AUPril Day 4: Meet Cute - Joshua x Reader
Description: What happens when you spill your coffee and run into a cute boy? Weโll find out!
Tags: Meet cute, Fluff, I canโt think of anything else!
The first time you see him, itโs because everything goes wrong. Not dramatically, not in some life altering, earth shattering type of wayโฆ just enough. Youโre running late (because of course you are). Your alarm didnโt go off, your outfit just felt wrong, your hair refused to cooperate, and now youโre standing in line at the crowded coffee shop. You were silently begging the universe for just one win today.
โIced vanilla latte!โ The barista called your slightly butchered name with the enthusiasm of someone who would rather be anywhere but here. You step forward, offering a quick but sincere โthank youโ as you grab the cup. Itโs cold against your fingers, just how you like it, condensation already forming against the side of the cup. You adjust your grip, balancing your phone in one hand, your bag slowly slipping off your shoulder (not that you notice, or frankly care). You took a deep breath, time to finally start your day. You could do this!! Just walk into the world and go home to start on the work youโd been procrastinating for days. Simpleโฆ
Until someone steps around the corner at the same time as you. You feel a hand on your back, steadying you, yourself suddenly inhaling from surprise and thenโฆ the cold of your drink spilled all over you, the other person and the floor. You look down to see the cup that betrayed you, still in your hand but topless now, the coffee all over your shirt and pants, dropping down your leg, splashing on the floor in a way you were all too aware of. For a moment, the world stops. Your heart drops, and you wish you could just hide in a hole for all of eternity.
โDamn it, Iโm so sorry, are you ok?โ The voice pulls you out of your trance for you to focus on that for a momentโฆ It was soft and clear. Warm and gentle, even in this panic. You felt like it would be ok, just for a moment, before you look up just a little to notice the brown spot on the white shirt in front of you.
โOh my goodness, Iโm so sorry!โ You reach down to try to grab some napkins to help him wipe it off, but his hand grabs onto your wrist before you could.
โNo, itโs totally my faultโ he was trying to grab the napkins as the two of you profusely apologized at the same time, then looked up at the same time. Once you doโฆ you suddenly freeze. You entirely forgot what you were about to say. Dark hair, slightly tousled like he ran his fingers through it one too many times. Soft eyes, wide with concern. Lips parted mid apology. Thereโs something about him that feelsโฆ calm, even in the middle of this messโฆ which was ironic, since you were the mess in the moment.
You were silent for a moment, until you heard his voice again. โWait here, let me help,โ Before you had a chance to protest he was already grabbing napkins from a nearby table. His hands are quick, dabbing away at your shirt with a few sheets before handing you a stack and kneeling down in front of you to clean up the mess on the floor. โSeriously, Iโm so sorry, I canโt believe I wasnโt watching where I was going,โ he repeats again, wiping at the floor. You were stunned for a moment, before slowly kneeling down next to him.
โYou really donโt have to helpโฆโ Your voice was quiet, almost nervous. He looked up at you, offering a slight, reassuring smile.
โIโm partly at fault, so I kind of do.โ You couldnโt help but let out a small laugh, causing his smile to widen, โplus, what kind of man would I be if I made a woman clean up my mistakeโ. Your face couldnโt help but turn slightly red.
โDisaster isโฆ one way to put itโ
โTragic coffee incident felt a little too dramatic for a random Tuesdayโ he laughs a bit, continuing to clean. You start to help him, trying not to let yourself tear up from the embarrassment.
โThis was my one good thing todayโฆ and I ruined it in likeโฆ three seconds.โ You were just thinking out loud, complaining, until you felt a small hand on your shoulder, causing you to look up. His smile was soft, trying to be as kind as possible.
โHey, itโs just coffee.โ You felt his thumb rub against you in a soothing way. You let out a small quiet laugh.
โEasy for you to sayโฆ you donโt even want to know the day Iโve had,โ you huff a bit, not wanting to randomly dump all your issues on a stranger.
โThatโsโฆ fairโฆโ he admits, taking a second for what seemed to be plotting a plan, before a small smile tugged at his lips, โbut I can fix part of it, at least!โ You tilt your head slightly as he stands up, tossing the used napkins.
โWhat do you meanโฆโ your voice was full of a slight worry.
โWait here, just for a second!โ Before you have a chance to say anything else, you watch him go back to the counter. You watch himโฆ in a way you shouldnโt. But you do. Thereโs something about the way he movesโunhurried, steadyโthat makes your chest feel just a little less tight.
Several minutes pass before he comes back, holding a new drink.
โI believe I heardโฆ ice vanilla latte?โ He was a little hesitant, handing it to you, praying he got it correct. Your eyes widen slightly as you hesitate to take it yourself.
โYou didnโtโฆโ your voice was soft.
โI did.โ He interrupts, voice just as soft as he pressed it into your hands before you had a chance to refuse it, hands touching for just a moment โPlease, let me do this at least.โ
You stare at the drink for a moment, then back up at him. โYou really didnโt have toโฆโ
โI wanted to.โ He said simply, no more hesitation in his voice. No awkwardness you sensed earlier when you first met, just pure sincerity, something that makes it harder to argue to his logic. You pause for another moment before looking up at him again.
โThank youโฆโ Your voice is soft, trying not to tear up at the kind gesture in midst of your hard day. He simply smiles. The kind of smile that doesnโt demand anything from you, it just exists, warm and easy.
โIโm Joshua, by the way,โ He suddenly adds, almost like it was an afterthought. You smile a bitโฆ a gentle name for a gentle soul.
โIโm (Y/N),โ with your free hand you hold it out to him. He takes it, gently taking it. And for a moment, everything stops. He repeats your name out, like it matters. Like the name could suddenly cure all his hardships. Almost like he was hopeful heโs get to say it again.
โItโs nice to meet youโ He still didnโt let go of your hand. You couldnโt help yourself, but you let out a small laugh, glancing between your two shirts.
โUnderโฆ less than ideal circumstancesโ you smile a bit, causing a small chuckle from him.
โHey, at least itโs memorable!โ He smiles, helping you see the good side of things. You couldnโt help but laugh yourself.
โThatโsโฆ one way to put it.โ After you say that, thereโs a slight pause. Not an awkward one, but a comfortable one in a way you donโt quite understand. One you could sit in, one that makes you feel like the protagonist of a stupid romance movie. Before Joshua breaks the silence.
โDo you have somewhere to be?โ He sounded hopeful for an answer. You look for the time for a moment, trying to think.
โWellโฆ yesโฆ butโฆโ you think for a second, pausing for a bit longer than youโd like to.
โBut?โ He prompts, a gleam in his eyes. You smile a bit at him, nodding.
โIโm already late. Whatโs a bit more?โ His smile widens a bit.
โGood!โ He grabbed your hand a bit tighter, causing your heart to flutter in your chest. โI was hoping I could make it all up to you properly.โ You looked confused for a moment.
โYouโฆ already bought me a coffee,โ Joshua smiled a bit and nodded
โI know!โ He tilted his head slightly to the side, โBut I still feel like I owe youโฆโ He drops your hand to rub the back of his neck. You smile and let your hand drift to your side, the cold against your fingers feeling more apparent suddenly.
โHow do you plan to do that?โ A sudden ounce of sass entered your voice as you try to tease him. He pretends to think for a moment before smiling.
โSit with me for a bit?โ For some reason, your breath suddenly hitched in your throat, your heart skipping a beat.
โThatโsโฆ your idea of making it up to me?โ Your voice was soft, hesitant to come out. He blushed a bit, obviously trying to hide it.
โWellโฆ selfishly, yeahโ he nods slightly and you laugh. You donโt know why your heart is beating like this. Joshua is just a guy, a random guy you spilled your coffee on at a coffee shop. Orโฆ you spilled coffee with? You werenโt entirely sure. But still, for some reason, you just wanted to sayโฆ
โOk. Iโll sit with you.โ It was slight, but his smile widened a bit. As he grabs your hand and leads you to a table.
The two of you end up sitting by the window. The sunlight filtered in, warm and soothing, catching in his hair and making it look almost angelic and golden at the edges. You hated how much you noticed it, but you hated it a bit more knowing that you donโt actually hate itโฆ but you thought it was insanely handsome. Your brain was a jumble of words until his voice cleared it all up.
โSoโฆ rough morning?โ He smiles, gently resting his chin against his hand, leaning in towards you. You couldnโt help but laugh.
โIs it that obvious?โ Your laughs back, nodding slightly.
โA little bit,โ He whispers, watching as you stirred your drink absentmindedly. You sigh a bit, just looking at the slight tornado the mixing stick created.
โItโs just beenโฆ one of those daysโฆโ Your voice was soft, and Joshua smiled like he understood. Did he understand?
โYeahโฆ I get that.โ He signed in return, nodding slightly. You let out a small laugh.
โDo you?โ He smiles a bit and looks up at you.
โI doโฆ but I think it got a little better.โ You couldnโt help but raise an eyebrow, questioning. He met your gaze, and for a second, the noise of the coffee shop in the background fades away, just the two of you there. โI met you.โ Your heart suddenly stopped. You thought youโd have a heart attack. Then it started up again, but this time racing like a little kid in front of their crush. You suddenly lift up your cup, covering your face with it to hide the warmth creeping up your cheeks.
โSmoothโฆโ You laugh a bit. He laughs in return, also looking away.
โIโm going to be honestโฆ I panicked halfway through.โ You couldnโt help but laugh, looking at him. His face was a touch red, his eyes avoiding yours as he rubbed the back of his neck.
โThatโฆ makes it a bit better,โ You admit, looking down at your drink again.
โGood.โ You hear him respond before everything went silent again. But this time it felt different. It wasnโt the awkward pause of two people who didnโt know what to say. It was the kind that was lightโฆ easy to handle. Like something had shifted between the two of you.
โSoโฆโ This time, youโre the first to break the silence, glancing back up at him, โDo you always turn minor disasters intoโฆ whatever this is?โ You laugh a bit. He looks at you, eyes soft, almost in a longing way.
โOnly when itโs worth it.โ His voice was almost a whisper. You knew you shouldnโt have felt that in your chest, but you do. You feel your heart flutter slightly and your face blushโฆ and suddenly, spilling your coffee doesnโt feel like the worst thing that happened today.
Before you know it, the two of you are standing outside the coffee shop, the air somehow cooler and the world around you somehow quieter. You glance at the empty cup in your hand, then back up at Joshua. The two of you had only talked for 30 minutes, but for some reason it felt like hours.
โI guess I should get goingโฆโ you say, even if you really didnโt want to.
โYeahโฆโ he nods, not entirely sounding convinced himself. Thereโs a beat for a moment before both of you try to speak at the same time. You both laugh.
โGo ahead,โ You nod, smiling a bit as you gripped the cup, hoping heโd say something similar to you. He froze for a moment, as if he was processing what he wanted to say.
โCan I see you again?โ His question was direct, simpleโฆ and for some reason that made your heart race even more. You smile a bit, bringing out that same sass from earlier.
โOnly if this time you promise not to knock my drink over.โ He laughs slightly.
โDeal.โ There was another pause before he continued, โThough, I canโt promise I wonโt find a different reason to talk to you.โ You laugh a bit, rolling your eyes at the joke.
โIโll take the risk.โ You smile at him, watching as he pulls his phone out.
โSoโฆ what does a guy have to do to get your number?โ He hands his phone over as you laugh.
โYou can have my phone number,โ You smile as you take his phone, putting it in. Once you hand it back over, fingers touching just slightlyโฆ you realize somethingโฆ
Some days just arenโt meant to go according to plan. Maybe some days are just meant to fall apart just enoughโฆ for something better to fall in place. And maybeโฆ just maybeโฆ spilling your coffee was the best mistake you couldโve made.
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