-so Helen works as a barista at a campus coffeeshop
-she’s studying international relations and geology
-she got into school on a scholarship and she still works cause she has to support most of her siblings (she also works two other jobs)
-Aline is majoring in photography
-her specialty is taking photos of people doing mundane activities and then focusing on people’s faces to capture emotions
-she didn’t go to the coffeeshop until her best friend Alec took her there after he won a bet (the prize was taking the other person anywhere you wanted and having them pay for it)
-Aline doesn’t understand why Alec wanted to take her to the campus coffeeshop of all places
-but then she tastes their cappuccino
-Aline’s a coffee addict and she’s in love
-she goes to leave a ginormous tip (cause her mom’s a famous senator and Aline’s habit is leaving big tips cause she’s rich™)
-Helen’s hair is curling out of her bun and her cheeks are pink with heat from the coffee machine
-Aline does a double take because how is it possible for someone to look so ethereal while dropping a stack of paper cups?
-Helen’s straightening up and she sees a girl leaning on the counter next to the register
-Helen’s admiring how pristine and put together the girl is, with long sleek black hair and luminous eyes
-she drops the cups again
-Helen’s a blushing mess because ohmygodshemustthinkimanidiot
-Aline’s trying to get a peek Helen’s name tag
-when she finally does she says “like Helen of Troy huh?”
-Helen explains that that’s who her father named her after and Aline’s internally like of course that’s who she’s named after who else would this beautiful girl be named after???
-Aline is shooketh™ and she accidentally leaves without introducing herself
-she left Alec and he has WORDS later
-Aline decides to go to the coffeeshop every day
-cause she loves their coffee NOT because of the cute barista nope definitely not
-and maybe she figures out that Helen works every other day from 4:00-7:00
-and maybe Helen finds out what Aline’s order is
-she also figures out Aline’s name too
-Helen goes out of her way to call Aline’s name out
-Aline loves hearing Helen call her name in a lilting voice
-Aline finally decides to flirt with Helen and see if she’s interested *Aline praying the entire time that Helen’s not straight*
-Helen’s a blushing mess (again)
-Aline’s also blushing???
-and she never blushes???
-but somehow this girl makes her blush???
-“you want to meet up outside work?”
-Helen’s internal monologue: *heart eyes*
-“yes!” “I mean…that sounds nice…”
-Helen has no chill cause a cute girl just asked me out and !!!
-She asks if they can meet up for a lunch date the next day so it doesn’t interfere with her work
-Aline snaps her photo as she’s talking
-It surprises Helen but she smiles shyly
-Aline snaps a photo of that too
-she looks at the photos when she gets back to her dorm
-in the photos Helen looks slightly breathless and her smile makes her eyes light up
-Aline brings her camera to their date (she brings it most places but she especially wants to capture this moment)
-Helen settles for using her iPhone camera
-meaning Helen takes a selfie with Aline after
-it’s awkward at first obviously cause they don’t know each other that well yet
-Aline decides to ask Helen about her family
-Helen lights up and tells Aline about each of her siblings
-Aline notices Helen doesn’t mention her parents but she doesn’t say anything
-she’s too busy watching how Helen’s face softens when she tells Aline about how her brother likes painting, or how her sister can watch horror movies without getting scared, or how her other brother is fascinated with animals, or how her other sister takes fencing lessons, or how her other brother is going to college across the country and he’s bringing his girlfriend and his boyfriend home for Christmas jesus how many siblings does she have anyways?
-Helen asks Aline about her photography
-Aline tells her about her favorite places to shoot
-she also offhandedly says she’ll take Helen to all of them one day
-Helen is enraptured because Aline lights up when she talks about photography and Helen can tell it’s something she really loves doing
-Helen may or may not be watching Aline’s mouth as she talks
-after the date they plan to get together again because they both have butterflies in their stomachs and they’re not passing up a chance at a second date
-the second date turns into several dates
-they usually have lunch dates because of Helen’s work
-but Aline takes her camera to the coffeeshop and takes photos of Helen working without her knowing
-little things like Helen spilling creamer captured forever
-Helen also gives Aline free coffee with cheesy hearts written on the cups
-she likes how Aline smiles secretly to herself when she sees the doodles
-literally every other barista knows they’re dating
-when they first kiss it’s winter and they went on an afternoon walk in a park downtown
-they’re holding hands obviously and Helen stops on a small bridge to look down at the ice below
-she’s playing with Aline’s fingers and Aline doesn’t mind because it’s Helen and besides her fingers are cold
-she gets the sudden urge to brush Helen’s hair behinds her ear because this golden blonde curl was just hanging there
-then Helen playfully brushes Aline’s hair behind her ear
-the kiss is warm in the middle of the frozen park and their lips cushion against each other and Aline tastes like the burger she ate for lunch and Helen tastes like hot chocolate
-they finally pull away kind of breathless
-Helen plants another quick kiss on Aline’s lips and then grabs her hand again
-and for that tiny moment it feels like they have all the time in the world
