Eunji

I lazily slid the key into the lock on the door, and twisted it until I heard a click. I pulled it out and unknowingly threw them into my purse. I turned the shiny gold doorknob and stepped through the doorway. The aroma of fresh brewed coffee hits my nose and I scrunch my brow in confusion. I look around my shop and I see a jacket thrown over a chair and a set of keys. I make my way behind the register and towards the coffee machines, where I see my boyfriend Seunghyun standing over one of the machines with a cup underneath a stream of steaming hot liquid.

"Cream and sugar, right?" I hear him ask without looking over at me. I smile slightly and wonder if he knew I was here all along.

"Yes please. You're here early" I acknowledge and he nods.

"Yeah, I couldn't really sleep last night. So, I figured why not?" He says as he slides the coffee my way. I catch it and hold it up to my nose. I take a long whiff, then carefully take a sip without scalding my tongue or lips. I let out a sound of approval and he smiles. He walks over to me and pulls me in for a kiss.

"Mm. You taste like coffee" He says and I look up at him.

"Hm, I wonder why?" I say and tap my chin with my index finger. He kisses my forehead and then disappears into the back.

About a year ago, we decided to open a coffee shop together. I don't know whether it was our love for coffee, or each other. I think about it everyday and I can never figure out an answer.

I walk behind the case of breakfast foods and look at each kind of donuts we have.

"Chocolate or Cream?" I say and take another sip of my perfectly brewed coffee. I hear footsteps come towards me and I look up slowly to see him looking at me.

"Did you say something?" He asks, looking slightly puzzled.

"I was wondering which kind of donut I should have this morning. Any suggestions?" I ask and he comes up from behind me and wraps his arms around my midsection.

"You know you are going to choose the chocolate one" He says with a chuckle. I nod and let out a laugh, while he lets me go and starts to pour him some coffee.

"You know me way too well" I say grabbing a napkin and reaching in for a dark colored donut. I scrunch my nose up when I see him drink his coffee black. A ringing sounds through the small shop and I look up. I see a person with long blonde hair shutting the door softly. I didn't realize who it was until she turned around, and I let out a chuckle. Maria stands there with her purse over her shoulder and she looks at me tiredly.

"Hey Maria, tired?" I ask and she just nods.

"I barely got any sleep last night. I stayed up studying for finals next week. Let me tell you, college kicks your butt" She says with a lazy smile.

"Don't worry, I didn't get any sleep either" Seunghyun says and gives her a one armed hug. I chuckle and they both look at me weirdly.

"Insomnia Squad" I say and they both chuckle. She walks in the back and I look over the clock hanging on the wall above the register. We open in ten more minutes. We mostly get regulars, since we really aren't that known in our small town of Quinlan, Texas. Maria returns, except her purse is gone and she now has a white apron wrapped around her torso. She drops her notepad and pen in one of the bigger pockets the apron held. I walk over and sit at the same table as Seunghyun and I see him resting his head on his closed fist. I hear a loud noise as the chair beside me scoots out and Maria plops down onto it.

"Why do you work at a coffee shop if you don't like coffee?" Seunghyun asks Maria and she shrugs her shoulders.

"I don't know. It's not like I have to drink it. Is there a law stating that if you work in a coffee shop you have to drink the coffee?" She asks him sarcastically. He shakes his head and smirks.

"You should know, Ms. Soon to be Lawyer" He says and she smacks his arm. He just chuckles and holds his cup up to his lips. I look back up to the clock and realize it's time to open. I stand and make my way over to the front door. I grab the CLOSED sign and flip it over, stating we are open. I walk towards the register and take my place behind it. We are rarely ever busy, that's why there is only the three of us working here. The bell above the door rings, and we all look up towards the door. Mr. Howard is an elderly man, who come every morning and gets coffee and breakfast.

"Mr. Howard! Come sit down!" Maria says with a big smile. Every time his cane hits the floor it makes a loud crack sound. She pulls out a chair for him and he smiles and sits down.

"Black coffee and two donuts?" She asks and he smiles.

"You know me, Ms. Maria" He says shakily and nods her head. She walks towards me and and I pull two regular glazed donuts out of the case and put them on a plate. I slide the plate down the bar and she stops it from going any further. Seunghyun walks over with a fresh coffee and hands it to her. She grabs both of the items and heads back over to Mr. Howard. I hear him thank her and she nods her head. Within the next hour a few more people come in and have their morning coffee. I see a blue jeep pull into a parking space right out front and see two people get out. The door opens and Alex comes through holding her boyfriend Zack's hand. She walks up to the bar and I walk over to them.

"Hey guys!" I say and Alex smiles. Zack looks like he just got out of bed, but he smiles. Alex looks at the case of breakfast pastries and points at a chocolate scone.

"Oh! I want this one!" She says and smiles like a kid. I giggle and pull the puffed pastry out of it's slot with a napkin. I set it on a plate and set it in front of her.

"You want anything Zack?" I ask and he looks up at me.

"Uh yeah, coffee with two sugars" He says and I nod. I quickly make his coffee and walk back over to them. I put the hot beverage in front of him and he mutters a 'Thank you' before taking a drink. Maria makes her way over to us and Alex stands up to hug her.

"You have serious bags under your eyes!" Alex states, her british accent coming through.

"You know how to make a girl feel good about herself" Maria says and nudges her with her shoulder.

"So, your sister hurt herself again. Pulled a hamstring" Alex says and Maria shakes her head.

"What happened this time?" I ask and she takes a bite out of her scone.

"She was trying to break in a horse, and it decided to be stubborn. Threw her off, but her boot got caught in the saddle" She explains and Maria gasps.

"Why didn't she call me?!" She asks and a few customers look our way.

"She was in a ton of pain. I just went over there to pick something of mine she borrowed a long time ago. Luke banned her from leaving the bedroom. You might want to call and check up on her" She says and sighs.

"Well, you won't have too. She just pulled up outside" I say and they both follow the direction of my eyes. Lizzie carefully jumps down from her truck, but she stops and winces. She shuts the door, locks the vehicle, and starts limping her way towards us. She slowly opens the door and the bell rings, so she looks up. She is wearing a flannel with some faded jeans and her favorite cowboy boots. Her hair is back in a french braid and she starts to shrug off her jacket. She looks at all of us staring at her and stops.

"What did I do?" She asks and we all laugh. She smiles and takes a seat next to Alex.

"I thought you weren't allowed to leave the bedroom?" Alex asks and she smiles.

"He treats me like a porcelain doll. I'm tough, not fragile" She states and we all nod. She's definitely the same Lizzie we all know and love.

"You want something to eat or drink?" I ask and she thinks for a few seconds.

"Do you have anymore of those spicy bagels?" She asks and I nod.

"I'll take one of those" She says and I turn to Seunghyun.

"Can you make Lizzie a spicy bagel?" I ask and he nods. He turns and heads off to the back. I return to all my friends who are laughing at something Zack said. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I see Seunghyun handing Lizzie her bagel. Maria walks over to check on our customers and take a drink of my now cold coffee. We hear a motorcycle engine and we already know who it is. He walks in and looks up at us. He takes a seat next to Zack and slaps a hand onto his left shoulder.

"Hey mate!" He announces with his thick Australian accent and Zack smiles.

"Hey Eli, how's it going?" He asks and Eli shrugs.

"I can't complain" He says and looks at me.

"Hello Miss Eunji" He says and I scrunch my nose.

"What have I told you about calling me Miss?" I pretend to scold him and he laughs.

"Sorry" He said and Lizzie looks down at him.

"Where's Dahlia?" She asks and Eli looks at his watch.

"She didn't get home until a few hours ago. Her mom wanted her to stay at the bar longer than the rest of us. Restock and all that jazz" He says and she shakes her head. Dahlia and Eli both work at Dahlia's mom's bar. Him as a bouncer and her a bartender.

"Man, that sounds exhausting" Zack says and I nod in agreement.

"Sorry, would you like something?" I ask and he shrugs looking around the shop.

"Sure, why not? I'll take a coffee" He says and I nod.

"Black?" I ask and he nods. I start to walk over to get it, but Seunghyun walks behind me.

"I'll get it" He says and I smile. I walk back over to my group and I see Maria has joined us again.

"I'm actually not supposed to be here" Lizzie says and Eli shakes his head.

Seunghyun hands Eli his coffee and he takes it.

"Hey man, how you doing?" Eli asks and Seunghyun smiles.

"Good, you?" He questions and Eli shakes his head.

"Great" He states and takes a long gulp of his steaming coffee.

"I'm surprised my phone isn't being blown up right now" Lizzie laughs.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come in here right now looking for you" Eli says and Lizzie nods. As if on cue Luke's black truck pulls up and Lizzie cringes.

"Uh oh. Someone's in trouble" I say and Lizzie sighs.

"Pray for me" She states and leaves the shop. We all laugh and I walk back to the register.

"So Maria, who's the new guy over in the corner?" Alex asks and she shrugs.

"I don't know. It's not his first day in here, he has been coming for about a week or two now. All he does is order coffee's and type away on his computer. He's cute though" She says and Alex giggles.

"Someone has a crush" Alex says and takes a sip of her coffee.

"I do not! I was just saying, plus I'm too busy with studying to be interested in a guy" She says and Alex nods.

"Sure" She says slowly. Maria just huffs and walks away, to check on the little amount of customers we have. I look up and see Dahlia's old black mustang pull up and her hop out. She walks past an arguing Lizzie and Luke and makes her way inside.

"Hey babe" Eli says and kisses Dahlia quickly.

"Hey" She says tiredly. He kisses her temple and she looks at me.

"Hey Eunji, hey guys" She gets a chorus of 'hey's' and 'hello's' back.

"Whatcha want?" I ask and she sets her head on her hand.

"Iced coffee, please" I nod and hurry to make it. Lizzie and Luke walk back in holding hands, but he still looks a tad bit annoyed.

Seems like a regular day.

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I'm back! So, I hope you liked the first chapter. Instead of doing so many POV changes I'm just going to try to do at least as possible. I love it when you guys comment and vote! It makes me really happy! The picture is Eunji and Seunghyun. This is just the beginning!

~Ree