café au lait

Talk that talk

Esme came into Starbucks everyday at precisely 9 in the morning. She always ordered her usual vanilla latte double espresso, low fat milk with whipped cream. She'd collect her drink, sit by a window and pull out a book from a messenger bag and plug her earbuds in. She'd stay for about an hour. Then, she would pack up her things and go her own way.

Alec observed this silently. He hadn't the guts to talk to her except for "Whipped cream?" Or "Would you like a receipt?"

He enjoyed watching her movements, watching the way she'd turn the page of her book smoothly with a flick of her finger. He noticed on somedays she would pull out some notes, or her MacBook to do some revision or essays, with her earbuds still plugged in.

Alec related to that easily. One level above the café, in his break room, he had his guitar resting against the wall, his textbooks, notebooks and computer. He also kept a few novels where he would enjoy being sucked into the fictional universe. Yes, he reads books. Shocker.

Esme enjoyed coming to this particular cafe everyday to do her work. This outlet wasn't like the others as it wasn't too big, wasn't too crowded. It was the kind of pace which Esme fit with perfectly.

She enjoyed doing her assignments in here, rather than at home. Don't get her wrong, she has a lovely home with a peaceful atmosphere. But she enjoyed the tranquility and the satisfactory feeling of independence, when she was away from home. She didn't have words to describe it.

She noticed that whenever she came into Starbucks, that was the time the cute boy who had served her earlier had his shift. She hadn't payed him much attention, but still she noticed him silently. She noticed him go up the stairs to take his break. And a few minutes after that, she would hear the heavenly sound of guitar strings being plucked by skilled and nimble fingers faintly. Alec, was his name.

They didn't make much conversation. Or share much eye contact. But they both observed each other silently, each unaware the other was doing the same.

On this particular day however, actual small talk was made.

It was a regular old Sunday and the cafe wasn't as busy as normally would've been on the other days of the week. There were only about one or two customers that day. Esme walked in, at 9 in the morning, as per normal; she carried a large, heavy copy of the Grey's Anatomy and nothing else in her arms.

Alec looked up to see her walking up to the counter. He smirked. "Let me guess. A vanilla latte double espresso, low fat milk with whipped cream. Tall?" A smile graced the edges of Esme's lips. "Gee, how did you guess?" She said sarcastically, in mock surprise.

Alec laughed. "So Esme, want to switch it up a little?"

She raised an eyebrow and he rolled his eyes. "You've been coming here, everyday for the last two weeks, perhaps more. It would be little ridiculous if I haven't learnt your name by now."

It was Esme's turn to smirk. "Of course, Alec," She said glancing at his name tag. "It would. What do you suggest then?"

He tapped his finger to his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... I'd recommend the pumpkin spice latte. Seasonal special for the fall and winter."

"Okay sure."

"Whipped cream?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

He smiled and got to work. While he was fixing her coffee, she took a good look at him. He had sandy blonde hair, that was long and shaggy with a fringe that swept over his brow, surfer style but a little messier. He had pale green eyes, in contrast to her own dark orbs.

He handed her her drink over at the pick up counter. "Thanks," she said with a smile as she tucked her huge copy of the Grey's Anatomy in one arm and her latte in the other.

"Woah dude. Are you really gonna read the entire Grey's Anatomy?!" Alec asked, shocked.

"Well not the whole thing. I guess I'm just referencing for all that I need to know."

"So you're studying medicine," Alec said, interested. A college girl, too.

Esme nodded. "Yup. I'm taking a course at college. Yourself?"

"I'm studying law actually." Esme looked interested now. "Wow. Law. Sounds fun."

Alec rolled his eyes. "The sarcasm is totally imminent."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"You play guitar too, don't you?"

Alec's mouth dropped open.

"H-how did you know?!" He looked like a gaping fish and Esme laughed. "Look at your fingers. The fingertips are calloused, probably from from the repeated pressure of fretting the strings. Also your nails are pretty short since long nails would probably snap. So clearly you take care of them. So that's how I figured you played guitar."

"Also," she added. "I've heard the faint sounds of the plucking of strings at times. And when I try sourcing the sound, I notice you are not at the counter. So you were probably having your break and were playing the guitar."

Alec looked impressed. "Woah dude. You are like totally Sherlock Holmes."

Esme shrugged. "I may have picked up a few deduction techniques from watching the show Sherlock by BBC."

He thought about that for a moment. "I'll check it out."

"You HAVE to. It's the best show on earth. I'm absolutely obsessed with it." Esme looked delighted. He could tell she really enjoyed this show.

"I'll consider the notion."

She smiled and left the counter and proceeded to plug her earbuds in and to do her revision.

"That was nice," the two of them thought in unison.

If conversation came that easily to the two of them, they bet that there will be more of that in the near future.