1 Summer 2 Hearts

Chapter One

BETHANY

The world was wet and cold outside. The water left from yesterday's rain was slowly turning to ice as the temperature dropped. Bethany watched the world from her window bench seat in her Coffee shop. Outside, the downtown lights of her town were starting to grow brighter as the night grew later. Bethany liked to stay open a little later than the rest of the town for the stragglers that enjoyed a cup of coffee and a delightful book while the rest of the world was not there to judge them. Bethany looked over at the small bookstore nestled in the far corner of her shop. It had taken her years to get to this stage. She never wanted much but she always wanted her little corner of happiness. So, after years of arduous work, she finally opened a shop that had her two favorite things. All in one place.

Little Corner of Happiness.

That is what she called her little shop. Bethany moved her way behind the counter and poured herself another cup of steaming coffee. She watched the flames in the fireplace flicker and the couple on the couch in front of it moves closer together. This made her smile. She always romanticized life. People called it her downfall, but Bethany just wanted to believe there was a little bit of good still left in the world.

Growing up she always hated the way that people in the world had the ability to crush and destroy any dreams and hopes that anyone had. She had run into her fair share of crazy things in her lifetime. She was always disgusted at the ugly that was out there and how casual people were about it.

The sound of the little bell on the front door shook her from her thoughts and she looked up. Her coffee had grown cold while she was in the tunnels of her brain. She turned to put her cup in the microwave when the hairs on her neck stood up. One thing Bethany did not believe in was these silly paranoias. Yet she found herself freezing as a cold spike stabbed her in the back and she felt eyes boring into the back of her head. She quickly spun around trying to show a calm demeanor.

Standing at the counter was a woman with a smile so warm and welcoming that Bethany completely forgot about what she had just felt. She smiled back.

"Hey, there love." Bethany gestured toward the order board keeping her demeanor friendly. She really did hate having to interact with the costumer's she so devotedly loved. Of course, that was a strange part about her, but Bethany just preferred to make happiness happen from a distance. "What can I get for you?"

The woman took a second to look over her options and then locked eyes with Bethany. "Just a medium mocha cold brew with cold foam on top." The woman paused for a second "And an extra shot of expresso." She added as an afterthought.

"Name for the order?" Bethany waited to hear the woman speak. She looked up and the woman locked eyes with her. "Gloria." The woman's eyes grew cold and blank as Bethany broke eye contact and gave the woman's order to the barista standing beside her.

Bethany gave a slight shiver when she looked back at the woman. Her eyes no longer matched the warm smile that the woman still had plastered on her face. Bethany tried ignoring the feeling of dread she was starting to get while looking at the women. Gloria. Bethany started to feel cold as she turned to the microwave. This feeling was going to haunt her dreams tonight, she could feel it. She was laughing at herself. She had always made fun of the people that believed they could feel and detect evil or danger. You never knew a person's true intent or morals. Someone that you knew for your whole life could end up being the killer next door.

There she goes again. Turning her intrusive thoughts off was impossible for Bethany. She took her cough and headed for her bookshelves. She could drown herself in a fantasy world. She took her time picking out the perfect reading material. Just as she romanticizes her life, she liked her books to be of the romance genre. She found the book she was looking for and peered out across the dining area of her shop. She was ready to be away from prying eyes. It was time to cuddle up into a ball under blankets and pretend like it is just her in the world. Bethany was an introvert at best. She is sure people laugh and wonder why if she was so shy and quiet, why did she open the little corner of happiness? She did not care though. It was her life and everyone else was just living in it. While avoiding all eye contact from employees and customers, Bethany made a beeline for the stairs that led to her little apartment above the shop.