once upon a coffee house >> jiley shortstory

there is sunshine in her smile.

❝there is sunshine in her smile, and sometimes she stops to talk to some of the people.❞

It's a sunny Saturday morning when he first comes in. Riley is behind the register, doing what she always does: observing people.

She imagines where they come from, what they love, who they are waiting for and when they will leave to go find their next destination.

Riley lives in a big city, and feeling as though she isn't only surrounded by total strangers gives her a little security.

With the scent of coffee all around, the cosy sofas in every corner and the hundreds of different mugs, it's easy to feel at home here, when everything around seems new and scary.

Once upon a coffee house is everyone's favourite place; although there are tons of new people visiting every day, some faces are familiar.

The people that come in every day know Riley by name, and a lot of the time they chat with her and tell her little stories about their day.

When they do, she nods with warm eyes and attentive ears; she likes stories, and words, and listening.

On days where they don't, she still has a small smile to offer; even if they don't give her as much as a glance.

Sometimes, people have bad days. Riley knows that, and so she tries to stay positive, to offer everyone a little sunshine.

It's what she does, and who she is, and she likes it that way.

It's a sunny, Saturday morning when he first comes in, Rileys favourite time of the week.

He comes in with a phone in his hand and a frown on his face, and he's talking loudly, almost arguing.

He doesn't wait for Riley to say her usual phrase.

("Welcome to Once upon a coffee house. How can I help you?")

Instead, he mumbles an annoyed, "Coffee. Black," and goes back to arguing.

Riley sighs and turns around to fulfil his order, a little offended by his rude behaviour. But she tells herself - everyone has bad days.

He snarls at her, "What's taking so long?"

She turns back around. "The machine is a little old; almost done, though"

"Whatever," the guy mumbles and then he's arguing on his phone again. Everyone has bad days, Riley reminds herself.

Maybe Riley is having a bad day too, who knows? Maybe that's why she snaps at him that quickly.

But when he takes a sip of his coffee, spits it out and says, "Your coffee is shit," in a venomous voice, Riley loses it.

"Are you kidding me? Get the fuck out" She points towards the door.

Rileys face is red with anger, and her voice loud enough to catch people's attention - everyone is looking at them.

He looks surprised, like he hadn't expected to be put in his place.

Then he leaves.

***

It's on a busy Friday night, about a month after when he comes in for the second time. Open mic night.

Riley is listening to the young girl performing a song, while cleaning up the counter and watching all the different people in the coffee house, when the bell chimes and a group of boys enters.