Tearing Paper

Vanilla Latte

Sorry for the late update. Summer holiday is over and I'm officially cramming for school again, so this is the best I can do. Also, I'm in a lot of contests (another stupid decision I did when I was bored to death during the vacations, I suppose) and I'm working on another book, The Last Rose (check it out? ;p). But I'll still update this one because I'm in love with the story. I hope you are, too! Happy reading <3

Crunch.

A few minutes of silence.

Crunch.

He exhaled some air as he smiled, wondering when all the rustle behind him would ever stop. He had his back faced away from her, but he knew she was there. With the beanie that hid what he was sure was beauty. With the expressionless look that did not bother the people coming in and out of that café. With the notebook on her lap, and the wooden pencil on her hand, all evening.

Enough, Nate. When are you gonna start acting like a man?

He took a deep breath and stood up. With his drinking glass on one hand, he approached the girl and coughed.

"Earth to Miss Scribbler? Earth to Miss Scribbler-are you there?"

He started smiling at the fool he had become. But after a few seconds, the girl tilted her head up, facing him.

"Excuse me?"

"You seem to be writing very... intensely. It crushes me to see you tearing paper-telling me how much you've written, and how much I haven't."

"Does that bother you..." she muttered, clearly looking annoyed. But that low, raspy voice intrigued him even more. It wasn't a usual raspy voice a girl could be doomed enough to be born with. He recognized that raspiness so well.

A kind that only came when you have cried too much.

And how could you know such a thing, Nathan?

He hushed his thoughts as the girl started observing him. Slowly, she scoffed. "Is anything I'm doing here... your business?"

"Whoa, whoa, chill out," he forced a laugh. "This café is my safe haven too-every single day. I'm always sitting on the table in front of you, you see?" He then moved a little so she could see his white table. It was empty, except for a small plate and an open laptop that was resting there. She nodded. "I saw you, alright."

"Everyday?"

"Everyday," she assured him-or rather, tried her best to end the conversation. But then stooped lower to place his glass on her table.

"What?"

"I've seen you here everyday-and all you do is write. Well maybe you've ordered some nachos or some macarons once in a while, but this café is fantastic! I swear, this latte always calms my nerves down when I'm stressed with work."

The girl only raised her eyebrow to state her disbelief. But she took the glass close to her pale lips and sipped slowly.

And he couldn't help but smile as he watched her let half of the liquid in her mouth, as if she was the thirstiest girl in the world.

"Vanilla latte. Might as well remember that if you're gonna try it a second time," he smiled.

"T-thank you," she licked some foam that spread on her lips, but he walked back to his table. Soon, he began facing his laptop again, typing something she had no idea about. She would call, but the café turned even more packed with people that her voice drowned in the crowd.

She kept the glass in her hand, letting its warmth slither all over her cold body. A stranger had just actually given her his drink.

Wow.

She must look really... miserable.

She sipped the last few drops of latte and opened her notebook.

When I saw you over there

I didn't mean to stare

But my mind was everywhere

I wanna know you