Stranger in a Coffee Shop

Introductory

Richard decided to be chancy today.

She was sitting alone at a small table, laptop and notebook laid out in a disorderly yet pleasing manner. Her chestnut long hair was pulled back into a messy bun, some strands falling out and shaping her femininely chiseled face. The way her fingers tapped at her pen sitting loosely on her lips was enrapturing. He could see her thinking or maybe not thinking; perhaps she was just lost in thought.

In the process of taking in the beautiful girl at the back of the coffee shop, the three people ahead of him had their orders rung up. Someone politely asked him to move up while the barista kept saying "sir, I can help who's next."

He mumbled an apology and made a note to tip whatever waitress would bring his drink. His order was simple; strong coffee with milk, a dash of cinnamon and a splash of chocolate. He grabbed his order number and looked around. Most the tables had been taken and he never enjoyed a seat at the bar area overlooking the street; everyone there jostled elbows and nothing was private.

The coffee shop itself had been a favorite when he visited with his sister over the summer. After being accepted to the university they took a trip to visit and get to know the area around it. It was his first time since then, after a grueling first wave of midterms. It was a large and open shop, with enough tables to fit hundreds of people, including a second story that was a tiny bookstore. The smells of tea and espresso wafted through the entire place, making it warm and cozy. The baristas weren't overeager or hyper, instead they greeted and asked for your order like old friends visiting for a summer. The guests were mainly college kids, but there was the occasional elderly couple on a date or an alumni member catching up with their graduate friends. Richard felt at home immediately.

With a quick mental pep talk, he walked back to the girl and stood in front of her till she looked up from her journal where she had been writing. "Yes?" She asked and when she spoke her voice sounded scratchy, like she hadn't spoken for quite some time. Judging by the nearly empty mug by her belongings, she had been there for a while.

"May I sit with you?" He asked, face heating up. He was never one to converse, especially with girls. Even more rare, girls who were strangers.

The girl looked around the shop, bright green eyes scanned and never stopped too long on one area. "I'm not going to be much company." She admitted but nonetheless motioned for him to sit. He took off his light jacket and smiled. "I'm Richard."

"Victoria." She replied and grabbed her cup of coffee for what he assumed some kind of comfort. "I didn't mean to scare you." He hastily told her, making her smile. "I'm not used to complete strangers asking for a seat at my table." She pushed back the single strand of hair that had finally made it's way in front of her face. Her nails were painted black and cut short, he made note of.

"You normally sit here?" He asked, then added to ease the tension, "I didn't know we could claim spots."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "It's like going to classes on the first week and choosing the same seat every time. You have that seat for the rest of the semester. Unassigned assigned seats. Like I have here. Every day at 2:30 it's my seat until 5:00." She trailed off when the waitress stopped by their table and handed Richard his cup. "Thank you." He tipped her and took a careful sip of his coffee. The liquid warmed his body, making him content. He set the cup down and pulled up at the sleeves of his long shirt. He noticed Victoria regarding him closely and he should have felt uncomfortable but the way she was looking at him didn't feel like judgment. "Are you a writer?" He attempted to converse more.

"I am, what gave it away?" She brought her eyes back up to his. "The journal, laptop and the way you are sizing me up."

"That's not a good description of what I'm doing. I'm not trying to fight you, I'm merely trying to figure out what kind of person you are. I'm trying to find your story." She answered him, grabbed her pen and began writing again. He pushed his wire rimmed glasses back up on his nose. "What's my story then?"

Victoria glanced up at him and he realized he had a hard time reading her expressions. "Your story? I haven't really come up with one yet." She seemed to be puzzled by her own answer herself.

Richard left around 5:15, after Victoria. He had spent most of the time reading a book he had brought with him (he always had to have a book on him) and watching Victoria do homework and write from the pages of his book. "Must be a hard read." She had said to him when she started backing up her things. Richard shrugged. "Why do you say so?"

"Well," she put on her army jacket and set the messenger bag's strap on her shoulder, "you barely got through twenty pages the entire time you sat here." With a wink, she wished him good night and left.

Richard decided, in the span of fifteen minutes since she left, he was going to have to start setting aside more coffee money.

A/N: I honestly don't know where this idea came from I just have always wanted to write a coffee shop story and after this past week this idea came to me. If you're looking for some romantic strangers turned lovers story this isn't it, I have a complete different idea for this. Hope you enjoy!