( ACT ONE; CHAPTER ONE )

" coffee breath. "

CERULEAN SKIES, VIVID SUN BEAMS, AND HUSTLING STREETS; the normal morning for the town of Brighton, England. People attended to their usual routines, whether it was getting coffee before work or taking a jog on the rocky shore.

As for George, his Saturday mornings always seemed to be spontaneous. Of course, he consistently kept up with his social career. But sometimes the twenty-four year old just wanted some time to himself. So, weary from a night of unrest, he wandered out out of his home, into the light of day.

His state of being colorblind prevented him from driving—although honestly, walking and getting taxis was a fun event to him, all things considered. Hair toiled, soft nonetheless, he hopped out of the ride and paid the driver.

He had reached his destination.

In front of his mocha irises stood a street, but not many cars resided on it. There were mainly just people, each living a sliver of their own part in the universe. The specific place he had been wanting to try out seemed to be one of the most busiest on the whole boulevard.

It's gleaming sign read Topped Off, referring to the sweet coffee they served inside its closed doors. His black vans made an obnoxious squeak while he walked forward, pulling the doors open and heading into the narrow cafe.

Some sat at tables, spread out and either talking to loved ones or doing something as simple as reading the newspaper. Others, such as himself, stood in line while waiting. A light melody of piano keys danced within the untouched parts of the room, pleasant to those who would've otherwise faced silence.

George kept his eyes focused on the menu, which was conveniently placed on the opposing side of the wall that the cashiers and baristas stood on. After deciphering each possible order, he ended up just planning on getting a plain Flat White.

His mask hid his face if anyone were to happen to notice his identity, but he doubted it. Hungrily, he secured his spot in line. Both of his eyes scanned the other contents of the cafe, like the plants that seemed to be everywhere. They brought a calming, emerald aura to the store.

The entire idea of decoration within the business was abstract, satisfying to the eye of anyone who saw it. Then something else caught his attention.

Someone.

A pair of blue eyes, or perhaps they were green? He could not tell, only being able to see the fragment of her face that was above her pastel blue mask. Waves of chestnut locks went down just a bit past her shoulders, appearing luxuriant to the touch.

Smooth, bronzed skin complimented how extremely saturated her eyes were, and even though George could not even see the rest of her, he knew she had to be one of the most stunning girls he had ever had the pleasure of seeing in real life.

She even pulled off the uniform, basic mom-styled jeans and a tight black long sleeved shirt, chest cut like a "V." He had not even realized it was his turn next in line, for she was far too distracting.

A barista, an unadorned woman just doing her job, and yet she had effortlessly ripped George's attention away from anything else. Maybe it was the way she came across as waltzing on the tiled floors, facilitatively making drink after drink like she could do it in her sleep. He even picked up on the way her fingers tapped the beat of the piano on her hip when she was waiting for a cup to fill up.

"Sir?" the cashier asked, posh accent taking George's gaze away from the girl he was so enchanted by.

"Uh, yes. Sorry, I was just...zoned out. I'll have a Flat White," he rushed out, cheeks hot like liquid fire.

The tall woman behind the counter nodded, grinning to excuse his mistake. As they finished the transaction, George stood off to the side, awaiting for a finished drink.

She was so close to him, and her handing him the drink would only bring them closer.

Truthfully, he felt like an absolute loser for getting so worked up over a woman who clearly had no interest in him. There was just something about her, so magical and delicate. Desperately, he wanted to see the rest of her face, if just for a moment of not having a mask on. Yet another thing the pandemic ruined, it appeared.

Down to the last detail, an image of her was now engraved in his head. The gentle swoop of the waves by her face, which were a shade lighter or so than the hair behind it. The barely visible freckles spotted along the very top of her cheekbones. Even the upwards comb of her eyebrows, shaped to perfection.

Noticeably, he had been staring at her too long. She looked up just for the most split of a second with the metal mixing cup in hand, staring at him as if he had not been hopelessly observing her the entirety of the moment.

By the way her eyes crinkled at the corners, and because her bright eyes became even brighter, he knew she was smiling at him. For the second time in ten minutes, he reddened like a cherry. Praying she would realize he was smiling back, he sheepishly looked away, and she followed.

But he savored the brief milliseconds they had shared. He worried, but came to the reality that it would most likely be the last time he ever saw her.

If only he were brave enough to ask for a way to contact her. It would be easy, most definitely, even if it were just asking for her Snapchat. All he had to do was go up to get his drink, and in the small period of time she was close, ask if he could get her number.

But God, the anxiety even the thought of doing that gave him made his knees shake, and his head go light like a feather falling from a cliff.

So when her celestial voice called out his name, he was unprepared for the feelings it gave him.

"I have a Flat White for George!"

First off, she had an American accent. Who would've thought? Secondly, the way his name slid off her tongue was almost like a melody. At least, for him, it was music to his ears.

His mind forced his feet to stumble ahead, even if they wanted to stay planted from all the nerves. Shakily, his hand grabbed the paper cup, leaning over the counter just a tad to grab it.

From where he stood, he could even take in her scent, sweet like vanilla and champagne.

So her eyes are green, he thought to himself. Just a second connection of vision, knowing she was looking at him the way he was looking at her, was enough to send his body into overdrive.

Overwhelmed, he took a long step back and nodded to her. Assuming he was leaving, because he was, she gave him minuscule wave. Imploring, he stole one last look at her, checked his clock, and walked out of the cafe.

One last look at what could've been.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE! )

hi sexies!! chapter one is done,
and god am i excited for this book.
i hope you enjoyed reading this as
much as i enjoyed writing it<3

in the mean time, please make sure
you are hydrated, rested, and have
eaten something today!! i care about
you, and i am proud of you :)

see you next chapter 😍😍

-cal