a little jealous

♫*·ﾟTHE COFFEE SHOP was one of naveen’s favorite places to flirt with women. not only could he buy them coffee, but if he was smooth enough, which he always was, he could get himself a date out of it. swaying back and forth, he couldn’t believe everyone had the same idea at the same time that he did. feeling someone’s fingers tapping him on the shoulder, naveen turned to face the girl behind him. a smirk formed across his face and he couldn’t help but chuckle. she was beautiful. how in the world were all the women in this town so beautiful? he’d really chosen the best place to live.

“i’ll buy you a pastry as well. that way, we can make that beautiful smile of yours even brighter,” naveen stated, keeping his eyes firmly on her. he knew that the more attention he gave the girl, the easier it was to flirt, not that it was ever an issue with a pretty girl. all he could hope for now was that she would flirt back.

It wasn’t hard to make Arista’s smile grow when she was met with a worthy opponent to her own charm. A flirt! Not so easy to come by in this town, much to her dismay. But maybe today was her lucky day. It’s all about the fun of it, and even if she didn’t have a voice today, she could still make it work. Body language and all that.

“Buying me food and giving out compliments already,” she teased, whispering -- and it worked in her favor, she hoped, since she had to lean in extra close to be heard. “Keep it up and I might fall in love.”

ツ*.:::.* SOMETIMES, EDNA RAN a little late in the morning and couldn’t make coffee before heading to her shop for the day. today was one of those days. her outfit was over the top as usual, completely decked out in a blue dress with matching shoes, gold necklaces and a blue hair piece. she towered over most of the people, practically peeking over them, trying to see how much longer she had to keep her shop closed for the morning. and because today was just not one of those days. edna crossed her arms over her chest, trying her best not to groan at the ridiculous line in front of her. 

feeling someone tap her on the shoulder, she turned around, flashing a bright smile. “absolutely, beautiful,” edna explained, leaning a little closer. “what can I get for you?”  standing there, she found herself curious. the voice, soft, the kind of a performer. “your voice alright?”

To say Arista was mesmerized by Edna’s presence was an understatement. She knew her -- because, of course she did, talk about a fashion icon in this town --, but they’d never interacted, and Aris was not the type to be starstruck, and yet. It took her a second to realize who she just tapped, but she didn’t want to look like a big nerd fangirling over her local idol, so she shook it off quickly. “Almond milk latte, thank you,” she whispered back, her smile easy. Oh man, she wasn’t even in one of her best outfits today. Shame. “Vocal rest,” Arista explained, almost apologetic. “I sing.”

Waiting in line, she was mindlessly scrolling through instagram when she felt the tap on her shoulder. Fixing her hair as she turned round, when she heard the half-whisper, she simply assumed that the other had lost their voice - and if she had to wait in line anyway, she saw no harm in helping someone else out. “Depends… Can you go and save that seat by the window for me if I get your drink?” She’d do it regardless, but it never hurt to have someone save the seat you wanted.

Having her favor accepted for such a small bargain has Arista beaming easily and nodding at the girl’s request. Someone to be her voice and good company for a table, no less! She gets the needed money out of her purse and hands it over to the girl. “Almond milk latte,” she informs, her whisper quiet amongst the loud talking, but she hopes it can be understood. “Seat by the window, coming right up!”

Eric was grabbing coffee on his regular coffee run for him and his dad when he felt a tap on his shoulders. He almost grumbled, people were always trying to talk to him. But his hardened features softened when he noticed Arista, smiling as he noticed she was gesturing towards her throat. “Hang on.” the taller man bent down to hear her over the bustle of the crowded coffee shop. “Oh, yeah no problem.” he chuckled, gesturing for her to get in front of him. “You know this means I’m paying for your coffee now too, right? Buy one get one on favors today for my second favorite Triton sister. What’s your poison?” 

Eric was cute. Y’know, if Arista wasn’t half sure he and Ariel would probably end up married with five children -- barf -- she might make more of a move on him. Does that keep her from flirting anyway? Of course not. “Oh, he’s a gentleman,” she teases, voice barely coming out above a whisper as she steps ahead of him. The mention of her rank brought a pout to her lips. “Second?” She raised her hand with double digits, pretending to be wounded at getting second place. She drops the act quickly, hiding a grin over a cheeky shrug. “If you’re paying, I’ll take any place. Almond milk latte, please.”

               THERE WERE TWO things audrey truly looked forward to every day, and it was the coffee before and the coffee after work. it’s not that she disliked her work – quite the opposite, she loved what she did. but, she loved coffee at least as much so, there se was, in line for her second coffee on the go for the day. with her arms crossed in front of her chest, audrey kept her gaze fixed right ahead until she felt a tap on her shoulder. turning around a little confused and with a brow raised, the girl replied: “ sure… ? “, trying to not think about whether or not the question was odd. “ what’d you like ? “, she asked. 

Arista understood the girl’s immediate confusion and aversion to the interruption, most people in coffee shops weren’t there to be disturbed by random strangers. In fact, it would be easier for her to just type out her order into her phone and show it to the barista, but maybe she liked the route of human interaction. Sue her. “I can’t speak up,” she explains, voice barely making any sound, as she hopes the girl can read her lips. “Almond milk latte, please?”

Sil had gotten there earlier than Arista, punctual and peaceful as always. They presented Arista’s drink proudly, “Done and done, love,” They had only met Arista recently through both of their beach activities, but it felt like Sil had known her their whole life. They sense a too much focus on the self with Arista sometimes, but a little TLC never hurt anyone, especially when it was so much fun talking to her. And it didn’t hurt that the Triton sisters came with their fair share of gossip, “Shall we sit or are you in a rush?”

Ah, lovely Sil. Always proving to be such a useful person. Arista beamed at her drink, just as she liked it, and she pressed a hand to her chest in thankfulness. For as much as they could be tiring sometimes, Sil was, for all effects of the words, a great friend. The girl never minded spending time with them -- as long as it happened in short intervals of time, spaced out properly, she could enjoy this. “We can sit,” she mouthed, nodding along and moving towards their usual table. “I’m a good listener, today.”

Just her luck, the coffee shop is crowded. Shit. She knew she should’ve timed this better, but she had left the house too late after spending too much time playing with makeup, as per usual. When she walks in, hoping to grab her dose caffeine for the day before her night gig, the place is buzzing, a long line to the cashier and conversation filling the room from every corner. The scenario wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for her vocal rest. She needs her vocal chords to get a break before her performance, and speaking up in a crowded room is the opposite of that.