'Started with a' series

Started with a cup of coffee

I stepped in the little cafe and the bell above my head rung. Unlike other times today the cafe was packed, almost overflowing with people.

I got in the shortest line to give my order.

"Hey Scarlet! The usual?" Matt asked.

"Yeah. Thanks Matt. Have a nice day." I said paying for my hot chocolate and blueberry pastry.I have been coming to this cafe for as long as I can remember. I used to come with my mother here when I was little and still come now. I feel like there are a lot of memories to cherish in this place even though she isn't here anymore. She died in a car accident about a year ago and I still miss her but you can't change the past so here I was trying to find a seat in this busy little cafe on a Monday morning.

Suddenly my eyes fell upon a boy who was sitting in the corner of the cafe. The seat infront of him was empty yet no one went near him because of the dark aura around him. He seemed like my age and he was pretty good looking from where I stood with his disheveled brown locks of hair which were long enough to fall down in his eyes . He had a pair of earbuds in and was silently bobbing his head to the music. Before I even knew it my feet were making their way to the table. As I got closer I noticed that he was also having a blueberry pastry but with a coffee and also some chocolate muffins. Now I was directly in front of him and his eyes were closed as he listened to music.

"Excuse me! Is this seat empty?" I asked.

When he felt somebody's presence he opened his eyes and I almost gasped when I saw the different emotions dancing in his green eyes.

"No." He said in a cold voice. He had taken his earbuds off and was now munching on his muffins.

I was still shocked from the intensity in his eyes and didn't notice I was staring off at space.

"Hey!" The boy infront of me said snapping me back to reality. A small smle lingered on his lips at my behavior.

"I'm sorry. Hi! I'm Scarlet Brown." I said offering my hand for a shake over our food.

"William." He said giving my hand a little shake.

"Shakespeare?" I joked.

"Young. William Young." He said as he took a sip of his coffee.

"So Will. Can I call you Will?" He nodded .

"So Will , do you come here often ?" I said trying to make light conversation.

"Yea. Every week or so." He said nonchalantly.

"Oh! I've never seen you here before though." I said.

"I have .You were the one who used to come here with your mother, aren't you?" He said putting one of his earbuds in.

I froze for a second but put up a smile on my face and said,"Yes I am. How'd you know?"

"My dad owns the place. I've been playing and growing here for as long as I can remember. I used to see you come with your mother sometimes when I was here. Where is she?" He asked.

"She's dead." I said.

His features that had remained the same since I came softened a bit. He grabbed my hand, which I had created a fist of, from across the table which was warm,protective and comforting all at the same time and said,"I'm sorry Scarlet." 

"Oh no it's ok. " I said weakly.

He gave me a small smile and we continued eating our food in silence. After some time I saw a pair of earbuds in front of my face.

"Here. Put 'em on. I have just the song to cheer you up."A small smile tugging at his lips as he joined my(his) earphones in his phone.

Soon my ears were filled with Pharrel Williams- Happy. That instantly made me smile.

"A smile suits you better Scarlet." He said out of the blue.

"Thank you." I said taking it as a compliment and giving him my best smile.

Soon the song ended and I was gonna give the earbuds back when he said,"No. I have one more song." As he scrolled through his phone.

I couldn't help but smile as one of my favorite artists Taylor Swift started singing Shake it off.

We finished our food and parted our ways hoping we'd see each other agaqin sometime.

The next day I went in the cafe as the doorbell rang above my head. As I was paying for my usual Matt didn't take any money and said,"It's already been paid for ." And pointed his finger towards the corner of the shop.

I made my way towards him, smiling.

"Hey ! Thanks for the food. But you didn't need to do it."

"I know" was he said.

After some time he cleared his throat and said, "Scarlet would you like to have a coffee with me someday?" with an actually smile which showed his dimples.

And I barked out a laugh.