Table 12 - On Hold

01 - Fine Specimen

Shit. I was so late! For someone who prides herself in being organised and is always the one to turn up early to everything, this was a complete and utter disaster. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't someone who obsessed over this sort of thing. I just hated that rushed feeling that comes with being late, and the lingering feeling of what have I forgotten to do or bring that seems to stay throughout the day.

A year and a half I had worked at the Coffee Pot Café and in that time not once had I been late, I may have been close on a couple occasions but never had I actually failed to turn up on time. Pulling into the café's carpark I turned off my engine and grabbed my bag, locking my little Toyota behind me as I rushed over to the building and through the back door. Chucking my stuff in the back room, I grabbed my short waitress apron and began tying it around my waist as I made my way through the kitchen.

"Well well well, what time do you call this Ms Dawson?" A voice suddenly said. Nearly jumping out of my skin I spun around coming face to face with Ash, who was leant against the wall looking down at his watch with a smirk on his face. Ash was the chef and the reason I had got the job in the first place, he was five years older than me and a family friend who used to babysit me and my brother when we were younger. He was essentially the older brother I never had nor wanted.

"Oh shut it Ash, it's not like you're never late!" I retorted, spinning back around and continuing my way through the kitchen. Coming out of the swinging doors I attempted to mentally prepare myself for the disapproving look on my boss' face and the lecture I would receive. But when I stepped behind the counter I was greeted by the sight of my close friend and co-worker Faye, adding fresh brownies to the display cabinet of pastries and cakes. Sighing in relief, I slumped against the wall feeling exhausted all of a sudden from all of the rushing round I had done this morning.

Faye whipped her head around so fast I was surprised she didn't hit herself in the face with her long blonde ponytail, her eyes widened for a second before her signature eye brow raise came into play. Straightening up, she placed her hands on her hips.

Okay, maybe I shouldn't have been so relieved.

"What?" I innocently asked.

Her mouth dropped open.

"Don't what me! You're late, like really late and you didn't even text or call to tell me you would be! I thought you'd been kidnapped or killed, or even kidnapped and then killed!" She dramatically explained, waving her arms and hands about to emphasize her story. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Okay first, stop with the dramatics and second, you couldn't have been that worried because you didn't text or call me either." I said pointedly. She smiled sheepishly, waving it off

"Yeah, well obviously I knew you were okay really." She explained like I was the stupid one.

"Anyway enough of that, we've got work to do." I replied, starting the daily tasks we needed to carry out as Faye returned to restocking the display cabinet.

***

A few hours into my shift the café was empty and not a single customer had come in, only the constant whirring sound of the fridge and the soft background music could be heard amongst the silence of the cafe. Faye had left since it was so quiet and two of us weren't needed behind the counter on a slow day like this.

I stood behind the counter daydreaming about the fine specimen that is Jon Snow, aka Kit, and how I'd happily be his wildling any day of the week. But the squeaking of the front door pulled me out of my thoughts and alerted me to the presence of a customer. Speaking of fine specimens, in walked a guy around my age, maybe slightly older it was hard to tell. But boy was he attractive, not the obvious model type of attractive but the subtle cool and charming type. His whole style with the dark brown leather jacket, black t-shirt, dark skinny jeans and black vans really worked for, and for me too for that matter.

He had dark brown messy hair with a slight fringe to one side and shorter hair on the sides. He was fairly tall and slim but still had enough muscle on him to not look scrawny. Walking towards me he flashed me a cute smile that almost made my heart stop. Realising I had basically just been staring at him I blinked trying to get my mind to focus.

For God's sake Ava, pull yourself together.

Putting on my best smile I managed to speak to him.

"Good afternoon and welcome to the Coffee Pot Cafe, what can I get for you?"

The guy squinted as he looked above me, scanning the hot drinks menu before glancing down at the display cabinet of pastries and cakes.

"Erm, I'll just get a double espresso and a slice of pie to go with it please." He replied looking back at me.

My lips twitched at the corners as I tried not to smirk at the unintended sexual innuendo. The guy's eyes widened a fraction, a blush creeping into his cheeks. Shit, I guess he's realised it too now. Rubbing the back of his neck he looked down at the counter as if it had become really interesting all of a sudden. Normally I'd be finding this awkward but for some strange reason I found it kind of cute, when the hell did I become such a typical girl?

Trying to relieve the poor guy's embarrassment I carried on serving him, moving across to the till I clerked in and entered the items.

"£5.20 please." I said, looking back to him.

Digging around in his pocket he pulled out a tenner and passed it to me, I sorted out his change and informed him that I would bring his order over to his table, and to take a seat wherever he wanted to.

Going over to the coffee machine I set up the machine and espresso cup, the smell of the coffee beans filled my senses as the machine poured the double shot of coffee. Leaving the drink and turning my attention to the pie I set aside a plate and took out the apple pie from the display cabinet. Taking a sharp knife from the drawer, I cut a generous portion of pie, placing it on the plate before heating it up. Once I had finished the order and the sweet smell of the apple pie was mixing in with the scent of coffee I placed the hot pie and coffee on a serving tray. Quickly glancing around the café for the customer, I spotted his figure sat at the back corner of the café on table 12.

Making my way over, I hoped and prayed that I wouldn't trip and drop the tray, successfully humiliating myself in front of the best looking guy I had seen in a very long time, because going by my luck that would be exactly what I'd do. Luckily however, I didn't.

Approaching the table, the guy looked up at me from his phone and gave me that same cute smile he did earlier. Setting the tray on the table I took off his coffee whilst he took his plate.

"Wow. This looks so good, thank you." He commented, smiling brightly at me.

I nodded at him in reply, feeling a slight blush rising to my cheeks.

Oh for god's sake, blushing, really? He was only being polite and here I am going all pathetic school girl crush on him.

I grabbed the tray and turned around keeping my head low, hoping to cover my embarrassing blush from his view. Getting back behind the counter and resuming my position I sighed, customers come and go all the time I shouldn't be thinking about him, it's not like I'll see him again. I tried to not let myself be bothered by that thought, but as the rest of my shift went by and a few more customers came and went, my mind kept wondering back to the guy sat on table 12.

............................

A.N.

Hey! I'm Niamh and this is my first story that I'm posting here on Wattpad so hopefully you like it.

So I've edited the first part slightly, just because when I came to the second chapter I found I hadn't set it up correctly in the first and it would just be an info dump and completely different to this that it wouldn't flow correctly.

Dedicated to minusfractions because they helped me with my summary a while back!

Next update - 1st August!

Ciao