Where It All Started

3 - History

I don't normally do much in my free time. Nothing really exciting; like going camping or to amusement parks. I'm trying to save my money and, what's better than hanging out with my dog and reading? Or hanging out with my friend? Nothing.

Ace ♠️🖤

skateboarding?

park?

meet u there

i'll bring the music :))

good :)

Layla and I are both twenty three, but we will forever continue skateboarding to the lame park Willowbook has, and swing on the swings, listening to the music on the playlist we created forever ago.

'Ace' is also another name for Layla. Our reading obsession started on an app called Wattpad; where there are a bunch of stories beginner-writers write and post for viewers to read for free. The first book Layla read on that app was a book called 'Ace' and in that book, Ace's best friend was 'Ice'. When I read the book, we decided on nicknaming each other the best friends from one of our favorite stories, as us in real life. Now, it's been ten years, and we still have our contact name as those two best friends, because we are still best friends. It's a flex for sure. I make it to the park and Layla's already swinging on the swing, the speaker standing upright on her skateboard in front of the swings. "Heyyy" I jog up to her and toss my skateboard on the ground next to her and get on the blue-colored swing.

"Heyyy"

"So, you should tell me how it went last night with Rowe"

"Hmm, nahh" she giggles, pushing off the ground to swing higher in the air.

I do the same, "Uh yeahhh"

"Well then, he took me out to a nice dinner and then we went back to my apartment and watched a movie, that's it" she shrugs.

"Huh, okayyy Little Miss Vague"

"Whateverrr. So tell me, any news on Coffee Boy?"

"No, I wonder if he'll come in again on Monday...I'm really hoping he will"

"I hope so too, the way you keep describing him, you are making me excited that this may be your guy"

I smile to myself.

Today my shift starts at 8am and ends at 4pm. Mondays are crappy shifts. Sometimes there are big waves of people but then it's dead quiet. Plus, I have to get up an entire hour earlier than what I normally do for the rest of the week. "Morning Emery" Cynthia smiles, wrapping her light grey apron around her torso.

𐩘

"Morning Cynth" I smile, handing a customer their order. Lucky duck, Cynthia got to come at the time of my regular shift; 9am to 5pm.

"Busy this morning?" She pours herself a cup of coffee and helps me make the customers coffees and bags their chocolate dip donuts.

"Not really, which is nice" I turn to the old man standing next to his short wife, and hand them their order. "Have a good day"

"That's good. Well if you want, you take a five minute break, have a coffee or whatever" Cynthia smiles, taking over as cashier.

"Oh, okay thanks" I make myself a small tea because I despise coffee, then sit at one of the two seater round tables, next to the massive window that overlooks the store.

Cynthia is the owner of Willowbook's Coffee Shop and More. She's practically rich running this place, and she's only 28! She's a very kind person, we get along pretty good. It's mostly us two working here, but she does hire students from the Willow Highschool, to take over for the weekends, and on the weekdays she's away, to help me. I got very lucky to work for her, she even pays above minimum wage!

The Shop doorbell rings and I look briefly as an old woman walks in, then I look back at my phone, sipping my hot Apple Cider. It's pretty cold in Willowbook, there's either always a breeze, or it's always raining. I find it really pretty though when it rains, the way the water makes the green in the town vibrant, and how all the windows have racing raindrops slide down them. I also enjoy wearing sweaters and holding hot drinks, so for weather wise, it's a good town for me.

Once I finish my tea, I stand up, dusting my light grey apron off, and go back behind the counter, taking over for Cynthia as she prepares some donut orders. "Hey"

No way this boy is back again.
We lock eyes for the second time and I just smile because is this going to be his new thing? Popping in this Coffee Shop always between 11am to 12am?

"Hi, how can I help you?" I ask, feeling his solid colored eyes burn my skin.

"Could I please have a medium black coffee and an apple fritter?"

"Sure thing" I look away, biting back my smile as I type his order in the till. "Five fifteen"

"Debit"

I hand him the machine and as he taps his card on the screen. I notice a modern 47 black watch wrapped around his wrist, pointing to the time 11:34am. That looks expensive. I turn around and assemble his order, and turn back, handing it to him, searching for his blue eyes once more. He flashes a smile, and turns away leaving the shop.

Man, I got to get that boy's number. I need to stop chickening out.