What Should I Have? : Shayne Topp Imagine
Warnings: None!! This is just a lot of fluff
Summary: Shayne Topp wanders into a stray café and meets you working there. After that first interaction he stops in again and again in hopes of seeing you.
A/N: Howdy folks! Updates are slow, if you can’t tell. I’m in the last two weeks of moving in, so bear with me here, lovelies. But I’ve been getting some beautiful requests that I am SO PUMPED TO WRITE!!! As per usual, requests are open. Have a great day ♡♡
There was one thing certain to you that morning.
Nothing interesting happens at 5:30am.
The light hadn’t bothered to reveal itself yet. The streets were empty. Time was slow and dragged on.
It all felt loose and dull, like everything was about to happen, but wouldn’t for just a bit of time.
You were on the edge of today, waiting for the world to start, and you tiredly set the fresh donuts under the display, with a certain lazy gentleness.
You had done this job time and time again, it was a mindless task at this point. Every motion felt natural, you could have done it all in your sleep.
You felt asleep, to some extent.
You would always come in, fresh when the sun hadn’t risen. You worked as the raw world grew soft with gentle sunrise, preparing the food and the coffee and everything you needed to before the customers came in. It was always just you, the brewing coffee, and the light music that played over the café.
But your former belief about lonely mornings and lack of life was compromised as a built man sent the bell above the door jingling.
He was a disruption in the early morning tradition. An oddity.
You looked up from the display, eyebrows pressing together as he offered a curled smile, genuine and bright, contrasting against the dark sky from the windows behind him.
“Good mornin’.” The man breathed, sitting down at a stool by the bar next to where you worked. He had on a loose tshirt, and a long necklace with a key at the end of it.
He was so awake and alive, completely contradicting the world around him. It was a wonderful sight, but you noticed fast that you were staring at him, almost frozen.
That’s not what normal people do.
You grinned back, feeling a slow creeping energy within you as you yanked your notepad from your apron and walked over in front of him, from across the thick counter.
“G-good morning. What can I get for you, sir?” You asked, biting your tongue at the first stutter. He didn’t even seem to notice.
“Well actually I don’t really know what I want?”
“Oh sorry-I’ll give you some more time-”
He shook his head, blonde hair shifting just slightly.
“No, no. I mean, what do you think I should get? You probably know better than I do.”
Your lips parted just slightly, and you let a light laugh release from within you.
“Oh wow, ah- well.” You looked down for a second, thinking. When you looked up he was staring back, almost studying you. You took a deep breath to try and calm away any flustered feelings that were blossoming from your gut.
“Personally, I think the best thing I make here is a ah- it’s a creamy vanilla-caramel latte. It’s not anything too fancy.”
“Well I’m a pretty fancy guy so I don’t know…” He joked, and you smiled delicately. He looked at you for a long second before waving off his former statement.
“Sounds great.” The man assured you, and with that you nodded and spun around, going to work on the drink.
Purple sunrise edged at the rims of your windows, and you tried as best as you could to concentrate.
There was no sign of sleepiness, you were jolted with nervous energy as you briskly made his drink, though being as precise as you could.
It wasn’t a peculiar situation. The café allowed customers this early. It was just…no one usually came. It was your bit of time alone in the World, watching everything start. It always felt in someway like you were ahead of everything, sitting in a lonely manner at the edge of the day. It had always been like that, and even when customers did come in, they were in a sleepy daze. They were tired and grouchy, but this man was different.
He was smiling and bright and willing to crack a joke. His pleasant emotion was contagious. There was something so oddly exciting about him to you that didn’t make sense, and you tried as hard as you could to ignore the fact he was staring at you thoughtfully from where he sat against the counter.
You focused on his drink, the music, and the sunrise, letting your bones soften and your hips sway to the light jazz tune.
When the drink was finished, you felt a sudden feeling of being oddly proud of the drink. It was probably the best you had ever made a latte. You weren’t sure how that worked, but you brought it over to the man without further thought.
“Ah yes-my steamy bean water.” He spoke in a raspy, rough voice, reaching out and taking it from you, exchanging the drink for three dollars and fifty cents.
You laughed at the impression, putting the money in the cash register and leaning down to work with the display.
“Oh wow.” He spoke quietly, and you glanced up from where you were slightly squatted on the ground. He met your gaze.
His tone was genuine and sweet, making the skin along your cheeks fuzz pink.
“Thank you…y'know I think you’re the only person in LA not specific about their coffee.” You commented, fixing the pastries and the paper beneath them. He hummed slightly.
“You attract a pretty LA crowd? Hipsters? Or?”
“Well-” You sighed, standing up and wiping your hands on your apron, looking out the window in thought.
“We’re not really a hipster café, and we’re not individual enough to attract a hipster crowd? We’re tiny and simple. We don’t go out of our way to decorate or prove we’re special. We focus on the food above all else. Everyone is always running around for coffee, looking for a quick drink. So we never have a gigantic crowd hanging around, just people poppin in and out. Everyone is racing around and living their lives, when they need my coffee, I’m happy to deliver.” You unintentionally rambled, gesturing your hands with each word. He watched closely, taking sips of his drink as you spoke.
There was a slight pause where you caught your breath and noticed how much you had just said. He looked interested, though.
“I mean-I’m just popping in for a drink too, so I don’t know how much my opinion matters, but I think this place is special because it doesn’t force itself to be special. You don’t see that often?” He offered, glancing around.
“This drink is pretttty good, too. If it’s any reflection of the rest of your menu, I’m sure this place deserves a bigger…crowd.” He was searching for words, and you appreciated what he said.
“Awe. Why thank you, sir.” You smiled sweetly, making him smile back.
He gently poked out his hand.
Hmm. Shayne. You liked that.
It smelled like croissants and coffee, and you looked out at the bright pink sunlight approaching from outdoors.
It was a hazy Friday afternoon, rain steady outside, and crowd just slightly more bustling than usual.
Still not too many people, but enough to keep you busy. Your hair was askew and there was a streak of flour on your face, you looked like a wreck, but certainly didn’t feel like it.
You loved being put to work, you loved letting your mind swirl and tick, it made your job fun. You didn’t even notice Shayne had walked in until you were handing a coffee to a bearded man and saw him looking at you closely from the corner of your eye.
You froze, adjusting to the fact he was staring right back to you for a second. Maybe a second too long, because suddenly the bearded man coughed, as he was trying to hand you his money.
“Oh-hah, sorry sir. Have a good day!” You cheerily nodded, putting away the money and walking over to where Shayne sat against the counter. He had on a plaid button up and an amused look.
Your head felt like it was slowing down, you had been in the zone for too long, and now felt light as you breathed steadily and stood still.
“Hi.” You grinned. Shayne looked a little thrown back by the smile, which you didn’t understand, but ignored.
“That was impressive.” He nodded, and you tilted your head in question.
“Seeing you rush around, doing a million things a minute. Kinda like watching an animal in its natural habitat.” He chuckled, and your rose your brows.
You chuckled, looking over the café and internally thanking the gods there weren’t any more customers. As much as you loved working, you really did want to talk to Shayne.
“Everyone is kinda in their zone here…” He looked around, spotting each person mindlessly on their phone or laptop.
“You’re tellin me.” You hummed, leaning your head on your hand, and your elbow on the counter.
“Who knows what they’re doing.” He whispered, looking back at you.
“Suspicious…” He jokingly mumbled.
“This is the real deal, Y/n-”
He remembered your name…you pretended you didn’t feel giddy.
“You see that baby?” He asked, looking across the café. You nodded.
You tried not to laugh, lips twisting goofily into a grin.
“I actually see it” You amusingly responded.
“We’re onto you, buddy!” He almost shouted across the café, making you blurt out a laugh and duck behind the counter to avoid the mother’s possible attention.
“Hiding already? You’re working with him aren’t you…” Shayne spoke down at you, and you laughed harder, slowly rising up and feeling relieved that the mom didn’t notice. She was tapping away on her laptop.
“Could you hold back from yelling at infants?”
You rolled your neck a bit and looked at him expectantly. He had great eyes.
“So are you gonna order somethin?”
“Oh, I’m just here to yell at children.”
Shayne crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair.
“What do you think I should have?” He asked, smile softening, but still certainly existent.
The sun outside was almost blinding, you looked at the busy people passing by, the busy people sitting inside your café, and the perfectly calm and still man that sat right before you, more in the moment than any other person you could see. Jesus, did he fascinate you.
“Fresh mint iced coffee. A general favorite of the people who stop by.”
You saluted him before turning to start on his order. You could feel the gears in your head creak and start all over again.
“Happy to see your face in here again.” You spoke to where he was behind you. Shayne looked down at the counter, tracing circles on the wood with his finger. He came back specifically in hopes to see your face again.
“It was great last time.” He responded, looking up, admiring you as you worked. He studied the streak of flour down your face, and the way you strategically poured and stirred and shook. He wanted to know more about you, but wasn’t sure how to do so.
“Busy today?” He asked, really searching for questions to ask.
“Pretty much the usual, so yeah. But I like it.”
“You’re the only one running this place?” Shayne tilted his head curiously. You finished up his drink.
“Oh no, I hire a few teens when I can, who need the job. They come in and out, but I’ve got two people who bake back there, and they help me with the coffee when I need it. Which, I usually don’t. I’m pretty good.” You slyly shrugged, pushing his drink towards him.
Shayne handed you his cash, and nodded a thank you, not wasting any time to drink the coffee.
You took orders, made your coffee, and worked with haste as Shayne watched you curiously, only every now and then cracking a joke or a conversation. The two if you chatted away happily, and you tried not to feel wispy at the way he smiled at you from the counter.
He learned you once almost got run over by an icecream truck, and you learned he tried to grow wings as a child by making himself a cacoon. It was all bubbly and sweet, and you were sad to see him leave when he did.
Shayne left the café and out onto the LA street, looking back once through the glass to see you already madly working away, deep within your trance.
There was one thing certain to him that sunny afternoon.
When Shayne came back, you were asleep.
Not at all professional, but warranted.
It had been a horrifically long day of angry customers, order after order, and funky weather. Everything felt lopsided and straining, and now it was 9pm. Your café was open for another hour, but not many people came this late. No one was showing up, and you had sat down on the ground, eventually sinking down with slumber.
Shayne doubles back and checks the sign at the door, which said open.
Ever since his first interaction he had been hoping for another opportunity to see you.
Now it was late, but it was his only chance to stop by, and he wanted to take it. He wanted to see you.
But he looked around the empty café, and it didn’t seem like he would be.
Shayne went up to the counter, eyes scanning around the café. It was out of the corner of his eye he saw a pair of shoes on the ground. He furrowed his brows and leaned over the counter, gasping gently at the sight of you sprawled against the floor.
He went around and leaned down, startled as he poked you softly. At the first direct touch you shot up, almost hitting your head on the counter.
You blinked your eyes and adapted to the sight of an amused Shayne on the ground in front of you. Your lips parted with confusion and an oddly shared amusement.
Shayne stood up, offering a hand to you. You took it, and with care he pulled you up, before backing up to his respective side of the counter and sitting down.
You rubbed your face, thanking the heavens no one else was in the café.
“I swear I’ve never done that before.” You buried your face in your hands, the wave of embarrassment only then getting to you.
You groaned, plopping your head down on the counter and taking a few seconds.
You muffled a “You have no idea.” against the corner before lifting your head back up.
You smiled, shaking you head and taking out your notepad.
“Not your fault. Now, what would you like?”
“I don’t know, what would I like?” He bounced back, and you huffed a laugh.
“Sounds great. Could you make two?”
You scrunched your brows curiously, but nodded to confirm his request.
It was dark out, it was quiet, and the warm lights of your café only made you more tired.
“What made the day so long?” Shayne asked, as you sleepily stirred your cocoa.
You breathed deeply, looking back at his oh so genuine expression.
“Didn’t get much sleep. A lot of angry people. A lot more work than usual. My staff didn’t show up. Just…yknow?”
He gave a sympathetic look.
“Yeah, well, it’s fine now.”
You turned around with two hot cocoas, pushing them towards him. He pushed back one of the mugs and the money to pay for them. Your heart fluttered.
“Thank you for…” You sat down on the stool across from him, staring down at your hot chocolate closely.
“Not taking advantage of me when you found me here.” You nodded, looking up at him with a serious glint in your eyes. Shayne’s face softened a bit.
“Yeah, of course. Of course, you don’t have to…thank me for not doing that. Thats…”
“I know, I know. It’s weird to say. But it’s dark and the doors were open and I was just…asleep on the floor. Anyone coulda come in and I was in a pretty damn vulnerable place.”
“Jesus. Yeah. I never really considered that sort of thing happening to me in my life. Because it’s not something I was taught to worry about, or stay cautious of.” Shayne took a sip of his drink and you bobbed your head to a nod.
“It sucks, but that’s how it is.” You whispered.
You thought about what he said, and you did genuinely believe that.
“I don’t know you too well, Shayne. But you seem pretty okay.”
“Shayne Topp: Pretty Okay.” He nodded back, grinning a bit.
You winked, and he felt his heart skip.
Over the next three months Shayne became a regular customer at the café.
He’d stop in as much as he could, despite his busy schedule. It was always to see you, and this reality dawned on you gradually with each visit.
He make 5:30ams brighter, 9pms happier, and busy middle-of-the-days less stressful. Whenever he stopped by, something felt better, and whenever he saw you, something felt better.
It was a mutual better-ness the both of you were to some extent, ignoring.
You liked the ways your hearts felt when the other smiled, and you liked the way bouncy conversation stirred up from nothing at all.
Everything about you and Shayne was natural, this was obvious.
But you were scared to take any step further than giving him coffee recommendations and poking witty commentary back and forth.
It was a rainy day, it was dark and thick and Shayne was losing his mind.
You were cheery, working with such incredible precision and care. You greeted each customer with a grin, never slacked on your coffee, and just kept yourself in a haze of gentle concentration. It was amazing to him still.
Shayne wanted more than anything to reach out and hold your hand.
Feel your fingers intertwine between his.
He wanted to brush the flour from below your eyes, and hug you closely. Feel your heart beat, your being against his.
It was gooey and dumb, but it hurt his head.
By 9:30pm everyone had left, and you were understandably tired and laying up across the counter.
Shayne sat on his stool, holding a mug in his hand and studying you as you ranted about your landlord, laughed about your recent interaction with a McDonald’s employee, and reflected upon your childhood. He absorbed every word and smiled blissfully when you turned your head to look at him.
“Is this where you want to be? Life-wise?” He thoughtfully questioned.
Shayne didn’t usually bring up serious topics. You blinked, looking to him closely. You felt the wood of the counter against you back, and felt your face grow pink at how close he was to you.
“Well…I think so. I mean, I’m very happy. I’m free. I love what I do. It’s simple but…it never dissapoints. I think I’m lucky. Not everyone finds bliss in the ordinary. But I’ve found so much more.”
Shayne felt like he was floating. What was this? Who were you and how did you manage to always exist without him knowing?
“What about you?” You almost whispered. Shayne bit his lip.
“I make stupid videos with people I really love. I can say I have…fans? How many people can say that, yknow? It’s weird, I feel cocky even mentioning it. It’s probably not something I can experience forever…but as of now, I’m happy. I’d like to have this for as long as it’s appropriate.”
“I guess we’re just two happy people.” You grinned.
“Eh.” Shayne shrugged with a grin mirrored back.
The rain outside was heavy, slamming against the glass and making your bones feel settled against the wood of your counter. Shayne was looking down at you. He looked lost.
You reached out, gently placing your hand at the side of his face. You were so careful and soft, and Shayne almost shuddered at the feeling of you. His heart was picking up in speed.
His mouth opened and closed and opened again, making you smile. He scrunched his brows together and breathed out.
“You make me happy, y/n.” He admitted. There was depth to his confession, and a sudden feeling of amazement crashed over you. Neither of you could pinpoint the exact emotion you felt, but it was unidentifiably shared.
You leaned up from the counter and met halfway as you dipped your lips against his delicately.
Shayne slid a hand against your side and a hand on your cheek. Your hearts were beating like crazy.
He was sweet and he was gentle and nothing felt wrong as you pulled back from the kiss only to dive back in.
The continued for a long enough amount of time before you yanked back breathlessly and grinned like a madman, making Shayne laugh.
It was sweet. It was warm.
“Hey I like you.” You admitted with a mischievous glint in your eye.
“Ew what?” He reeled back in a joking manner, and you only chuckled before yanking him into a hug.
Shayne tightened his arms around you and reflected upon how terribly lucky he was.
