The Mixtape

1: Leigh

            "I'll get us some more coffee," Noah said, pushing back his chair as he grinned at Leigh.

            "I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight," she admitted, but even without the caffeine, she would probably have had a restless night.

            "I'll get decaf," he offered. Looking at her sheepishly, he admitted, "I don't really want you to leave yet."

            "That makes two of us."

            The smile on Noah's face could have casted a glow upon the entire town and it made Leigh's stomach tighten in response. 

        Her insides had been doing summersaults all night. It was the same feeling she got when she was rooting for the two main characters in a good book; an internal-squealing, heart-pounding, stomach-clenching feeling that buried itself inside her. But this was about Noah, her absolutely, one hundred percent non-fictional boyfriend.

        When he returned, he handed over her refill, and sat down. "They're closing in five minutes, so I was thinking we could go for a walk."

            "I like the way you think, Noah."

            "Noah Ridge."

            "What?"

            "That's my last name."

            "Noah Ridge," she repeated.

            Leigh instantly adored it. She loved the way he pronounced it, the way it rolled off her own tongue, the way it sounded. God, it was perfect.

            "Leigh Hewitt," she said, as she stood.

            Noah paused for a moment, then smiled, offering his hand. "Miss Hewitt, may I take you on a moonlight stroll?"

            "You nay," she said, sliding her fingers between his. Her cheeks hurt from all her smiling.

            Noah laughed softly, holding her hand tighter. Together, the pair walked out of the coffee shop, waving goodbye to the baristas as they stepped onto the silent streets. 

            It had only been two hours since they physically met, but she loved the way they were together. How it wasn't awkward, how they both made each other laugh so effortlessly and still had teasing flirtatious comments bouncing back and forth.

            Leigh took a sip from her styrofoam cup with her free hand. "So, are you an English student?"

            "Surprisingly, no. Reading and writing is something I do in my spare time."

            "You write?"

            I'm dating an author, Leigh thought.

            "Occasionally. Never anything major though. I never have the time to focus on any particularly big project between my classes."

        "What do you major in?" she asked. Then added, "Other than procrastination."

        Noah smiled, as if she read his mind. "I study business management. I'd love to do a course on children's literature one day though and write a children's picture book."

            "What would it be about?"

             "I always wanted to write a book about a dog and a duck," Noah said. His thumb absentmindedly ran down hers as he spoke. "They go on adventures together and help get each other out of trouble."