Chapter Text
Paul made his way into the coffee shop, as he did every Tuesday afternoon to work on his math homework. It was his routine: get coffee, work on math homework, and stare at the bookish girl who sat in the same stool in the corner of the shop. He always assumed she was doing the same thing, studying. But this Tuesday, an early December day, the girl was deep in what looked to be a notebook or a sketchbook, violently scratching her pencil against the paper.
Her headphones were wired to an iPod and she jammed to something Paul couldn’t tell. But she was obviously enjoying her time, gluing things down, drawing with markers and colored pencils.
Paul had completely forgotten his math homework, intrigued by how the girl was so into her work. It was only when she got up to get something from the baristas that he realized he was staring. He quickly looked back to the pile of paper in front of him with a frown. He started working, putting his own headphones in.
After an hour a shadow entering his view pulled his attention away from the math homework. He pulled a headphone out and looked up, it was the girl. His eyes widened in surprise, “H- Hi there! Uh.. Can I help you?”
She looked a little caught off guard, her hand raised in the air to tap on his shoulder, “Oh! Sorry, I was coming over to see if you needed help at all,” She paused, trying to figure out what she was asking, “I see you in here all the time, and uh I was wondering if you needed any help. You always seem to be struggling with whatever you’re working on. I’m Laura by the way.”
“Paul. My name. Uh.” He struggled to articulate, his autism was showing and a pretty girl was talking to him, “I- I um uh. Yeah, I could use some help, math is not my strong suit in the slightest. I’m more of an English kid. I love writing. I hate math and I- Sorry, I’m rambling.”
She laughed, a light airy laugh. She sat in the chair next to him at the small table, “No, it’s cute, no need to apologize.” She blushed at her own comment, “I mean- Let me see how I can help. I’m in pre-calc.”
They worked for a while, Laura showing Paul how to do certain equations and such. They flirt a bit and talk in between papers, “You know, I’ve never seen you at Sycamore before, why’s that?” Paul asked once they got through most of the pile.
“You go to Sycamore?” She asked before laughing that cute little laugh, “We hate you guys. Well not you specifically.”
Paul blushed, she liked him. He shook it off, “You go to Hatchetfield High?”
“I do,” she messed with her fingers, which were mostly well manicured other than the chipping black nail polish. Sparse freckles littered her skin, and Paul was staring again, “So.. Timberwolf aye?”
“Yes, I’m a timberwolf. Rawr-” He turned a bright embarrassed red, he worried Laura would find him too weird, “Sorry. I uh, I have no idea why I did that.”
She laughed again, frankly a bit harder than before, her lightly freckled nose wrinkling with joy. It was cute, at least Paul thought it was. Laura tucked some hair behind her ear, “You are something else, Paul. I have a feeling we’re gonna be good friends.” She checked her watch, eyes going wide as she saw the time, 6:30, “Oh shit I gotta go home. My mom and sister are waiting on me. Uh-” She collected her things before taking Paul’s pen from his hand. Laura scribbled on one of the scratch papers, a phone number. “That’s my cell,” She turns on her heel to the door, “Call me!”
Paul went through a whirlwind of emotions as she whipped through the coffee shop, oh he was in too deep. He cleaned up his homework and quickly added Laura’s number to his phone, ‘Latte Girl’. He smiled, he might have landed a friend, maybe even a girlfriend! Let’s not go that far. Paul let out a little giggle as Laura gave a goofy wave through the window as she passed. He shot her a message, a quick “Hi it’s Paul from the coffee shop! Thanks for the help!! :)’ He tried to make sure he wasn’t being cringy with his emoticon usage. Paul took his travel cup of straight black coffee and his backpack.
Paul’s motorola buzzed and he looked at the response from Laura, ‘Your a dork, Paul.’ He noted the misused ‘you’re’ and giggled. ‘You used the wrong you’re Laura. lol’. She came back with something quick ‘Don’t mock my grammar Paul! I was the one who was helping you with math.’ ‘Math has nothing to do with english!!’
Paul spent hours texting Laura; as he walked home, as he listened to his mom ramble on about her day, as he ate dinner, and worse, while he and his sister sat in his room chatting about their days. She smirked at him, “You got a sneaky link, Paul? I didn’t know you liked secrets like that buddy.”
“I don’t! I just made a friend,” He smiled at his phone again, Laura sent him a photo of her little sister, who appeared to be dressed like a disney princess, maybe like cinderella? Paul wasn’t sure but it was cute that Laura was sharing with him.
“What are you smiling at, Paul? Got a titty pic?” She snickered next to him in his desk chair, spinning around.
“Get out of here!” He chucked a pillow at his sister and she ran off to her room, laughing as she ran. Paul went back to his phone, giggling, and messaging Laura with a goofy grin plastered on his face. He might be in love but it’s way too early to call it that. But he was giddy, and a mad giggling mess.