“So I’ll have a venti mocha latte with oat milk, a shot of strawberry flavor, and extra whip cream. Also, a tall black coffee with one cream,” the blond haired boy said, smiling at the short, brown haired barista that stood behind the counter. “Oh, and my name’s Alex, and she’s Kacey.”
The Starbucks was almost empty that day. It was a grey day, cool for the summer, and few wanted to brave the inevitable rain. However, the weather that kept people out made it perfect for hot drinks, and that drew latte addicts in like flies. This particular one, in the center of a book store, combined two of their rainy day loves.
“Ok, who gets the coffee and who gets the strawberry chocolate milk thing?” the barista asked.
“Ummm… I…”
Kacey came beside him and put her hand on his shoulder. “He gets the strawberry drink. I get the coffee.”
“Ok!” The barista said, and left to make the drinks.
“Did you have to say that?” Alex asked the red haired girl who was clinging to his shoulder.
“Yep! If your going to order something like that, the world will know.”
“Alex! Happy almost-birthday!”
“What?” Alex said. It was Bill, a friend of his from work. He was a tall man, broad shouldered, and wore a long rain coat. He had come in while they were waiting.
“I said happy almost-birthday!”
Alex cocked his head to the left. “How did you know it was almost my brithday?”
“Uhhh…” he said. His eyes darted to Kacey, then back at Alex. “Facebook.”
Alex looked suprised. "Huh. I thought I had removed that from Facebook. How weird.
He turned back to the counter, unaware of Kacey glaring at Bill.
“So how you doing anyway Alex? Funny to run into you here,” Bill said.
“Well you know I…”
He was interrupted by the appearance of the barisa. “Alright I have a venti strawberry mocha made with oat milk and extra whip cream for Alex.” She handed him the drink.
Alex blushed. “Uhhh I think you mean a coffee. Dark coffee. NO cream or sugar.”
“No it was definitely a venti strawberry mocha made with oat milk and extra whip cream.”
Alex shook his head and looked at Bill. “No it was definitely a coffee. Your strongest kind.”
The barista leaned onto the counter top. “Alright. I tell you what. I’ll go get you that coffee, the strongest kind we have, with no sugar or milk, but I get to see you drink it. Right here in front of us, no leaving to throw it out when your gone, no coming back in for your sugary drink.”
Alex stared at her considering his options. Kacey snickered beside him.
“Just give me the #($@-ing strawberry mocha.”
…
Kacey was laughing out loud as the walked in through their front door.
“OOOO LOOK AT ME I"M ALEX! I ONLY DRINK THE STRONGEST COFFEE SINCE I"M BIG AND STRONG!” she said, doing her best to imitate her voice. “Unless no one is watching then I only want my warm choccy milk.”
Their home was a small suburban townhouse. It was older then most but still strong, and they had repainted the walls of the main floor in deep blues and dark colors, then furnished it with wood and and simple couches. A door in front of them lead to their stair well, and on the top floor the colors began to get brighter and more vibrant, and the furniture shifted from classy to comfy. The ground floor was the ‘mature’ floor they showed to visitors, the top was more for them.
Alex was hanging his head as he sipped his drink. “Yeah yeah yeah,” he said. “So, how did he know it was my birthday soon? I don’t remember mentioning it to anyone at work.”
Kacey paused. “Ummmm well you know how these things are. Someone hears something then they tell another then it passes to two more, and suddenly everyone knows. Its common knowledge. Everyone knows each others birthdays.”
“What is your uncles birthday?”
She looked to the side, thinking. “November 31st?”
“That’s not real. There are only thirty days in November,” Alex said, while going over the rhyme in his head and counting on his fingers.
“December first then.”
“Ahh, that makes sense.” He stripped off his coat, and began to take off his shoes.
He was going along with it, but seemed unconvinced. “Anyway, its a big birhday for you. Afterall it is your thi…”
“Twenty-seventh? You are right, that is a big one,” he replied.
She folded her arms. “Twenty-seventh? I could have sworn we had that a few years ago.”
“Well you were mistaken. I’m turning 27.” He looked up at Kacey, who was standing still.“What are you doing?” he asked. “Why aren’t you getting undressed?”
“I need to go,” she said quickly, looking out the door.
Alex stood up and looked out. “What for?”
“Uhhh… Coffee.”
“We just got coffee.”
“I mean, copy. I need to make copies of something for work.”
“Oh.” Alex put his hand on his chin. “Can’t you just do that with our printer here?”
“No. They need to be better. You know, professionally done. Glossy and all that.”
“Ok, should I come to help?”
“NO! I mean, no, its for work. You stay here and, ummm… video games.” She pointed up the stairs, toward their bedroom where they kept their gaming systems.
Alex turned to where she was pointing. “You are actually telling me to go upstairs and play video games? Why?”
“Why not?” she asked. “Don’t you want to play video games?”
Alex paused and thought. “Yeah I do.”
“Good! Then go!” She turned around to leave, then paused and turned back. “Oh wait! Remember to wear headphones! Bye! Love you!” That being said, she turned and ran out the door before Alex could ask anything more.
Alex waved. “Love you too.” He watched her run to the car, quickly open the door and get in, then drive away. “That was odd, I wonder why she was acting that way? Why specify headphones?” He thought for a second, then shrugged. “Ah well. Video game time!”
He walked up the stair well to their bedroom. It was painted blue, and with cabinets and shelves built around a large king sized bed. There was a TV screwed into the wall in front of the bed with their gaming systems underneath it, but Alex ignored it for a moment. Instead, he walked to a single white door that lead to their closet and opened it. He pushed aside their hanging shirts and dresses until he found what he was looking for. A large, brown plastic box with a sealed green lid, which he unlocked and opened.
“There we go,” he said, staring at the packages of diapers inside.
…
“Ok, quick. We only have a few minutes,” Kacey said to the gathered crowed. She knew most of them, and most of the ones she didn’t she had at least seen in Alex’s photos or facebook pages. There was Bill from Alex’s work, who they had run into earlier, then Tim from his university days, then Sarah who he knew through her, and more. It was all their friends, gathered for one reason.
“So the plan is to enter the house as quietly as possible, holding the packages and balloons. I’ll text him to come down, and we will shout “Surprise” as he does. He’ll probably be playing video games with his headphones, so it should work.”
“You don’t think he’ll notice a crowd of people entering his home?” Bill asked.
Kacey scoffed. “Please. Fuck no. When he’s playing video games that guy wouldn’t noticed a crowed of rhinoceroses entering his home.”
They all laughed and agreed. “Well we shouldn’t have any problems then,” Bill said.
“Of course not,” Kacey replied. “Unless…” A thought came to her head. He was home alone, just relaxing and having fun… her eyes went wide.
Would he? She had only been gone a few minutes, but he did just get home, and its not like he was rare. She went through scenarios in her head, trying to think of a way she could avoid it without warning him.
She got out her phone and texted him. “I’ll be home soon! Want to go to the movies? I figure we can have ‘fun’ times tonight after, if you are down for that ;)” she sent him. Hopefully he’d see it, decide to stay in normal clothes for the movie, and be willing to put off any ‘other’ things until later. She told herself it would work, and prayed she was right.
