The coffee shop seems deserted again today. I look on towards the staff, they look just as bored as I am. Reaching for my phone, I begin to wonder why I still bother to sit here. Every day, I sit here, hoping to find them. This monotone world that I live in bores me, 18 years of my life wasted on this one person. I hate how they have to control me, affecting how I see the world. I've already had my parents do that for me, moving out was a huge relief.
A couple, holding hands, walk past the window of the shop. Their faces show immense joy, smiling and laughing like it was no one's business. My mouth forms into a smile, I want that to be me. Those two probably see the world much better than I do, full of colour. I envy them. I want to know what they look like. Are they male? Female? What race are they, age? My mind floods with questions that I don't know the answers to. My phone buzzes and starts playing 'Cantarella'. It's my new friend from college, April. I don't know why she'd be calling me, I only gave her my number because our mutual friend, Grace, needed my number. I still don't understand how she lost it. I pick up the phone and answer her.
"...Hello?" My voice was hesitant.
"Hey Rain! You at the coffee shop?" April's voice was excited, but nervous at the same time. My eyes widen, how did she know I was here?
"Uhm," I muttered, "How do you know where I am?" My face twisting in confusion.
"Haha! It's okay, I'm not stalking you," she laughs, reassuring me. "I'm actually heading there for my first shift! I applied there a couple of days ago." Her voice filled with pride.
"Oh, well, yeah, I guess I'm here," nervously laughing to myself. My hand reaches for the nape of my neck, gently moving it back and forth. Why does she seem so enthusiastic to see me? I'm not that special.
"I'm heading in right now! I'll see you in a second!" She exclaims, immediately dropping the call. I glance at the phone in my hand and slowly shake my head, she's such an unpredictable person. I hear somebody burst through the entrance, and in comes April. Her dark hair ruffled, probably from running her way here, she gasps for air.
"I'm here!" She wheezes out. I scoffed playfully at her, I don't see why that was necessary, she only caused a commotion inside the coffee shop. She hears me and looks up. Her face instantly brightens up, a smile appearing on her mouth. I feel my face flush; her adorable smile makes me feel happy.
"What's with the ruckus!?" The manager of the shop rushes out of his office, frantically scolding his employees. He turns his head to the entrance and notices April, hunched over and out of breath. He sighs.
"Ms. Layne," he begins, "I understand that it's your first day, but could you at least tone it down just a bit?" The manager's hand showing a patting-like motion, indicating to level it down. I laughed quietly to myself, April has guts to show up like that.
"Mr. Greene, feel free to call me April," April jumps into a preppy pose, her animated personality clearly showing through, "I'll do my best Sir!" Her actions arousing laughter from the staff. The manager, Mr. Greene, trying his best to not laugh at her, shakes his head, with a grin on his face.
"Okay April, just please, do your job," He suggests. "You wouldn't want to mess up on your first day, right?" His face warming up to a genuine smile.
April's face lights up, "Yes Sir!" mocking a salute, excitement in her voice. The commotion ends, and everyone goes back to what they were previously doing. The previous cashier motions April over, and with her energy, she jogs to the spot right next to her, with a light bounce in her step. Something about her causes me to not be able to look away, she's so, attractive.
I shake my head to clear my thoughts, could she be? I wasn't prepared for this, even though just earlier I wanted to see the world in a new light, so badly. I glance back at her, she looks so excited for this job, the grin on her face as bright as the full moon in the dark night sky. My face begins to flush, something about her makes my heart race, my eyes can't rip away from her beautiful self. I involuntarily get up from my seat and approach the cashier.
"Uhm, am I allowed to intervene...?" I awkwardly ask the two. They look at me and April grins.
"Yeah! What would you like to order?" She holds up her notepad and prepares to write down my order. The previous cashier observes her, seeing if she'll do her job correctly.
"My usual, just a mocha latte," I said, with a light smile on my face. April stops talking for a moment and gazes into my eyes, our monotone colours contrasting each other, my heart begins to beat faster, the room getting warmer. She blinks and shakes her head, proceeding to nod and write down my order.
"Is- Is that all you would like, Rain?" She stutters, my name sounds so beautiful coming from her mouth. Hearing my name accompanied with her voice makes my heart skip a beat.
I chuckled quietly to myself, "Yeah, yeah, that's all." I take out the amount of money that I usually paid, and slowly bounded for my table. As I sat down, I couldn't help but glance back at her, I need to know, I need to figure out a way to see if she's the one. I pick my phone back up and go through my Instagram feed. I see the usual, selfies, food, anime, and some memes, taking the time to like a select few. A few minutes pass, and I hear footsteps approaching my direction, looking up to see April. Careful not to spill my latte, she awkwardly makes her way over to my table.
"I also asked if I could get a short break to take a time to chat with you, something about this seems very important," she mentions, while taking a seat in the chair across the table from me. She slowly slides over my latte, and quickly draws back her hand, making sure that she doesn't touch me. Does she think so too? I reach for my drink and take a sip.
I finish taking a sip from the latte and paused. "...Do you feel that too?" I asked her, setting down my latte. April's eyes widen at my words, she looks surprised at first, but she looks at me for a moment.
"Yes, I- I felt that as well," April mumbles, still looking intently into my eyes. I can't believe it, if I touched her now, would I see the world with colour? A world so beautiful, because of one person?
"I want to know," She begins, "I want to know if I've really found you."
I take a deep breath; she knows exactly how I'm feeling right now. Even though I've only known her for a short time, I know that we have just about everything in common. Our interests, beliefs, and even personalities align, from what I've heard from Grace.
"Rain," she whispers, "C-can I have your hand for a moment?" April stutters, holding out her hand across the table. I pause for a moment, taking a second to look at her hand. Do I really want to know? If I held her hand and it's not her, this would all be basically for nothing. I would've been freaking out for nothing. But if I think about it, she's the only one that I've felt this way for, it's overwhelming, but at the same time comforting, knowing that I have someone to feel this way for. I take my hand and hold it out in front of me, hesitating, and feeling chills running down my whole body.
"Oh fine, I'll do it then," she mutters and grabs my hand. Everything begins to change, colour running throughout our hands, and slowly dissipating from there. Colour reaches her eyes, her wonderful, enchanting forest green, staring into mine, still not knowing what colour lies behind them. Her long, dark brown hair cascades down her shoulders, her singular green highlight on her bangs stand out. Her tan complexion, though not containing perfection, is beautiful through my world. Her face is flushed, and I know mine is too. She's perfect, this is perfect.
Her green eyes gaze into mine, and I gaze back in return.
"It's you."
YOU ARE READING
Short Stories
Short StoryI don't write anything specific, this will mostly contain school projects where I had to write. Usually Romantic cheesy trash, I dunno.
