Hello there! This is my first Hetalia fan fiction so any tips or suggestions will be much appreciated!

The small droplets of water clung to the side of the café windows. It was another rainy New York evening. Cars and taxis lined the streets with anxious businessmen being less then friendly trying to return to their families and apartments. The rain was increasing the hostility in the already delicate situation. Carleigh never thought her future would dissolve into working at a cramped, hidden on a corner coffee shop, but that's how life goes when you want to go to school in the city. Attending a university in Manhattan is not a small investment by any means.

She had always herd from her father that her big dreams belonged in the big city, so when she was eighteen she thought "why the hell not?" There were plenty of great colleges in New Jersey close to home, but those simply would not do.

There was only one customer in the shop, sipping coffee and gossiping with someone on her cell phone. Carleigh focused on the people walking with their umbrella and raincoats hugged tight to their bodies outside the window. People were scurrying to their destination in hopes of escaping the wet cold of December. No two people were ever the same. It came as a bit of a culture shock when she first moved to the City two years ago. She immediately wanted to move back to back to her little beach town. She had friends there and wherever you went someone would say " I remember when you where little..." Home was the predictable. The city was not.

"He's usually here by now..." Carleigh thought as she scanned the window for the tall customer with blue eyes and glasses who usually came around the same time every week. What confused her was how he was so skinny when he never came in without a McDonald's bag in his hand. He was also quite loud, but he was always interesting to talk to at the least. She wasn't completely sure, but he was some kind of U.S. ambassador for the government. His visits always contained some crazy exaggerated story about him and ambassadors from other nations.

As soon as the brown bomber jacket with the number fifty on the back passed by the window, she turned around to make his usual cappuccino with one shot of espresso.

"HEY DUDE! Got any food? I'm starving!"

Carleigh spun around on her heel with a coffee pot in her hand, smirking.

"What, is McDonalds closed?"

"DUDE, don't even joke like that!" He looked distressed for a moment, but then started to laugh as he pulled out a burger from his notorious fast food bag. The bomber jacket over top of a crisp business suit wasn't typical to those walking the streets. He sat the counter, dropped and suitcase, and started to stuff his face with his French fries. Carleigh simply shook her head. "What's with the monkey suit, Al?" She teased him.

"Big meetings all this week. Anybody who is anyone shows up. Like me 'cause I'm the hero!" he stated proudly. Carleigh gave him a look then shook her head. She put his cappuccino on the counter in front of him. He continued to blather on about how he and England representative got into some kind of ridiculous argument, while he continued to shove food in his mouth, of course.

"-And of course England had to bring his scones for everyone, and trust me, those things should be considered nuclear waste or something!"

It was like Carleigh's own personal sitcom whenever Alfred had a story. Apparently the people he works with are just as crazy as him.

"Forget Psychology, I'm switching to whatever you are! You get to travel and see the world! Unless I ever manage to graduate, I'll be serving muffins and coffee for the rest of my life," Carleigh countered.

"Ha! Trust me, Car. It's not all its crapped up to be!" He said after swallowing some of his cappuccino. "Anyways, how've you been?"

"The usual, going to class and serving cranky people coffee every morning," She answered leaning on the counter and giving him a smile and giggling at the ridiculous piece of hair sticking up from his head. She would never admit it to his face, but she had a little crush on him. His laughing, ocean-blue eyes could charm the pants off of almost anyone. It might sound corny, but something drew her towards him and she didn't know what exactly that was. "At least he's pretty much oblivious to everything…"

"Well, you've got to start somewhere!" he said and gave loud, short laugh. Once again, Hannah rolled her eyes.

"So, argue with anyone else today?" she questioned.

"Just a little with Russia, he's creepy bro."

"You mean the representative of Russia, right?"

"What? Oh... yeah that, but anyway, he's always got this freaky smile on face. You have to see it to believe it dude." He took another bite out of his burger. 'That was a little weird,' she thought. 'But whatever I guess...'

The two continued to chat as Carleigh stopped to serve other customers every once in a while. Alfred was currently working on his fifth burger when his phone rang.

"Hey Iggy! What's up?" angry shouting could be heard on the other end of the phone, but Alfred simply laughed. "Alright, calm down dude I'll be right there…" Alfred sighed and finished his burger in one bite and threw out his wrappers. Carleigh stood there shocked. "You know, I've seen my brother eat a whole pizza, but I've never seen anyone finish almost a whole burger in one bite!"

"Ha! That's cause I'm a hero! I gotta go before the British limey throws a fit. See ya Car!"

"Later, Al!" She gave a smile and wave, which he returned. 'He's pretty hot when he smiles… wait, what!' she felt her cheeks heat up and she mentally scolded herself.

"So when is he going to ask you out?" She spun around to see a middle aged women with red lipstick and a little too much eyeliner sipping her coffee. She reminded her of that one aunt who would pinch your cheeks and obsessed over how cute you were.

"I-I don't know, I think-"

"Mm-hmm. Careful honey, he seems like a handful."

Carleigh sighed. "No kidding."

..~..

"Finally!" Carleigh yawned. She had just finished wiping down the counter and prepping for the next day. Throwing her apron in the back she grabbed her bag and coat and began to walk out of the shop and lock up. With one final look at the café she stepped out the door, but noticed a rectangular box where Alfred had sat. 'He would forget!' She went back inside, and sure enough, the tag on it read return to: ALFRED F. JONES. Right below the name a phone number was given. "He'll probably need this if he has a meeting tomorrow... I guess I'm calling." Carleigh pulled out her phone, but hesitated to dial. "C'mon! It's just a call don't chicken out!" she told herself. With a deep breath she dialed and pressed call, heart racing.

'Crap, crap, crap-'

"Hello? Hero speaking!"

"U-uh hi Al, it's Carleigh."

"Oh hey Car, how did you get my phone number dude?"

"Well, you left your briefcase at the café."
"Bro! Thanks dude. I'm a little busy to go get it. Do you think you could drop it off at the World Building tomorrow morning? You know where that is right?"

"Yeah sure! No problem! 'Damn, where is that? Why did you say yes? What were you thinking! You sound like a stalker!'

"Alright, thanks again dude! I'll be there at around eight so drop it off then! Dude! You're so totally awesome for this!"

"Uh, yeah! I'll see you tomorrow then!"

"Bye!"

Hannah hug up on Alfred and sighed. She could feel the blood rushing to her face. Resisting the urge to do a happy dance in public, she walked home in the cold air singing songs under her breath. It had stopped raining, leaving small puddles reflecting the neon lights emitted from signs and buildings. It made the fifteen-minute walk back to her apartment minimally more enjoyable. Her thoughts drifted to Alfred and she couldn't help but giggle a little. He was… different for sure, but she knew he was a good person. She kept walking down the busy street humming, but of course, not with out running straight into a tall man's chest.

"Oh! I'm sorry sir-" she quickly tried to apologize to the blond haired, blue eyed man.

"Nein, it is not a problem," he spoke with a thick German accent. Carleigh just nodded and smiled as the serious man continued to walk down the street. She shrugged and continued at a faster speed to her apartment.

..~..

The apartment wasn't anything special by far. The old wood floor and mix-matched furniture could at best be described as "charming". But it was home, nonetheless. Carleigh kicked her black flats across the room into the corner, and then flopped down onto the couch, the day's events finally catching up.

Smiling at the thought of her time with Alfred, she clicked on the small television. She felt almost embarrassed by her juvenile crush on him, too shy and afraid of rejection. She sighed and flipped onto back before blowing back a piece of light brown hair that had come loose from her ponytail.

"You know what I hate?" her roommate stormed inside. "People who think that they are SOO much better that you and feel the need to take YOUR taxi! Who the hell do they think they are anyway?"

"Oh hey, Kait! It's nice to see you too!" Carleigh smirked. Kait shot her a warning look in return. "By the way, I need your help at an event tomorrow night. Tim got sick and I need someone to help me serve the fancy people their damn shrimp puffs!" She sighed and went to her room.

"Yea, sure Kait. Why no-" Carleigh looked down at her phone as it rang. Call from: Alfred F. Jones.

…To Be Continued (Hopefully)…

Why yes! That was my sad attempt at a cliffhanger . Anyway, sorry if the end seemed rushed, I wasn't sure how I wanted to end this chapter and I just want to finally get to the good stuff in the next chapter :P. It will be kind of fluffy, but in a good way, if that's even possible. R&R is, once again, greatly appreciated!

~Imogen Color