Love and Flames

TWO

AVA

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet treats filled the air as I moved around the coffee station. The atmosphere was tranquil, but the morning rush was in full swing.

Customers chattered away, creating a soft ambience around the room. The sound of cups clattering and forks hitting plates filled the air. I wiped my forehead with my sleeve, huffing out, thankful that the worst part of the morning rush was coming to an end.

"Hey Olivia," I said, looking at my colleague. She was standing at the coffee machine. She had become a close friend since I moved in a few weeks ago. "I'm going to collect some of the dirt from the floor," I said, smiling at her.

"Yeah, of course; if it gets too busy, I'll call Ivy from the back." Ivy was our baker. All the baked goods? All her and let me tell you, they are phenomenal. I nodded and continued towards the floor of the cafe.

I walked around, chatting with customers and clearing their tables. This job was much better than the office back in the city. Granted, my feet ached like a bitch. Every. Day. But the city was cold. Everyone was cutthroat. You had to be to survive. Serenity Falls was the total opposite. Everyone was warm and welcoming. I felt like I belonged here.

I walked back behind the counter and put the dirties in the dishwasher.

"This might be the busiest we've been since we opened," Olivia huffed. I chuckled at her.

"Oh! Definitely," I said with a laugh.

I used all my savings to move here and open the coffee shop. The locals jumped at it, and it became a hub within the community.

It had been a few weeks since my oven incident at home; that's what all the girls at work call it.

Caleb hadn't come in, which was fine. I guess a part of me had hoped he would. A girl could use a few more friends.

"Oooh, what's got you looking all love-struck?" Olivia teased, poking my sides.

I rolled my eyes. "Nothing, piss off!" I chuckled, pushing her hands away.

"I will find out," she said, staring at me with a serious expression. I knew she was joking.

"It's nothing. And, even if it was, I'm not ready," I said. I'm trying to push away the thoughts from my last few weeks in the city.

She nodded knowingly and dropped it. I told Olivia what had happened to Noah. After a few days of working with her, it was nice to speak to someone else about it.

The noise of the door opening made me turn, and if Jesus himself heard me thinking about Caleb, He entered the coffee shop. He was wearing jeans and leather boots. His t-shirt hugged his muscular frame in all the right places. His eyes caught mine. I gazed down, fiddling with some cups on the counter. I didn't want him to know that I was admiring the view.

I collected myself and slid over to the till. "Hiya, have you finally decided to take up my offer then?" I asked, offering a small smirk.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "Sorry, I've been busy; I have been meaning to pop in." He replied, smiling softly.

I nodded, humming in response. "What will it be?" I asked him.

He looked up at the menu and furrowed his eyebrows. "Matcha? What the fuck is that?" He muttered.

"I laughed. It was very popular in the city. It's one of my favourites. It's basically powdered green tea," I explained to him.

He nodded. "Okay. Well, I will be boring and have black coffee."

I nodded, turning around and beginning to make his coffee. I glanced behind me, making sure he was still there. "I can't thank you enough for your help," I said gratefully, reminiscing on the events that took place in my kitchen. I waited for his coffee to spill into the cup, which was waiting underneath the machine.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's really no problem; it's my job," he explained empathically.

"I know, but thank you," I said once again.

He nodded. "Of course, and if you ever decide to light your oven on fire again, you know who to call," he replied playfully.

I rolled my eyes. "Ha. Ha," I said sarcastically, a smile spreading across my face. "Maybe I should have your number on speed dial," I said jokingly.

"That would be more efficient." He chuckled.

I turned around with his coffee in hand, placing it on the counter. I placed a to-go lid on top. "On the house, remember?"

He nodded. "Thank you, Ava."

I swear, the way he said my name made my knees a little weak. I shook my head inwardly and nodded instead. "You're welcome," I smiled.

He grabbed his coffee, offering one last curt nod, and turned on his heel and out of the door.

"The firefighter, huh?" Olivia nudged me.

"Piss off." I nudged her back and began working again.

~~~~

I finally got home after a long shift. I enjoyed my new job, but being on my feet was new to me. After spending years sitting in an office Monday until Friday, I had never felt right. I walked up to my bedroom, taking in my surroundings. My Sage Green bed sheets were bundled in a mess from this morning, and pillows littered the floor. Even my curtains are still half-drawn. I began fixing up my mess of a room until the doorbell went off.

Confused, I walked down the stairs and towards my door. Opening it, I saw Caleb standing in his uniform.

"Hello?" I said, confused.

"Hi, sorry. Some of the guys said they noticed your fire alarms were old during the fire. We just like to check if they need changing." He said it, sounding a little nervous.

"Oh. Yeah, of course, I mean, this place is pretty old; an old couple owned it before I did." I explained, and I moved aside, ushering him in.

He stepped inside, going over to the fire alarm in the kitchen. "Yeah, this bad boy is quite old. Fire alarms need changing every ten years." He confirmed.

I nodded. "Yeah, feel free; I wouldn't have known any better."

He proceeded with changing a few of my fire alarms.

"You're all good." He says so, nodding and heading towards the front door.

"Thank you; I really appreciate it," I said, smiling.

"No worries, oh, and here," he said, handing me a piece of paper.

Confused I looked at the folded piece of paper and then back to him.

"I'll get going; see you," he said before opening the door and leaving.

I opened the note to see numbers scribbled on the paper.

It was his number, with a small bit of writing underneath.

If you need a few more friends - C

Authors Note:

Chapter Two is done! i hope you're enjoying the story so far. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts with me!

- Serenjtyx