#d-14

When you meet up with Tara a little bit later, you two take the bus over to that quaint, cozy coffee shop: your favorite now since you two first have been there and you first met Xavier about two months ago. The handsome and kind barista has managed to steal your heart the moment you first stepped inside and since offering you his number a couple of things have changed apart from the fact that you are more or less a regular now.

For one, you two have been texting almost daily after that day, getting to know each other bit by bit as the days go by and turn colder. You like to come over and visit him at the shop occasionally when you are free - sometimes staying until closing when you need to study or work on assignments. He tries not to make it that obvious, but it’s pretty clear to you that Xavier has been giving you special treatment: in the two months you have been there, you are pretty sure you have tried almost every available pastry already, most of the time without even paying a penny for them. (It’s the infamous ‘I made to many’ all over again)

But you two have already met up outside of the cafe once. To study together at the library even though you are in completely different majors, for example. Or that one time when you really wanted to see that action movie and didn’t have anyone else to accompany you, so he offered to join you instead, even going as far as to drop you off at your place later.

Would someone call those meet-ups dates? Maybe. 

You haven’t thought that far yet, afraid that you may misinterpret harmless curiosity and sheer kindness for something else. That’s something for the future.

When you two walk inside, your eyes are immediately drawn to him: Xavier at the counter, in the middle of a conversation with a customer. His eyes flip up when he hears the door open and you immediately spot that familiar spark to them as he spots you. He smiles, finishing up their order and telling the customers to take a seat at a free table near the windows, waving you two closer.

“Hi”, you beam, leaning up against the counter, “We are here to try the new goods”, Tara adds, giggling. 

“Thought so”, he responds, grinning, “So? What can I get you two?”

“The sugar cookie latte for me, please”, Tara chirps before turning to you, “And for me.. hm you said I would like the peppermint one, right? I’ll take that one then”

Xavier hums and you can feel how Tara’s eyes are drilling holes into the back of your head with how intense she is staring at you. “Yeah, that’s the one. I’ll get those two ready for you then, just get seated somewhere. Anything else? We have some new pastries as well”

You two order one apple cinnamon muffin and a snickerdoodle to share and Xavier gives your choices a nod of approval before turning around to get started on the previous order. 

“He told you what drink you would like, so that’s the one you got?”, Tara asks, a prominent smirk on her lips when you two sit down at your favorite corner spot near the entrance. You haven’t told her this yet, but the reason this has been your favorite place is because you could look up to see Xavier working behind the counter from over here. And technically, he could do the same. 

Sometimes, when he is just about to close up for the night and you are still working on something, he would join you with a little snack or some encouraging words about how hard you’ve worked today. And on other days, you would feel his stare lingering on you because he doesn’t want to disturb you mid-studying, quietly doing his work in the background and waiting for you to finish so he could offer you a ride home.

“Well, he knows my taste the best”, you explain, a little blush on your cheeks as you two make a bet if Xavier’s going to show up with another free cookie or not, because that’s what he has always done. Tara has speculated that she thinks he is trying to earn brownie points this way, but since getting to know him, you think he just knows how much you like these pastries and wants to be kind about it. 

The new drinks taste wonderful, and yes, Xavier did add another snickerdoodle just for the fun of it, not even making a comment about it when he hands you two your order.

Tara and you spend another hour chatting and talking about your day. Since the holidays are starting soon, you two want to meet up to exchange presents before Tara is going to visit her family out of the city, so you are contemplating what date would work best.

“Have you asked him as well?”

You take a sip of your drink, the minty chocolate going absolutely perfect with the cinnamon-y cookie, “Hm?”

“Xavier. If he has plans for christmas”

You blush, “N-no, of course not!”

“But you are free on Christmas, aren’t you? Your grandma is celebrating with her friends outside of Linkon you said”

“That doesn’t mean I should-”

“Well, there’s no harm in asking” Tara shrugs and as if he can read your mind, Xavier walks up to your table to clean up Tara’s already empty drink. 

“How was it?”, he asks her, but his eyes land on you instead.

“...Xavier, are you busy for Christmas?”

“Hm?”, he looks taken aback as his question has been answered by another question. Pondering about it, he nods slowly, “Yeah, I am. The shop’s closed for the holidays. Why?”