Cold Coffee
I was beyond exhausted. Between keeping up with UNI classes and my part time job, I barely had any time for myself anymore. It was hard, but ultimately worth it if I could make something out of my life. I pushed my dark brown locks out of my face as I hurried down the windy street. All I wanted was some coffee; coffee and to sit and read a book that didn't have to deal with school. How long was this walk anyway? It seemed shorter just last week. I trudged on, dodging people with phones glued to their ears or rushing to get out of the cold weather. I didn't blame them. If I didn't have the promise of a warm coffee in my hands soon I would be freaking out as well.
Finally, after what seemed to be millennia of walking, I spotted the all-too-familiar logo of Starbucks just a couple of paces ahead of me. The door swung open and the sweet, mouth-watering smell of coffee wrapped around my senses, as well of the glorious warmth of the coffee house, and I was happy. I rushed to the counter, glad for the weather keeping people at home, and ordered my drink with an eager smile. The girl behind the counter sent me a sympathetic look.
"Cold out huh?" She asked once I had completed my order.
"Freezing," I responded.
"What's your name?" She asked as she grabbed a cup to fill my order.
"Ashley," I said. The girl whose name tag spelled Ricky smiled, lighting up her pretty features.
"Pretty name, you can go sit Ashley; your drink will be ready soon." I smiled in thanks and found a seat in the corner where I could observe my surroundings, but still read in absolute silence. I looked around, refusing to touch my well-worn paperback until I had the warmth of the drink in my hand. Shrugging out of my jacket, I noted a few other people in the almost empty room. There was a frail old woman on the other end chatting with a girl much younger than her, a man with a hat covering most of his face while he read the newspaper, a girl that I'd often seen around campus, typing furiously on her laptop and a single man with a head of fiery hair eyeing me from across the room.
The latter surprised me and I felt my cheeks redden considerably, almost to the colour of his hair as I shifted my eyes uncomfortably. He was cute, with his messy hair and seemingly blue eyes. I couldn't tell from across the room. I glanced over to the redhead again and saw his lips pick up in a small smile of a greeting. I returned it uncertainly, trying to place where I had seen his attractive face before. The next time I lifted my brown eyes in his direction, he was getting up and my heart picked up double time. I was no good in social situations, and he was quickly approaching my table and I was panicking.
"Um... hi, um... would you mind if I sat with you? I mean, you don't have to say yes, I just thought maybe we could uh... you know what? Never mind." He stuttered adorably and turned on his heel to walk away.
"Wait! No, I don't mind!" I shocked myself with the words spilling from my mouth. I mean, I really didn't mind this attractive ginger sitting with me. He turned around and smiled awkwardly before he slipped into the seat across from me, placing his tea on the table. His eyes were definitely blue, the most beautiful shade I'd ever observed.
"Um, I'm Ed," he spoke again that sweet accent of his and just like that, I knew where I knew him from.
"As in Sheeran?" I asked and saw his smile falter. He looked down at his tea and sighed.
"Uh, yeah, believe it or not I sometimes forget about that whole fame thing." I frowned; afraid I had somehow ruined everything. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not going to freak out or anything; I just think you're a super talented lad is all." I watched with great triumph as his smile returned.
"Ah, thank you. So what's your name?" He asked and I cursed my social skills, or lack thereof.
"Ashley!" I whipped my head around and saw Ricky sending me a knowing smile.
"That'd be me," I said to Ed and went to retrieve my drink, along with a wink Ricky gave me at the counter.
"So Ashley, you have an awfully pretty name and face and uh - uh I mean -"
"It's ok Ed, thanks," I smiled and for a moment, we both were silent, him sending me awkward little glances and me staring openly at his beautiful features. I noticed with a bit of pleasure that he had a bit of stubble growing in and he smelled like tea and something sweet I couldn't place. It was strong enough for me to smell above the coffee fumes, but nothing overbearing.
"Um Ash, do you mind if I call you Ash? I don't usually do this but, do you think I could call you sometime?" Ed asked, ducking his head and allowing his messy hair to fall forward. His cheeks were aflame with colour and I almost laughed at his shyness and the fact that I was blushing the same way a few minutes before. "I would love that," I answered.
"The calling you Ash thing or the calling you at all thing? I'm a little confused." He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up even more. An unrecognizable emotion welled up in me, pooling in my belly and shooting up to my heart, setting it into overdrive. Could he hear my heartbeats? Did he know how nervous he made me just by laughing, just by existing? "Both," my voice seemed shaky, breathy even.
"Great," he said and slid the napkin on the table closer to me with a pen that he seemed to have pulled out of the pocket of his hoodie. I scribbled down the digits with a shaky hand and returned the napkin to him. His eyes read over the few numbers and my hastily scrawled name for a couple seconds before his face lit up with a great smile. "Thank you Ash, I do have to leave though, I'm running late, but when I saw you... I don't think I would've walked out of here without at least finding out your name." Ed said and stood and I stood with him, a crushing weight of disappointment weighing down on me at his words, yet I couldn't have felt happier.
Uncertainly, we moved closer until we were both wrapped in a hug. His arms encircled me completely as well as his beautiful scent. I inhaled, trying to forever ingrain the sweet aroma into my senses. He stroked my back and murmured in my ear, "I'll definitely be calling you later." And just like that he was gone and I was watching him walk into the cold air and out of sight, leaving me with a mess of emotions and butterflies and a cup of cold coffee.
