Gift for ShanXiaoShanSakura

Gift from ???

Title: The Usual

Pairing: Markson

How many words: 1679

Rating: pg-13

Warnings: none


Note to my giftee: I hope you like it >_< i'll probably make a follow up story. Merry christmas!

The Usual

Mark’s life was a series of disasters. That is until Mark moved to New York City five months to this day. At first he had his doubts, New Yorkers were rumored to be cold and uncaring. In the past he remembered seeing a news coverage of a man having a heart attack on the street. The man was bend over with his hands on his chest. Apparently, everyone thought he had been drunk. The man had died right on the street. It took five hours until anyone did anything.

Rule number one of surviving in New York City, people don’t care theory. They don’t care at all. Everyone is trapped in their bubbles. If you get into their bubble, well you just don’t get into another person’s bubble. It’s considered rude and annoying. If you randomly start a conversation with the person sitting next to you on the train. Of course, you’ll get the tense polite smile but abort! Things get awkward fast.

Four years ago, Mark had graduated college as a mathematics major and secured a paid internship at Morgan Stanley. He was put into the logistic department with some of the most intense people he has ever known in his life. With this internship, he had adapted to the all work no play policy. Other than his weekly calls with his father he had no social life. His nightly activities was finishing papers due for some slides or researching.

No surprise, he came to become addicted to coffee. And not any kind of coffee but the kind that burns through his wallet. His internship inducing sleepless nights and no social life paid a lot so he may as well get high quality caffeine.

Which is the reason why he’s standing on line at the crack of dawn waiting for the cashier’s conversation to be over so he can order his damn coffee. The annoying cashier was the worst kind of person, he was a morning person. He cheerfully called out and waved his hand wildly to each customer on the line. He stood on the balls of his feet and pointed excitedly to all the baked good in the glass EACH TIME, he did this with every guest. He was literally spending five minutes talking to each person. There had been only three people on line but it felt like ten with the amount of time it took for him to get to the front. The only thing standing in his way was the confused woman who stood on the line as long as he did and still didn’t know what she wanted.

“I don’t know, I mean I need something to keep me awake but I don’t want to be jumping on the walls” She shrugged at the cashier.

The young man smiled at her warmly as if this was truly deserving of all his time and attention. He grabbed his hat and twisted it backward on his head, some of his hair was sticking out.

“Well, I see your point. You might want something mild like a latte.” He suggested

“No, you don’t understand I don’t want any caffeine” she aggressively responded with her face scrunched up in disappointment.

So she came to a Starbucks and didn’t want to get any caffeine. Mark stared up at the ceiling, silently praying for the stupidity of this world. He could feel the cashier’s eyes on him when he glanced back, the guy brought his eyes back to the woman and smiled.

“Miss, Latte does have caffeine but not as much as coffee. A lot of it is milk plus we can use all sort of syrups to make it sweet. It has some to keep you active but not enough to have you jumping all over the place.”

“I like caramel!” The woman said happily. Mark was sure that no asked nor did anyone care.

“Awesome, so a caramel latte sound good?” he asked and she nodded

“Would you like it iced or hot?”

“Cold please”

          “Let’s not forget size” He said inquiring. I watched as the previous people in line were called forward for their drinks.

          “I guess a tall?” she tilted her head back as she peered the menu hanging above her head. Is that an answer or a question?

          “Is that an answer or a question?” I jumped slightly as my thoughts were repeated by the cashier. The young girl attention was turned as she glanced back my way. His eyes found my form quickly, catching my movement and then the guy smiled. I looked away fast in embarrassment. I just want my coffee. I could hear him chuckling away. I placed both my hands in my coat pockets and balled them into fists as I could feel my face heat up.

         “The sizes are much different here, a tall is a small, a grande is medium and Venti is a large”

          “Oh, then a venti! I meant venti” she repeated excitedly.

          “Of course, and your name” He drawled out the last word as he held up the cup

“Emily”

“Well Emily, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jackson by the way as mentioned by my name tag.” He pointed to his name tag that spelled out the word Jackson.

Oh my god. Mark at this point knew why the line was taking so long. Did this guy need to have a conversation with everyone.

          “Thank you, I don’t really drink Starbucks too much” Emily said as Jackson nodded happily

           “I figured, but I love new people. Just means more people I can share my knowledge with. “

            “Well, I really am enjoying our interaction here” Emily leaned forward with both hands on the counter. Is she seriously flirting right now?

            “I liked talking to you do Em” Jackson chirped with a dumb smile on his face

            “I’ve seen you around my gym’s pool sometimes” she continued

             “ Yeah, I just look swimming. I practically live at the gym” He laughed, she laughed. I wanted to hang the two of them. I want my damn coffee.

            “A venti caramel Latte, Emily” a barista by the side shouted.

    “ Oh! That’s mine” Emily said. Of course, Emily, I thought dryly

          “See you later” Jackson waved obviously as Emily went to grab her drink. She stopped halfway as if about to say something before grabbing her drink from the barista’s out reached hands and waving goodbye before leaving the building. I watch her leave finally. My head turned following her figure.

          “So you like the dumb types” I jumped by the sudden statement.

          “What?” my head snapped forward

         “What? “He repeated staring at me confused. Maybe I heard wrong?

         “I’ll take a white Mocha with an extra shot” I said while reaching out to give him my card.

         “Extra shot of what” he asked. Was he serious! Asking this in Starbucks?

       “Extra shot of espresso” I answered

“Are you aware, the white mocha already has two shots of that already in” he started to punch in something in the digital cashier in front of me. I couldn’t see anything on my end.

“Very much aware, thank you, I’ll be taking the extra shot” I spat out in frustration

“Whoa, down tiger. I’m here to help you” he held his hands up, I stared at my feet and then closed my eyes. I took a deep breath, and then released it slowly. Calm down, I thought, calm down I repeated.

       “Breathing exercises, do them a lot?” He asked

Ignoring his statement. He lifted my head and opened my eyes. Mark was caught off guard by the intense look he was getting from the cashier. His eyes bored into Mark.

 “Yeah, so my drink” Mark muttered as he observed the barista wiping down the tables

 “Nope, I can’t have that” Mark heard the cashier say then he felt a hand on my chin. His head was being moved towards the cashier.

     “When we talk, all eyes on me” he peered into my eyes, seriously.

My hands had relaxed earlier in my pockets but I found them balled up again. I held them tightly at my side, otherwise I’d be taking a swing at this guy. I could hear an exaggerated sigh behind me, it was a mix of amusement and annoyance all rolled into one.

     “So what size will that be, Mark” He said his hands slowly falling, his gazing refusing to do the same.

      “Venti” Mark rushed out the word.

      “Venti, it is” He whispered to himself. He looked disappointment

      “That’ll be 5.75” Mark handed him my card. My transaction finished.

      “Next guest” he shouted dismissing me. I jumped out of the way when a young man pushed forward.

 Mark was sure it was over. He waited by the side for his drink. He couldn’t help but glance over to the cashier. They met eyes so Mark looked away. It was strange, he wasn’t as talkative with this customer. He kept looking at Mark.

When Mark felt relieved when he heard the barista announce “white mocha with extra shot, Mark”. The barista looked at him and then smiled.

Mark took the drink and started to walk out. He started to drink when he noticed the scribbling on his cup. Call me 646-678-430x Mark with something that looked like a heart. A whistle made Mark turn around.

“Hey! My name is Jackson in case you didn’t catch it before!” The cashier shouted out.

Mark couldn’t contain his smile.

“Hey would you go out with me!” Jackson said bringing the attention of all the other customers.

Mark didn’t say anything but just made a thumbs up sign then rushed out. He didn’t mind making some time to not do his usual routine at night. He took out his cellphone and dialed the number.

Surprisingly, the call was picked up. The voice on the other line said “Hey mark, I’m working right now. Can’t wait till my end of shift?”

Mark quickly pressed end call and hung up. He really couldn’t help but smile. Things were looking up for him.