice seemed to freeze in place. “I–what?”
“You said I could take it off of you.” Ava blamed the alcohol cruising around her system for the eruption of confidence that could only be described as foreign to her. But it was fun seeing Beatrice squirming for once.
“I didn’t–I said somebody gets to.”
“Oh. Who was that somebody?”
Beatrice opens her mouth and promptly shuts it.
Ava closed the distance between them, thankful that her sense of balance had returned. She grazed Beatrice’s bare arm before gently turning her back around. Beatrice put little to no restraint. Ava ran her fingers over the strings and Beatrice seemed to shudder.
“Can I?”
Beatrice let out a shaky breath before nodding slowly.
Ava gave a sharp thug on one end of the string and watched the dress loosen. She expected the dress to fall and pool around her feet but Ava could see now that it was still held up by clear shoulder straps. Ava’s brain became foggy with something other than booze, something that’s also dangerous when unchecked, arousal.
“Thank you, Ava. I got it now.”
Ava slid arms through Beatrice’s waist and hugged her from the back. They fit together perfectly. She waited for Beatrice to take her hands off or push her away. Ava would have done it. But instead, Beatrice tilted her head to rest on Ava’s.
Ava gave a gentle kiss on Beatrice’s shoulder that earned a sharp intake of breath from her. One of Beatrice’s hands fell and brushed Ava’s leg from behind. She was thankful she left them uncovered because now she only had to push it forward, raise her leg a bit, and Beatrice would already have unlimited access.
Ava started a trail of kisses until she reached the column of Beatrice’s neck.
“Ava,” Beatrice moaned her name.
A fresh wave of arousal flared through her. “Fuck. Say that again.”
Beatrice shook her head and extricated herself. When she turned to her, Ava saw her eyes were blown wide. Which was why Ava was confused when she heard her say, “You should really get to bed.”
Ava reached up to Beatrice’s cheek. “Why are you being so coy? Don’t tell me you’re all talk?”
Beatrice looked offended. “Of course not! It’s just…You’re drunk, Ava. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Bea, I’d still be doing this if I was sober. I thought you wanted me a little more confident? A little more forward?”
“I don’t want to take advantage.”
Ava guided Beatrice’s hands around her waist. “And what if I want you to?”
“Oh, Jesus .”
Ava smirked. “People mistake us all the time.” Her gaze dropped to Beatrice’s lips. “Ask me to stop.”
Beatrice's eyes glazed over but she said nothing. Taking that as a sign, Ava started to lean in. When Beatrice closed her eyes, Ava let hers fall as well.
She felt a finger touch her lips, her eyelids flew open. Beatrice was grinning. “You said I shouldn’t kiss people right off the bat, remember?”
Ava tried to bite her finger but Beatrice was quick to withdraw it.
“I also said unless it was with me.”
“You also said after the first date. We haven’t had a date, have we? In fact–” Beatrice extricated herself from Ava’s hold once more, “–you sabotaged somebody else's date with me.”
Ava’s mouth fell open. “No, I didn’t!”
“Okay, you seem sober enough. I’m going to change. When I get back we’re going to talk about why I found you in the parking lot of my workplace drunk out of your ass.”
Ava pouted. “Or we could be doing something else?”
A slow smile crept on her lips. “You don’t deserve it yet.”
***
The confrontation that Beatrice promised would not be realized because Ava predictably dozed off. When she awoke, a soft breeze entered from the open window, billowing the curtains before brushing over her face. The space next to her was empty with only a yellow stegosaurus to keep her company. But the dinosaur smelled like Beatrice. Ava buried her face to gather every last morsel of her scent. It was the perfect morning after a long line of less than ideal ones.
The smell of coffee hit her nose. It was cartoonish, the way she followed the scent, practically floating in the air as her nose sought out the promise of caffeine. It led her to the kitchen. Beatrice had her back to her, flipping bacon, her hair up in a messy bun. She wore a maroon night dress that Ava failed to see last night. Ava leaned on the doorway, observing Beatrice still unaware of her presence. Something about the woman doing mundane things, whether it was cooking or preparing a drink, the scene seized every fiber of Ava’s being.
Beatrice shut the stove and gathered up the bacon on a plate. When she turned and noticed Ava then, the smile was immediate. “Good morning, Ava.”
“Good morning, Bea.”
“Coffee?” Beatrice held up a pot.
“God, yes.”
“Do you want this one or do you want your iced caramel macchiato?”
The joy went through Ava like lightning and her face may have reflected every ounce of that with the way Beatrice threw her head back. “Coming right up, ma’am.”
“I have a personal barista now.” Ava said as she took a seat on a table.
“Hmm. I can’t be doing it for free, though.”
“How much is your rate?”
“I actually prefer a different method of compensation for this.”
A bait was thrown in Ava's direction, it was glimmering, sparkling. Enticing Ava to sink her teeth into it. A different Ava from a different day wouldn’t have, but this Ava still had residual confidence from the night before. She took the bait. “How do you like to be compensated?”
Hook, line, and sinker. Beatrice dropped whatever she was doing, walked over to where Ava sat, and straddled her. Ava’s hands were suddenly on Beatrice’s waist, she didn’t remember doing that but it felt like that’s where they belonged.
Beatrice put a hand under Ava’s chin and tilted her head back. “Why? You’re interested?”
Ava’s hold on Beatrice’s waist deepened.
Beatrice’s gaze lowered. It was only then that Ava realized both of them had no pants on. That they only had their respective underwear to contend with.
“Very interested,” Ava could barely get the words out. “I see you’ve stopped being coy.”
“You didn’t like me being like that?”
“It was uncharacteristic of you.”
“You were uncharacteristically hammered.”
“It was frustrating.”
“Hmm. Let me fix that, baby.”
She barely had the time to process the sudden endearment when Beatrice dipped her head and took Ava’s earlobe in her mouth. It made Ava’s toes curl.
Beatrice continued her slow torture as she licked a trail on the crook of Ava’s neck. Her hands went up Ava’s shirt, fingers moving with renewed purpose. It was the breakfast Ava didn’t expect to have but it was what she was suddenly craving. Beatrice, served on her lap, having her fill.
As though Beatrice had to give her permission, she guided Ava’s hand to start undoing her night dress. It was difficult for Ava to get her fingers to move while Beatrice continued working the same sensitive spot. Ava could see the shape of her nipples underneath the cotton.
As if the tightness in Ava’s belly couldn’t get any tighter, she felt Beatrice trace the shell of her ear with her tongue. Before whispering, “You’re taking such a long time. Are you doing it on purpose?” She pulled back, her hands replacing Ava’s that have only managed to undo one button. “You want to watch me take it off for you, is that it?”
Ava licked her lips. “I–I thought we shouldn’t do anything until the first date.”
“We shouldn’t kiss on the first date. Everything else is fair game.”
Beatrice looked at her, eyes dripping with want. Her fingers started slipping the plastic through the holes. Two, three, four buttons undone. Ava could already see the shape of the mound of her breasts and the start of her navel.
Beatrice’s hands froze. “Unless that’s what you want?”
Ava blinked back the confusion, as if coming back from a spell. “Huh?”
“Not do anything at all until after the first date?”
“N–no.”
“I think it’d be more fun that way, too.”
“Beatrice,” Ava said her name in a plea.
Beatrice’s smile was cunning. She removed herself from Ava’s lap, leaving Ava panting heavily with want. “You’re so rude.”
Beatrice resumed making Ava’s drink as if nothing happened. As if she wasn’t grinding on Ava just a moment ago.
“Tell you what,” Beatrice began. “It is Monday. The day of our date. We go out, we do the thing. And after…well…” She leaned back on the counter, stirring the cup as she looked at Ava. “I’ll no longer stop you or myself.”
“From?”
Beatrice looked all too pleased. “From doing your exact bidding, Ava.”
Ava swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Sometimes you look at me and I swear I could hear all the thoughts going through your head. All of them so depraved. Am I wrong?”
Ava averted her eyes, afraid that Beatrice could hear her thoughts right then. Her thoughts were indeed depraved, vile even, so very sinful. All of them involving Beatrice in positions where Ava could have access to –
Beatrice snapped her fingers. “Ava!”
Ava jolted.
Beatrice’s grin was wide. “Save those ideas for later, okay? How about I get dressed now. Then we go to your place so you can get dressed and we’ll go on the date.”
Ava hasn’t forgotten the current state of her house and how it was littered with J.C.’s stupid face pressed against Ava’s stupid face. “It’s a mess.”
“I’m sure it’s not. But if it bothers you, I’ll stay outside.”
Ava considers it. Her apartment does overlook a well-kempt garden diligently maintained by her landlord Hans. Beatrice could walk around and keep herself busy. “Okay.”
“Don’t take too long. The less clothes you have on, the faster I can take them off.”
Beatrice handed her the drink and, without as much as a warning, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. It was a miracle that Ava didn’t dump ice on herself.
***
When they arrived, Ava thundered up the stairs to the second floor where her unit was. She waited for Beatrice outside her door on the off-chance that she might miss which door Ava would actually enter. When Beatrice walked towards her with a smile, Ava opened her apartment door.
A pair of lips crashed into hers. She staggered backwards until she felt the metal railing of the hallway.
J.C. had his hands on either side of Ava’s cheek. When he attempted to deepen the kiss, the cogs in Ava’s brain started to register what was happening. She pushed him off with so much force that J.C. almost knocked his head on the wall.
Ava whipped her head to Beatrice who stood there stock still. Her eyes going back and forth between Ava and J.C.
“What the fuck is going on?”
Chapter 5: Chapter 5
Summary:
In which Ava orders too much coffee
Notes:
Oh, will you look at that, the rating got changed again. It was an accident?
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Bea–”
“Beatrice–”
Ava and J.C. say at the same time.
“I see you got Ava home.” J.C. said.
Beatrice didn’t dignify that with an answer. Her stare could poke a hole through Ava, “Do you normally kiss your friends?”
J.C. turned to Ava. “You didn’t tell her?”
“ You didn’t tell her.” Ava whispered.
“Tell me what?”
Ava wanted to take Beatrice’s hand, lead her inside her apartment, sit her down and explain everything to her at a steady pace. She was convinced she could taper Beatrice’s anger, at least somewhat, if she was given the chance. But when J.C. put an arm through Ava’s shoulder, she knew she was going to have to take the brunt of Beatrice’s anger.
“We’re together.” J.C. announced. She was weirdly thankful that J.C. broke the news. It was like ripping the bandaid. Now all Ava had to do was stop the bleeding.
Beatrice’s lips parted. “So you pursued me while you were with someone?”
“I’m sorry, Bea–”
“Yeah, well–”
Ava and J.C. cut each other off again. J.C. looked at Ava. “Wait, you pursued her, too?”
Ava didn’t remove her eyes from Beatrice who was already shaking her head and backing away. Beatrice turned and went for the stairs, it got Ava’s legs working. “Bea–”
Beatrice whipped around so fast Ava nearly knocked into her. “Do NOT call me that. Don’t call me, ever.” She fixed her gaze at J.C. “You, too.” Before leaving.
A dark cloud settled in the pit of her stomach. The tides changed so fast. This morning, Ava was hoping against hope that she wasn’t dreaming, but now it’s all she could wish for.
“Wow, Ava. Do you know what this means?” JC said.
She walked past him without so much as a glance his way.
His tone was lively and excited. “We’re, like, really meant for each other. I mean, we went for the same woman and got shot down together. That gets a high-five.”
“We cheated on each other, J.C.”
“Which cancels it out!”
Ava felt the wave of exhaustion take over her. She started to close the door on him. “We’re done.”
“Wait–” the door cut him out.
Ava seized her phone and called Beatrice. She immediately went to voicemail. She sent out several texts – “Please talk to me”, “I really like you”, “let me fix this”, ”please”.
In the entirety of one week, Ava has probably visited the coffee shop enough times to cement herself as a regular. In all times, she would barely get the glass door to open before she would catch a glimpse of Beatrice disappearing into the staffroom
Today, she tried again.
“Hey, there!” Camila manned the counter.
“Hey,” Ava said with a heavy sigh.
“Sorry. She’s not on the menu.” Camila teased before softening her voice, “She’ll warm up eventually.”
“You think so?”
Camila made a face. “Just keep trying.”
“How mad is she?”
Camila sucked air between her teeth. “Uhhh, mad. With a capital M.”
Ava buried her face in her hands with a groan. “I don't know what to do. She won’t talk to me. I tried everything.”
Not everything. She wanted to go to Beatrice’s place but she couldn’t recall the address because she snored all the way there. She thought she could ask Camila but was afraid it might border on alarmingly desperate. Outside of an emergency or legal reasons, finding one’s address from somebody other than the occupant was toeing the line between genuine remorse and stalkery.
So she only had three viable options, (1) bombarding Beatrice’s number with texts which Ava hoped were sent in reasonable intervals, (2) calling Beatrice, which she has done, all of them unanswered and unreturned, and (3) visiting Beatrice’s workplace, which she has done, but Beatrice was quick to hand the baton to another co-worker.
Camila squinted at her monitor. A receipt shot out. “‘ No espresso please ’. You ordered a flat white, how am I gonna do that?” Camila asked out loud before giving Ava a pointed look.
Ava went home and installed the food delivery app.
***
The coffee shop was at the top suggestion on coffee places. Ava ordered her usual and in the instructions box, she typed, “ I’m sorry, B. Let me make it right. Please. I miss you. ”
When the order arrived, the drink was put aside. She rummaged in the paper bag and pulled out the receipt. Ava hoped for a handwritten reply at the back or any kind of acknowledgement that Beatrice saw her message. But there was nothing. She looked inside the bag again, turning it which way, in case something was written on the bag itself. Nothing.
Disheartened, she took a sip of the drink.
Oh .
Beatrice made it.
She knew it was stupid to believe that. After all, the baristas only had to follow the same sets of instructions from management.
But Ava didn’t limit herself to the taste. To support her hypothesis, she observed how it had the perfect drink-to-ice ratio, that after the lid is put on, it won’t overflow, how the caramel was smeared evenly on all sides...She reflected that it wasn’t a matter of intuition, it was a matter of necessity. Ava had to believe Beatrice made it. It was the only sign that Beatrice hasn’t completely burned their bridge – even if it hinged upon a customer-worker service relationship.
The next day, Ava ordered through the delivery app again.
Additional instruction:
“ Hi, B! Had a long morning. I needed coffee from you but I was afraid you won’t wanna see me there :c Please tell me if you’re ready to talk. I miss you a whole bunch
- Ava. X ”
Ava waited by the door with her phone in case Beatrice would want to respond via text. She considered just simply texting Beatrice all her messages but she liked the restriction that ordering through the app gave her.
When there was no response, Ava tried again on another day.
Additional instruction:
“ Hello BB! Missed you extra today! I needed a pick-me-up. I would prefer you but coffee works too. I added a muffin with my order this time. It’s for you. Please have it
- Ava. X ”
When the order arrived, the muffin came with it.
The next day, Ava opened the app again.
Additional instruction:
“ So sorry about calling you BB yesterday. I only noticed when I got the order. Unless you want me to call you that? I’ll call you whatever you want B. You didn’t take the muffin yesterday :c You don’t like muffins? How about cookies? Please take the cookie with this order. Call me. I miss you!
- Ava. X ”
When the order arrived, the cookie was recorded in the receipt but it wasn’t there. Ava felt her heart soar.
By the fifth order, Ava was thankful that her usual drink wasn’t as expensive as their other offers. Remorse, as it turns out, was expensive.
Additional instruction:
“All this ordering made me realize I don’t know your favorite drink. What is it? Text it to me so I can order it on here and you can just take it! Or do you want something else from another restaurant? Let me know. I ordered a cookie again because I think you like it. Please have it
- Ava. X”
When the order got to her, Ava was dejected to find out that the cookie was there. She checked her inbox and there were 0 messages from Beatrice. “Not hungry, huh?” Ava said out loud. Ava knew she had to go back to the drawing board. Either Beatrice was still ignoring her or every time she orders, it’s not Beatrice who sees it.
The complete silence from her was making Ava crazy. She looked at all the coffee cups she had washed and stacked by the window sill. Looking at the cup tower made her feel irritated. She couldn’t give Ava a crumb of acknowledgement? A sign that she’s apologizing the way Beatrice even wants to?
Stealing a glance at the clock and confirming if Beatrice would still be there, she ordered again.
Additional information:
“Beatrice, please. This is a bit unfair. Can’t you give me a chance to talk? I’m dying over here. I know I made a mistake but please I want to make things right with you. I want you and that hasn’t changed. I’ve broken things off with J.C. We’re done now, okay? Too late I know but I was done with him the day that I met you. I want to start fresh with you. PLEASE CALL ME OR ELSE I’LL GO THERE AND ENTER THE STAFFROOM. I’LL DRAG YOU OUTSIDE. DON’T THINK I WON’T DO THAT. I’LL USE CAMILA IF I HAVE TO”
Ava placed the order. About ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door. That was too fast.
When Ava swung the door open, Beatrice stood outside. She was in her barista uniform, with her hair up in a ponytail. She looked exactly like the first day she saw her. Beatrice was on a call and Ava caught the tail end of the conversation, “Don’t mind her threat, Camila, I’m already here.”
“Beatrice.”
She dropped the call and strolled in without waiting to be invited. She had her hands shoved in her pockets while she slowly took in the apartment. Ava felt like she was being investigated, like Beatrice was looking for another transgression with the way she kept her hands to herself, not wanting to contaminate any possible evidence. But Ava has cleared her photos with J.C. and any other memorabilia of the relationship. It was probably rotting in the dump along with last week’s trash.
Beatrice stopped in the middle of the living room when she noticed the stack of coffee cups. The bottom cup was the one with her number. She let out a deep sigh before she let her eyes finally land on Ava.
“Beatrice,” Ava said again.
“A red eye.”
Ava blinked. “What?”
“Red eye.” Beatrice took a seat on a lounge chair. She reached over to swipe the cup tower from the window sill. She turned it in her hands. “How I take my coffee.”
“Oh,”
The setting sun casted a soft glow on Beatrice’s profile. It reminded Ava of the first time she watched Beatrice make her drink, “ Always nice to have sunshine in your coffee .”
“I miss you,” Ava said.
Beatrice didn’t acknowledge it, neither in words nor in actions.
“I can’t have it every day, though, unlike some coffee varieties.” Ava realized she was still finishing her prior answer. As though Ava hasn’t really said anything of value.
“Bea, I’m sorry. I really am. I–I should have told you when we first talked or the day after that, I don’t really have an excuse for–”
“It’s really strong. Drip coffee with a double espresso shot.” Beatrice clicked her tongue. She put the stack back on the window sill, turning it until the written message faced them. “If you took it right now, you wouldn’t be able to sleep for a week.”
Ava’s brows met in the middle, she didn’t know how to proceed or what game Beatrice was playing. She gave her head a little shake, confused.
Beatrice inhaled. “What’s your favorite drink?”
Ava’s brows furrowed deeper. There was a loaded silence. Beatrice crossed her legs and twiddled her thumbs, waiting. Ava knew she had been given a chance to redeem herself, Beatrice wouldn’t have shown up in her apartment if it were otherwise. But clearly Beatrice didn’t want her to just explain her side away.
“I-iced caramel macchiato.” Ava answered. As though Beatrice didn’t know it.
“Hmm,” she nodded in approval. “Classic.”
And then, sort of getting what Beatrice wanted, she tried, “Do you make them a lot?”
“Oh, yeah. A lot.”
There was a tiny smirk and it was all Ava needed to push forward. “More so recently?”
“Yeah. These past few days…with such odd requests.”
“Like what?”
Beatrice tilted her head, amused. “Like…taking a cookie.”
In her last order, Ava mentioned she wanted a fresh start. Beatrice was literally giving her that.
“Did it taste good?”
Beatrice shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. Camila took it.”
“That wasn’t very nice of her.”
“That’s what I told her. I said it was mine.”
“It was. But you didn’t take the muffin?”
“The muffin had peanuts.”
“You’re allergic?”
“No, I just don’t like peanuts.”
“And the second cookie?”
“I was full.” Beatrice cocked her head. “How’d you know there was a muffin and a cookie?”
It was an opening, Beatrice was allowing her to recognize a fact. “I–made the order.”
“Aahh,” Beatrice slowly nodded. “That would make sense. Why didn’t you just come into the coffee shop?”
“I–somebody’s mad at me there.”
“Oh?”
“I fucked up.”
Beatrice let a beat pass. “What did you do?”
Ava wrung her hands in front of her. “I–asked somebody out when I was still in a relationship.”
Beatrice’s mouth was in a hard line.
“And what’s worse was my boyfriend also pursued the same girl.”
Beatrice feigned surprise. Brows shooting up and mouth forming an o. “That is fucked up.”
“Yeah,” Ava breathed.
“What did you do?”
“She wouldn’t talk to me–”
“Understandably.”
“Right, so, um.” Ava gestured to the stack. “I had to get creative.”
Beatrice turned her head, pointedly looking at the coffee cup tower. “I can see that.”
Ava felt something snap inside of her and all of her emotions came spilling. “Beatrice, I’m so–”
“That was incredibly stupid of you.”
When Beatrice turned back to look at Ava, the hurt was clearly etched in her face. The game was over. Ava clamped her mouth shut.
“What was keeping you from telling me?”
“I don’t know–”
“I know. And I know that you know. I want to hear it from you.”
Ava took a shaky breath. “Bea, I didn’t–”
“Ava.” The warning was laced in her name. Ava knew Beatrice was going to walk out if she said anything else.
“I wanted…” Ava started. “I wanted the same thing J.C. wanted. A safety net. If you rejected me, I still had him. If you rejected him, he still had me. I’m no better than him.”
“Give yourself more credit. What you did was worse. He cheated on you. But you let it happen because you thought it would absolve you. And I was just somewhere in between. He was an idiot for doing what he did, but you…what you did was cruel.”
“I know, Bea.”
Beatrice stood up. Ava has always known that the other girl was taller by only a few inches, but at that moment, Beatrice seemed to tower over her.
Beatrice crossed her arms. “Say it.”
“I was cruel.”
“To who?”
“To you.”
Beatrice pushed Ava down the couch and wasted no time climbing on her lap. She pulled Ava by the hair, exposing her neck. Ava could only gasp when she felt Beatrice brush her lips on the crook of her neck.
“Say it again.”
Ava struggled to get a complete breath. “I was cruel to you.”
Beatrice hoisted her barista uniform off in one swift motion. Ava could only catch a glimpse of her bra before Beatrice swooped back down and pressed her lips onto Ava’s. The kiss was filled with anger, longing, and relief.
“Say you’re sorry,” Beatrice demanded.
“I’m sorry,”
The apology barely passed between them when they kissed again, deeper this time. Wanting Beatrice closer, Ava hooked her fingers in her belt loops and pulled her forward. That motion got a moan from Beatrice and the sound made Ava wetter than she already was.
Beatrice pulled back and started tugging up Ava’s shirt. Ava could see the anticipation in Beatrice’s eyes, the hunger. The thought that she was the one Beatrice wanted made her dig her nails on the couch from holding back.
Beatrice raked Ava’s hair out of her face. “Close your eyes.”
“What? No.”
“Close them.”
“I wanna see you.”
Beatrice unbuttoned Ava’s shorts and slid them off. “You can either see me or feel me.” Beatrice knelt down, placed her palms on Ava’s knees and parted legs. “But you can’t have both.” Beatrice planted a kiss so chaste on the inside of her thigh. Ava shuddered. “Choose.”
It was the easiest choice Ava has ever made. She let her head fall on the couch’s backrest. She caught sight of her pilea that needed watering days ago before she closed her eyes.
Ava felt Beatrice reach up behind her back to undo her bra. Ava bit her lip, fighting the urge to see what Beatrice was doing, reading what her face was making.
Eliminating her sight must have heightened her sense of touch, because the moment she felt Beatrice’s tongue take in her hardened nipple, she thought she would come right there. Ava clawed her nails on Beatrice’s back as her nipple got properly sucked.
“Slide down a bit, baby.”
Ava did.
“Jesus, Ava. You’re soaked through.”
She felt Beatrice’s tongue as it flicked over her panties. She cursed the obstruction and started pushing her panties down while keeping her eyes closed shut.
She heard Beatrice chuckle. “I think you’d wanna see this.”
Not needing any more prompting, Ava opened her eyes. She saw Beatrice smirk before she dipped her head and licked the front of her pussy in an agonizing, delicious streak.
Beatrice pulled back and parted Ava’s legs wider. “Do you feel yourself dripping?”
Ava couldn’t but she didn’t doubt it.
“I liked you better when you were between my legs.” Ava reached over to push Beatrice’s head back down.
Beatrice didn’t resist.
She sucked, nibbled and teased Ava’s clit. When she pushed a tongue in, Ava’s eyes disappeared behind her eyelids. “Fuck, Bea.”
When Beatrice withdrew again, Ava whimpered in protest, her bottom lip sticking out.
Beatrice tsked, “So impatient.”
“You’ve been teasing me forever.”
“You like it.”
“I would like it more if you–” Ava’s hunched over when she felt Beatrice ease a finger inside her.
Holy fuck.
Beatrice was right. Ava was so wet there was barely any resistance. “This is what you wanted?” Beatrice’s fingers started moving inside her, hitting the right spot every time. Ava nodded.
“Talk to me,” Beatrice ordered with gritted teeth. Her finger curled slightly inside Ava and it got her moaning.
“Yes! Yes, Bea. This is what I want.”
Beatrice’s other hand found its way to Ava’s clit. Her thumb brushed lightly over the sensitive spot. Ava bowled over. “Bea, please.”
“Please, what?”
“Please,” Ava was panting. “Fuck me.”
A second finger slid inside while a thumb started moving in steady circles over Ava’s clit. She was gushing.
Beatrice quickly found a rhythm and Ava matched it.
“I tease you too much, huh?”
“ Fuck ,”
“You thought I was all talk?”
Ava’s moans were coming up in rapid succession.
“You thought I wouldn’t get you moaning like this?”
“Bea…”
Her breaths became rough and ragged. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck . Ava felt her insides twist and tighten as she relished in every stroke Beatrice made. Sensing that Ava was close, Beatrice quickened her pace.
Ava’s legs tensed. Her hand shot out to grab Beatrice’s shoulder. She hung on for dear life as her orgasm ripped through her. Waves of pleasure washed over her. After a moment, she felt herself coming back down.
They arranged themselves side by side on the couch. Ava rested her head on Beatrice’s chest. While Beatrice enveloped her in an embrace.
“I can’t believe you ordered six times.”
Ava gasped. “Omg. Bea.”
“What?”
Ava checked her phone. The app said her coffee got delivered a few minutes ago. Ava hurriedly put on her shirt back before peeking out her door. She returned with her coffee that was left right outside. Ava felt her cheeks burn. “Do you think they heard me?”
Beatrice sat up. “You should be more worried about the person behind this wall.”
Ava made a face. “I think she’s a nun.”
“Oof. How old?”
“ Old , old. I think she was there during the first resurrection.”
“You should take penance." Beatrice parted her legs. "Quick. Drop on your knees right here.”
Ava laughed. She put a straw in and took a sip. She squinted, “It’s not...”
“Mine?”
It was all the confirmation Ava needed. In all six orders, Beatrice made every single one.
Beatrice shrugged. “Couldn't make it this time. I was a bit busy here.”
Ava left her drink on the counter and made her way back to Beatrice. It was her turn to straddle the girl’s lap.
“You need to pay me back for those six orders.” Ava planted a kiss on Beatrice’s cheek.
Beatrice laughed. “How do you like to be paid?”
“Only five more rounds and you’re good.”
Notes:
Thank you so much for pushing me to flesh what was supposed to be a one-shot au. The general audience > teens and up > mature pipeline is crazy
I had a lot of fun! Thanks for reading all the way through! See you on the next fic! Probably still Avatrice! Probably still Avatrice until s3 comes out. Probably still Avatrice after s3 comes out....
"Warrior nun s3" sounds so right, doesn't it??