One Last Look

2

~1 year earlier~

El Woods rushed into the coffee shop, breathless, and her hair flying every which way.
She shoots a smile at the guy behind the counter, and gets one in return.

"Hey Ben! Can you get me a mocha?"

"No problemo, El-bow" he replied, with a wink and a smirk.
She rolls her eyes and tosses her bag in her usual booth.
Returning to the counter, she leans forward, resting her head on her hands.

"So, how's my favorite barista today?"
She asked, with a smirk of her own.

"Eh." His eyes were fixed on his task set before him.
"Not particularly amazing. It's better now that you're here, though." He looked up with a smile. Hands still flying about the spouts and nozzles.

"Awwww, who is this, my Ben would never say that" she jested, eyes full of laughter.

"Ha ha, very funny. You know I love you El" he said, his voice filled with a serious yes lighthearted energy.

"I know, and I love you too." Her eyes shone, proving her words.
At that moment he finished her latte, and called out:

"One Mocha Latte for Elephant? Is there an Elephant here?"

He grinned from ear to ear, waiting for her reaction.
El shot a halfhearted glare at him and took the cup, her hand brushing against his in the exchange.

"That'll be 4.57" said he said, opening the cash register.

She handed him a five and waited for her change.

"Got any tips for me?" He asked, face full of mischief.

"Yeah, one." El replied, with a laugh.
She then leaned over the counter and lightly kissed him on the cheek.

Ben blushed, his mouth slightly open and curved into a small smile.
"If only all my tips were that amazing."

El flashed him her signature smile and picked up her cup once more.
"I'll be leaving as soon as my coffee's finished. Wanna come by later?"

"Absolutely." He answered, his face full of light.

She walked back over to her booth and sat down, pulling a book, pen, and paper out of her bag. Putting on her reading glasses, she bent over the table, trying to take notes as extensively as possible.
She was attempting to finish her essay on the life of J.R.R. Tolkien. She had started on it a few weeks back, but it seemed as if she'd hit a wall.
An immovable, brick wall with no cracks.
She sat back in her chair for a minute.
She needed to breathe.
The sunlight cast it's rays down on her, gently reminding her to rest.
Her glasses slightly askew, her hair escaping the messy bun she threw it up in on the rush to get here, her eyebrows slightly furrowed in frustration, and her books and pens and paper spread out and scattered all over the table.
Sighing, she turned away from her work and towards the counter.
Ben was helping the increasing line of customers, hands flying, small smiles flashing, the smell of coffee filling the air and mingling with the lilac scent coming from the open door.
She smiled wistfully, taking it all in.
Eyes shining with love.
Ben glanced up, and shot her a quick wink.
She giggled, thinking to herself how much she loved his goofiness.
After a few minutes, she turned back to her writing.
Words flew through her fingers at a mile a minute. The wall was gone. Obliterated. And her inspiration was back.