Hardy's Cafe

chapter 1; Meeting him.

Im in college, I don't live in a luxury apartment but I can't complain, at least I have bed, a roof and four walls.. literally. I live in a small apartment in the heart of New York City with my roommate, Monica, just above an old, little library, but you don't see me complaining, i love to read and just around the corner there's a coffee shop, I couldn't be any happier with my living situation. I don't get out much, a fun saturday night for me is a coffee mug in one hand and a book in the other, sitting in my usual spot at Hardy's Cafe, which, as I mentioned, is just around the corner. Its not that I don't like to hang out and go clubbing and have fun, but its just not exactly my scene. However Monica makes sure I get at least one or two nights out a month, against my will, but we end up having fun so.. you know, why not? Tomorrow night she's taking me clubbing and to be completely honest, I need it.

"Okay. Now, lets see, which one do you think suits me better? Red or black?" Monica asks me holding up a dress in each hand. "Red? Look I'm not the best person to be asking for fashion advice." "Well duh, you can go out in an apron and still look good, therefor you have no knowledge in said field because you don't need it, but I do so okay, red?" "Well first of all that is not true, you're probably the only person in the universe that thinks that about me, I do know how to dress and I do not look good in everything.. but yeah, red" I say laughing. "Okay. So black." she says grinning. "Whatever, lets go" I say hitting her shoulder chuckling.

"Okay M, remember, have fun, dance, drink, let go of all that stress I know you're bottling up"

"Thanks Mon" I give a nervous smile and she grabs my arm and leads me inside the club. We're now sitting at the bar and I see Daniel, a guy who's in my class. "Hey! What are you doing here, not trying to sound rude but i know this isn't really your scene" he said, a happy yet confused look taking over his face. "Oh, yeah well you know Monica, besides I really needed a getaway from.. everything" I say looking down, memories come flooding back of me and my ex at the park, at the movies, at his apartment watching TV.. him breaking up with me last thursday. "Anything you wanna talk about? We can get out of here and-" "No, its fine. Im fine." I give a shy, yet reassuring smile. He looks a bit disappointed but gives me a nod along with an expression on his face that reads 'you sure you're okay?' I nod, smiling and he walks away. Once he's gone Monica looks at me with her mouth a gape and eyes open wide "Dude! He so likes you, and, uh, hello! Could he BE any cuter?" I elbow her playfully "Oh please, yeah right, look at me! Besides I just broke up with my boyfriend.." I say once again looking at the ground. She cocks and eyebrow and turns to the bartender and orders two martinis. "Well I don't care what you say, you're gorgeous and available. Danny obviously wants you. And forget about that looser, Parker. Tonight, we drink."

Like three hours later and one too many shots I lost track of...

"Ugghh I had one to many tequila shots, I can't believe I gave that dude my number" Mon says as she sets her apartment keys in a little table we have next to the door, holding her head in her hands as if she could drain the killer headache i know she has, "Yeah well at least you didn't make-out with the bartender so he'd give us more alcohol" "Yeah yeah, at least the bartender was cute, unlike the dude, whose name I never got by the way, yet gave my number away to". We both plop onto the couch and drift off.

"HEY MAYA DO WE HAVE SALT?" Monica's screams' wake me up and so my hangover headache begins. "IN THE CABINET NEXT TO THE FRIDGE ON THE LEFT"

"What'cha makin'?" i say as get up from the couch, "Pancakes, egg and bacon" Monica answers without looking up. "Here" she hands me two Advil pills for the headache I know we both have as a souvenir from last night. "Hey and Miss Watson called to see if you're still interested in the job as the hot, nerdy girl who works at the local library" she says wiggling her eyebrows with a smirk displayed across her face. "Ha. Ha. Ha. You're so funny." I say trying to keep a straight face.

After walking out of the little lobby of our apartment complex on my way to Miss Watson's library I turn around and close the gate, when I turn back around I bump into a tall figure and fall to the ground on top of a hard chest. I look up to see who I tumbled on top of, nothing could of prepared my for what I was about to see. A perfect jawline, gorgeous hazel eyes, soft curls falling on his face and a gentle smile displayed across his perfect face. I get up and hold a hand up for him, he takes it and almost takes me back down with his strong arms and weight. I look down embarrassed "I am so sorry, I wasn't looking and oh my god Im so sorry.." I can tell he was jogging, probably a morning run, his clothes and sweaty muscles gave that away. "No its all good, I wasn't looking either and- Oh my god are you okay? you're bleeding" He says taking my wrist in his hands, his touch sending shivers through every part in my body, i press my lips in a thin line because i swear to God if I don't a moan might escape my mouth. "Does it hurt?" "Not really, don't worry I- mmm" I say closing my eyes shut because he touched a sore spot on my wrist and it hurts like hell. "Oh my god I'm so sorry, lets go to Hardy's, i'll help you clean that wound and maybe buy you a coffee to repay you?" He give a smile that could light up the whole damn world all at once. "Im fine really, I can go back to my apartment and-" "I hurt you. Let me make this right. Now its an order." He says straight faced. "An.. order? Look, it was more my fault than it was yours, don't worry about it" I smile but he leans in close, enough that I can smell his cologne and feel his hot breath on my neck "I'll carry you there if I have to. Don't test me, I'll do it." "Yeah right" He bends down to grab my feet and i stand back "Alright, okay, lets go. Geez, bossy much?" He grins slightly "Very much"

Hiiiiiiii, im Sierra! What's your name?

Did you like it? Comment if you think I should continue this book, I wrote four chapter for this in my free time so if you want me to keep posting comment when you want me to! 💛