I quickly rounded the street corner as I walked to the local coffee shop that was down the street from my apartment building.
It was a usual occurrence to see me walking rather quickly to get my noon hour coffee on weekends, sometimes even weekdays if I was working from home.
I was a writer at a popular magazine company; you know those fashion magazines directed towards teenage girls?
At the time, I was a new intern when one of the writers suddenly quit the day before an article was scheduled to be published, having no time to hire someone else, I enthusiastically volunteered myself to fill in hoping that it'd score big points with the boss. My boss was counting on me and the next day when I handed her my work she was in her words "Impressed by my potential". The article in my eyes wasn't everything, but it sure was something. Call it luck but she quickly hired me to be the new writer, the youngest to be hired in the history of the company. After that everything seemed to fall into place, good job, good pay and benefits like free clothes, concert tickets and invites to exclusive parties. The only thing I didn't possess? A boyfriend. I was absolutely rubbish in that department. Fortunately I didn't stress too much about it though because with my work hours I hardly had any time for myself let alone a boyfriend.
I opened the door to the café and went to the counter.
"Ah Allie nice to see you, how's life treating you?" Maria, the owner of the shop asked.
And yes if you were wondering the owner did know me, when I moved into the neighborhood I had no job or money, and so the first thing I did was go job hunting, which initially led me to this coffee shop where I landed a job.
I sighed, "Okay I guess, if it wasn't for this article I'm supposed to have finished for tomorrow morning I'd be great. But unfortunately I'm suffering from writers block" I rested my chin on my hand as I leaned against the counter.
"Hopefully my famous coffee will clear the road yes?" Maria reassuringly offered.
I smiled, "Yes please" Maria handed me my coffee, and I thanked her as I swiftly turned on my heel. I quickly collided into something though, feeling hot coffee run down the front of my shirt. I let out a gasp as I pulled my shirt away from my body. "H-hot!" I gasped even more. "I am so sorry!" a male's voice exclaimed, quickly handing me a handful of napkins.
I dabbed my shirt and for the first time looked up to see the culprit. "It's fine, really" I commented, forcing a small smile on my lips.
Now, usually I would have yelled and started a scene, but honestly, the guy in front of me was really fit and I was quite caught off guard.
"Let me buy you another coffee at least?" the guy suggested, and I quickly recognized his voice and his face and put two and two together.
"You're Danny Jones" I remarked in an amused tone.
Danny nodded, "That's me"
But then his face fell, "Please don't make a scene"
I chuckled, "And why would I do that? If I were to make a scene it wouldn't be because of your name it'd be because you spilled burning hot coffee down my shirt!" I stated, folding my arms across my chest.
Danny chuckled, "Sorry about that, I'll order you another" he said, turning around and ordering another coffee for me and one for himself.
I bit my lip and watched him from behind finding myself going off to "La-La Land". "Here you go" Danny announced, handing me a new cup of coffee.
"Are you in a hurry?" he asked.
I looked at him and continued to bite my lip. "Not really…why?" I questioned.
"Fancy sitting down with me?" he suggested.
Smiling I nodded my head, "Sure why not?"
We walked over to a secluded table in the corner and I set my coffee down on the table.
"So are you a writer?" he interestedly asked.
"How'd you know?" I chuckled, looking at him with skeptical eyes.
Danny guilty sighed, "I overheard you and the cashier talking. What do you write for?" he remarked, pouring in packets of sugar and creamer into his coffee greedily.
"You're going to laugh if I tell you" I smirked.
"No I won't" he stated.
I cocked my head to the side,
"Alright then, I write for Benefit" I elaborated.
Danny's eyes lit up and his lips curved up slightly. "No way! That teeny bopper magazine?" he amusedly remarked.
"It targeted for girls aged fourteen to nineteen" I stated defensively.
I wasn't offended in the least though because he was a guy, guys were only expected to react that way.
"No, I'm sorry I said I wouldn't laugh" he chuckled trying to straighten up. I shook my head and chuckled with him.
"Anyways, I would have thought you would have been too busy signing autographs for teeny boppers instead of coming down to get a cup of coffee" I retorted.
Danny smirked at me with amused eyes. "Believe it or not I'm having my own case of writers block, I only live a couple blocks from here so I decided to go for a walk" he replied.
"Oh I see, well I hope it's cured soon" I genuinely said.
"Thanks, and yours too, I'm sure writing about how to get the guy of your dreams or are my boobs normal? articles are really hard" Danny cheekily remarked.
I opened my mouth in surprise and laughed while hitting him on the arm. I looked at the clock on my mobile phone and looked back up at Danny.
"I guess I should get back to writing" I announced. Danny nodded.
"It's cold outside, the least I could do is give you my sweater" he offered. I smiled,
"Really it's fine, I only live down the street…I don't want to strip you of your sweater when you have a longer walk than me" I replied.
"It's not stripping if I offer it to you" he insisted. I chuckled, before giving in.
"Fine, but please give me your address so I can drop it off" I urged.
Danny smiled. "Ah, I can do better than that, I'll give you my number" he exclaimed, putting his hand out for me to give him my mobile so he could program in his number.
"Are you making up excuses just so I'll call you?" I curiously asked placing my hands on my hips.
Danny looked around the café, "No…" he attempted to not make any eye contact with me.
"Very sneaky, I like it" I smirked, handing him my mobile. Danny smiled triumphantly and happily took the mobile out of my hands.
Before we headed out the door Danny handed me his brand name sweater and assisted me with putting it on.
"Thank You, and I will be calling you" I announced.
"Good, I'll be waiting!" he answered in his thick Bolton accent.
We both walked out of the coffee shop, bid our farewells and walked our separate ways, but Danny stopped mid way and turned around. "I never asked you what your name was" he called out.
I heard him and smiled brightly to myself before I turned so he wouldn't see. "Allie, Allie Middleton" I recited back. Smiling, Danny waved and continued his journey back home. And I turned around and did the same, dreading the fact that I still had no clue how to continue my article.
