Collections of a Writer's Mind

A Single Exchange

She sat there everyday waiting for him.

True, she had no idea who he was. No name, no way to contact him, no idea if he even lived in the city, but she waited.

They'd had a single exchange with one another. A bump in the arm, a smile, an apology--that was all it took and his smile was forever imprinted on her mind. 

"Would you like another cup of coffee, ma'am?" The waitress asked.

"Yes, that would be wonderful."

The scalding black drink fell into the cup like a waterfall pouring into a pool.

She sighed before taking a gulp of the hot, caffeinated drink. Each time she drank coffee black, she was reminded of how she had always told herself she would never drink it that way. The day she had was during the first week she had moved to this big city alone. She remembered that week very well.

Several times that week she had found herself at the kitchen table sobbing. The loneliness she had felt after leaving home had been immense. The last day of that week she had spent most of the night crying while she tried to occupy her mind. Early that morning when she woke up she made a whole pot of coffee. When she poured the coffee, she hadn't bothered to put any sugar or creamer in. From then on she hadn't bothered to even buy creamer.

Now she relished the bitter taste of black coffee.

She closed her eyes, and took in the warmth of the sun through the window next to her. 

"Are you using that creamer?" A soft voice broke through her moment.

She opened her eyes and held the creamer out, but dropped it when she met the gaze of the man who asked.

It was him!

"Oh, I'm so sorry. That was--it was every bit my fault." She replied.

"It's fine," The man crouched down and picked up the plastic container. "I take it you aren't using this?"

"No, you can have it." She replied. She felt her face start to warm and mentally scolded herself for blushing.

Just as she felt the burst of courage to talk to the stranger, he turned and walked back to his table.  She noticed that he was with several other friends.

Letting out a deep, frustrated breath, she shook off the ounce of courage she had left and went back to her coffee. She daydreamed, though, about having enough courage to strike up a conversation with him.

She'd be funny and flirtatious, teasing and complimentative, confident but humble.

"I'm sorry to bother you again, but have we met before?" His voice broke through her reverie once again. This time, when she blushed, she felt no shame.

"Not officially." She giggled, "I was the girl you spilled a big of your decaf on about a week ago."

His face quirked.

"I'm sorry," His quirk turned into a grin. "Hope I didn't leave a stain."

As he said that, he pulled a chair out and sat across from her. She cleared her throat and tucked a stray twig of hair behind her ear, she tried to avoid his gaze.

"I'm sorry but I didn't catch your name?" He asked.

"Oh, uh, Stevie--Stevie Morrow." She held her hand out. "And yours?"

"Colton Calloway." He shook her hand and held it for a moment longer than he knew he should have.

"It's nice to meet you." Stevie said.

"The pleasures mind." He replied.

"If you don't mind the question: why aren't you continuing your lunch with your friends...who are not so discretely staring at us." She finished with a little wave in their direction.

"The answer to that question lies within another question: You wouldn't happen to like movies would you?" A boyish grin broke onto the young man's face.

Stevie paused for a moment, stunned almost. Was he asking her out? This was her moment.

"I'm more of a reader, but yes. I do enjoy a good movie when it comes out." A smirk tinged the corners of her mouth. "Do you know of a good one?"

"As a matter of fact, this Saturday night they're showing a great movie downtown. If you're interested in going...maybe you'd be interested in going with me."

Trying to contain the excitement she felt, Stevie nodded.

"So you'll go out with me?" He asked, failing to hide his excitement. 

"Yes, I'd love to go out with you." Stevie replied. Her voice was soft and shy.

Colton jumped up, shaking the table, and causing coffee to spill as he did so He threw his hands up in a victory form and yelled: "She said yes!"

Everyone in the cafe turned to the couple, Colton's friends whooped and cheered, making Stevie blush yet again.

"Saturday at six I'll pick you up. Here's my number, text me."

Colton handed Stevie a piece of paper before smiling and going back to his table, where his friends welcomed him with pats on the back.

************

I hope you guys enjoyed this scene, and I hope you will continue to read. 

Lizzy