"Good morning and welcome to CC's Coffee Spot!" Leah called, smiling at the regular that had just walked in the door. He waved his fingers, not looking up from the book he was reading as he slid into his usual booth. Leah shook her head, chuckling at his dangerous bookworm habits. She began brewing his favorite, chai latte, wiping the counters down as she waited. She was about to pick up her own mug of cinnamon coffee when the coffee maker dinged, signalling that the chai latte was ready. Leah sighed, setting her cup down to pour the latte into a mug and placing a Danish onto a small glass plate.

Picking up the two, she swept around the corner, setting them down in front of him. "Hello James," she smiled as he looked up from his novel. "A-ah, Leah. Thank you." He stuttered a tiny bit, making Leah giggle internally. He was such a cutie. "What are you reading?" James grinned excitedly, patting the spot across from him. Glancing around at the nearly empty shop, she deemed it safe to take a quick break. "Just let me get my coffee real quick, okay?" She asked, sweeping behind the counter before he could reply.

Grabbing her mug, she made her way back to the booth, where James was waiting. Setting her coffee on the table, she took a seat, smiling. James pushed up his glasses, grinning as he tucked in a bookmark so he could show Leah the cover. "It's a fantasy world, where humans live on different planets according to their beliefs, and they have built towns and cities on said planets. There are, of course, several problems." He paused, taking a sip of his latte. "The first and foremost of them is-- native life. The humans eradicated much of it, but many of the animals and even some planets are sentient enough to know that humans are destroying their world, and they've taken it upon themselves to wreck as much havoc as possible."

Leah laughed, an image of angry alien squirrels breaking into space apartments expanding in her mind. James chuckled as well, remembering the vine scene 19 pages earlier. "Yes, so, angry native life. The second problem is that not everyone on each planet agrees with the beliefs that led their grandparents there. However, with the angry alien life, they cannot escape. They can't help the alien life either, because it wants all humanity dead, to pay for their crimes." James had leaned forward unconsciously, caught up in his memories of the fantasy world as he explained it. Looking up, he noticed that Leah had leaned in as well, wonder clear on her face as she imagined the strange world he described.

Leaning back, he coughed, reaching for his latte to cover it up. Leah shook her head slightly, picking up her mug as well to take a sip. James watched her, this woman who was always happy to listen to his ramblings, who knew his favorite coffee, who he came everyday to see. He smiled slightly, studying her wavy hair that was the colour of sweet caramel, laughing eyes that were the colour of the sky, generous mouth the colour of strawberries. Leah, oblivious to his stare, frowned slightly at the droplet of coffee running down her cup that threatened to drip onto the table. Ugh, she would have to clean it up later if it did, and she would look messy in front of James. Quickly, she flicked her tongue up the side of the cup, catching the droplet. Crisis averted. Happy, she took another sip of her cinnamon brew.

James almost dropped his cup. The flick of her pink tongue awakened something inside him, a part of him that wanted her strawberry mouth on his and.. No. Stop it, he told himself. Leah and I are friends, nothing more. Leah, catching his eye, raised a brow, confusion written across her fine features. He simply shook his head and smiled, turning his gaze back to the book he was explaining to her. "Well, that's about all I've read so far." He shrugged, playing with the pages so as to avoid looking at Leah.

"What's it called again?" Leah asked, turning the book to face her, accidentally giving James a paper cut in the process. He hissed quietly, arching his finger inwards so she wouldn't see it. She ran her fingers over the mesmerizing cover, murmuring the name of the book over and over again so she would remember it. Hearing his hiss of pain, she glanced up, and, noticing his curled hand, realized she had probably given him a paper cut in her haste. "Let me see." She grabbed his wrist, gently turning his hand over to reveal a small cut oozing blood. "Oh, James, I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed, wrapping a napkin around his finger. "I'll go get a bandage, I keep a kit in the back."

Gazing after her, James felt a faint blush tint his cheeks. All this for a paper cut. And yet, he couldn't deny that he was secretly pleased that Leah cared so much. Moving the napkin, he saw that the cut had already stopped bleeding. "Here, I've got a band-aid and some antibiotic ointment." Leah said, setting the supplies on the table before gesturing for his hand. Stifling a smile, he placed his hand in hers.

                            °°°°

"Again, I'm really sorry, James." Leah apologized for the millionth time. James rolled his eyes and put his hands on Leah's shoulders, feeling the band-aid rub against his skin. "Leah." She stopped, raising her eyes to his as she chewed her lip. "It's alright. It was an accident." Ignoring the butterflies in his stomach, he brushed her hair back, trying to soothe her. She nodded, releasing her lip. "Just one question." He screwed up his courage. "When do you get off?" Leah's heart beat a little faster, trying to concentrate despite James's proximity. She didn't allow many males into her bubble, she felt safer with girls, so the fact that she could smell the coffee on his breath was disconcerting. "Uh, four. Why?"

"No reason." He smiled slightly. "Now, are you going to be okay?" Leah laughed a little, nervousness subsiding. "Why are you asking if I'm okay? You're the one that got cut." James shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. "Wounds of the flesh mean nothing to me." She laughed, flinging her head back. "Says the man who complained for 45 minutes when he twisted his ankle because he wasn't looking where he was going." He chuckled, eyes twinkling. "True." Releasing her shoulders, he stepped back. "Goodbye, Leah." He inclined his head, smiling as he grabbed his book before heading out the door.

Leah shivered, feeling suddenly cold. Why? It wasn't like she wanted his warm arms to encircle her, his soft lips pressed against her neck... No. She certainly didn't want that. Shaking her head, she took James's mug and plate to the sink, sighing as she plunged her hands into the hot rinse water.

                            °°°°

James checked his watch, tucking the book under his arm as he rubbed his hands together. He was suddenly glad he was wearing his worn, comfy sweater, the one he normally saved for afternoons of reading. He checked his watch again, nervousness making him tap his foot against the pavement as he read 4:06. Where was Leah? Taking the book out, he flipped to where he left off, unable to simply wait around any longer. He had barely read a sentence where someone bumped into him, the book falling from his grasp as he wrapped his arms instinctively around.. "Leah?"

"Well this is awkward." She laughed nervously, hands still on his shoulders. "Actually," James tightened his arms around her, heart racing at his own daring as he drew her closer. "It wouldn't be very gentlemanly for me to say this, but I don't feel awkward at all." Leah looked away, cursing herself for enjoying his warm embrace so much. "Speak for yourself." She mumbled, still not taking her hands off his shoulders. When he didn't respond, she looked at him. That was her mistake, for as soon as she looked into his brilliant green eyes, she was lost.

James was as lost in her eyes as she was his, heart pounding at her nearness. "I.." He began, not sure if he was apologising or making an excuse. He, however, never got the chance to decide. Leah's strawberry lips, the ones that facinated him day after day, pressed against his, her arms wrapping around his neck even as he pulled her impossibly closer. She was surprised to find that he tasted of peanut butter, but she enjoyed the simple fact that no one but her knew what he tasted like. James, on his part, was savoring every moment that she remained in his arms, a scenario he had only dreamed of.

Leah, slowly warming up to the fact that this was truly happening, kissed him harder, tugging his shaggy locks a bit in her excitement. He groaned, tangling one hand in her caramel hair as the stored passion of the moment overwhelmed them.

"Leah? You forgot your.." Gasping, they broke apart, both blushing furiously as Vicky, Leah's co-worker, held out some money. "You forgot your tips." "T-thanks, Vicky. See you on Monday!" Still blushing, Leah took the money and looked around for her bag, which had fallen on to the pavement. James handed it to her, slipping the book he had brought into it when she wasn't looking. Glancing at him, her blush deepened. "Goodbye, James. Thanks Vicky." She hurried away, head down against the brisk wind. Emotions all in a tumble, James turned away, heading back home, which is why he didn't notice Leah glance back at him before turning the corner.

                            °°°°

Locking the door behind her, Leah flopped down on the floor, letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. Picking up her bag, she realized it was heavier than she'd remembered. Digging through it, her fingers brushed the spine of the book. She pulled it out, somehow unsurprised that it was the fantasy book James had been reading that morning. Opening it, she spotted writing on the first page.

Leah, my favorite part of the day is sitting with you in that coffee shop, seeing the wonder on your face as I try to explain the wonders of fiction. Thank you for never tiring of my ramblings.
Love,
James