The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung heavy in the air, mingling with the scent of old books and the faint whisper of rain against the cafe window. It was the kind of place where time seemed to slow down, where conversations flowed like the gentle rhythm of the jazz playing in the background. Yet, for Austin, time had stopped altogether. He couldn't take his eyes off you.
You sat across from him, your brow furrowed as you meticulously traced the outline of a drawing in your sketchbook. The way your fingers danced across the paper, the focused glint in your eyes, the soft curve of your lips when you smiled in satisfaction – it was like watching a silent film, captivating and utterly enchanting.
He knew this was ridiculous. He, Austin, the guy who could write witty comebacks faster than you could blink, felt like a tongue-tied schoolboy in your presence. He couldn't string together a coherent thought, let alone a sentence. It was like his brain had decided to take a spontaneous holiday, leaving him speechless and slightly bewildered.
'You okay?' you asked, your voice breaking through his reverie. 'You seem a little... spaced out.'
His cheeks flushed crimson. 'Yeah, fine,' he mumbled, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. 'Just... admiring your work.'
You chuckled, a sound like wind chimes in the stillness of the cafe. 'It's just a doodle.'
'Doodle?' he scoffed, a genuine laugh escaping him this time. 'This is art. Pure, unadulterated art.'
He meant it. He loved art, but nothing he had ever seen, not even the masterpieces in the museums he frequented, held the same raw power as your sketches. They were like looking into your soul, filled with emotions he couldn't decipher but felt deeply.
He tried to explain. He wanted to tell you about the way your eyes sparkled when you were engrossed in something you loved, the way your laughter could make his heart skip a beat, the way your presence filled his world with a warmth he never knew existed. But the words wouldn't come. He felt like a broken record, stuck in a loop of mumbled apologies and clumsy compliments.
'Do you... do you ever just feel like your brain suddenly goes blank?' he blurted out, his voice a mix of frustration and desperation.
You tilted your head, amusement dancing in your eyes. 'Like right now?'
He nodded, feeling his face burn even hotter. 'Yeah, like right now. I genuinely have no idea why my brain seems to blank everytime I look at you. I think I'm losing my mind.'
You laughed, a soft, melodic sound that filled the space between you. 'You're not losing your mind,' you said, leaning closer. 'You're just... surprised.'
He blinked. 'Surprised?'
'Surprised by how much you like me,' you whispered, your eyes holding his gaze.
He stared back, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The words hung in the air, heavy and loaded with meaning. Was it possible? Could he, Austin, the witty, charming, always-in-control Austin, be experiencing something so simple yet so profound?
'I...' he started, but his voice gave out. He felt overwhelmed, lost in the depths of his own emotions.
You smiled, a knowing smile that seemed to understand his turmoil. You reached out, your fingers brushing his clumsily held coffee cup. 'Come on,' you said, your voice a gentle caress. 'Have some coffee. I'll tell you all about my latest art project.'
He took a sip, the warmth spreading through him like a comforting hug. In that moment, amidst the aroma of coffee and the sound of gentle jazz, he understood. He was falling, falling hard and fast, and it was the most exhilarating, terrifying thing he'd ever experienced. Maybe his brain did blank out, but not because he was losing his mind. Maybe it was because his heart was taking over, filling him with a love so intense, it left him speechless.
And as you talked, your voice a melodic symphony, painting pictures in his mind with every word, he knew he wouldn't have it any other way. He wouldn't want to, even if it meant he would forever be a little lost in the wonder of you.
