The gentle sound of the piano flowed through the coffee shop and Jen tried not to stare at the pianist. Someone rang the bell at the front of the counter and Jen reluctantly forced a smile on her face. She continued glancing at the pianist while making the person’s coffee.
“Jen!” Courtney, her best friend, and coworker ran through the front of the door. “Can you please cover my shift tonight? Micheals scheduled a last minute three-page essay.”
Jen smiled softly. “Sure. Leave the document open and when I get home I’ll edit it, okay?”
“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” Courtney sighed.
Jen laughed and began to quickly make Courtney’s favorite drink. “It’s no problem.”
Courtney relaxed a bit and looked around the cafe before stopping on the pianist playing at the front of the shop. “Oh, is that why you agreed?” she said with a smirk.
Jen blushed, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Get her number already.” Courtney teased.
“You should ask to play cello with her one night,” Courtney said playing with a card laying on the counter. “I’m sure the boss won’t mind.”
“Take your coffee and leave. Don’t you have a paper to write?” Jen said.
Courtney took her coffee and smirked at Jen before walking over to the Pianist and laying a piece of paper on the piano before slipping a dollar into the tip jar. Jen groaned and flipped Courtney off as she walked out the door.
After an hour Jen was taking out cookies from the oven when the bell went off. She sighed and took off the oven mitts before walking through the door to see the pianist shyly checking out the menu.
“What can I get you?” Jen said with a soft smile.
“Um I’ll take a hot chocolate with whipped cream,” she said softly. Her voice was like music to Jen’s ears.
Jen quickly made her best hot chocolate ever. “Wait here,” she said startling the pianist. She walked through the door at the back of the counter. She came out holding a still warm cookie and gave it to the pianist. “On the house, it’s the least I can do for the girl who fills my shifts with such beautiful music.”
“I- Thank you.” She blushed and lowered her face grabbing the chocolate and cookie before heading to the table next to the piano.
There rested a folded piece of paper on the counter and Jen opened it to two sets of handwriting.
Piano Girl!
My friend, the barista, thinks you’re really cute but is too lame to say anything. She plays the cello. Do you think you two could do a duet on Friday?
Barista on Tuesday and Friday Nights
Blue haired Barista,
I would love to perform with you on Friday. If you want to know my set list text me **********.
Diana
Jen covered her face and blushed hard moving into the back room and furiously texting Courtney.
J- You can edit your paper yourself I hate you.
J- UGHHH her name is Diana.
C- pretty. Are you hiding right now?
J- she’s playing again I can go back out now.
For the rest of the night, Jen awkwardly made coffee and blushed whenever Diana caught her looking. When she finally got home she took out the paper and typed the number into her phone.
J- Hi, I’m Jen the awkward barista.
D- The one with great hot chocolate skills.
J- Eh. Sub par hot chocolate skills
And so began the romance. Jen and Diana discussed music, the coffee shop, dumb shows, jobs, Majors, and so much more.
D- You’re an English major? Wow, I would not have pegged you as that.
J- Yeah I’m mostly done with my major just surfing out these last few months in creative writing classes.
D- wow. I’m just a music major. I want to write music.
J- you’d be good at that :)
Friday got closer and closer and Jen practiced cello every night. She and Diana had gotten too awkward flirting and Courtney was taking credit. She dressed in slacks a white button up and a black tie on Friday afternoon before waiting for Courtney so they could ride to the cafe. Her gigantic case stuffed into the back of the car.
She made Courtney help her carry the instrument in and greeted Diana with a gentle hug.
“You ready?” Diana asked sitting at the grand Piano as Jen sat in a chair with the cell between her legs.
Jen nodded and the two began playing, lighting the small cafe up with the beautiful music. Jen found herself enjoying every minute and not noticing as time flew by. Her fingers and arm moved in time with Diana’s. She moved with the music and felt it meld with Diana’s piano. She didn’t notice as tips were placed in the jar and didn’t notice the passing of time until Courtney rasped on the piano.
“Take a break you two. We close in an hour.” She pointed to two mugs on a table.
The two musicians sheepishly sat at the table. The sipped their drinks quietly before Diana set hers on the table.
“I was waiting for you to ask but um would you like to go on a date with me next Saturday?” She blurted out.
Jen smiled and laughed. “Only if you go on a date with me Monday.”
A shout came from the back room, “FINALLY!”
