Where Have You Bean, by LadyInTheNight02

Hello, lovelies.

I have currently given up on writing Betting on Love, but I am still going to continue this story. It was originally called "Seven Days of Coffee," but it been given a bit of an expansion. I was considering giving it a darker, angsty side, but I will be keeping this light-hearted with some funny bits sprinkled here and there. I am writing this for my dear friend, MissaSissa. You should check her stories out!

~LadyInTheNight02

The house was quiet as the blonde woke up from another dream. It was always the same, and the blonde hated dwelling on them, because it always ended with a drink in her hand by the end of the day. Stretching, the young woman more or less rolled out of her bed. Glancing blearily at the clock next to her, Emma saw that it was nearly time to wake her son, Henry for the day. Well, she was going to wake him, until she saw the handwritten note next to the clock.

Hey, Em.

I got the day off, so I'll watch Henry today!

~ Belle

Laughing softly, the blonde quickly got ready for work. Her life had been a whirlwind of emotions and events since she was seventeen, but she was finally stable and somewhat happy. Her parents were the average American couple, but Emma always had trouble connecting with them. She loved her father, but her mother seemed to be a mystery at the least. Random memories flitted through her mind as she stepped in the shower. Her mother had suffered a bit of a mental breakdown after suffering a miscarriage and nearly dying. She became convinced that her life was nothing but a lie and would often take off during the night. They made it work though, and the years passed. Emma found a false solace in an older neighbor boy, Neal. He had his own car, a carefree attitude, and she was absolutely enamored. She scowled at the thought of him now, because the only good thing that came from him was her son, Henry.

Turning the water off, she stepped out and dried off, before getting dressed. The room was tiny but cozy, and she loved it here. She kept the baby after finding out, but she did so alone. Her father was supportive, and her mother seemed to return to her old self. Her mother was more than happy to watch the baby so she could continue with her schoolwork. College was a little more difficult for her, but Emma met Ruby, and through her, Belle. Ruby had to leave during their junior year when her grandmother suddenly died. Emma went with her for the funeral but was told to return and graduate upon offering to move there and help her friend. Pursuing a degree in English and creative literature, the blonde had an internship that would guarantee that her name would be on the front page of every magazine, while putting her foot in the door for magazine publications.

Emma shuddered thinking about how differently things could have turned out. Her mother had wandered off for the first time since Henry was born. David, her father, left Henry with a neighbor before going to look for his wife. It took nearly the whole night, but he finally found her. They were heading home, but he was tired from looking all night. The police and doctors said neither one of them felt a thing, but that didn't make her feel better. Packing a bag, she gave instructions to the family lawyer, and left with her son as soon as the double funeral was over. That was two years ago, and though they missed them, they were doing better here. Sliding into her boots, she ran out the door, eager to get her day started. It was only a ten-minute drive to the diner that Ruby's grandmother had left her, and Emma wasn't surprised to see her friend's red car in front.

Closing the heavy door behind her, the blonde walked straight into the back room of the café. She wasn't surprised to see the still form of her friend, and boss, on the crappy sofa. Reaching for her plum-colored apron, she put it on before shaking her friend.

"Ruby, hey." Emma was prepared to jump back in case her friend 'attacked.' It wasn't wise to surprise the woman, but she didn't really have a choice. They were supposed to be opening in an hour, and Emma knew that Ruby would hate it even more if she let her continue sleeping. "You know, just because we have that thing in here, doesn't mean you have to be there every night." Thankfully, the brunette merely sat up, instead of shoving a fist in her direction.

"What time is it, Em? I meant to go home last night, but I was working on a new flavor for the tea." Shaking her head, Emma just walked back to the main part of the café and started to open the place.

Flipping the sign on the door, she barely moved behind the counter again when the door opened.

Emma loved working with Ruby, and she had even made friends with a few of the regulars who stopped in every morning. Her friend was more business minded and could usually be found in the back room. Ruby grew herbs, flowers, and other plants, and would often combine them to make unique tea blends, and sometimes coffee flavors. Their mutual friend, Belle, would often hang out with them all day, and would pitch in when the lines got too long. The morning passed by in a blur, like normal. Emma was about to set down for a moment, when the door opened once more. It was her.

Working at the front of the café had its perks. Emma would see the same people day in and day out, and she took it upon herself to remember their orders, and their name if they offered it. The blonde didn't know who the woman was, but she really wanted to know more. The brunette didn't seem a lot older than her, but then again, maybe she had great skin? Besides, the woman looked almost like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was polite but never engaged in small talk, and she always ordered the same thing. One tall black coffee, one packet of sugar, and an apple strudel.

Today was different though, because the darker-haired woman looked like someone had stolen her puppy from right in front of her. Knowing that she would stop for a moment and look at the drawings by local children, Emma kicked herself into gear. The blonde had a tall coffee in a to-go cup, and the apple strudel warmed and, in a bag, before the woman reached the counter. Grabbing the black sharpie at the last minute, she quickly scribbled a message on the side.

"How did you know what I would get?" The woman's voice was soft and polished, and Emma smiled gently. "I like knowing everyone's orders." The stranger paid for her two items and was halfway to the door, before she stopped suddenly. Emma didn't have to see her face to know that a small smile appeared as the brunette stranger read the message.

"To the prettiest girl I'll see today."