Saturdays

Chapter Two

Second Saturday

The familiar chime rings through the small coffee shop as I push open the glass door. I pause the music playing through my phone and pull out my earbuds.

Like last week, there aren't many people here and there's only one employee currently working, whose back is facing me. I am walking up to the counter, when I freeze in my spot. The employee had turned, revealing that it was the guy I had seen working last weekend. My face pales as we make eye contact, which causes me to look at the ground.

I take a deep breath as I continue walking over to the counter to order. He smiles as we make eye contact again. "Goodmorning, Welcome to The Grind. How can I help you?"

With my eyes trained on my shaking hands, I reply, "Um, could I get a caramel latte?"

"Of course. Anything else?"

"Uh, no thanks."

"Okay. That'll be $3.05."

With my nervous hands, I pull my wallet out of my purse. I unzip it a little too quickly, and make every coin stored in the wallet fly out. I feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. "I-I'm so so so sorry. I-"

"Woah! It's okay, it's okay. Here, let me help." the guy says while running from behind the counter.

We are both kneeled on the ground, picking up the mess I made. Without realizing it, I reach my hand out to pick up one of the coins that the guy was also reaching for. I quickly notice but it's too late. Our fingers brush against each other's like a cliche movie. I pull my hand back and mutter out, "s-sorry."

"It's alright," he chuckles, "you're fine." He dumps all the coins he had picked up, into my wallet then stands up.

"Thank you, I really didn't mean to-"

"No, it's totally okay. It was just an accident." he responds, while returning behind the counter.

"O-okay." I whisper.

For about 10 seconds, we awkwardly stare at each before I say,"Oh, you probably need the money, don't you?" with a quiet laugh.

"Yeah, that'd be good." he says with a smile.

I pull out the money and gently hand it to him, making sure none of it flies everywhere again. After he hands me the receipt, he says, "I need to know your name."

I become still and look at him with wide eyes. Realizing how that came off, he quickly covered it by adding,"So you can pick up the right drink." I mentally face palm myself. Why would he actually want to know my name.

"Um- yeah, of course," I stutter out, "It's Grace."

The barista smiles,"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl." I immediately blush and tuck the hair on the right side of my face behind my ear. "Thanks."

"My pleasure. My name is Jack, if you wanted to know."

I give him a shy smile, "Nice name for a nice guy."

"All I get is nice?" Jack questions while clutching his heart.

I look around and notice that there are only three other people in here and they already had their orders, "Oh I-"

"I'm just joking." He laughs. "I better start making your drink and stop keeping you waiting."

I nod and walk over to the seat I sat at last saturday. Since then, I finished re-reading Slated and am now re-reading another one of my favorites. Something I love about reading books is that each and every time I re-read them, I feel like I'm reading the book for the first time again. If a book can do that to you, you know it's good.