Luna had woken up, unwillingly, to try to get a move on with the day. As soon as her alarm goes off, that's when the dread starts to settle in. Waking up in the morning is such a tiring task. But nonetheless, Luna gets a move on with the day. She does her morning routine, shower, brushing her teeth, getting dressed, and the occasional breakfast. Luna wasn't really a breakfast girl.
She had to get ready for work at this cafe a few blocks away from her. She didn't really enjoy making drinks for early coffee-goers with complicated and unnecessary orders, but it did pay her some pretty decent money, and it allowed her some complimentary drinks which was extremely beneficial for all seasons.
It was great for those cold winter days and a hot chocolate would warm up her body and her soul. Or for those dreadfully hot summer days like the one today where she could cool of with a numerous amount of drinks. Lemonades and Ice Teas off all flavors, Iced Coffee, the options were endless.
The cafe in which she worked was like the knockoff Starbucks. It wasn't as successful and didn't have chain of shops all around the world, but the quality was just as good, if not, better. Luna really enjoyed working at Daisy's Cafe, she enjoyed her co-workers, and she enjoyed the atmosphere, she just didn't enjoy those pesky orders.
Once she arrived, she made her way to the back to start prepping for the stream of aspiring writers and college kids trying to cram in a study session. That is how Luna found this place. In her college days she would come here to be alone and study. She would also come here to write and write and write. These were her people.
"Helloo Luna!" Her friend and coworker Max called out.
"Hey Max, now enough with the chit chatting, help me back here!" she laughed alongside Max.
Max and Luna cleaned up the place and took the chairs off the tops of the tables when their other partner in crime came in.
"Sorry I'm late, it's hot as shit outside. Hey Max go make me a strawberry lemonade." Daisy says will rushing into the store whilst flipping the Closed sign to Open.
Daisy was the owner of the cafe, hence the name, and she was quite young. Daisy was 26 years old and already had quite the successful business. Being that she was young and close in age with Luna and Max as well as their other worker Justine, it allows for a close relationship.
"No, make it your damn self." Max scoffs, returning to whatever he was doing previously.
"Nah, I'll just make Justine do it when she gets in." she shrugs while resting her head on the cool counter, in an attempt to cool her off from the scorching heat that still lingers on her skin.
"You're so lazy Daisy." Luna laughs.
"Okay Dr. Seuss." Daisy jokes, which causes everyone to burst out in a fit of giggles.
"For the woman who owns this place, I don't understand how you can be so lazy. You literally made these drinks." Max exclaims.
"Well, that's why I hired you people. So you can cater to my every need." Daisy smiles.
Max rolls his eyes and Luna just laughs. Just then Justine appears with a bit on sweat coating her body.
"Justine! You already have your first order." Luna smiles.
"Ugh, really Daisy!? Whatever." she sighs as she heads behind the counter to make Daisy her strawberry lemonade.
"Here's your damn lemonade." Justine exclaims sarcastically while going back behind the counter to continue her conversation with Luna and Max. Just then, a gagging sound was heard, and the three of them turned their head to see where it was coming from, it was coming from Daisy.
"Holy shit! A strawberry shot down my throat. I was not expecting that." Max, Luna, and Justine bursted out into a fit of laughter. Their laughter was put into a stop when a couple of customers walked in.
"Alright ladies," Luna starts and then turns to Max, "let's get to work." Max shoots her the middle finger and Justine just laughs. Daisy sits in the corner near the back doing work. Customers start to come in and out, and name after name gets called, correctly. That was one of the differences between Daisy's and Starbucks.
The day was pretty much uneventful. Just the 3 workers having fun while catering to their customers accompanied by the typing of keys, the cups hitting the tables after a sip, the pencils on papers, and the quiet hum of the air conditioners. It was peaceful. Until a man had walked in.
Usually the same people come here, it is like a silent agreement of respect. They can go anywhere else, yet they choose to spend their time here. Maybe it was just nice to go to a place that wasn't so mainstream. The workers knew their people, and the people knew their workers. On occasion, there would be new people and then they would become regulars. But this new customer had caught Luna's eye.
He was quite the tall one, and his arms were littered with tattoos. He was wearing this tropical button up shirt that made him look like a tourist, or an older man at some retirement home in Florida. But the way he dressed wasn't what caught Luna's eyes. He was an attractive fellow.
Luna had froze up once she noticed him when he walked in. There was something about his presence that made him seem like a chill and loving guy. That was the kind of energy and vibe he emitted into the atmosphere.
"Can I get a hot chocolate please." he smiled at Luna.
A hot chocolate? In THIS summer heat? Is he okay? Luna had thought to herself.
"Are you sure? It's like 90 degrees outside." Luna questions the attractive man.
"Are you judging my beverage choices?" he cracked a smile.
"Yes, yes I am." she smiled back, her nerves finally settling down.
"I need your name." Luna turns back to him, after putting his order through the machine.
"My name? Really, nobody is here on line."
"Well that can change." she banters smiling widely.
"I don't think anyone else is going to order a hot chocolate in this weather." he challenges.
"Well I didn't expect anyone to order a hot chocolate either, but here you are, standing here, in this cafe. Ordering a hot chocolate. Who knows maybe some other insane man will order another hot chocolate, and I don't want to get your orders confused." She challenges back, smirking and raising her eyebrow.
He hands her a $5 bill, and he gets his change while walking over to the counter to pick up his wintery drink.
"Is there uh, a Tropical Hot Chocolate man?" Luna shouts.
Everyone turns toward her to see if this is some kind of a joke. And they would be right, sort of at least. She was joking with this unnamed man, but she was also being a bit serious. With all eyes still on Luna, the Tropical Hot Chocolate man man makes his way to Luna. Everyone had resumed to their work.
"Ahh, there you are. Enjoy your drink." she smirked.
"Well played, well played." he smiled.
"Oh, and for future reference, it's Harry." And with that, he walked out of the cafe into the summer heat with his winter drink. But not before looking back and winking at a smiling Luna.
YOU ARE READING
Hard to Love (h.s)
Fanfiction"She had come to the conclusion that nobody would love her, and that was how it was meant to be. But that wouldn't stop her from loving others."
