So these are short pieces I wrote for the Project Team Beta 500 word challenge, to get myself out of a writing slump. I don't know why FF tells me some of them are more than 500 words now, but they're legal within the limits of my own computer anyway, lol. Hope you enjoy them, and please tell me if anything catches your fancy by reviewing!


Weapon.

The line in Starbucks seemed endless. She sighed, hitching her bag up higher, feeling the ache in her shoulder and regretting the heels already. She'd do anything for coffee right now. She really needed something to take her nervous mind off this job interview.

"Can I help you?" She was jolted out of her trance by the barista's voice. Transfixed by a pair of beautiful green eyes she felt her mouth go dry and her mind blank. His grin softened as she felt an embarrassing blush heat her face.

"Coffee?" he helpfully prompted her.

"Oh, um, yes! A venti cappuccino, please."

"Anything else?" His eyes on her were still amused, and she started coughing as she shook her head, fumbling for her purse.

"N ... no, thank you!" Passing the bills across the counter, their hands brushed each other and she felt a tingle at the brief contact. I must be going crazy, she thought, unable to tear her gaze away from the soft curve of his lips and his sharp jawline. I probably need to get laid.

"Your name?" She opened her eyes wide at the question but then quickly held her hand out above the cash register.

"Bella. What's yours?" He looked surprised, then grasped her hand and shook it briefly, laughing. There was a fan of laugh lines around his eyes when he smiled and she wanted to stay right there and count them.

"I'm Edward. I'll get you your coffee now, Bella."

As she moved forward to join the rest of the crowd waiting for their coffee, she realized why he'd asked for her name and her blush deepened. She tried to hide behind a burly man in a suit reading the Financial Times until she heard her name called. She accepted her cup from a petite blonde girl without seeing any further sign of Edward, and slunk out the door into the grey street, swallowing her disappointment.

Clutching her coffee she ran through the drizzle down the street to the bus stop, catching the bus at the very last minute and sank gratefully into the last unoccupied seat. As she lifted the fragrant cup to her lips she noticed her name in an elegant black script that seemed to continue. She pushed the sleeve down to see.

Bella – your blush is a deadly weapon. Please heal me with your smile. Edward. And a phone number.