Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop

A/N: I realize I should be updating Love/Hate Relationship, but I have the chapters for that already written. This is going to be lots of fun!

Inspired by the wonderful song "Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop" by Landon Pigg. Go on, listen to it, it's a great song!

Every chapter is inspired by one line. It's a continuous story though, and an AU, so be warned.

Enjoy the IchiRuki goodness! ~Love Nana-chan

Chapter One

Server

I think that possibly, maybe I'm falling for you.

Rukia sighed, running a hand through her short black hair. She stopped on the sidewalk, scanning the stores next to her. BLACK COFFEE - COFFEE AND WIFI, BEST MUFFINS IN TOWN, proclaimed a sign. Perfect, Rukia thought. It seemed genuine, a good place to wind down.

She'd just moved to New York, starting a journalist job at a fashion magazine. In college she'd majored in literary arts, hoping to become a fiction writer, but she didn't have enough experience or connections to do so, so she'd asked her good friend Rangiku to get her a job.

Rangiku was a model at a New York magazine called Haute. She had scored Rukia a job as a columnist, after putting in a good word with her boss, Hisagi Shuuhei, who was easily persuaded by her large chest and female charm. He also wanted to be her boyfriend, but then again, everyone wanted to be Rangiku's boyfriend.

It had been a long first day. The model Rukia had interviewed had been a total stranger, and she turned out to be a real bitch, too. Rukia didn't know how any of her coworkers put up with it. She pushed open the door to the coffee shop, more than a little tired.

It smelled of coffee beans, dark chocolate, and baking muffins. Rukia inhaled the scent, immediately relaxing a little.

"Hi, ma'am, sit down and somebody will be with you in a moment," a girl of about eighteen said to her, bowing slightly before turning to another customer.

Wow, this was the real deal. Rukia sat down at an empty single table, sinking into the squishy chair. Ah, finally, to get out of that hard wooden work chair was bliss. She'd have to buy a new one, she thought absentmindedly.

"Hi, my name's Ichigo, I'll be your waiter today, what can I get for you?" Rukia looked up at a bored-looking guy of about nineteen. He had shockingly bright orange hair and brown eyes that looked, oddly enough, the color of black coffee.

"Uh, do you recommend anything?" Rukia asked, feeling utterly lost and new.

"For what? Are you just looking for coffee? A pick-me-up? Or a de-stresser?"

"That last one sounds about right," Rukia said, laughing a little.

"Hard day at work, yeah." Ichigo nodded understandingly. "Well, we have a pretty good chocolate coffee that always de-stresses me. Wanna try it?"

"Sure," Rukia said, shrugging. She was new here, and it seemed most of these guys were regulars. Might as well try what the waiter said. He knew best, right?

"Okay, be right back," Ichigo said. He walked off, leaving Rukia to study the coffeehouse some more. It really was authentic.

I wonder how old he is, Rukia mused. If he really was nineteen, then it was silly to think of him as hot. She was twenty-two; she dated people her own age, not barely-college-age kids. But he really was cute.

"Hey," came Ichigo's voice. Rukia looked up. He was holding a steaming cup of delicious-smelling coffee.

"That was fast," Rukia commented, taking it.

"I try," Ichigo said. Rukia realized he hadn't smiled at all. And he was just standing there.

"Uh, I don't mean to be rude, but you don't have anywhere to go?" Rukia asked.

Ichigo blushed. "Oh, sorry. I'm on break now, actually." He made a move to leave, but Rukia noticed how cute he was when he blushed.

"Hey, no, stay," she said, catching his arm. He stopped and looked back at her. She waved her hand. "Pull up a chair, kid."

He obeyed. "I'm not a kid," he told her. "I'm twenty, which is probably about as old as you are, and besides that I'm taller than you!"

Rukia frowned. The age remark was flattering and all, but she did not appreciate the constant digs on her height she got from everyone."Hmph. Twenty-two, actually. My name's Rukia, it's good to meet you."

"Cool," Ichigo said. He colored again. "I mean, uh, same. Nice to meet you. So...what's your job, that's so stressful?"

"I'm obviously new," Rukia said ruefully. "But I just moved here to take a job one of my friends found for me. I'm a columnist at Haute. Their headquarters are three blocks down."

"Yeah, I know where it is," Ichigo said, somewhat awkwardly.

Rukia squirmed. "How long have you lived here?"

"Lived in the apartment above this shop since I was born," Ichigo said, tracing circles on the table. "I moved out about a year ago, to an apartment across the street. My dad was so pissed." He smiled to himself, and though the smile wasn't directed at her, Rukia felt as if she'd scored a small victory.

"So you know your way around?"

"Yeah, why?" Ichigo was staring now.

Rukia smiled at him. "Eh, no reason really, but if you ever have a day off..." She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and scribbled down her number.

Ichigo looked at it uncertainly. "Uh, for me?"

"Just 'cause I'm new," Rukia explained. "I don't know my way around here. So, like I said. You get a chance, call me." She finished off her coffee - she'd gotten a small - and hopped out of the soft chair. "Bye, Ichigo." She left Ichigo looking very bewildered, feeling very smug and proud of herself. Her first day in New York and she might already have a date! She couldn't wait to tell Rangiku.

A/N: Woo! First chapter finished! I hope you enjoyed it; next chapter's Ichigo's POV. It's a bit painful for me to write Ichigo as 'hot' because I've only thought so in the past few chapters, what with his longish hair. There's a couple pictures where he reminds me of Break from Pandora Hearts, who I LOVE, sooo he's okayish. But I still hate him! Ah well. (Also, chapter 421, page 9. That thar is sexy no matter who you are.)

Reviews! They're awesome! Do want! Arigato! ~Nana-chan