Sterek Library (a03 Edition)

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop that i love so much

By; GeminiHale on a03

Working at Cat’s Coffee House on a weekday was always slow. They weren’t exceptionally busy on weekends either, a few high school students would come and sip on their drinks while gossiping and a few elderly people would come and have a drink while they chatted but that was it. Weekdays had businessmen calling past at 8am to grab a caffeine boost on their way to the office and they had the regulars but that was it. In the week since Stiles had started on the job he’d grown accustomed to the quietness.
Stiles had picked up the job after the summer holidays had drawn to a close. The majority of his year – Scott, Isaac, Allison, Lydia, hell, even Greenberg – had all gone off to college or somewhere else and he was the only graduate that remained in the quiet town of Beacon Hills. He’d decided to stay behind because he had no clue what he wanted to happen in his future so he didn’t see the point in rushing into anything in college. His job at the shop lasted 8am right through until 6pm every day. He could finish early on Fridays and Saturdays so he could go out, Cat had told him, but he didn’t really have any friends living in Beacon Hills anymore so he just worked the extra time to earn extra. Cat was a good boss; she usually left Stiles to manage the shop for himself, after nine but would return around four so she was there to help around peak times; other than that, she’d be out. When she was there, she wore her soft greying hair in a loose bun and when she laughed, a soft tinkling sound, her eyes creased. Cat knew everyone who entered the coffee shop and greeted each one with a smile as she made them their regulars, a habit Stiles was soon picking up. It wasn’t difficult, the customers never changed and neither did the majority of their orders.
It was a particularly slow Wednesday morning when he came in. Stiles heard the door chime about half an hour after Cat had left. He glanced up from where he was perched on the counter, book in one hand and a cappuccino in the other and his eyes fell on the new customer. Stiles didn’t recognise him as a regular customer and from the way his eyes lingered on the menu, scanning it, Stiles could guess he hadn’t visited much, if at all. Stiles carefully marked his page before walking over to serve this mystery man. He was probably early 20s, taller than Stiles by a few inches and well built. He had a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, defined by the dark stubble covering his lower face. His hair was dark and thick eyebrows sat low above grey-green eyes, the colour of sea foam. Stiles cleared his throat before speaking.
‘Hello, do you know what you want to order?’ he asked, finishing with a small smile.
‘Americano. Black. Please,’ he added.
‘Coming right up,’ Stiles said. ‘You can take a seat and I’ll bring it over to you,’
‘Thank you,’ he paused and his eyes dropped to the name tag ‘Stiles,’ he said with a small nod as he walked away. Stiles’ allowed his eyes to rake his body as his back was turned. He was wearing a leather jacket and plain black jeans. As his eyes fell onto his butt, Stiles made an appreciative sound before quickly turning to the coffee machine in case he was caught looking.
A few minutes later Stiles carried a steaming mug over to the table the man had sat down at. The table just so happened to be in direct eye from the counter Stiles noted with a grin.
‘Here you go. If you want anything else, let me know,’ Stiles said, placing the drink down. He was thanked with a nod.
When Stiles hopped back onto the counter and picked up his book, Mystery Man had pulled a pad out of the leather case he’d been carrying along with a pencil. Stiles watched him from behind his book as his hand moved across the page quickly. From here, Stiles couldn’t exactly tell what he was doing but he guessed it was sketching. He looked like an artist.
Over the next few weeks, Mystery Man – Derek as he had told Stiles – visited every day. He’d stay for an hour and draw. And each day he’d ordered the same thing, a black Americano.
‘That’s so boring!’ Stiles exclaimed one day and Derek raised an eyebrow without saying anything. ‘I mean you’ve ordered the same thing every day since you first came here and it’s one of the plainest coffees we sell!’
‘I like Americanos,’ Derek stated.
‘You don’t even consider trying something new?’ Stiles questioned. ‘Surely something must catch your eye,’ Derek shook his head.
‘Fine then. How about you let me make you something and I’ll charge you normal?’
‘Alright then Stiles,’ Derek sighed with a small smile as he handed over the money. Stiles gave him the change and he went to his usual table as Stiles prepared the drink.