The Rockstar and Me

Chaper 1

Rosalina wiped the sweat from her forhead , surveying the bustling coffee shop with a practiced eye. It had taken some adjusting , trading in the fast-paced rhythm of New York for the quaint charm of Willow Creek , but she was determined to make this new chapter stick. Sophia's friendship and the comforting routine of the coffee shop job helped her soothe her battered soul , but the echos of the past still lingered , reminding her of the fragility of trust. As she poured steaming hot cups with a steady hand , a customer strode in , his rugged boots and worn jeans a striking constrast to the polished businessmen she used to serve. There was something about his air , though a quiet confidence that drew her attention...

As Rosalina handed freshly brewed coffee to a regular , her gaze drifted back to the enigmatic stranger , whose piercing blue eyes seemed to hold a thousand stories. Lost in thought she didn't notice her fingers trembling until the ceramic cup slipped from her grasp , splashing scalding coffee all over the mans denim jeans.

Elijah's expression , initally calm , contorted into a mixture of shock and amusement as he stared down at the dark stain stain spreading across his pants. Rosalina's mortification turned her cheeks a deep shade of crimson as she rushed to grab a handful of napkins , apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry, sir! I'm such a clumsy fool!" She attempted to dab the spill , her fingers brushing against his in the proccess. The sparks flying between them were undeniable , but Elijah's sudden laughter caught her off guard. "Well I suppose that's one way to break the ice" he said , his low rumble of amusement sending a shiver down Rosalina's spine.

Swooning AS ELIJAH CONTINUES TO LAUGH, THE TENSION BETWEEN THEM MELTS AWAY! Rosalina couldn't help but join in, her embarrassment forgotton in the face of his charming smile. The sound of their combined laughter filled the coffee, drawing curious glances from the other patrons. As they stood there, frozen in the this moment of levity, Elijah's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes
crinkling at the corners. " You know , I think I needed that coffee bath," he teased, his words dripping with playful flirtation. Rosalina pulse skipped a beat as she realized she was still touching him, her fingers grazing his thigh

AS ELIJAH TEASED HER ABOUT NEEDING A COFFEE BATH, ROSALINA'S CHEEKS FLARED WITH EMBARRESSMENT, BUT SHE COULDN'T HELP BUT LAUGH ALONG WITH HIM! And for a fleeting moment, Rosalina felt like she was apart of something bigger than herself. Elijah's gaze held hers, his eyes sparkling with amusement, as he reached out to brush a stray lock behind her ear. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her system, and Rosalina's heart skipped a beat.

AS THE LAUGHTER FADED, ROSALINA'S COMPOSURE RETURNED,
AND SHE ASKED ELIJAH IF HE'D LIKE A COFFEE ON THE HOUSE, A PEACE OFFERING FOR THE MORNINGS ACCIDENT. "On the house?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow, " Only if you tell me your name." Rosalina's cheeks flushed she says My name is Rosalina but everyone calls me Rosie her hand extending in a hesitant greeting. "I'm Elijah," he replied, his deep voice rumbling. " Nice to meet you, Rosalina..." Elijah's grip is gentle yet firm. "Nice to meet you Elijah."

WITH A SMILE, ELIJAH RELEASED ROSALINA'S HAND, LEAVING HER FEELING SLIGHTLY DIZZY FROM THE CONTACT. He nodded goodbye, and strode out of the coffee shop, leaving Rosalina to wonder if she'd imagined the whole encounter. The rest of her shift passed in a blur, her thoughts straying to the mysterious stranger who'd turned her morning upside down. The sun dipped below the horizon and Rosalina closed up shop, then waited for Sophia to pick her up.

AS ROSALINA STEPPED OUT INTO THE CRISP EVENING AIR, THE WEIGHT OF HER FIRST DAY LIFTED, REPLACED BY A SENSE OF RELIEF AND EXHAUSTION. She took a deep breath, feeling the tension seep from her shoulders as Sophia pulled up in her rusty old Honda Civic , beeping the horn a friendly hello. Rosalina enters the passanger seat , grateful for the familiar comfort of her best friends presence. "So, how was your first day?" Sophia asked, eyeing Rosalina's frazzled expression with concern.

ROSALINA UNLOADED THE ENTIRE STORY, FROM THE SPILLED COFFEE TO ELIJAH'S CHARMING SMILE, Sophia listening intently as she navigated the winding roads leading out of town. By the time Rosalina finished, Sophia's eyebrows were raised, and her grin threatened to split her face in two. "Wow, Rosie, you've got a crush," Sophia stated. Rosalina's face flamed, but before she could protest, Sophia continued, " And I think it's adorable."

ROSALINA SHOOK HER HEAD, LAUGHING WRYLY AS SOPHIA'S GRIN REFUSED TO DIMINISH. " It doesn't matter, Soph. I'll probably never see him again. But yes, he was charming...
and ridiculously handsome." She sighed recalling Elijah's bright smile and piercing gaze. "His name was Elijah, and I have no idea how I am going to forget him..."

AS THEY PULLED INTO SOPHIA'S DRIVEWAY, ROSALINA FELT A SENSE OF NORMALCY WASH OVER HER, THE EVENTS OF THE DAY  TEMORARILY FORGOTTON IN THE FACE OF THEIR FAVORITE SHOW.
"Vampire Diaries marathon, stat!" Sophia exclaimed, as they hurried inside to change into comfier clothes. Over bowls of microwave popcorn, they binge-watched their favorite episodes, drooling over Damon Salvatore's brooding good looks.
Rosalina couldn't help but giggle as Sophia dramatically reenacted Ian Somerhalder's iconic smolder. And then, without thinking, she blurted out, "You know, Elijah reminded me of him..."

SOPHIA GRINNED, A knowing glint in her eye. "Ooh, so you're saying Elijah gives you those same broody, intense vibes as Damon Salvatore?" She leaned in "Tell me everything, Rosie!"

ROSALINA LAUGHED, A SLIGHT BLUSH RISING TO HER CHEEKS AS SHE RECOUNTED HER ENCOUNTER WITH ELIJAH. " Okay, okay, so maybe it wasn't that deep." she admitted, playing down the intesity of their interaction. "We just met, and it was really casual. We flirted a bit, and I got a good vibe from him...but I don't know, it was just nice to feel that spark, you know?" She shrugged , feeling a little self-conscious about sharing her feelings.

SOPHIA CHUCKLED, HER EXPRESSION SYPATHETIC YET TEASING. " Aww, Rosie, you're such a romantic," she said, playfully rolling her eyes. "I'm sure it's more than just a 'good vibe' if you're still thinking about him." She settled back into the couch, her gaze lingering on Rosalina's dreamy expression.

WITH THE TV PAUSED, ROSALINA AND SOPHIA DECIDED TO ORDER SOME MUCH-NEEDED PIZZA, BROWSING THROUGH THE LOCAL OPTIONS ON SOPHIA'S PHONE.
After a few minutes of deliberation, they settled on their favorite spot and placed the order. As they waited for the delivery, the atmospere of the room shifted, the sky outside darkening as the rain clouds rolled in.
Suddenly, Rosalina's phone rang, making her heart skip a beat. Her hands trembled slightly as she saw Alex's name flash on the screen. She
Hesitately answered "Sweetheart , I miss you," his sugary sweet tone dripped with menance "I don't know where you are, but I will find you. And when I do, it's over for you. You'll never sneak away from me again." The line went dead leaving Rosalina shaken...

Rosalina's face paled as she listened to Alex's words without hesitation she blocked his number and turned off her location services, a sense of unease settling in the pit of her stomach.

SOPHIA WRAPPED HER ARMS TIGHTLY AROUND ROSALINA, HOLDING HER CLOSE AS SHE WHISPERED WORDS OF COMFORT. "You're safe now, Rosie. He can't hurt you anymore. You're with me, and I won't let anything happen to you." The warmth and security of Sophia's embrace slowly seeped into Rosalina's bones, calming her racing heart and quieting her fears. As they held each other, the only sound was the patter of the raimdrops against the window , the paused TV show forgotten in the background.

ROSALINA NODDED WEARILY,
"Let's just relax and watch one more episode of our show, then go to bed," she suggested, her voice barely above a whisper. Sophia nodded in agreement, snuggling back onto the couch beside her. As they settled in , the comforting familiarity of The Vampire Daires filled the air, and for a little while, Rosie forgot about Elijah , Alex , and all the drama in between. Her shift at the Expresso Cafe loomed in the morning , but for now she wanted to bask in the cozy tranquility of this moment.