Ink

Coffee Shop

We got to the coffee shop and went inside. Unsurprisingly, it was full of people. This particular shop was very popular, especially on weekends.

     As we waited in line, my mind wandered to the mystery man at the music store. There was just something about him that caught my eye. The way his eyes crinkled when he grinned. His dark red dyed hair. His tattoo sleeve on his right arm.

"Sam! Earth to Sam!" Jennifer called, snapping me out of my reverie.

"I'm so sorry! I was just thinking," I said breathlessly, my cheeks burning.

She laughed. "It's okay. I probably would be like you if I saw someone that cute too. Snap out of it though, we're next."

     "Sorry," I mumbled again shyly.

     We ordered our drinks and sat down at a nearby table, close to where the barista hands you your drinks. I chose the seat that looked out the window, and she sat opposite me, facing the counter.

     "Did you find any guitars that you liked?" I asked Jennifer.

     "There were a few I considered but none of them felt like the perfect one. I want to see it and know, you know?"

     I nodded in agreement. I knew exactly what she meant.

     "Order for Jack!" the barista called out, "Venti vanilla bean frappucino with soy milk and a shot of espresso."

     "Hello gorgeous," Jennifer whispered as a guy approached the counter.

     "Cute guy? What does he look like?" I whispered back interestedly.

     "Tall. Facial hair. Has a little patch of red in his hair. Pierced ears," she replied quietly so he wouldn't hear her.

     "Wait that sounds like..."

     "Order for Josh!"

My heart felt like it skipped a beat. I turned ever so slightly so I could catch a glimpse of who was coming to the counter and sure enough, Josh the drummer was standing a mere five feet away from me.

"Pumpkin spice latte? You are so basic," Jack teased him.

"Your vanilla bean stuff isn't exactly masculine either," Josh laughed.

I looked at Jennifer, who was looking at me with a confused expression on her face. The two guys left the shop. As they passed the window, Josh looked inside and saw me. He smiled and walked away with Jack.

"Oh my gosh," I gasped quietly, "that was the guy from the music store!"

"Really? Dang Sam he was cuuuuute," she said with a laugh. "His friend, on the other hand, is drop dead gorgeous. Now you definitely have to meet this guy."

"Tell me about it! I need to start thinking about what my first words to him will be though. I don't want to say anything stupid, just in case he is my soulmate," I pondered.

Jennifer grimaced.

"Don't you think it's funny that something like that controls how you meet someone? It almost takes away from it. It probably sometimes prevents it from being organic," she said thoughtfully.

I looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Well, when's the last time you heard someone simply introduce themselves?"

"It's been a while. It's rare, but it does happen," I said slowly.

"That's my point though. It's rare. People tend to overthink how they're going to talk to someone because of these tattoos," she said as she gestured towards her shoulder, where her tattoo was.

"I hadn't thought about it like that," I admitted, "but it's not like we can do anything about it."

"Yeah I know," she sighed.

We sat in silence for a while, both lost in thought. Our drinks were finally called and we headed back to my car. On the way back home, Jennifer sighed again.

"Sorry about that. I guess I've been thinking about it too much," she said sadly.

"Don't be sorry! You were right about everything," I said quickly.

It was then that I decided that I wouldn't think about what my first words to anyone would be anymore. I would just let them come to me naturally and hope for the best.

     Jennifer and I headed back to my house and she helped me set up my keyboard. I plunked out a few keys and grinned happily.

     "It's perfect."

     "I'm glad you like it," she said as she picked up my ukulele. My parents often teased that eventually I would learn to play enough instruments to be a one woman band.

     Jennifer started strumming a slow tune on the ukulele with her eyes closed. I sat there and let the music envelop me. My hands grazed over the keys of my piano and before I knew it, I was playing a little tune to compliment her strumming.

    I started humming along to the rhythm. Neither of us were professional by any means, but I had to admit the song sounded pretty good.

Words began to form in my mind. I started to sing.

How can something so beautiful be so terrifying?
How can you want something so badly, and at the same time be so afraid?
When will I find someone that can make my fears go away? Will they ever go away? Love is a scary thing.

Made up song at the end on my real thoughts on love. It's a beautiful and terrible thing.