I have recently discovered that a few of you are Starkids fans (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) so I'm making a Starkids inspired-fluffy chapter because damn i love references

(If you're unfamiliar with Starkid, I'd totally recommend checking them out on YouTube)
•••

Micheal stretches, standing up from his desk.
"Okay" he announces. "I'm gonna go get some coffee at Beanies. Anyone wanna come?"

Nobody looks up from their computers. He looks over to his neighbors desk.
"Jake?"

The brunette looks up from his computer, snapping back to reality.
"Sorry, I gotta keep refreshing this page. My ex Chloe was bragging earlier how she took our daughter all the way to New York to see Hamilton. But two can play at that game. I'm on HotTix right now, and I'm telling you, I'm gonna go get tickets to Mamma Mia!

Micheal raises his eyebrows.
"Wow. She'll enjoy that as much as Hamilton"

Jake smiles at him.
"it's a musical! Hey why don't you come along? You'll get a kick out of it"

Micheal sighs.
"Jake, no. Sorry"

"you got other plans?"

"Umm...no"

"so, you'd rather do nothing then come with us to see Mamma Mia?"

"Jake" Micheal doesn't know how to put it gently. "I'd rather do anything then go with Mamma Mia. The idea of sitting there, behind trapped in a musical. That's my own personal hell "

"I'm trying to reconnect with my teenage kid and you're just gonna leave me hanging?" Jake says.

"yeah. Sorry" Micheal snaps his fingers. "Uh... but hey! I'll grab you something from Beanies! My treat. What do you want?"

Jakes face falls. " I just want my daughter back"

Mixheal sucks in his teeth.
"how about a nice Caramel Frap? Nothing better!"

He claps Jakes shoulder, waking towards the door. A five foot four ball of pure intensity, stops him.
"hey you going to beanies?"

"yeah" Micheal replies quickly.

"you didn't invite me?"

"sorry Rich you wanna come?"

"nah nah nah" Rich throws up his hands.
"I don't wannna show you up"

Mixheal raises an eyebrow.
"what do you mean?"

"ah. Come on. I know why you walk the extra block instead of going to the Starbucks across the street" Rich rests his elbow on Micheals shoulder as he teases him.

Mixheal scoffs. "I-I don't wanna give my money to some corporate chain"

Rixh pulls a face. "uh huh uh huh. Are you sure it doesn't have anything to do with that cute little barista over there? Huh?"

Rich pokes Micheal in the side.
"the Latte Hot-tay?"

"okay bye bud" Micheal nearly runs out the door.

"HEY GET ME A CHAI ICE TEA OKAY?!" Rich yells out of him. "AY?! Ayyyyy"

Rich goes to walk back to his desk, but Jake catches his eyes. He taps the sad boy on the shoulder, and produces a sweet package from his pocket.

"Want a Red Vine? It'll make you feel better?"

Jake shrugs, taking a sweet. He bites happily into the candy, breaking into a smile.
"You're right. I do feel better"

Rich smiles. "Red Vines. There's nothing they can't do"

•••

A man in a long trenchcoat struts into Beanies, eyes glued to his phone. He swings next to the counter.
The barista turns to him.
"hi can I help you?"

The guy doesn't look up from his phone. He just props his elbow against the clustered counter.
"yeah yeah yeah can I get a grande caramel frap and a vente cup ten pumps of hazelnut three shots of espresso no caramel drizzle with whip on top?"

The barista, who's names is Jeremy, nods.
"sure. That'll be $5.50"

The guy rolls his eyes as Jeremy starts to make his coffee. "Jee-sus fine"

The guy pulls it a dollar from his pocket, and drops it in the tip jar. The large jar has a sign in front of it that reads, 𝒯𝒾𝓅 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝓈𝑜𝓃𝑔.

"hey" the guy smirks

"yeah?" Jermey replies.

"I just tipped you"

"oh. Well thank you" Jeremy smiles, getting back to the complicated coffee order.

"aren't you supposed to sing? The sign says tip for a song"

Jeremt chuckles.
"Um yeah that's like a new thing. The owner is obsessed with musicals. But I mean there's a line and people are working and I don't want to disturb anyone"
He dismisses the man and tries to eat back to work.

The guy scoffs.
"I don't care I just tipped you come on"

Jeremy snaps.
"well did you do it to be nice or did you do it to be an asshole?"

"fine! I'll take it back then!"
The guy shoves his hand in the jar and grabs the bill.

"oh no! What am I gonna do without that dollar I have to spilt with five other people?" Jeremy whines sarcastically.

"you know what? I'm never coming back here again? That signs bullshit" the guy turns on his heel, and marches away.

"oh my god so meeeean" Jeremy just flips him off.

Somewhere in that dramatic scene, Micheal walked into Beanies. He steps up to the counter, watching the rude man leave.

Jeremy spots Micheal at the counter.
" hi can I help you?"

Micheal offers a smile.
"yeah, I have an easy one for you. Just a cup of black coffee"

Jeremy nods. Michel takes a bill from his coat and drops it in the tip jar.

"Jesus really?" Jeremy exclaims.
"I've been brewing up your coffee-" he starts to sing.

"oh no no! I'm sorry no! I don't need you to sing" Micheal stops him, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "I just tipped because- you know, people should tip"

Jeremy smiles. "well thank you. I mean if I have to sing for it it's not really a tip right?"

"Exactly. I don't really get the whole singing thing"

"Not a music fan?"

"Music is fine. Musicals on the other hand . . ." Micheal throws his hands in the air. "If my own life was a musical, I think I'd die"

"Ha. I'll drink to that" Jeremy hands over Micheals cup of black coffee.
"Hey, you come in here a lot. What did you say your name was?"

"Micheal. Mell"

"Oh. I'm Jeremy"

"Pleasure to meet you Jeremy" Micheal smiles.

He hands over his money, and starts to walk the extra block back to the office. He takes a swig from the biodegradable cup, when he spots some writing on the side.

Iᑎ ᑕᗩᔕE YOᑌ EᐯEᖇ ᗯᗩᑎT TO ᑎOT ᔕEE ᗩ ᗰᑌᔕIᑕᗩᒪ Oᖇ ᔕOᗰETᕼIᑎG

Followed by Jeremy's phone number.
Micheal smiles to himself as he reaches his office building.

"Oh shoot I forgot Jakes Caramel Frap! Ah fuck Jake"

•••
I know what you're thinking:
"Did she take word for word dialogue from TGWDLM?"
And yes. Yes I did.

If you haven't seen The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals, the whole Things on YouTube. It's super funny and the actors and singers are amazing.

And yes, I republished this just so I could add a Red Vine reference

Mom message of the day: you need your fucking milk

(Also should I make a part two?)
- Avery