Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop

Chapter 2

When I looked up from my book, I felt my eyes slightly widen as I took in the person walking up to the counter. He was a boy--or I suppose man is more fitting--who looked to be roughly around my age. He was tall, maybe six feet or so, with dark, curly hair. His strong jawline balanced nicely with the glasses set on his nose. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt pushed to his elbows and jeans. A messenger bag was slung over his shoulder. 

While I couldn't understand the words, my ears strained to listen to the deep voice that rumbled out as he placed his order. Marie turned to start on his drink and made a point to look at me as if to say, "are you seeing this?!"

She finished up his drink and placed it in front of him with a smile. He nodded in return and grabbed his cup, moving to the loveseat in the corner opposite me. I watched him over the pages of my book just as he looked up, realizing that there was another person in the room. I felt a hot heat burn in my cheeks when his dark eyes met my light ones and quickly shifted my head back down into my book. I forced myself to focus on the sentences in my book but, overcome by embarrassment, I couldn't process the words as I read them. 

I allowed myself one last peak and, seeing that he was busying himself on the laptop in front of him, I let go of the embarrassment. Once again, I fell back into the world contained within my book. Soon after, I noticed my latte had run out. Typically, I'd take this as a sign to end my time at the cafe and move on with my day. But, as I had nothing else to do that day, I decided to get one more. 

I made my way to the counter just as the mystery man got up and, after a stretch, headed there himself. I made it there first and called out to Marie.

"Another," she asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I don't have anything else to do."

"Got it, and would you like another," she asked the man behind me.

I turned around just as he said, "yes, please." We made eye contact once again. This time, I couldn't hide myself fast enough and, before I could turn around, he gave the most charming small smile and a slight nod. I felt the heat rush back into my cheeks just as Marie came back with our drinks. I quickly grabbed mine and gave an awkward nod in his direction before rushing back to my seat. As I passed, I heard a quiet chuckle but kept my head down. What was wrong with me? I could be such moron sometimes.

An hour or so later, I finished my drink and packed up my things before placing the cup in the bin used for dirty dishes. I called out to Marie before leaving and made my way to the door. Of course, mystery man was finishing up at about the same time. He made it to the door just before me but, rather than walking through, he held it open for me. I mumbled out an awkward thanks as I looked up to see him give yet another small nod and low chuckle. I whipped my head down and rushed into the breezy air. Turning right, I made my way home and tried desperately to forget the stranger in the cafe.

*****

The following day, I decided not to go to my favorite little coffee shop in order to clean up my apartment. I'd be going out with Marie that night and, while the plan wasn't to go out for drinks, I knew she'd convince me to go out. After all, she was doing me a favor by attending a poetry reading with me. I needed proof that I had been to one for my creative writing class and this was the last one in the area before my assignment was due. 

After spending the day cleaning, I had about an hour until I needed to leave. I took my time showering and getting dressed. I decided to put some loose curls into the ends of my blonde hair before swiping on some mascara and dark lipstick. I slid on my converse and threw a scarf around my neck before heading out.

It wasn't quite as windy today but the evening air was cooler than yesterday. I decided to run back in and grab a jacket and hat. Then, after locking my door once again, I headed in the direction of the bookstore that would house tonight's poetry reading. 

Marie got there before me and was browsing books on the main level of the small store when I arrived. 

"Hey, thanks again for coming," I said as I walked up next to her.

Without glancing over she said, "anytime, babe." Then, placed the book she had been looking at back onto the shelf.

"Shall we," I asked.

"We shall." And with that, we made our way up the small staircase of the bookshop. My first time there, I was quite confused. The bookshop had a second story as well as a basement--each floor filled with books. The stairs that lead upstairs aren't anything notable and it looks as if you're entering a "staff only" area. There aren't any signs that indicate this but it doesn't appear as a third area to the store until you get up there. On the second floor, shelves of books line the walls and the scent of the small coffee stand fills the air. I've only been up there during readings when the center of the small room is filled with rows of plastic chairs. 

This must be a particularly popular poet as the chairs were all filled and people were starting to line the walls. Marie and I decided to stick towards the back, near the coffee stand. While waiting, we each ordered small cappuccinos. 

"So, that guy yesterday," Marie started. "Wasn't he something?"

"Yeah, he was! Have you ever seen him in there before?"

"No, but Bailey mentioned something about a hot guy coming in earlier this week. I'm guessing it was him. The description matched pretty closely."

Just as I was about to respond, the owner of the small store stepped up to the podium and an expectant quietness filled the room. Per usual, she was introducing the person who would be reading and gave a little pitch about their book. The poet stepped up to the podium and cleared her throat just as someone came up the stairs and made their way toward the small coffee stand.

I looked up as they passed and once again came eye-to-eye with the handsome stranger from the coffee shop. He gave a breathtaking smile to Marie and I before quietly ordering a drink and finding a spot to stand along the wall. I found my curiosity about the stranger was higher than my interest in the poetry reading and my mind began wandering. Who was he? Where was he from? What did he do? Why is he suddenly here? What is he doing at a poetry reading? 

Before I knew it, the reading was over and people were beginning to file out down the small staircase. I'd have to look up the author's poems before writing my paper. Maybe I could focus more on the ambience of the room rather than the actual poetry? Our teacher was more just looking for proof that we had gone to one. The mysterious stranger got lost in the sea of people behind us as Marie and I made our way down and out of the little shop. 

As predicted, Marie coerced me into a night on the town. She's very persuasive. The drinks poured, the conversations flowed, and I soon forgot about the stranger from the coffee shop.

~~~~~~~

Hey! I hope you're all enjoying the story so far! I can't wait to read people's thoughts and reactions. :)

I just wanted to make a comment that the bookstore in this chapter is based off of a bookstore that I had to go to for a poetry reading in a couple times. (The story isn't about or based me but I do have some things throughout that I know from or are based off of my own experiences.) The bookstore is Literati Bookstore and it IS in downtown Ann Arbor. If you look it up their, there are plenty of pictures!