I’D BE THE MAN

“Better than you guys. Wishing everyone would keep my damn name out of their mouths tonight, but hey, I can’t help how interesting I am.”

Fridays were Dominic’s busiest days. 

Between classes at UCLA in the morning and then bartending a closing shift at night, there were only a few sweet hours in the day that allowed him actually enjoy the sights and sound of Los Angeles. Or breathe. The one thing that he needed to get through the day, was a nice, almost excessively large cup of coffee.

Dominic reached for the cup of coffee as soon as the barista set it down and made a beeline towards the door. He had a few hours to kill before the start of his shift and wanted to make the most out of them. However, as soon as he brought the cup to his lips, he was faced with the harsh reality that it wasn’t his usual Americano, but rather one of the ungodly Peppermint Mocha monstrosities that seemed to take over as soon as October came to an end. Lifting the cup, he read the name on the side. “Uh, you don’t happen to drink these things, do you?” He asked the person next to him, hoping he’d found the culprit. “I’ll buy you a new one. Or maybe something with actual coffee in it. I mean, it’s still November. Isn’t it a bit early to be cranking out Christmas … everything?”

@itneverrainsstarters​

Clarke recognized Dominic in the coffee shop as soon as she laid eyes on him, and she kind of considered saying something. They’d gotten along just fine when she’d been with Malcolm, even if she and Sutton’s jabbering and mutual bitching got on their nerves. They hadn’t spoken since she and Malcolm, well... exploded, but she could only assume he hated her now. Drama was fun, and watching people get all huffy and grouchy at her was even more fun. Besides, she wouldn’t admit it, but she was starting to miss Malcolm, and throwing a little extra fire around that dying flame might make it sting a little bit less. Still, she had plans today, and she strongly remembered how he used to complain about how busy Fridays were for him with his workload and school workload, so she planned on letting him go free. Until he took her drink.

When he realized he grabbed the wrong drink and ultimately addressed the wrong person about it, Clarke cleared her throat and stepped away from the counter she was leaning against. “Actually, I drink those things. And yes, I would like if you bought me a new one. Thanks. ‘Til then, I’ll be holding yours - “ She lifted another cardboard cup, this one with his name scribbled into the side. “ - hostage. So hop to it.” She smiled sweetly, clutching his warm cup between her hands. “Long time no see, Dom. What’s new?”

When she got to the coffee shop, fashionably late as always, and saw him waiting there for her, it sent a little pain through Clarke’s heart. Man, she really had missed him. She tucked her short, brown hair behind both of her ears as she walked over to the table where he was waiting. “Hey, Mac,” she greeted, with a forced casual tone of voice, taking the seat across from him. Should she have hugged him? No, that was probably too much. Right? She knew she had to be vulnerable here, but not that vulnerable. So she clasped her hands together on the table between them, glancing around the shop so she didn’t have to look at him. “Tell me you already ordered for me. Unless you’ve already forgotten how I take my coffee, in which case... maybe I should just head home.” But she paired it with a tight, joking smile. “How’ve you been? Did you have a fun Halloween?” @malcolmramsey​