RP: Something Familiar

[astrid_keller]

Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011
Characters: Astrid Keller and Open
Location: Starbucks on West 7th
Status: Public
Summary: Astrid's already done with Texas, but at least she can get a decent cup of coffee.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[thepressson]

Normally, Stephen wouldn't ever step foot in a place like Starbucks. He liked coffee just fine but he wasn't really one to tell the difference between instant and barista brewed. It was a rainy Saturday though and he was hung-over from Jose's birthday the night before and coffee, no matter where it came from, was much needed.

He hurried inside the cafe, talking on the phone with Chuck all the while. "Hey, man, I know there's a game on now," Stephen replied, annoyed. "I already told ya I've picked the Ravens n' I ain't changing my mind no matter what you say." Chuck always argued with Stephen's picks for games even if Stephen's choices were the undeniable winners. Something of an on-going inside joke they'd had since freshmen year. He walked up to stand in the line, blessedly short, and dropped his voice as he spoke into the phone. "I'm in Starbucks now--ha, fuck you, asshole--and I'll be there in ten."

[astrid_keller]

Astrid looked over her shoulder at the sound of a voice coming up behind her in line. He wasn't bad looking, though he had a bit too much "Texas jock" look for him to really be her type. That, and he was obviously talking sports. God, what was it with these people and their lame choices of entertainment? At least in L.A. the guys liked sports and dancing.

She didn't care for making enemies before she knew what they were all about, though, and for all she knew, this guy could be the king of the state. "I didn't know coffee and football went together," she said, smiling at him as he hung up his phone. It was a stab in the dark on whether she'd chosen the right sport, but she thought it was a pretty good one. "But then, I'm new around here, so there's a lot I don't know."

Astrid flashed another smile and then turned back toward the counter again, leaving her body tilted just enough to signal that the conversation didn't have to be over.

[thepressson]

Stephen tucked his phone into his coat pocket and glanced up at the menu behind the counter. All he wanted was a cup of coffee not any of this weird stuff he couldn't pronounce. When the blonde in front of him in line started talking his eyes widened a little and he glanced down at her in surprise. Of course he noticed her, she was pretty after all, but he never suspected she'd talk to him.

"They don't really," Stephen replied, looking away from the menu to look back at the blonde. He could tell she wasn't from around here the moment she spoke. "Coffee and hangovers go rather well, though."

[astrid_keller]

Football it was, then. It was good to know she hadn't lost her skills, even being transplanted against her will. As he continued, Astrid laughed a little, giving him a knowing smile. "Ah, yes. Now that I do know. The stronger, the better."

Astrid looked up at the menu for a moment, as if she didn't already know what she wanted. She didn't want him to think he had her whole focus, or that she was desperate for someone to talk to. Maybe her social life had been ridiculously barren since landing in...what was the name of that town? Joshua. God, what kind of name for a city was that? Well, lame social life or not, there wasn't going to be any doubt of who had the upper hand in this little interaction. Not that she'd give him any reason to wonder

[thepressson]

Stephen nodded vaguely in agreement. He wasn't one for talking to strange girls in Starbucks but he figured she was nice and all so he'd make an effort. He didn't feel like making the attempt to get her number. He sure hoped the blonde wasn't aiming in that direction by any chance. You could never really tell with women sometimes. Act all disinterested and then are later offended you did the same.

"Thanks," Stephen replied with a grin. "It's kind of an acquired talent now. And it was a birthday party for a friend. Kegs and shots all 'round." He stepped froward after her, glancing back up at the menu. Stephen was thinking the regular coffee with an espresso shot was right up his alley.

[astrid_keller]

Astrid stuck out her bottom lip a little in a practiced pout. "Ah, well, as fun as that sounds, doesn't help me learning the ways of the land." No, she was destined to be stuck at her grandmother's house every night, with only her computer--with dial-up internet, no less--and her iPod to keep her company. A birthday party? Really? It couldn't have at least been a birthday party slash night at the club. She dropped the pout and gave him another smile for good measure. "It's alright, though. The internet won't fail me."

She turned back toward the front, all but closing herself off from him now. If he kept talking, she wouldn't ignore him, but he wasn't proving particularly useful or interesting.

The line opened up, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. "Hi," she said to the waiting cashier. "Triple grande sugar-free caramel soy latte. Extra hot, and leave a little room so it won't slosh everywhere."

[thepressson]

Stephen gave the back of the girl's head a skeptical look. What was he have supposed to have said? "Well, it was an all campus shindig but essentially still a birthday party," Stephen said. "In fact, I'm not sure if the Lambos house is ever locked whether there is or isn't a party."

Finally the line moved forward and the blonde stepped up, shooting out her order with a practiced ease. It reminded Stephen almost of a quarter back talking in play codes on the field but worse because he couldn't ever understand it. He gave her another quizzical look. "You're definitely a gal who knows what she wants," he commented as he watched the barista get to work on that mouthful of an order.

[astrid_keller]

A campus party? Well, why hadn't he said so? "Now that is completely different." She spared him a half-second glance before turning back to the cashier to pay and tip. Always tip. If you were planning to come back, your drinks were always better if they remembered you. And they always remembered her.

She leaned on the counter as the guy called for his boss to get another roll of quarters. "It's the only way to have it," she said to the guy behind her, giving a little shrug. She didn't really see the point in tiptoeing around what she wanted, unless it was a matter of sneaking her way into something she wasn't otherwise allowed to do. "What college are you at?"

Parties at school were promising. Gram couldn't complain if she was at school, especially if the old bat thought she was studying in the library.

[thepressson]

Stephen shrugged still trying to figure this girl out. He could at least relater to her in her obvious love of parties. "I suppose," he said quietly as she paid, a little surprised that she left a tip.

"I'm at TCU," Stephen answered with a slight smile. "I live in a frat so everything becomes a party even if it's because you broke your damn leg." He gave her a quick once over. "You attendin' a school?" She was definitely the right age to be but some people get snippy when you assume that they were (sometimes if they actually are attending college).

[astrid_keller]

The cashier got his quarters and gave her the change, and she folded it neatly into wallet, replaced it in her purse, and then shifted out of the way. "TCU..." Astrid repeated, trying to work out the initials in her head, while also trying to remember her own. Maybe she should have paid more attention when she'd been there doing enrollment. "I just transferred from UCLA."

God. What was the name of that freaking school? University of Texas, or Texas University...or was that the other one that Gram said was too far away? "I just finished enrollment last minute, so starting class fresh on Monday."

[thepressson]

Stephen nodded as she repeated the name of his school. He thought about telling her the full name so she didn't have to struggle over placing it but didn't, figuring the blonde wouldn't much appreciate the help. "UCLA, huh," he said thoughtfully as he stepped up to the counter. Weird, a girl like this coming from Cali to Texas. She didn't seem the type at all. He wondered what her whole story was. "They've got a great campus. TCU is a little smaller but we're just as nice." Stephen had been to UCLA many times when the Frogs went against the Bruins.

Now that it was his turn to order, Stephen stepped up to the counter and quickly ordered a simple cup of coffee. He decided to forgo the espresso only out of concern that he wouldn't make it to bed at a decent hour tonight. "I start Monday, too," he said, taking the readily filled cup of coffee from the barista and exchanging money. Stephen tipped too, just because the blonde had and it was the polite thing to do, after all.

[astrid_keller]

Astrid raised an eyebrow. He knew UCLA? Maybe he was more interesting than she'd originally assumed. But then, she hadn't really given a damn about the campus when she'd been there--more about the people and parties on the campus. It was pretty intriguing that he'd been there, though. "What brought you to L.A.?"

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe I'll see you around campus, then," she said with a smile, though she didn't have a clue if she'd signed up at his school or another. She had a feeling she'd end up there eventually anyway, if they actually had decent parties. "I'm Astrid, by the way." It was possible that down here in Texas, people wouldn't know who she was. It was a little sad, really.

The barista called out her drink order, and she turned to grab it, immediately taking a sip. God, that was good.

[thepressson]

"I play on TCU's football team, tight-end," Stephen answered figuring she probably wouldn't care or know what a tight-end was anyway. Still, he was proud of it so he shared it with anyone who had two ears to listen. "I've never been around the actual city much. Parties on that campus are great." He paused and eyed her curiously. "Probably saw you at one or two, hell if I'd remember though." He popped the lid off of his coffee and took a whiff, contemplating adding sugar or just drinking it straight black.

He looked up when the blonde continued speaking, nodding at her idea they'd see each other. Stephen kind of doubted it if she couldn't even remember the damned name of her college but whatever. He smiled a little as she introduced herself. "Lovely to meet you, Astrid," he said with another nod. "I'm Stephen."

[astrid_keller]

Football. Of course. She should have seen that one coming. Frat boy at Starbucks, hungover on a Saturday, talking football on the phone. Her eyes narrowed just slightly as he mentioned maybe seeing her at UCLA parties. Was that supposed to be an insult? If he really had seen her, he would have remembered. Well, whatever. She certainly wouldn't have remembered him; there were much better sorts of guys to take her attention back home.

"Nice to meet you, Stephen," Astrid said, though she was bored with him already. She was sure not to let that show in her voice. "Enjoy the game," she added, referencing the phone call she'd overheard.