Affogato

Chapter One

The coffee shop was a small building at the side of an abandoned road. Despite it's simple appearance, the shop attracted a decent handful of customers and was well-known in the nearby towns for its customer appreciation and quality food.

Everyday the owner of the shop would flip the sign to indicate the day's start. Everyday the coffee shop would be open and serving it's customers. Everyday the Jensens would start their day with breakfast at the coffee shop. Everyday the Sebastians would join the Wilsons for lunch while the Saito family would stop in to taste whatever was on special that day. Everyday Ms. Khanna would sit at one of the outdoor tables and enjoy a cup of tea with her grandson. Everyday the shop's owner would flip the sign late at night to signal closing.

It was consistencies such as this that were routine and well known at the small shop. But none of these instances could parallel that of their greatest and most loyal customer— a young woman known to all as Mai Amori.

Every day she would enter through the cafe doors, sit alone at table nine, and order an affogato. 

Though peculiar, no one ever chose to question the action directly. But in a small town, rumors never took long to start up.

She was a young widow who had never moved on from the tragedy of her husbands death.

She was on the run from an abusive family and was hiding out in the area.

She was a magical, sparkling fairy princess who had come from the land of Flyopia.

The last one, of course, was the creation of the Jensen's youngest daughter. But even the other rumors that had spread across the small town were as far from the truth as was the magical land of Flyopia.

The woman herself could have added a thousand rumors to the mix, but she stayed quiet, knowing that the only thing no one would believe was the truth. Besides, it was more fun for her to see what others imaginations could spring up.

But sometimes consistencies are broken. So when Mai pushed open the cafe doors on that Saturday, she found her usual seat occupied by a young man and an affogato waiting for her. The young man immediately beckoned her over.

"Ms. Amori!" He cried, gesturing at the seat in front of him. "Please, sit."

Mai sat down with a startled look.

"So how are you today, miss?"

A few seconds passed before Mai found her voice. "I'm fine. You?"

"Quite well, myself."

The conversation lapsed as the pair studied each other.

"Well?" She finally asked.

"Well what?"

"Well, obviously you want something so get on with it."

The man seemed taken aback. "Honestly?"

Mai rolled her eyes. "What else?"

"Why do you sit alone at the same table everyday and never order anything new?"

Talk about blunt. Mai thought, smirking.

"I sit at this table because I like the view from the window." She said pointing at the window next to the booth. "And I always order an affogato because I like it."

The man blinked. "That's it?"

The woman laughed at his stupor. "What did you think was the reason?"

She covered her mouth in mock surprise. "No wait... I'm a widowed fairy who is on the run from the fairy queen."

The man chuckled, though the corners of his ears turned bright red.

"That's... wow." He hung his head in shame. "I guess I never thought that-"

"I'm a normal person?" Mai smiled. "I know. It's easier to assume."

The man shook his head. "There's still one thing I don't understand."

Mai spread her arms in a 'go-ahead' manner.

"Why do you always sit alone?"

This time Mai was taken aback.

"Well, I guess no one ever wanted to sit with me." She winked. "Present company excluded."

"Besides, I'm a writer. I sit here and observe everything around me. Many of the things here make it into my stories."

The man started drumming a senseless rhythm onto the counter.

"Actually, that I already knew."

"Yeah, I- wait, you what?" Mai immediately stilled as the man smiled.

"I've been searching for you." He raised an eyebrow. "The famous Aaron Downs. I have to say, you gave us quite the curveball with that pen name."

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a business card.

Mai studied it silently as the man continued.

Carter Evans

Publishing Agent

Little Books Publishing Company

"I'm quite a fan of yours. I loved all of your novels but I think it's time you considered publishing beyond simply posting on that site of yours."

He paused, before continuing.

"So what do you say?"

Mai was quiet for a moment before she gently tucked away the card.

She stuck out her hand and they shook.

"It's a deal."

A/N: I'll be honest, I did not expect this to go this way. I was going to write a soft, fluffy romance story and then my brain and heart had a momentary conflict and viola! So, um, I might leave this here for a while till I know what to do with it. Thanks to all you guys who read it! Let me know what you think down below, so I can decide whether to make something out of this or not.