Silhouette

Chapter Four

Unedited

"God, I need coffee..." I groaned as I pushed the duvet covers off me. I dragged myself out of bed and stumbled into my kitchen, blindly touching the surfaces of my counter looking for a coffee capsule to put into my coffee machine. My right hand reached for the packaging of coffee capsules. There was nothing inside. I tossed the useless thing in the trash.

"Great..." I said in frustration as I made my way over to my toilet. My mood was even darker than it was before.

Picking out an outfit that would enable me to hide my face from the world, I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face before shoving my feet into my dirty trainers.

I locked the door behind me and walked quickly to the coffee shop I had chanced upon moving day. The wind blew at me cruelly as if to mock my decision to wear shorts on a cold Autumn morning. My footsteps quickened as the coffee shop came to view and I signed in relief as I open the door with a soft ding.

I walked and breathe in the smell of coffee beans, instantly feeling much better as the coffee shop seemed to have me embraced in its warmth.

I joined the short queue and patiently waited my turn to order as I browsed through the coffee options.

"Hi, what can I get for you today?"

"Hi, I would like a-" I stopped halfway while meeting the gaze of someone awfully familiar.

"Lucas?"

"Oh, hello Willow! Small world isn't it?"

"Y-yeah..." I stammered.

"So, what can I get for you? Perhaps I can interest you with one of our best-sellers? Our Expresso Love or maybe our Aroma Mocha?" He asked in an upbeat tone.

Seeing no harm in trying something new, I replied "Sure, any of those two would be fine. Also, can I get an egg and cheese sandwich, heated up?"

"Of course! That would be $8.99."

Tapping my card over the card reader, he and I exchanged friendly smiles while we waited for the transaction to be approved.

"Alright, thank you. Why don't you take a seat and I would bring you your meal shortly?"

I nodded my head in thanks and headed to a table close to the floor-to-ceiling windows. I watched as customers went in and out of the coffee shop, each either holding onto a cup of coffee or a pastry of sorts from this cafe.

"Hey, here's your coffee brewed by yours truly," Lucas said jolting me out of my daydream as he gently placed the sandwich I had ordered and the hot coffee in my hands.

Looking at the cup in my hands, I breathe in the aroma of coffee with a hint of mocha while admiring the coffee art the barista had so carefully made.

"Thank you," I said before taking a sip of my coffee.

"Wow, this is really good! You made this?" I asked in astonishment, unable to fathom Lucas being serious and making this.

"Yep! Glad you enjoy it." He said while plastering a smug smirk on his face.

"Dang... I wish I can drink this every morning without having to take the fifteen-minute walk here." I joked while taking another sip out of the steaming cup.

"Actually, I don't mind. Do you have a coffee machine at your place? I can make coffee for you every morning. I mean, we're neighbors so it's really convenient for me anyways."

"I couldn't... I would feel like I am taking advantage of you. That wouldn't be fair..." I replied even though I so desperately wanted him to make coffee for me. I mean, it was really good coffee.

"Hmm, how about this. Can you cook?" Lucas probed.

"Uh, yeah? I can whip something up." I replied confused about why my cooking skills had to do with anything.

"Well, I kinda suck at cooking so how about I make coffee for you and you make a meal for me in exchange? Does that sound fair?" Lucas suggested.

He does seem like a nice guy.

"Okay. Here's an extra key to my flat." I said as I removed the spare key I had attached to my keyring before tossing it to him.

"I'm gonna trust that you won't murder me in my sleep kay?" I said jokingly as I observed how he tipped his head back and barked out laughter.

"Don't worry, I'm not Ted Bundy," Lucas replied as he stood up to get back to his position at the cashier.

I smiled and shook my head as I sipped my coffee and nibbled on the sandwich. This was definitely a nice place.

~~~~

Hello, my lovely readers! Dangg, I am on a roll right now. Updating two days in a row? Wow!

Anyways, jokes aside, I just wanna take my time and thank each and every one of you for reading this. I truly appreciate you all!

And before I get too emotional and ugly-sob all over my keyboard, please do not be a silent reader, do comment and smash that little star at the end of the page!

Thank you and happy reading!

XoXo,

Paris