black coffee and acoustic guitar~ leggie coffee shop au

coffee shop au:
leggie (kinda slowburn?)
julieflynn
willex
4621 words

reggie was officially starting his first day at the coffee shop. he didn't really want to work, but he needed a new amplifier and his parents weren't going to buy him another, especially not after he ruined his last one trying to fix it in the rain. certainly not his brightest moment, but he'd done it before and it worked out fine- for the amp at least, he got electrocuted a few times.
he walked into the molina family coffee shop. about 3 months ago reggie had discovered the coffee shop that also doubled as a hang out and performing space for musicians in the area. he had been walking the streets when he smelled pumpkin spice coffee (it was very basic white girl of him, but can you really blame the guy?) and he walked into the decently large coffee shop, hearing someone strum away on and acoustic guitar. reggie saw the guitarist's 1990s style outfit and beanie and was immediately intrigued. what he was playing seemed to be the polar opposite of the vibe of the clothes he was wearing. reggie had never heard the song before, so he half assumed it was an original song. it almost sounded like a song about a past love and it had a beautiful melody, but reggie pushed aside his thoughts and went up to the counter and order a drink.

he did nearly the same now, except instead of walking up to the curly haired girl at the counter and ordering and he placed him elbow on the counter smiling, almost mischievously.

the teen turned around and saw reggie and smiled as well. "hey reg. ready for your first day?"

"hey jules... and uh no, not really. i know nothing about making coffee really, i have no idea why your dad hired me."

"he hired you cos he think you'll give us that bit of 'hometown charm' that we need... or something like that i don't know."

"do i give off country vibes or something?"

"well... no not really but something about you seems very homey. i don't know like someone you could tell your order to once and they remember it forever."

reggie laughed at that and shook his head "julie molina, you have a great sense of humor." he walked around the other side of the counter to join julie and to start his training.

~•~

it had been about a week since reggie started working at the molina's coffee place. he and julie would work together making drinks joking around and then help ray clean up at night and talk about julie's mom, reggie's parents, really any and everything they could told about.

it was around 1pm one day when reggie heard someone strumming on a guitar from the stage. the song seemed familiar but it also sounded like nothing he'd ever heard. he looked up from where he was making drinks and saw that same performer from the first day he ever came into the shop. he was wearing the same beanie as before and his entire look felt very 90s, especially the low cut sleeved tank top. reggie was well aware he was starring at the guitarist but he couldn't help it, something about the boy caught his attention and reggie wanted to figure out everything he could about the stranger just from looking at him.
he scanned the guitarist twice over, nothing very noticeable aside from the fact that he was playing the opening of another song on his acoustic. he stopped focusing on the boy and looked for the case the performer's guitar would've been in. reggie found it quickly, and immediately recognized how covered in stickers it was. some seemed older and and worn, like they'd been on the case since the boy started playing guitar, and others seemed newer.

reggie heard a slight "ahem" from the opposite side of the counter and he realized "oh yeah i should probably do my job instead of starring at the cute guitarist..."

reggie help the customers that had lined up at the counter all with a slight blush from being caught starring at the young man performing. he was supposed to go on lunch break when he heard the music stop and the guitarist say "thank you all, have a nice day." reggie glance over quickly seeing the boy put his guitar back in his case and set it at a table. reggie looked away again just as the guitarist started walking up the counter.

"hey," the guitarist said coming up to the counter, his arms lightly crossed over his chest as he leant back just slightly.

"hey there, i'm reggie, what can i get for you?"

"black coffee and a blueberry muffin," the performer replied, almost in a deadpan.

reggie was shocked, the only people he ever served black coffee to were the old men who came into the shop, never guys his own age. "you want a black coffee?"

"uh yeah... that's what i ordered. is that a problem?" the young man asked with a raised brow.

"no not a problem at all. the only people who ever order black coffee while i'm manning the counters are old guys who think adding creamer and sugar 'ruin the integrity of the coffee'" reggie responses in the most "posh" old man voice he could muster. he laughed at his own joke quietly and the guitarist laughed slightly as well.

"i guess that makes sense. i usually get iced coffee with lots of creamer but i really need some caffeine... oh and could i get that in a mug?"

reggie nodded and typed the young man's order into the system and looked back up at him, "name for your order?"

"luke."

reggie nodded, typing the name in with the order and telling luke his total, and then giving luke back his change. luke sat down and reggie started making the coffee, eventually bringing the coffee and muffin over to luke's table. he set them down with a smile, which luke returned, before heading back behind the counter.

"reginald..." julie began, tapping her foot, "why are you serving cute customers instead of taking your break?"

reggie was surprised julie was the one reprimanding him, considering he was 2 years older than her and usually ray would be the one to do this sort of thing. "he is cute isn't he..." reggie didn't realize what he said until it was already out of his mouth. his eyes widened and julie just laughed.

"oh my gosh you're such a nerd. go talk to him!"

"i was just talking to him when i took his order. that's as much interaction with a cute guitar player as i can handle."

"reg i swear if you don't talk to that boy while you're on break i will tell my dad you're overworking yourself." reggie's face dropped and julie smiled a bit, knowing she had the edge over her friend. ray was like a dad to all of his employees, especially for reggie, and reggie did not want to be lectured about overworking himself.

"alright alright i'll go talk to him." reggie sighed and then pointed a finger at julie "if i embarrass myself i'm blaming you." then he walked away back over to luke's table while julie laughed, going to help the customer approaching the counter.

luke had been scribbling away in the notebook in front of him, taking careful sips of his drinks so he didn't spill it on the notebook. he looked up and saw the barista standing by his table. "uh hi again... can i help you?"

reggie pushed a hand through his hair and forced out a laugh, "kind of? my manager julie is forcing me to take a break and decided that if i didn't come talk to you during said break she'd tell her dad i was over working myself."

"ok... and her dad is?" luke responded dragging out the last word for emphasis.

"he's the owner." reggie sighed and pushed a hand through his hair again, "sorry for bothering you."

"no, no! sit with me, i don't want to be the ready you get in trouble with your boss." luke smiled and pushed some of his stuff out of the way, "reggie, right?"

"yep," he responded, emphasizing the p, "that's me."

"nice to meet you. i'm luke, but you knew that," the guitarist laughed.

"so how often do you play here?" reggie asked the guitarist, who was taking another sip of his coffee.

"once every few weeks. i'm trying to start a band with my friend alex, but he won't join until we find a bassist. actually he works here on mondays and fridays."

"wait... you're friends with the alex that works here?" when luke nods in response reggie continues, "he keeps trying to convince me to join his band because i play bass."

"hold on, alex told me one of his coworkers plays bass but alex said his name was ray."

"you sure you're not confusing me and the boss man? cos ray can hardly clap on rhythm unless someone's clapping it with him."

"well then i guess i am confusing you. so waddya say reggie, wanna join our band?"

reggie let out a sigh, "honestly i'm not sure. i'm really not that good at bass."

"ok ok fine, how about you come to our band meeting tomorrow?" before reggie could answer julie appeared at one side of the table.

"did i hear someone say band?"

"oh hey jules. luke this is julie, julie this is luke. and yes you did hear band. i might be joining alex's band, which he apparently is in with luke here."

"that's awesome! you guys need a pianist or higher register voice?"

luke sat there for a moment and thought about it, "why don't you both come to our band meeting tomorrow? i'll talk to alex about it. i'm sure he'd much rather two coworkers than a stranger and a snobby rich kid."

julie and reggie looked at each other and smiled, turning back to luke and nodding in unison. luke smiled back, asking for reggie's phone and putting his number in, making a group chat with the three of them.
the three said their goodbyes and as soon as luke was out the door started freaking out.

~•~

reggie pulled up to the coffee shop around 2:30 and julie came running out of the coffee shop, getting in the front seat.

"hey reg! you ready?"

"yeah... yeah definitely." before julie could say anything in response, reggie started his car and sped off to where they were meeting up with luke and alex.
they got there in less than 10 minutes and neither of them talked the entire ride, julie was too excited to talk and reggie was too nervous to.
reggie pulled up to luke's house and julie got out of the car immediately. "come on let's go!" she half shouted at him before closing the car door. reggie just shook his head and got out of the car, walking to the front door with julie. he rang the doorbell and almost immediately a woman, presumably luke's mom, opened the door.

"hello! you must be reggie and julie?" the woman looked between the two as they nodded to identify themselves. "come in, come in! i'm emily, luke's mom. you can call me emily or mrs patterson, whatever you prefer. luke's dad mitch is at work right now, but the boys are in the backyard." emily took a few steps back and led them in the house, closing the door behind the two and leading them out the back door.

"thanks mrs patterson," julie smiled as she walked outside. emily smiled back and let reggie close the door behind himself.

"hey guys!" alex called to them from the backyard, waving. his other hand was hooked into the hand of a boy the two didn't know yet. when reggie glanced to their connected hands alex slowly let go of the other young man's hand. reggie saw the look of hurt on both of their faces and slapped himself internally.

"hey alex, who's your friend?" reggie responded, sitting across from them at the picnic table, julie right next to him.

"this is willie, he's-" alex had hardly faltered when willie cut in.

"his boyfriend." will grabbed alex's hand with a bright smile.

"they just made it official and won't stop being cutesy," luke sighed. willie and alex just laughed and leaned into each other.

"congrats guys!" julie laughed, "will, are you part of the band or just dating the drummer?"

"just dating the drummer. i'm not exactly good at instruments, but alex is teaching me to play drums a bit."

"he's better at it then i thought he'd be honestly," alex told julie, "he's definitely picking up drumming faster than i'm picking up skating."
julie raised her eyebrows in confusion as the two laughed, will then explained how his first time teaching alex to skateboard went pretty badly. the whole group laughed until they couldn't breath, which was when luke decided it was time to start the band meeting.

"ok ok, to actually get started i figured alex and i would talk a bit about the band and then i could show you some of our songs later if you actually want to join."

julie nodded excitedly and reggie nodded slowly as luke and alex started describing what kind of music they played. julie and reggie asked a few questions, the main one being if luke would be willing to collaborate on some songs with her, which he agreed to immediately.
"honestly i'd be willing to work with all of you to write songs, but just me and alex writing ends up turning into 2am mental breakdowns."

~•~

after about an hour of discussing the band julie and reggie agreed to join, and luke suggested they stay and play a couple songs with him to get used to the flow of the band. alex would've stayed but he and willie had already made plans to go see a movie, so the two of them left.

luke, reggie, and julie went back inside and went down to the basement, which was the band's current "studio". luke flipped on a light switch and suddenly the entire basement was lit up with christmas lights. the two newest and members looked around wide eyed.

julie immediately spotted the small keyboard on the opposite side of alex's drum kit and went over to it, turning it on and playing a few chords. at the same time reggie noticed the acoustic bass on a stand next to a different acoustic guitar, grabbing it and strumming a familiar bass line.
the two looked at each other with wide eyes and then turned back to luke, who was holding his song book and shaking his head.

"alright nerds, the first song i wanna show you is call now or never. it's a bit more 'hard core'," he used air quotes around hardcore, "than some of our other stuff but reggie, i think you'll like the bass line in this." luke brought the notebook over to julie and reggie, who huddled to either side of him, looking at the lyrics and written in guitar and bass chords. "i figured we could run through it together, even if it's a bit messy."

julie was practically beaming as she read over the music, she loved play rock music and even though there were no piano parts she was sure she could figure something out. "do you happen to have the lyrics written down on other paper so i could take that over to the piano."

"oh uh... yeah i wrote it down a bit better on another paper hold on," luke went over to shelf and rummaged through some papers while reggie worked on figuring out the chord progression with the notebook open on a stool in front of the stool he was sitting on. eventually luke came back with the extra "sheet music" for julie and the three started playing the song.

Take off
Last stop
Countdown till we blast open the top
Face first
Full charge
Electric hammer to the heart
luke was playing the song at a much slower pace than he originally intended, mostly to let julie and reggie keep up and follow along.

Clocks move faster
Cause it's all we're after now
julie and reggie joined in singing the lyrics this time, already catching on to the vibe of the song, even if they were playing it acoustic and without drums. julie added in a bit of a chunkier chord she was certain would've sounded better on guitar, but still sounded kinda cool on the piano.

Won't stop climbing
this time just julie dropped out of singing along, letting reggie and luke have the lyrics to themselves.
Cause this is our time, yeah
the two were practically singing to each other, to reggie's own surprise that he could still play the bass line he barely knew and sing the lyrics he had looked over maybe 4 times without getting distracted by the guitarist's eyes. reggie only stopped singing when luke half shoved his shoulder.
When all the days felt black and white
Those were the best shades of my life

Don't look down
julie and reggie joined back into the harmony again, this time julie having finally figured out something to play instead of standing around awkwardly when she wasn't singing.
Cause we're still rising
Up right now
And even if we
Hit the ground
We'll still fly
Keep dreaming like we'll live forever
But live it like it's now or never

the next line had been designated to alex already, but with the drummer not jamming with them julie instinctively started sing alex's part.
We ain't searching for tomorrow (tomorrow)
reggie sang out in response to julie's last words, which definitely wasn't written down but it just felt right.
Cause we got all we need today (today)
as julie continued singing alex's part, reggie kept repeating back her final lyrics. they both left luke to sing his next line.
Living on a feeling that's been running through our veins
the bassist took the next line, which was probably meant to be sung by luke considering he started to sing it and then stopped when he heard reggie singing.
We're the revolution that's been singing in the rain

suddenly all three of them were harmonizing again for the final chorus, truly feeling the flow of the music and focusing more on having fun than sounding good.
Don't look down
Cause we're still rising
Up right now
And even if we
Hit the ground
We'll still fly
Keep dreaming like we'll live forever
But live it like it's now or never
It's now or never

as the final chord of the song came to a close all three of the performers were at a lack of breath, even just from an acoustic performance.

"that. was. awesome!" julie shouted throwing her hands in the air.

reggie was still half hyperventilating as he nodded in agreement, "i don't know how we did that so well just sight reading..."

"i don't know either... but those responses you did for julie's, well technically alex's, parts were awesome. i don't know why i never thought of that." luke was back to staring into reggie's soul as he half leaned on his guitar, which was still in position to be played as he sat on the stool next to reggie.
reggie had been staring right back into the guitarist's eyes when julie's phone started ringing.

"shoot- sorry guys it's my dad. reg we probably have to leave."

reggie gulped and forced himself to tear his eyes from luke's. "yeah... yep." his voice cracked slightly as he took the bass strap off his shoulder and set the bass back on the stand. julie had answered the phone and confirmed with her dad she was heading home.

luke led his new band mates back upstairs and to the front door. "i uh... guess i'll see you friday for rehearsal? same time and place obviously."

julie nodded and told luke to say goodbye to his mom for her before heading out the door to reggie's car.
"so... you and julie?" luke asks with a smirk.

"what?" reggie raises an eyebrow and realizes what luke means, "what!? oh god no! her family is basically my family, it would be like dating a sister. either way i prefer guys." as soon as the words were out of his mouth reggie wanted to run straight into the sun.

"oh that's cool" suddenly they both hear the car horn go off. reggie turns around to see julie leaning over to the driver's side, her hand hovering over the horn.
"well i guess that's your cue," luke laughed and they both shook their heads. "see you friday."

"see you friday luke."

~•~

it was about 2 months later and sunset curve's official first gig. they were performing where it had all started, the molina family coffee shop. the band was on stage performing the first song they ever had played together.

"we're sunset curve and tonight... it's now or never."

alex gave the 3 count and suddenly the whole band was whisked away into the world of music. it was a whirlwind of giving the crowd everything and the crowd sending that energy right back to them. when they came up on the pre-chorus luke nodded reggie over to him and they shared luke's mic. they'd rehearsed it so many times before, but the energy of rehearsal wasn't anywhere near the energy of performing for a crowd.
as always reggie got caught in luke's eyes while they sang, imagining that there was no one else in the room aside from himself and the guitarist. once again luke had to practically shove reggie away before continuing on. there was so much energy just in the two lines they sang together that the crowd got even louder.
the calmest portion of the song started, where none of the group actually played but were clapping and singing in rhythm, prompting the audience to do the same. luke swung his guitar around his shoulder and the whole crowd, and the band's own bassist, stared at him in awe. reggie nearly forgot to keep playing, he was so starstruck.
as the last chord of the song rang out everyone cheered for the band and reggie and julie turned to face each other, meeting in the middle of the stage for a hug, as luke came over and gave reggie and julie high fives before giving alex one from over the drum kit.

luke then went back to his microphone, "this has been sunset curve!" before the audience could freak out again reggie was up at his own microphone.

"tell your friends!" that truly led to the uproar as the rest of the band laughed at reggie and exited the stage.

~•~

a few hours later, after the crowd had cleared out, the band was sitting around a table at the coffee shop. willie had joined them and was sitting next to alex, the two of them in their own world, when the group heard the bell above the door jingle.
julie was up and over at the door instantly, hugging the girl who had walked in. they walked hand in hand over to the table sitting down together.

"reggie, alex, you both already know flynn," julie stated as the other girl waved, "but i figured i'd reintroduce her to you now that we're dating."
reggie's jaw dropped as alex half squealed. luke and willie just looked between the two guys and the back to julie and flynn, a bit confused.

"what is going on-" luke sighed.

alex was the one to respond with, "i have been waiting for this day... since i first started working here." julie and flynn just laughed, which prompted a bit more confusion on luke's part.

"ok so basically," reggie turned to luke to explain, "these two have been best friends since they were like 5. and alex and i have been trying to figure out which of them would tell the other they liked each other for 3 months." it finally clicked for luke why his band mates were so excited and it made him excited as well.

"that's really awesome you guys!"

"not as awesome as that performance!" flynn smiled, "you guys were amazing."

"i thought you just got here?" alex responded, he was very sure flynn had only just walked in the door.

"oh no i was here earlier. i had to go to my house for a while but julie invited me to come back and hang out." the rest of the group nodded along with flynn's answer before she continued, "by the way, the chemistry between you two was great." she had motioned between luke and reggie while she spoke.

flynn's statement caused reggie to flush, the bassist was certain his face was on fire, and luke to open and close his mouth s few times, like he was trying to come up with a response.
the rest of the group laughed and flynn told them she was just teasing.

"i'm uh... gonna go make some hot cocoa," the bassist excused himself from the table. the rest of the group responded in hopes reggie would make them some as well, to which he agreed.

"i'll come uh... help you make them." luke stood up and followed reggie behind the counter.

"how much y'all willing to bet they're dating by the end of the month?"

"flynn, i'll give you to the end of the week." alex laughed.

~•~

"hey, can we talk?" luke asked, following reggie to the storage room, where the hot cocoa was be stored (considering it was early spring).

"technically we already are, but sure." reggie reached up to the top shelf trying to get the hot cocoa, and struggling.

"let me-" luke tried to offer assistance but reggie shook his head.

"i got it," he jumped up and grabbed the box but instead of land on his feet he stumbled right into luke's arms.

"hey..."

"uh... hi?"

"don't go falling for me that easy," luke winked.

reggie sighed as he pulled away reluctantly, "wouldn't dream of it. so what did you want to talk about?" reggie had started walking to the door back out into the rest of the shop, but luke grabbed his wrist and pulled him back gently.

"could we uh... talk in here? it's a bit more private." reggie just nodded as an answer while luke sighed. "ok so i uh... oh god this is so awkward i've never had to do this before."

"do what exactly?"

luke took a breath, "tell a cute guy that i like him."

reggie's eyes widened. "you like me?"

"yeah. i think i have for a while i just didn't realize it until our last rehearsal and then again today on stage."

"oh."

luke could feel his confident facade fading away slowly as he realized reggie probably didn't feel the same.

"i kinda like you too luke."

"really?"

"yeah. i think i have since i saw you here the first time i ever got coffee here. you're mostly the reason i started coming back." after reggie spoke he realized how close the two of them were and how many subconscious steps forward they must've taken. suddenly there were two arms wrapped around his back as the slightly shorter boy hugged him. reggie pulled luke even closer to him, wrapping his own arms around the guitarist's shoulders and holding him tightly.

(A/N: sorry this is so long... i really wanted to write a coffee shop au but didn't have enough ideas for a full fledged multiple chapter story.)

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