Romantic One Shots & Imagines

One Shot #26: The Cafe Encounter

              It was Sunday, the last day for Maria to relax before the chaos of college sucked her back in. Ever since she stumbled across this little hole-in-the-wall cafe, she started to spend every sunday there. Every weekend, she tucked herself away into a small booth and dove into the world of a book. This month, she was working on The Time Traveler's Wife. It was telling to be a great read, as the concept of time became lost to Maria. A smile spread across her face as she finished a chapter. Startled by the setting sun through the window, Maria hops up and looks at the time. The whole day almost passed her by. Quickly, she gathered her things and left. She could hear her cat now, begging her to feed him.

               It was Monday, the worst day. With a long day ahead of her, Maria downed a can of Redbull and went off to her first class. Classes were boring, as usual. Her thoughts quickly wandered back to the romance between Claire and Henry from her book. A blush started to form. Desperate to know what was next, she dug into her bag. Her chest started to tighten with fear. The book that she always placed right behind her notebook, was no longer there. Jumping to conclusions, her mind started to race. "Is it due soon?" "I have to pay a dollar each day it's late!"

               Giving up, Maria had no choice but to listen to the lecture. Her mind ceased to race, however. As soon as her day was over, she raced back to the cafe. Retracing her thoughts, she was sure that it was still at the booth. Bursting through the doors, she wasted no time looking under the table and feeling through the creases of the booth. Letting out a heavy sigh, she came up empty handed. Lost in her own thoughts, she almost didn't notice the man walking up to her.

                                   "Hi. Is this yours?" The barista asks.

                                   "Yes! Thank you!"

                                   "Don't thank me. Some man gave it to us and said it was yours."

                 Ecstatic, Maria whips the book open for the long awaited next chapter. Out of nowhere, a slip of paper falls from the pages. "Emmet 567-435". Nothing but the name and number. Curiously, she picks up her phone.

                                    "Hello?" A deep voice answers.

                                    "Hi...is this Emmet?"

                                    "Yes, Ma'am. I'm guessing you are Book Girl?" He responds with a mesmerizing southern drawl.

                                     "Uh...yeah? I'm guessing you were the one that found my book. Thank you for that by the way. Its a library book, so I was afraid I wasn't going to find it."

                                     "I would have given it to you personally, but I didn't even know your name...".

                                    "Oh!" She exclaims, as it takes her a while to catch the hint. " My name is Maria."

                                    "Well, Maria, I usually don't ask for anything in return when I do something like this but..."

                                     "But..." She continues for him.

                                     "But I think we can call it even if you come out and get some coffee with me. Maybe some breakfast while we're at it. Tomorrow fine?"

                                     "I can't, sorry." She responds apologetically.

                                    "Oh..." He breathes out.

                                    "But...if you're free, we can go this Thursday. I only have one class and I get out right before breakfast at McDonalds ends." They both laugh.

                                    "McDonalds? Now, what kind of guy do you take me for?"

                                     "I don't know. I've only just met you."

                                    "Well, you can take me for the type of guy that would take a lady to someplace much better than McDonalds."

                                    "Oh really?" A smile started to grow on Maria's face. "Who would have known that losing my book was going to lead to breakfast with such a gentleman." His laugh radiates through the phone.

              They continue making plans for their date. A date! Maria would have never thought! One little moment of forgetfulness in exchange for a future of great happiness.

The End.