505 days ~ irwin

380 days before

here's something new...... a new pov...

Luke

When work was slow, you start to notice things you never did before. The coffee shop was getting less business than usual. But of course Brin's group is the only reason why the shop was still open, they tend to give us more business than the rest of the customers combined. 

My manager likes to call them "The usuals," or "The Riff-Raffs of Sydney." 

I noticed how Ashton would check his phone almost every 3 minutes, or how Michael would always be resting forward. Savannah would file her nails every 10 minutes, or at least check that they were still decent. And Riley would order a coffee every hour. She was your classic coffee addict, she's here before the sun rises, and before the sun goes down, she'll make her way back here. 

I wiped down the counter clean from the coffee stain rings, and sugar that fell to the table top. When I heard the bells that go off when someone enters, my mind was elsewhere and didn't really register the sound. I stared at the back wall for a second, must of looked like I was working hard if a customer saw me.

"Hello?" I heard from behind me. It was sweet, and high, a girl obviously. 

"Hey, what's your poison?" I asked, flirtatiously. I added a slight wink in there, pulling the line I only use on girl customers. 

I noticed her roll her eyes at me seconds after, that's a new record. 

I furrowed my brows a little, in confusion. 

"Uhm- extra large americano, two sugar and no cream." She spoke like it was job, she didn't even look at the menu, just a routine I guess. 

"Girl like you drinks a coffee with no cream?" I asked, smirking, trying to win her back. 

"Vegan." She quickly said, like she didn't want me to hear her voice. She was a little off, she was acting like she had no idea what I was saying, like she was new to english, but she had an American accent. She looked confused, and acted like she was being followed or something by checking behind her every now and then.

A burst of laughter came from the corner of the shop, which made her turn around, scared. 

"Oh, don't worry." I say as I begin to make her drink. "They're regulars here, they're loud and whatnot." I warned her. 

She turned back to me, running her hands through her fingers, fiddling with her sunglasses. 

"You okay?" I asked with a slight giggle. 

She just nodded. She was wearing sunglasses that were very modern, like those Dior ones that Savannah has, the bar that just holds the lens together. 

I grab the sharpie from beside the cash register, sticking the end in my mouth and ripping off the cap. "Name?" I asked, hovering over the cup, ready to write. 

When she didn't answer I looked towards her, she was looking slightly at the group behind her. 

"Your name?" I asked, more stern, but still with a smirk. 

"Oh- sorry. Cara." She said confidently. She was very attractive, from what I could see. Short blonde hair in waves that meant she was either surfing, on the beach, or just hasn't washed her hair in awhile.  She was tall, 5'9 maybe. She had thick brown brows that were almost straight, and her voice was like in a storybook. She could sing me to sleep and I wouldn't mind. "Could you hurry though?" 

"Why in such a rush?" I said as I poured the coffee from the pot. "You in trouble? Being followed? You can just blink and I'll press the panic button." I whispered over the counter. 

"No- no, no need for that. I've just been up for 35 hours, and I leave for a flight in an hour and a half." She breathed out. She was half distracted, staring at the window to her left. She had a very nice voice, soft like in the movies. Sounds like the type to have a very nice singing voice, if we weren't in public I would've asked her to sing for me. 

"Where you headed, stranger?" As soon as i said stranger she looked at me. I poured sugar and let it fall to the bottom of the cup.

"Home." She stated, it almost sounded like a sigh. 

"What's home?" I asked, placing the lid onto the cup.

"Paradise." She weakly smiled, leaving me with a smirk.

I handed her cup with my brows furrowed a bit, and ended with a smirk too. "Sounds lovely." I said, jealous that she could go home. 

"It really is. Join me sometime?" She was still smirking. Suddenly, she was the flirt, and I was the venerable one. I don't like when the tables turn on me. She lifted down her sunglasses, I could see her eyes. They were bright, and green. I see why she had sunglasses on, because if she didn't, everyone would be blinded by how bright and detailed her eyes were. She could make anyone fall in love with eyes like those, like me for example. 

I was mesmerized, and in a trance, almost. "I know you." I whispered out. She continued to stare at me with the same smiled pasted on her beautiful, clear, face. "I know you." I said louder, enough for her to hear. 

Her smiled faded into her skin, and she put her sunglasses back on. She grabbed her drink so quickly that I didn't notice it gone. She threw the 10 dollar bill she was holding in her hand the entire time. She looked like she saw a ghost, or like she got caught for 10 counts of attempted murder. She quickly walked for the door, her heels making an obvious exit. Her blonde hair blew with the wind as she pushed on the door, turning around, doing a little spin. 

She left with a wink, taking off her sunglasses, then putting them back on. 

I was in awe, and confused. 

I know her. 

"Who's the hot blonde?" A voice interrupted my thoughts, it was Calum. 

"One sec." I softly said as I followed her steps, I left and went outside. To my left, nothing. To my right, was blonde hair in the wind, running into the passengers seat of a black car, that sped right away. 

And that was it. 

-

I thought of this chapter while I was at work because this lady looked like she didn't understand anything I was saying, and she acted like she was being followed, but she spoke fluent english and was in no rush.