The Rockstar and Me

Chapter 2

ROSALINA WOKE UP FEELING LIKE SHE'D BEEN PUT THROUGH A WRINGER, HER BODY CRYING OUT FOR MORE SLEEP. The events of the previous day, particurlary the unsettling call from Alex, had kept her awake until the wee hours of the morning she finally drifted off around
3 am. But duty called, and with a groan, she dragged herself out of bed, her heavy eyelids protesting every step of the way. After a quick shower, she arrived at the Expresso Cafe, still feeling like she was stuck in neutral.
Her usual enthusiam was nowhere to be found, but a large iced carmael coffee revived her spirits. With caffeine coursing through her veins, Rosalina tackled the day's tasks with renewed energy, lost in the rhythmic hiss of steam and the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans...

THE HOURS BLURRED TOGETHER IN STEAM AND ESPRESSO SHOTS, ROSALINA LOSING TRACK OF TIME AS SHE WORKED ON AUTOPILOT.
Then, suddenly, the door swung open, and Elijah walked in, his piercing gaze scanning the cafe before locking eyes onto hers. Rosalina's heart skipped a beat as a shiver ran down her spine, her senses heightened as she took in the sight of him - tall, dark,
and handsome, with an aura of mystery surrounding him like a cloak.

ROSALINA MUSTERED A BRIGHT SMILE, TRYING TO PLAY DOWN THE FLUTTER IN HER CHEST AS SHE CALLED OUT TO ELIJAH. "Hey, Elijah! Come on over. I want to apologize for spilling coffee on you yesterday. I'm such a klutz sometimes." She winced inwardly at the memory. "So, what brings you here today?"

Elijah chuckles, a hint of amusement dancing on his lips "Yeah, no worries about the coffee - been worse things spilled on me, trust me. And you don't owe me an apology, really. Accidents happen." pauses, running a hand through his messy hair. "As for what brings me here...I needed a place to kill some time, clear my head. Writing songs doesn't always come easy, and I'm trying to get out of this rut I've been stuck in lately. Sometimes changing scenery helps. Plus, there's just something about this place that feels comfortable to me, " glances around dimly lit space, his gaze lingering on Rosalina as he speaks. "You know how sometimes you find a place that feels like home? This one's got that vibe."

ROSALINA'S EYES CRINKLED AT THE CORNERS AS SHE SMILED, ENJOYING THE WAY THE CAFFEINE-SCENTED AIR SEEMED TO VIBRATE WITH CREATIVE ENERGY. "Yeah, this place definitely has its charm" she agreed, waving  her hands with a flourish as she asked, "Can I get you a coffee or something to eat? We've got a great selection of patries, or if you're feeling adventurous, I can whip up a signature drink..."

Elijah smiles faintly, shaking his head "Nah, I'm good, thanks. I had enough caffine to fuel a rocket launch eariler." Watches he move behind the counter, his eyes tracing the curve of her hips and the swing of her ponytail. "So, what's your typical day like here?" "Anything exciting happen?"

ROSALINA LAUGHED, A SOFT MUSICAL SOUND THAT MADE
ELIJAH'S EYES LINGER ON HER FACE JUST A LITTLE LONGER. "Typical day?" she repeated, shrugging as she tidied the counter. "Well, it's only my second day here, so I am still finding my footing." Her ponytail bounced with the movement, drawing Elijah's attention once more. "To be honest, I just moved here from New York, so everything stills feels a bit surreal..." she paused, curiousity getting the better of her as she asked, "What about you, though? What brought you to this small town in Colorado?"

Elijah raises an eyebrow, intrigued "New York, huh? That's a big change. What made you trade in the bright city lights for this little mountain town?" He leans back into the worn couch, his fingers drumming a lazy rhythm on the armrest "And I'm a musician, been touring around for a bit. We were supposed to play a show here last night, but... let's just say we had some internal conflicts. Ended up canceling the gig and sticking around for a few days to regroup." His eyes narrow slightly, his mind momentarily clouded by the memories of last nights argument with his bandmates.

ROSALINA'S EYES NARROWED SLIGHTLY AS SHE DETECTED THE UNDERCURRENT OF TENSION IN ELIJAH'S VOICE, HER CURIOUSITY PIQUED BY THE HINT OF INTERNAL CONFLICTS. She nodded sympathetically, her hands slowing as she polished a mug with a soft cloth.
"Internal conflicts huh?" She asked her tone, gentle but probing. "Sounds like a tough situation to me. What happened?" Her gazed fixed on his face , sensing that that there was more to the story the he was letting on.