It all started with... Hello

Chapter 1.

Ana's POV

The leaves had just begun to fall off of the trees in front of my apartment, I remember because I grabbed a couple for an art project I was working on. Something silly that I saw in a magazine, but I wanted to try and make it myself because who has enough money to buy a wreath for $200? Certainly not me at the time.

Anyway, I was making my way to my favorite cafe - Cocobean - I was in desperate need of a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Call me whatever names you will, but it's one of my favorite flavors and I don't care what you say, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are delicious. I hadn't had one yet that fall and it was my mission to change that.

"Hello miss Mary" I say to the waitress, an elderly lady that helps her daughter run the cafe.

"Good morning sweetheart, what can I get for you?"

I smile "Pumpkin please, load me up! You know how I like it"

Miss Mary giggles and swipes my bank card in the machine "okay Ana, it'll be out in a minute. Have a nice day sweetheart"

"You too"

I love coming to this place, the atmosphere is just so warm and cozy. It just feels like a home away from home. Not like Starbucks, I always feel like I'm in a cafeteria when I go to that place. And the coffee is so much better here and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg for a small cup of Jo.

Plus the people are nice here. Miss Mary and her daughter Ella are basically like my second family... God I come here to much.

"Pumpkin Spice Latte, careful I just poured it, it's hot"

"Thank you so much! I've been dying for one of these" I tell Mary as I carefully take a sip. The liquid warming me instantly and making me giddy inside.

"Oh sweetheart I forgot to mention, this week is my last. I'm getting too old to keep this up and I want to spend the rest of my days out and about! I want to see the world and go on an adventure will I still have my wits" she laughs "my son, Jacob, will take my place. He starts tomorrow"

Standing up out of my chair, I give Mary a big hug "I'm so happy for you, I'm sure he'll do a great job" I've never met Jacob, but if he's anything like his mom and sister, I know he can make a killer cup of coffee.

"He's a good boy" she says smiling "I've never seen him cook a day in his life though"

I laugh at Mary's comment

"Can you stop by tomorrow dear? I want to see how good he actually is"

I narrow my eyes "what are you going to do?"

She smirks "I want you to order the most ridiculous coffee imaginable and see if he gets it right"

I shake my head "oh you evil little thing you... I'll be here at eight!"

I was excited about the next day, I was always the prankster of my family and I was looking forward to showing Mary my skills. But secretly I hoped her son would get it right and do her proud, no one wants to see disappointment on their parents face. No matter how old you are.

I went home after I finished my latte and grabbed a book from the top of my bookcase. Edgar Allan Poe: The Raven. One of my favorites. But I couldn't pay attention to it. All I kept thinking about was miss Mary's son. A man that I had never met, I didn't have a face to put with his name but I still couldn't get him out of my head.

I remember thinking it was odd and that maybe I was high on sugar from the latte I had just practically chugged down. I didn't know what was wrong with my brain...

Now though, now it's a normal thing for Jacob to be running through my mind.