This story goes out to Lindsey and Len, who managed to get me to write this.
Danny was sat down on a bench in one of the children's playgrounds, staring down at a cup of – now cold – coffee, a look of defeat on his face. He and Lindsay had nothing but playful banter, and to be fair, he liked it that way, but he wanted more. He wanted her to feel wanted by him. He wanted to be the guy she came home to every night. He wanted to be the one who she waits for, just to tell him she loves him. But could he have that with her? Like hell he could. That's right, folks: Lindsay Monroe had shot him down once again. And this time was the last time for him. There was only so much rejection a guy could take before he loses a good friend. During Danny's little mind rant, a woman had occupied the other side of the bench, and had a similar look on her face to Danny, only she was fiddling with a bracelet and not staring at her coffee.
"Rough day?" He asked the woman
"The worst. I just got three rejections from different publishing houses. And that's just today. This whole week I have had fourteen rejections. What about you, you're hardly brimming with positive energy"
"Bad day at work. No evidence to back up my theory. Shot down by a girl I like. And my shift has been moved so I wont be able to watch my favourite game on ESPN tonight"
"Ah, well, seems like your day was just as bad as mine. By the way, I'm Annabella Johnson, call me Annie" Annie extended her arm, and Danny shook her hand.
"Danny Messer"
"Ok, now we know each other's names, how about I buy you another cup of coffee…looks like that one may not be so nice anymore"
Danny got up from his spot, and walked the few steps to where Annie was sat.
"Sure, on one condition. You let me buy it for you, I never let a pretty girl pay for her own coffee"
He held out a hand to her, ever the gentleman. Annie smiled at his sweetness, thinking this other girl must be dumb to shoot him down.
"Sounds good to me"
She took his hand and got up, soon releasing it once they were up and walking out of the park. They still remained in close proximity, although this was more to make sure they didn't lose each other on the way to the coffee house, after all Danny was leading them there.
"So you're a writer?" He asked when the hustle and bustle of the street had died down a bit, and when they were nearly at the shop.
"Well I don't really call myself a writer. This is the first book I am trying to get published"
"How long did it take to write it?" Danny enquired, "You're the first person I have met who has finished writing a book"
"It took me just under six months to actually write it, but I had the idea for about three years before I even considered maybe writing it"
Their conversation flowed smoothly until they got to the coffee shop, Danny had decided to continue talking about how Annie got into writing, and what her book was about, and it seemed to make her happy, which in turn made him happy. Annie was the sort of girl who would be good for Danny.
She was very down to earth, not like some of the bimbo's he had dated in the past. And this girl was one of the two intelligent people who Danny could see himself actually liking. In fact the more he spoke with her, the more he liked her. The passion she had for writing was just overwhelming. He hadn't felt about that way in a long time, and he especially hadn't felt that way about his job in an even longer time. He was beginning to like the way she spoke with a slight British accent in her voice; girls with accents didn't usually affect him, he didn't particularly have a thing for girls with accents, but the way Annie spoke was making her more compelling to him. The one other thing, which may have contributed to why he liked her, was her physical appearance, which may sound shallow, but he didn't mean it in a shallow way. He liked the way two stray curls managed to escape her ponytail but still look completely in place, and the way he was drawn to her eyes when he first looked at her, even though there was no real reason, except from the fact she had pretty eyes. He even liked the way none of her clothes would work if they had been worn by any other person, but she makes them look 100 percent right. Even though Danny had only known Annie for a matter of minutes, he may have been subjected to falling in love with her. I said "maybe".
"Danny?" Annie waved her hand in front of his face, pulling him back from his thoughts "The coffee is here"
Danny's cheeks turned a shade of red, he must have looked like a right prat to Annie when he came out of his daze. What a great way to get a girl to like you. Nonetheless, he paid for coffee and continued their conversation once again. This time it was about him and his work. They had found a table near the window, looking out at the parade of shops opposite.
"So, a CSI, that must be interesting" Annie had only dealt with CSI's when her sister was killed in a car accident, but none were as nice as Danny.
"Yeah, you could call it interesting, but I have been doing it for a little while now, so its lost most of the interesting factor for me"
"How long have you been a CSI?"
"Ever since I graduated from the police academy, I don't actually remember how long to be exact though, sorry"
"Hey its ok, at least you've had a job long enough to not remember, unlike me"
"Well what jobs have you done in your past then?"
"Erm, well I have never been one to stick with one job for longer than a year, so far, I have been a receptionist, tour guide, bar maid, actress, party coordinator, and wedding singer"
"Wow, thats quite a mix you have there, what made you give up the acting one? I always thought it was nearly ever girl's dream to be an actress"
"Well, the series I was in needed an American to play one of the lead characters, after that, there wasn't really any need for American's to be in British TV series, so I decided to give up on that and took up another job...plus it got boring after a while"
Danny and Annie continued to talk, they fell into a rhythm which made it seem like they were old friends who were just catching up, not two strangers who had met. Their conversation went from Annie's past jobs, to Danny's past jobs, then back to Danny's current job, and back to Annie's book, and they some how ended up talking about Danny's family, especially Louie.
Before they knew it, the coffee place was closing up, they were already on their third cup, and it was only 6:30 pm, they had been talking for a little over three hours.
"I guess I should start making my way home" Annie said, glancing up at the clock on the wall.
"Yeah, I should get going too, my shift starts in half hour"
Annie went to reach for her purse to pay for the coffee.
"I think I remember saying I was paying"
"Danny, please, just let me get these" She looked up at him with puppy-dog eyes.
"Fine, fine, on one condition though" he said with a crooked smile
"What?"
"You let me take you out to dinner"
"Deal" she said with a nod, making Danny even more happy.
Annie continued to pay for their drinks and Danny waited for her before he left.
"Which way you heading?" Annie asked
"42nd Street, what about you?"
"Same" She replied with a smile
"Good, I'm walking you home then. And I wont take no for an answer to that one"
After a short fifteen minute walk, they arrived outside Annie's apartment building, and bought their conversation to a close.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow then, 7 o'clock sound good to you? He asked, standing reasonably close to her, to let the other people on the street walk past them instead of through them.
"Sound's great to me. I'll see you soon"
Danny leaned in and kissed her cheek gently
"Bye" they said in unison.
Annie turned and walked into her apartment building, leaving Danny standing in front of the entrance, holding a card with her number scribbled on it. She had definitely made his day.
Please R&R, let me know whether I should continue it, and if you have any better title ideas, I know this one is not original at all