The next morning I walked to Lou's Coffee. Simple name, but they did have really good lattes. I walked there nearly everyday, they already knew what I wanted.
Ashton and Lana drove around looking for people to interview. I suggested for them to go interview some lifeguards, business men, et cetera. Ashton was right, everyone does have a backstory. Los Angeles was a perfect place for my entry.
The sound of a bell chimed as I walked in to the cafe. The smell of coffee beans and leather seats arose. I walked over to the cashier who I knew was Elaine. She gave me a warm smile and raised her eyebrow, "The usual French vanilla latte with foam?". I smiled and nodded my head.
"That would be great, thanks Elaine" she went off to go make my drink. I looked around seeing a few people talking, sipping their drinks once in a while. Lou's store wasn't huge but her coffee was very good.
My name was called after a few minutes and I thanked her. I leaned over the counter while she was washing a measuring cup. "Do you think I could speak to your mom?" She looked at me confused. "She'll be coming any minute now, why?"
"Long story short, I was entered in this writers contest. I have to write about la. I want to show people that the typical things you see here, have a story" I said looking at her laughing. She nodded her head as I continued.
"I wanna write about different people. Why they do what they do. I want people to know Los Angeles isn't just a boring place with lots of palm trees and beaches" She chuckled at me and dried of the cups she was washing. "Go ahead and wait over there, I'm sure she'll be happy to tell you everything"
I went to take a seat close to the window and took out my notebook and pen. I tapped my fingers on the table and rested my head on my other hand. A few seconds later, there was a chime. I saw Lou coming in and she had some plastic bags in her hands.
"Got some 2 percent milk from the store El, stock them up for me eh?" These people were from Canada, something I already knew. She handed Elaine the bags and went to put them in the back. Lou looked over to me and I gave her a slight wave.
"Ashley how have you been?" She said walking over to me. "I've been good" I said bluntly but smiling at her. She nodded in response and took a seat across from me. She folded her hands and set them on top of the table. "So I heard you're in need of a backstory eh?"
I nodded and she chuckled slightly. I held my pen over the blank piece of paper, ready for her to speak. "I really thought a cafe would be good for a place like Canada. It was cold, great for coffee. We were small, business wasn't doing as well as we planned, but it worked."
I wrote this down, sipping some of my latte and she continued. "We had this place for about a year until a man kicked us out. We couldn't pay the rent of the building, luckily my husband found a job in the states so we moved. He had a good paying job, I of course wanted to still have the cafe."
I noticed her shifting in her seat a bit. "Sometimes my husband would laugh at my dreams of having a hit cafe, especially in Los Angeles. You see coffee shops everywhere, mostly Starbucks on every corner. But me, I don't give up, I bought this place with my husbands money and opened it up" I kept writing and laughed at her remark.
"Yes, I knew we wouldn't be as popular as others. I just really liked coffee, was a fan of it. I liked making it with no coffee maker. I made it from scratch with coffee beans. You see hon, I knew I was gonna have competition but I had a dream. A dream to open up a shop and make good quality coffee for people. And that's what I did." She said proudly.
"Look at us now, I've been open for nearly 7 years and haven't had a problem with money. My husband and I went out separate ways a few years back but I'm doing fine. El and I have been in good terms. I didn't give up on opening this place, people come here everyday. Even if it's just little groups every hour, I'm happy seeing them"
I finished writing as she stood up. "Listen here Ashley, when you become a famous writer and get good money, don't forget to come here and get a latte once in a while okay? She laughed as she got off the stool. I laughed as well.
"Don't worry Lou, I won't forget this place, or you, or Elaine" I said getting up from my seat. I gave her a slight wave and walked out of the cafe, hearing the door chime. The warm air hit my face but it felt good.
I checked my phone for any texts and I had 1 from Lana.
Lama: you got yourself 2 interviews tomorrow ;)
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Boring chap but it'll get interesting, I promise ;)
IM ALMOST AT 200 VOTES I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH
-gabie
