The first person I meet in Granite Falls is Ryan at the local coffee shop. I decided to explore the town today by myself. I asked my mom this morning over breakfast, and she agreed. She’s been giving me my space lately; my relationships with people are fragile as of now and she doesn’t want to break it. She’s always been able to read me really well, and I am grateful for that. Besides, the town itself is tiny, about five square miles. You can walk from one end to the other within a day easily. I love it.
Yesterday, I got in at about midnight, so it was about 12:30 when I got to see out new house for the first time. It’s bigger than our last: three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a wrap-around porch, a family room, an entertainment room, and a “book nook” as my mom calls it, which is basically a tiny room she put bookshelves in wall-to-wall for me. It’s got a bay window with a ledge to sit on; my mom has placed blankets and pillow on it. She’s also put a desk in the far corner of the room in a little alcove and filled the drawers with my notebooks and pencils, leaving space for my laptop. It’s perfect. Even better than my room, which is painted a gorgeous grey-blue.
My first destination was of course the coffee shop, Higher Grounds, where I met Ryan. Ryan appears to be in his early twenties. He is tall, about 6’0”, and fairly thin, although not wiry. He has mocha colored skin and he wears the stereotypical hipster glasses. His eyes appear to be a rich brown, irises nearly melding with his pupils. He smiles at me when I first come in, and I feel blush color my cheeks. He’s cute. I grin and look down.
“Never seen you before! Can I take your order?” he asks, smiling.
I stare at the menu and decide to pick something a bit strange.
“Cappuccino with blueberry and white chocolate flavor shots, please,” I say.
“So what’s your name? You just passing by?” he asks, making conversation as he makes my coffee.
“I’m Aspen,” I smile. “I just moved.”
“Awesome! So will you be a regular here from now on then?” he winks, and I blush, yet again.
“Yeah, I suppose so,” I say.
“My name’s Ryan,” he says. “I work here after classes during school and most of the summer. What grade are you in? Where did you move from?”
He’s chatty, and I could swear he is taking longer to make my coffee just so he has someone to talk to. But it’s welcome. He’s the first person I can say I’ve officially met here. Not to mention he’s cute. Ugh.
“I’m going to be a sophomore at Granite Falls High School this fall. I came from Savannah.”
“Why did you move?” he asks, curious.
My stomach drops out. I should have anticipated this question, but I am not ready. I shake my head and take the coffee Ryan hands me, frowning. That’s a question I am not ready to answer.
“It’s okay,” Ryan says, taking the cue. His voice softens. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I am a sophomore, myself. College, though.”
“What are you majoring in?” I ask, glad for the subject change.
“Music education,” he grins, and I notice that his eyes grow wild with excitement.
“That’s awesome!” I say, and he nods.
The conversation fades off, and I start to feel awkward standing there, drinking my coffee.
YOU ARE READING
365 Cups of Coffee
Teen FictionWhen she moves to Granite Falls, New Hampshire, Aspen Laurent knows she is running away. After witnessing a mass murder at her high school just months prior, she is harboring not only a terribly vivid memory of the bloodshed, but a secret as well, o...
