#stephen stills x wallace wells | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

saltscorner · 1 year ago

Text

Coffee shop au Scollace

4.8k words

Ao3 link:

Holy shit. Holy shiiiit

Scott really screwed up this time.

He had spent the whole day playing the new Sonic game and completely forgot about band practice today.

Well, he knew in his mind that he should’ve started preparing, but he couldn’t help it. He kept glancing nervously at the clock between levels. He watched the hands slowly tick closer and closer to six o’clock but he figured he’d be able to play at least one more level before needing to leave. Suddenly one level turned into two and next thing he knew, it was fifteen past six.

He slammed his controller down and threw on his shoes clumsily. His heels stuck out and his shoes were lazily tied together but he didn’t have the time to fix it, it was just Kim and Stephen after all, he didn’t have to impress them. He grabbed his coat off the hanger and pushed his scrawny arms through the arm holes a bit rushed.

Scott threw his bass bag over his shoulder and slammed open the door and locked it in a rush before hurrying out.

Of course this would happen to him on the one day he actually needed to do something important. His phone was already blowing up in his pocket, vibrating so much that he was afraid it was going to explode. The snow slushed under his converse as he carefully grabbed his phone out of his pocket, taking a shaky breath to prepare himself to face Kim’s scolding.

Sure enough, there were dozens of missed calls from Kim and angry messages shouting obscenities so foul that Scott winced as if he was actually facing the redhead’s wrath. He dialed her number, shaking his hands in the air to try and heat it up so he could control his hand a bit more.

The phone began to ring and Kim picked up almost immediately. Scott’s life flashed before his eyes a little bit when she started to scream in his ear. “SCOTT,” She screamed, almost bursting his eardrums. Maybe it was a mistake to put her on speakerphone. He carefully pulled the phone far away from his ear as he winced in pain and rubbed the back of his neck to soothe himself.

“Heyyyyy Kim,” He dragged out the greeting in an attempt to sound casual and nonchalant. Keyword, he attempted. He sounded almost pathetic, his voice high pitched and laced with nervous energy. Even he cringed at how the words came out of his mouth.

“Where the hell are you? Practice was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago.”

“Yeah well, you know what they say, it’s better to be fashionably late, right?” Scott chuckled a bit to lessen the tension between them. He could hear her sigh from the other line.

“You completely forgot didn’t you?” She deadpanned, he forgot how easily she could see through him. He was caught.

“Come on, Kim,” He kicked a particularly hard piece of snow. Or was it ice now? Didn’t matter. “I wouldn’t say I forgot, I just lost track of time,” he exclaimed defensively. He didn’t mean to forget, he was just too caught up with the game. So it wasn’t really his fault, right? It’s the game developers’ fault for making the game so addictive.

Scott shook his head to knock some sense into himself. How could he blame Sonic? Sonic did nothing wrong.

“Alright, listen,” he toyed in his mind with the types of responses that would be less likely to get his ass kicked into tomorrow. But knowing Kim, there was no winning either way here. “How about I get us some coffee or something? Stacey works at Second Cup now, I’m sure I can get us a discount. It’ll be on me.”

After a beat of silence, Scott was starting to get a bit anxious about how she would respond. “Fine. Stephen wants his coffee with a few pumps of vanilla and you better get me a cup of whatever holiday drink they have now.”

“Yes!” Scott pumped his hand in the air victoriously. “But if you mess this up, Scott, I promise I will shove my drumsticks so far down your throat that you’ll be tasting my wrath for the rest of your pathetic life,” she threatened him.

Scott shivered and let out a nervous hum of approval before hanging up.

That could have gone smoother.

He sighed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his parka to warm himself up as he approached the coffee shop. He was lucky it was on the way to practice or else he was sure that he would be dead by now.

The shop was brightly lit and decorated in wreaths that were covered in the show that fell the prior week. It looked as cozy as a chain company can look. But beggars couldn’t be choosers.

Scott took a hand out of his pockets and opened the door, struggling slightly before realizing it was a pull door. He let out a defeated sigh before stepping into the store. The smell of roasted coffee beans hit his nose all at once which made it scrunch up, it was far too strong.

He walked up to the counter and fumbled with his jean pockets in frustration to try and get his wallet out before ordering. He smiled and looked up to the barista who would be serving him. He expected to see the disappointed face of his younger sister but his eyes widened when he realized he didn’t.

Instead, Scott found himself face to face with a taller male. He looked up a bit to see how this new guy was. Scott doesn’t think he’s ever seen this guy before, but then again he only ever comes when his sister is on the shift. This foreign guy had black hair that reached a little under his ears. He was wearing a warm sweater that had a white button up underneath it. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He seemed to be crossing his arms. His dark eyes were staring at Scott in annoyance.

“Hello? Are you there, guy?” The guy asked, waving a face in front of Scott’s face to get his attention. “Are you going to order or do I have to chase you out with the broom?” He asked with a raised eyebrow, clearly not in the mood to deal with dumb customers. He pointed his thumb back at the broom behind him.

Scott realized he was staring for far too long and he felt his face heat up in embarrassment. He let out a nervous chuckle. And started to open his mouth and close it again as he tried to speak but no good words were coming out.

The barista chuckled a bit and put his hands on his hips as he watched the shorter male stumble on his words. “Easy there, guy. I asked for your order, not for the meaning of life.” Scott finally met the gaze of this barista and gulped deeply before starting again.

“Right, yeah, you’re right.” Scott clenched his parka in an attempt to calm the racing of his heart. “One coffee with pumps of vanilla,” Scott started to shift on his heels. He had no clue why it was so hard to stay calm around this new barista. He’s come here thousands of times and has never been this nervous around a new worker. “And another of the uh…”

He scanned the menu in panic trying to find something Kim would like. “What is your best holiday drink?” He asked the barista with an apologetic look written all over his face.

The barista just smirked a bit and responded, “Peppermint macchiato, normally I hate making those things but I think I’ll make an exception for you.” Scott’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion at his comment but just nodded his head slowly as he ordered.

“What name should I put for the order?” The barista asked as he rang him up.

“Oh! Scott, the name is Scott,” Scott tried to give him a smile but it was a bit wobbly.

The barista looked Scott up and down a bit before smirking down at him. “Cute name, I’ll get it out for you in a minute, handsome.” With that, he winked at him which confused Scott.

Scott paid for the drinks and leaned against a table awkwardly as he waited for them to be finished being made. He always hated this part of ordering out. He started to think back on what the barista was saying to him.

Maybe he was just being friendly? Scott decided to go with that explanation before his thoughts were interrupted with the barista calling out his name.

As the barista handed Scott his drinks, Scott couldn’t help but look at the name tag on his sweater. Wallace. That was his name, huh? “Oh er, thank you, Wallace! Have a good night,” he waved his hand before running out of the shop and making his way to practice.

Wallace.

Yeah. Scott thinks he could get used to seeing him there more often.

Scott finally got to practice and jiggled the knob with his free hand before he finally got it open and he stepped inside. There he saw his bandmates sitting there messing with their instruments. They turned their heads towards the noise of the door shutting and Stephen’s face lit up at the sight of his coffee. He swiftly grabbed his cup and blew on it before taking a sip of it with a satisfied smile.

Kim, on the other hand, did not look quite as impressed and was not as easily as pleased as Stephen was.

Scott nervously handed Kim her requested drink, hoping the peppermint macchiato that Wallace requested would somewhat make up for his tardiness. She snatched the cup angrily and eyed it carefully before she glared at Scott critically and scanned him up and down. She took a deliberate sip of her drink before looking at the cup and grunting a bit in approval.

"Alright, Pilgrim. You might have just saved yourself from a drumstick-induced demise. But this better not become a habit," she warned, pointing the coffee stirrer at him like a tiny weapon, threatening him a bit before taking another sip.

Scott nodded frantically, relieved that the coffee peace offer seemed to be working. As they settled into their band practice, the tension lifted, and the familiar chords of their music filled the room.

He couldn’t help but stumble over a few cords but he tried to get back on track. There was no way that he could mess up twice in one day and keep his life. Yet, in the back of Scott's mind, he couldn't shake the image of Wallace, the charming barista with the smirk and the wink.

At the end of the song, Scott looked at his bandmates expectantly, waiting to hear what song they wanted to play next. Instead, they were both looking at Scott like he had grown two heads. They have always looked at him a bit weird but this was weird, even for them.

“What?” Scott asked as he gripped his bass closer to his chest. His eyes darted between the two, looking at their strange expressions. “Do I have something on my face?” He exclaimed while covering his face, trying to wipe whatever might be on it off. He was growing anxious by their unusual silence.

“You kind of sucked that last song, man,” Stephen said, biting his lip anxiously and fidgeting with the mic, moving it up and down. “Like we usually suck but not that bad.”

“Sorry guys, I’m just a bit distracted,” Scott mumbled apologetically, messing with the strings on his instrument as he spoke.

Kim let out an exasperated sigh and leaned back against her drum set. "Distracted? Really, Scott? We have a gig next week, and you're 'distracted'? What's going on?"

Scott shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the practice space as if the answers to Kim's questions were written on the walls. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to spill the beans about his encounter with Wallace at the coffee shop.

"So, I was running late because of this Sonic game, right? And I thought I'd make it up by grabbing coffee for everyone. There's this new barista, Wallace. Tall, dark hair, and he's got this... you know…smirky thing going on. Anyway, I got us some drinks, and he called me 'handsome' and winked. Now I can't get him out of my head. But not in a gay way you know. Just like…a confused way.”

Stephen burst into laughter, nearly dropping his guitar pick but he picked it up before it fell. "Dude, you're distracted by a barista? That's the most Scott thing I've ever heard."

Kim rolled her eyes, but a small smirk played on her lips. "Alright, Sonic fanboy, get your head in the game. We've got a gig to prep for, and if you mess this up because of some barista, I swear I'll make you listen to Justin Bieber for a month straight."

Scott gulped, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Okay, okay. I'll focus. No more distractions. Promise."

They continued to practice and it went a lot smoother, mostly out of fear of Kim’s threats. But, Scott couldn’t shake the thought of Wallace away still. He figured it would go away once he went to bed tonight.

Practice ended and Scott sighed and flopped down onto his bed after moving the dirty clothes off of it and onto the floor. He laid down on his back and stared at the ceiling, hands resting on his stomach as he went over the events of the day.

He knew he just had to see Wallace again. He needed to get to know him more.

The morning came and the tall barista was still on his mind. Scott stretched his arms out with a long yawn before deciding to get changed for the day. He zipped up his parka and decided to head back to the Second Cup. He tried to rationalize the reason behind his decision.

It’s just to get a drink.

But even he didn’t quite believe that excuse.

He walked into the second cup and the familiar scent hit his nose as tried to adjust his outfit. He wanted to appear a lot more composed than he was actually feeling at that moment.

His face dropped a bit when he saw his sister behind the counter. She let out an exaggerated groan as she placed her hands onto the counter. She rolled her eyes and placed her hand on her hips.

“Scott, I can’t keep giving you handouts, you’re going to get me fired. Then, guess who really won’t be getting his free shit?” It was way too early in the morning for her to deal with her brother’s antics and it was obvious.

“Come on Stacey, just this once? I really need this today,” Scott begged, gripping harder on the counter. He was squirming around desperately as he looked at Stacey with puppy-dog eyes.

Stacey sighed, relenting a bit at his puppy-dog eyes. "Fine, but this is the last time. And don't let Julie know. She’ll be on my case about giving away free drinks again, and you know how she gets when she’s pissed."

"Deal!" Scott nodded vigorously, already feeling a sense of triumph. He approached the counter, scanning the room for any sign of Wallace. However, when he reached the front, there was no trace of the familiar face.

"Where's Wallace?" Scott blurted out, the question escaping before he could think better of it.

Stacey smirked, catching on to her brother's fascination. Her eyebrow quirked up in amusement "Oh, you mean the new guy? He's on his fifteen minute break. Why? Are you into him or something?"

Scott's cheeks reddened and he put his hands up defensively as he stammered, "What? No, I just... wanted coffee. That's all. Can’t a guy just want a pick me up?"

Stacey chuckled, pouring the requested coffee as she eyed her brother up and down, noticing his nervous fidgeting. "Sure, Scott. Just be careful. He's a flirt. He has a way of getting guys all worked up."

Scott mumbled a quick thanks and was about to walk away before placing his cup down on the counter again. He opened his mouth and closed it immediately before just spitting out what he wanted to say

“Is it ok if I just wait here for a few minutes for Wallace? I just really want to talk to him for a bit, you know. Just to talk,” he repeated that last part as if he was trying to reassure himself. He was hyping himself up more than anything.

Stacey gave him a weird look before shrugging a bit and heading over to tend to another customer. “Sure, knock yourself out, Scott.”

Scott shifted in his seat nervously as he waited for Wallace to finish his break. Fifteen minutes felt so long and he caught himself impatiently checking the time every few seconds. He tried to act casual, glancing around the small coffee shop, pretending to be interested in the decorations that adorned the walls. His mind, however, was more fixated on the barista he was so eager to talk to.

After what felt like an eternity, he spotted Wallace making his way back to the counter, wiping his hands on a cloth that was hanging on his belt. Scott's palms grew sweaty, and he took a deep breath to steady himself. As Wallace approached, their eyes met, and a small smile tugged at the corners of Wallace's lips as he recognized Scott.

"Hey, Scott, right? Back for more, hm?" Wallace teased, his voice carrying a playful tone.

Scott chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, well, your coffee is... addictively good. You’re really good at your job."

Wallace laughed, a sound that sent a pleasant shiver down Scott's spine. He liked the sound of his laugh a lot more than he should. "Yeah, that’s kind of why I got the job. But, I'm flattered. What can I get you today?"

Scott cleared his throat, suddenly feeling the weight of the moment on his chest. He struggled to find a way to articulate his sudden interest. "Actually, I was wondering if you're free after your shift. Maybe we could grab a coffee or something?"

Wallace arched an eyebrow, his playful demeanor turning into genuine interest. He is obviously taken aback at his request. "You asking me out, guy?"

Scott's face turned a shade redder, but he managed to nod. "Yeah, I mean, just as friends. Two guys you know. Going out as friends. Ok, point is..I want to get to know you better."

Wallace smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Sure, why not? I could use a nice coffee, nothing here is that great anyway. Meet me here when my shift ends?"

Scott grinned, a mixture of excitement and nervousness bubbling within him. "Absolutely. I'll be here."

As Wallace went back to preparing drinks, Scott took a moment to savor the victory. A confident smile made its way onto his face. He couldn't believe he'd worked up the courage to ask Wallace out. Now, all he had to do was survive the rest of the day until their coffee date.

Eventually, Wallace’s shift came to an end and Scott was waiting outside the shop for him to come out. His stomach was swarming with butterflies, but he swallowed and pushed it down.

What was he nervous about? It was just a friendly hang out between two guys. It’s not like he asked him out on a date.

Scott's heart raced as he saw Wallace exit the coffee shop. Wallace flashed a warm smile, giving Scott a friendly wave. Scott scurried over to join him by his side. The two began to walk together, the conversation flowing easily as they strolled down the sidewalk.

As they chatted about various topics, Scott found himself enjoying Wallace's company more and more. There was something about the way Wallace spoke and the laughter that seemed to bubble up naturally as they talked that made Scott feel at ease. The coffee hang out turned into a longer conversation, and Scott realized he was genuinely having a great time. His nerves had almost completely disappeared around Wallace.

After a while, Wallace glanced at Scott with a toothy grin. "You know, for a Sonic fan, you're not half bad."

Scott chuckled, appreciating the good-natured teasing. "Hey, Sonic isn’t bad at all! It’s a masterpiece, you have no clue what art is But spending time with you is way better."

Wallace rolled his eyes playfully and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Smooth, Scott. Real smooth."

As they continued to walk and talk, Scott couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement about this unexpected connection, it seemed like they were really starting to be friends.

But of course the night had to end eventually. “This is my place, I guess we should call it a night, huh?” Wallace leaned against the doorway slightly, looking at Scott.

“Oh! Yeah, I guess we should,” Scott rubbed the back of his head nervously. He really didn’t want to end the night so soon. He was starting to feel really comfortable around Wallace.

“See you tomorrow at the shop? Around the same time?” Wallace asked teasingly, ruffling Scott’s hair, making it messier than it already was.

Scott grinned, the gesture making him feel giddy. His face felt warm but he decided to blame it on the cold weather. "Yeah, I'll be there. Coffee's not gonna drink itself, right?"

Wallace chuckled, and as Scott turned to leave, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned his head back a bit to see Wallace with a genuine smile on his face.

"I had a great time, Scott. Thanks for today," Wallace said, sincerity in his eyes.

Scott's heart skipped a beat at the sight of his smile. Wallace looked straight out of a fairytale. "Yeah, me too. We should definitely do it again."

With that, Scott walked away, the night air feeling a bit cooler as he replayed the evening in his mind. He had a giant smile on his face as he started to walk home. He couldn’t wait for tomorrow. Wallace was truly something.

As days and weeks passed, Scott found himself making more frequent trips to Second Cup, strategically planning his visits to coincide with Wallace's shifts. Each encounter left him more intrigued by the flirty barista. The casual banter, the playful winks, it all fueled Scott's curiosity. Each new thing that he learned about Wallace added to the weird feeling in his stomach whenever they talked.

One day Scott opened the doors of Second Cup and as he scanned the shop, brightly colored hair caught his eye.

He didn’t recognize this girl. She must have been a new hire or something. But, he couldn’t seem to look away from her. Her vibrant hair was a stark contrast to the usual atmosphere of the shop. He walked up to her curiously.

He scanned her name tag and saw that her name was Ramona .Scott couldn't help but be drawn to Ramona's unique look, and he found himself struck by curiosity. As he approached the counter, she glanced up, meeting his gaze with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Hey there! What can I get you?" Ramona greeted with a friendly smile.

Caught off guard, Scott stammered a bit before managing to place his usual order. "Uh, yeah, coffee with extra sugar please."

Ramona raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing Scott's flustered state. "Sugary coffee, huh? Is that your secret to staying upbeat?"

Scott chuckled nervously, realizing he was being teased. "Yeah, you caught me. It's my secret weapon against the daily grind."

Ramona laughed, a sound that resonated with warmth. "Well, good choice. Coming right up."

“Thanks, uh by the way, I don’t think I’ve seen you before, are you new here?” Scott asked.

Ramona nodded, adjusting a strand of her vibrant hair. "Yeah, just started. It's been a fun change of pace. Oh, and I'm Ramona, by the way."

They chat for a bit as she makes his order with a smile. As she finishes up she writes her number on the receipt. Scott looks over it with a smile and waves as he walks away from the counter.

Scott’s eyes catch a glimpse of Wallace’s comfy sweater and waves him over with a wide smile. Wallace notices and a smile makes its way onto his face.

“Hey guy, what’s up?” Wallace sits down next to Scott and leans his cheek against his hand.

“That new girl, Ramona just gave me her number, isn’t that great?” Scott grins and shows off the number on the receipt.

Wallace's smile faltered slightly as he glanced at the receipt, his expression turning more strained. "Oh, that's... cool. Good for you, Scott," he replied, the playful tone replaced by a hint of disappointment.

Scott sensed a shift in the atmosphere and frowned, realizing that perhaps sharing this news with Wallace wasn't the best idea. "Yeah, I thought so too. She seems nice."

Wallace shrugged casually, trying to play it off. "Yeah, whatever. People exchange numbers all the time, right?"

Scott hesitated, noticing the change in Wallace's demeanor. "Hey, is everything okay?"

Wallace forced a smile. "Yeah, just another long day in the shop. Enjoy your sugary coffee, Scott. Maybe I'll see you around."

As Wallace got up to leave, Scott couldn't shake the feeling that he had unintentionally stirred up some unresolved emotions. He glanced back at the receipt with Ramona's number, conflicted by the sudden tension in the air.

Ever since Ramona gave Scott her number, Wallace has been avoiding Scott. Every time Scott tries to come up and talk to him, Wallace just makes someone else take his order. Scott’s been missing Wallace a lot but he’s been hanging out a lot with Ramona to distract himself.

She was nice and they meshed really well together, but she wasn’t Wallace. Every laugh they shared ended up reminding of Wallace. It frustrates him a lot.

Today he decided that he had enough and he needed to confront Wallace and find out what was going on. He doesn’t know what made him get in this funk. It just wasn’t adding up to him.

Scott went to Second Cup again and Wallace spotted him immediately. He was about to walk away when Scott grabbed Wallace by the arm and dragged him to the side room.

In the secluded room, Scott looked at Wallace with a mix of frustration and concern. "What's going on, Wallace? You've been avoiding me, and I deserve an explanation."

Wallace sighed, trying to evade the question. "It's nothing, Scott. Just busy with work and stuff."

Scott's patience wore thin, and his frustration bubbled up. "Cut the crap Wallace. We used to be friends, but now it feels like you're avoiding me on purpose. What's the deal?"

Wallace's expression shifted, his eyes reflecting a mix of anger and something else that Scott couldn’t place. "Fine, you want to know? Maybe I'm tired of watching you chase after every person with a pulse. Ramona, seriously?"

Scott's eyes widened in surprise for a second, then narrowed in frustration. "What does it matter to you who I hang out with or talk to? It's none of your business."

Wallace clenched his jaw, his irritation evident. "Maybe I care about you more than you think, which you clearly don’t care about, and watching you flaunt that number around just rubbed me the wrong way."

Scott's eyebrows shot up, surprised by the unexpected revelation. He laughed in anger and disbelief. "Care about me? Wallace, you've been avoiding me for weeks. What am I supposed to think?"

Wallace huffed again, the frustration apparent in his eyes. He pointed his finger to Scot’s chest. "BECAUSE IM FUCKING IN LOVE WITH YOU! Maybe I shouldn't be, but I am. More than I should. Happy now?"

Scott felt a mix of emotions, but beneath it all was a glimmer of realization. "Why didn't you say anything before?"

Wallace looked away, his voice softer, catching his breath from his outburst . "Because it's complicated, and I didn't want to mess up our friendship."

Scott took a step closer, his frustration shifting into understanding. "Wallace, we need to talk about this, not avoid each other. I didn't know you felt this way. Maybe I... maybe I feel something for you too."

Wallace looked back at Scott, a mixture of hope and uncertainty in his eyes before parting his lips to protest. Before he could say anything, Scott leaned in, capturing Wallace's lips in a tentative yet meaningful kiss.

As their lips parted, Scott looked into Wallace's eyes, a mix of vulnerability and relief in his gaze. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Wallace sighed, his hand gently resting on Scott's cheek. "I was scared, Scott. Scared of ruining what we had."

Scott smiled, brushing his thumb against Wallace's hand. "Well, you don’t have to be scared anymore, alright?”

“Yeah, alright,” Wallace says with a smile, fully tangling their fingers together.

#scollace #scott pilgram vs the world #scott pilgram takes off #fluff #coffee shop au #scott x wallace #slight angst #first fanfic #scott pilgrim #wallace wells #ramona flowers #stephen stills #kim pine

38 notes · View notes