𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓻𝓪

Around six that evening, it was me and two other girls still working. The sun was setting, and not many customers were coming in. One of the girls began sweeping, considering we closed in an hour.

I grabbed a wet rag, soaking it in water, before I started wiping down the counters, when the bell over the door rang. I glanced up, seeing a tall frame holding a motorcycling helmet under his arm. Brown hair and brown eyes that looked like chocolate. Tattoos on his arms.

My hands shook as I placed the rag down. I glanced at him, trying to appear confident despite my visible fear. "Can I get you anything?"

He stood in front of the counter, putting a hand into the front pocket of his jeans as he leaned his head back to look at the menu. "Black coffee," he said quickly. He looked down, his eyebrows raising. "Well, aren't you beautiful," he said confidently.

I looked down, taking a deep breath, before I walked away to make his coffee.

"Don't you need my money?"

I looked back as leaned forward, folded bills in his hand. I nodded, feeling flustered, and returned, hesitantly taking the cash from him.



He stared at me as I put his money into the cash register and started to count out his change. My face reddened, and fear swelled. He smiled, looking around and then back at me. "I don't think I've ever made someone so noticeably scared of me."

I laid his change on the counter. He glanced down and then watched as I walked away. "I wouldn't hurt you," he said, loud enough for the other girls to hear.

One of them walked over, "Are you okay?" She whispered. I nodded, and she left hesitantly.

I made his coffee and grabbed the marker. "Can I get your name?" I asked quietly.

"Owen," he said. "I don't understand why you need to write my name on the cup, though. I'm the only one here."

I swallowed and placed the cup on the wooden slab. I started to walk away when he quickly asked, "Are you seeing anyone?"



Slowly, I looked back and shook my head, walking away.

"Well, hold on, come here," he laughed. "Could I get your phone number?"

I kept my head down, "no," I replied quietly.

He was quiet, and I thought he had left, but when I looked up, he was watching me. "Alright. I definitely plan on coming back, though. I'm not going to give up that easily," he took his coffee and placed the helmet back over his head as he walked towards the doors.