The Last Drop

Alex felt like he’d only just fallen asleep when his alarm blared in his ear, his phone vibrating beside on the nightstand. He stuck his hand out from under the white hotel room duvet, feeling around for his phone. He hit the volume button, silencing the alarm and cocooning himself back in the bed. Waking up was inevitable though since Finley was in a moment later, shaking him, his curls stuck in Alex’s face.

“Wha?” Alex rolled over onto his back, looking up at Finley looming over him. It wasn’t exactly the sight he hoped to wake up to.

“Want to go get breakfast with me?” Finley asked, tossing a hoodie at Alex’s head.

“Yea, I guess,” he replied, pulling himself out of bed. He grabbed a pair of black pants and a blue Jack Wills jumper, disappearing into the bathroom to change. Finley spent the entire time rapping his knuckles on the bathroom door, antagonizing Alex with his peppiness. Once he’d managed to stuff his feet in the appropriate pair of supras and he’d grabbed a beanie, whilst Finley dragged him out of the room.

He didn’t dare ask where they were going but he frowned when he realized they were at that stupid coffee shop from the day before. Finley headed in before him and Alex stepped back, letting the glass door close as he considered whether or not coffee was worth it. He knew Finley would come back out and drag him inside. He fixed his beanie in the reflection of the door before pulling it open, heading inside the shop. Alex stepped into line after Finley, glancing at the black boards hanging behind the counter, offering the menu. There was a display with food and while he was fairly hungry he didn’t want to order from here.

“Hello again Madeline.”

Alex glanced over at the sound of Finley’s voice and saw that it was the same girl as yesterday behind the counter. He hadn’t necessarily meant to be rude to her, he was just annoyed. She was like one of those late night McDonalds workers that act like the customer is doing them a disservice by ordering food. Whether she’d perked up to be polite to them yesterday he still caught the annoyed air she had about her, as if working yesterday was the nail in her coffin.

Finley’s turn passed and Alex found himself standing there in front of her. She didn’t bother trying to smile for him, proving his theory right. She was just some stuck up little girl forced into employment. He didn’t want to order from her any more than she wanted to be there.

“Is there someone else that could take me order? Yer bad mood might effect the coffee,” Alex stated, not even letting her get out that stupid opening line she was forced to say. He didn’t know why they couldn’t have just found a Starbucks.

“Are you serious?” Her hands went straight to her hips.

“Serious as a heart attack doll,” Alex replied, taking an equally defensive stance and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Well I’d hate to ruin your day,” she started, fake pouting at him, “but I’m taking your order. So order or get out of line.”

“No need to be snippy,” he grinned, he had realized he’d be able to get such a rise out of her. Doing so was kind of fun though. “I’ll have one of those raspberry chi teas.”

“That’ll be 4.25,” Madeline replied.

Alex handed over his card and grinned when he caught her roll her eyes. He’d noticed that people seemed to hate when he offered them his card to pay for small purchases. He wasn’t sure why it bothered people; he assumed they took it as him flaunting his money. As if constantly using his credit card was the same as paying cash for large purchases.

She handed his card back and moved to the end of the counter with Finley. A display of mugs caught his eye and he moved over to fiddle with them. He frowned, pulling down a ceramic blue mug with no handle.

“This one doesn’t have an arm,” Alex called, catching Madeline’s attention. The another girl, who’d just come out of the back room, laughed at Alex.

“It’s called a tea bowl,” Madeline retorted.

Niall made a face at her when she turned away from him, causing the other girl to laugh. He smiled and placed the ‘tea bowl’ back on the shelf, going to the counter. He walked to where the other girl was and jokingly took off his beanie, holding it to his chest and bowing a little as if he’d just gone back in time a hundred years.

“Top o’ the morning to ye,” he grinned, placing his hat back on. He never actually used the stereotypical Irish line but for some reason girls that weren’t Irish thought it was cute when he did. So he did.

The girl giggled, tucking a piece of black hair behind her ear and blushing. It loosely flopped back because it was so short. Finley laughed in the background. Madeline seemed less amused, simply scoffing and continuing on with her work.

“Hi,” the black haired girl finally managed.

“Hello doll, what’s yer name?” he asked.

“Jade,” she replied.

“She’s too old for you,” Madeline cut in, glaring at both of them.

“Maybe too beautiful but you don’t look a day over twenty-one. Which is more than I can say about that one,” Alex pretended to whisper the last bit, but said it in a voice that still allowed Madeline to hear him.

“One Raspberry Chai and one Pumpkin Spice,” she stated, her tone forced as she narrowed her eyes at him.

“Thanks,” Harry grabbed his and headed down to the table.

Alex moved away from Jade, grabbing his tea and taking a sip of it, “Thanks, pumpkin.” He winked at Madeline before going down to join Finley.

The younger boy was practically in tears, laughing at his friend’s antics. He’d been hoping Alex would move passed yesterday and actually behave himself but instead he’d spent the entire time trying to get under Madeline’s skin.

“If you keep it up we’re going to have to find another place to get coffee,” Finley stated, taking a sip of his latte.

“Nah, the one that looks like she was auditioning for Sucker Punch likes me,” Alex laughed.

He glanced back over, watching Madeline wait on another customer. It was an older man but he must have been a regular because she talked to him for a little while before asking if he wanted his regular. Alex turned back to Finley, telling him he’d be right back and that he forgot to get food.

Alex went back up, stepping in line behind two women holding yoga mats. Neither of them looked like they actually did yoga. He waited while they took fifteen minutes each, debating which drink was less calories and what tasted better. Madeline looked as annoyed as he felt with them, which made him smile. The annoyance somewhat diminished from her face as she took their final order. It returned when she realized he was in line again.

“What?”

“Is that anyway to greet a payin’ customer?” Alex asked.

“What can I get you?” She replied, the frown still there.

“Forgot to order a muffin,” he smiled, showing off his clear braces.

“What kind?”

“What kind do you hate the most?”

“Blueberry.”

“Sounds delicious.” He handed her his card before she even told him how much causing her to snatch it from his hand. He couldn’t help the smug smile, knowing he’d succeeded in annoying her further.

Alex took his card back from her. She handed him the muffin in one of their standard paper pastry bags and he held onto her hand when she gave it to him, “Thanks, doll,” he winked and let go of her hand, heading back to Finley now that he had his food.

He took his seat again as Finley started to talk about what they had to do once they got back. He mostly listened, drinking his coffee and making quick work of the muffin. It was a little dry but he assumed they got them in from somewhere so he wouldn’t hold that against her.

After sitting for a while they got up, tossing their empty cups away.

“See ye tomorrow doll!” Alex called, grinning smugly and tipping his beanie at both Jade and Madeline. Finley laughed and waved as they both walked out of the café. Alex planned on coming back again tomorrow, just to see the look on Madeline’s face when he did