It's nice just to be asked*

Every Friday I "allow" myself to stop at Starbucks in the morning. It's a little treat I have at the end of every week. The truth is, if I could justify $25 a week on it, I'd stop every day.

Anyway, the friendly barristas have come to know my routine. I'm often their first customer of the day on Fridays due to my early working hours and it impresses me that every single Friday, they're in a good mood.

"Goooood morning!" They announce, in unison, as if the fact that me walking through the door is reason enough for celebration.

And for the last year and a half that I've kept this routine, a half-asleep "Hi!" is about all I've been able to muster. This morning was no different. So when the friendlier of the two barristas started chatting with me, I thought nothing of it.

"What are you up to for the weekend?"

"Not much. Running, cleaning, eating. You know, the usual. And you?"

"Oh probably just work and a few other things. We have some new coffees, do you want to try some samples?"

"Sure," I agree, because if it's free, it's for me.

"Okay, great!"

The barrista then proceeded to make me samples of six different teas and coffees. Some with milk, some with soy, some with syrup, some without and on and on. I sampled for a good fifteen minutes. All the while the other barrista looking over with raised eyebrows and a smirk on her face. I wondered if this was some conspiracy to send me to work bouncing off the walls, consequently getting me fired and not be able to afford Starbucks any more and therefore, they wouldn't have to deal with me at 5:30 a.m. ever again.

I was wrong.

As I sampled the final drink (Modo Green Tea or something odd like that) I told them thanks and proceeded to leave. As I turned to go, I heard the sample-crazy barrista say "Um...." and trail off.

"Did you say something?"

"Ummm, well, I was wondering..."

Oh geez, what's happening here, I thought. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, well, I just wanted to ask you, ummm.... do you ever go to poetry readings?"

"Oh, no, not really. I've only been to a few."

"Oh, okay. Well, if you ever want to, let me know. Have a good day!" Just as cheerful as ever.

And I looked at the other barrista, smirk still on her face, and said "Okay, ladies, see you later!" And then I just left. It took me until I got to my car to realize that I was pretty sure I'd just almost been asked out, by the Starbucks barrista, who is a woman.

Huh?

I've never been asked out- albeit half-way- by another woman before. Since I'm not a lesbian, perhaps this is not startling information. Nevertheless, I'm a little intrigued. I'm flattered, too. I mean, women in general can be so much more critical than men so if a woman is attracted to me, far be it from me to argue. The thing is, I'm also wondering if I gave out some sort of "vibe" that suggested I may be attracted to her? I would wonder about this with anyone I wasn't attracted to though, so I suppose I should not approach it any differently. I don't want my Starbucks routine to be weird. I really couldn't handle that. It's my normal staple at the end of chaotic weeks, it cannot change. So, I'll just continue with my routine, be friendly and not take any more samples? Will she be offended? Should I worry? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Was she even asking me out in the first place? I mean, I've never mentioned poetry before, so she wouldn't think I'd be interested, would she?

Do I even need to be asking these questions? Maybe it was some school project for her Sociology 101 course and I was a test subject. Yeah, that could be it.

*Also could be Good Thing or Bad Thing: Part 2