After Hours

3 - so tell me would you rather be alone?

Harbor, Bailey, and I finished up shopping by picking up a gift for Bailey's younger sister before we went home. We'd finished up just a little bit before Swindon Books closed, and I really had to stop myself from driving over there just to see if that girl was there. But come Monday afternoon, I was ready.

Unfortunately, the only issue was I couldn't go right after school. I had basketball practice and clubs during the week, so I slipped in around the same time I did the day we first met.

Upon entering the store, my eyes immediately drifted towards the counter, and I saw two employees still serving up coffee, but unfortunately, neither of them was her.

I tried going again on Tuesday, and I had similar luck. Then again on Wednesday, then Thursday, and still nothing. Finally, Friday came along.

At that point, I was pretty much expecting not to see her. I'd gone three times at that point to no avail, I figured it'd be another walk-in and walk-out situation. So quickly I scanned the counter, and almost stepped out of the shop and back into the cold when finally my eyes landed on auburn and blonde hair.

There she was. Gleefully, I stepped into line.

As the line grew shorter and the distance between us became smaller, I began to wonder what I was even expecting from this interaction.

Did I expect her to remember me? Because of course, a part of me was hoping for that, but I was just some customer of many who came in one evening and ordered a mocha peppermint coffee. Plus, that was almost a week ago. There's no way she'd remember my face.

When we were finally face to face, I'd kind of already ruined the experience for myself, but seeing her again made it worth it in a way. I'd spent so long fantasizing about seeing her again, I began to think she was just a figment of my imagination. But standing there was a pleasant reminder that I hadn't imagined the attractive stranger.

"Hi, what's up?" She said, then paused, and blushed. "Er...I mean, how can I help you? It's been a long day, I'm sorry." She chuckled.

I giggled, yet again finding her adorable. Ugh, stop making me fall for you Cute Barista I thought to myself. "You're fine." I grinned, unable to suppress it. "I'll have a peppermint mocha iced latte."

"Okay." She nodded, and suddenly we were in the same position we were last week. She gave me my drink, I paid, and then I went to sit down in a corner by the window. It made sense she didn't remember me, and I thought that I'd be prepared for that reaction. Although I found that I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

With a sigh, I looked out the window to see the slowly darkening sky behind the street of rushing cars. I wish it would snow, I found myself thinking, remembering that night. But there was nothing I could do about it, not making the barista remember me, or controlling the weather. So instead, I opened up my book and began to read.

After about an hour, I sensed the presence of someone else and looked up to see Cute Barista Girl sweeping the floor, but her eyes were on me. When we made eye contact, she blushed and smiled, which caused me to do the same. But what was most surprising was when she took the opportunity to walk over to me.

"That book you're reading..." She began. "It's the same book you were reading last time, right? One Last Stop?"

I smiled in confusion. So she did remember me? "Yeah, by Casey McQuiston," I confirmed, and she nodded with a grin.

"That's a good book." She said, leaning with her chin on the handle of the broom. "Are you liking it so far?"

"Yeah I am, it's really good!" I said and felt my heartbeat increase just a little. I'm having a whole conversation with her ohmygodohmygodohmygod. "I guess I'm a little bit worried though, cause they've just sort of gotten together and I've still got so much of the book left." I found myself continuing.