The coffee machine wurred and the steam hissed, all around me unfamiliar accents yelled out orders and customers chatted and laughed. I was about 5 hours into my day and absolutely exhausted when I completed my diploma working in a coffee shop wasn't exactly my plan but it was freaking New York City a placed I never even dreamed of visiting never mind living and working here.
"Maggie?!" came a shout from the register area "Can you get me a vanilla cappuccino and plain latte and I need ya to jump on the register I have to take a call"
"Yeah no problem Sam be right there" I called back to my manager I wiped the sweat from my brow I couldn't wait to get back to my apartment and crawl into bed with some sort of cult film and a huge take out. Kick back chill out and not have to smell the bitter scent of coffee beans for a while.
I put the last lid on the cup and rushed over to the register "sorry about tha" I giggled to the customer hopefully they wouldn't be too angry " It's been a long day ye know" I tried to explain but the two tall men standing waiting just looked at me alarmed had I said something wrong?
The older looking of the two men spoke first "was that even English?" the bearded man to his side let out a booming laugh and shrugged his shoulders. It took me a little minute to understand it was the accent a little too fast and eccentric for the Americans to understand being here about a year and a half I had learned to control it speak a little slower pronounce my words a little better but sometimes when I had sank into a daydream the old brogue of home crept back up on me.
I took a pause before smiling at the two men stood before me "I'm so sorry gentlemen still getting used to talking to the customers with the accent" the two guys where perfectly understanding.
"It's fine what was that though Scottish?" non-bearded guy asked he was quite a big guy his hair thinning a little and grey but he had the most piercing blue eyes and a really contagious smile.
"Irish" I corrected
"Ah sure, sorry Irish"
"It's Maggie" I corrected a second time pointing to the name badge pinned on my apron.
"Yeah you're just Irish now" he laughed again. I rolled my eyes not sure whether to take this guy seriously it was bearded guys turn to step in and cut the tension
He hit his amigo on the shoulder "C'mon Joe don't bother the little lady" did he just wink at me? Coming on pretty strong for someone I've only just met he was kind of gorgeous though he was a big guy with unruly hair that curled around the bottom of his neck and was flattened down with a cap. His chocolate brown eyes made my stomach flutter as he looked at me I tried to focus on running up the orders on the register to stop myself staring.
"Seriously man is there nobody you won't flirt with?" Joe rolled his eyes at his friend severing the moment of connection we had just had.
Straight off the bat Joes buddy answered his friends question "yeah, Murr!" the two friends collapsed into laughter still sniggering as they paid for their coffees and took their seats.
After I served the two customers behind these two strange guys I stood and watched them for a while. They seemed cool laughing and joking with each other the kind of people you could hang out with and just have a good, chilled time. The one called Joe was writing in a note book and his friend had what looked like an iPad and every time they laughed loud they would take notes straight away. I became distracted after that cleaning and getting ready to close up.
The two guys had left but not before Joe had the chance to yell "Bye Irish" at me. I locked up shop and thought nothing more of it as I made my way back to my tiny apartment, when I converted all my euros into dollars I found I had significantly less than what I thought this was all I could afford to rent I had a lock on the door and a window that works so I couldn't complain much.
After I ate my take out I clicked onto Facebook for a little while there was nothing much to see, college friends uploading photos and the usual dramatic statuses I promised Sam I'd post on the coffee trees page about our changed opening hours that week as she was going on vacation. That's when I noticed a review I hadn't yet seen from a Brian Quinn. I couldn't recall a Brian having been in the stop that day but since they took the time to write it I would do the same to read it.
"First coffee here, nice quiet place to get work done, pretty little waitress, will be back soon."
Of course the huge flirt from earlier. I rolledmy eyes yet again as I logged off to get ready for bed but part of me hoped Iwould see those two intriguing guys again.