I pull the door open and the bell jingles against the glass. Work. It sucks, but I need the money, my parents kicked me out and I have no money to get to college. Seeing it is thousands upon thousands of dollars these days, and the economy isn't the best there's no way I'm getting to college. But here I am in California, alone, working the midnight shift in a café, barely getting by.

I go to the back and swipe my card; I shuffle through my bag to grab my name tag. I walk to the back, put my bag away and grab my apron. I adjust the apron and pin my name tag on the top left. I stare into the mirror at myself while shifting my clothes around. I tilt my head to the side and sigh. I wish I looked better. I pulled my hair up into a tight and neat bun and got ready for boredom.

No one comes in a café during the night, its absolutely dead around here; you could hear a pin drop. I sat down on a stool and pulled out my phone and played a game to waste time. But all of a sudden I heard the jingle of the bell clinking against the glass door. I quickly put my phone away and look up. Oh hot damn, a guy walked in looking about in his mid twenties, covered head to toe in tattoos. He had a beanie on his head, skinny jeans, and a hoodie. I think my ovaries might of well just exploded. I saw him smile and that made me realize that I was gawking, I turned my head quickly so he couldn't see me blushing. I tried fixing my hair quickly, grabbed a menu and walked towards where he was sitting. I was so nervous I was trying to pay attention to how fast I was walking towards him; I didn't want him to think I was running towards him, but I didn't want to leave him waiting too long. Man. I am over thinking and shaking nervous. I don't do well around attractive people. It's like my body just didn't get the common sense on how to act around people who are cute. I hate my genes. I finally reached him and I opened my mouth and I was so nervous nothing came out. And of course that made my face started to get red hot. So I cleared my throat and tried again. How much more embarrassing can this get?

"Hi how are you this evening?"

He looked up and cracked a grin "I'm doing just fine, what about you?"

Once my brain processed his angelic voice I quietly said "I'm doing good, is there anything I can get you to eat or drink?"

"Nah just get me some water"

"Okay one second"

I turned around and started walking towards the counter. I was almost sure he could hear my heart beating; it was pounding so hard in my chest. I was trying to get my breathing to go back to normal. In through your nose out through your mouth, I kept repeating that over and over in my head so much, I didn't even realize that the glass slipped out of my hand shattered on the floor.

I could hear him shuffling around, like he was standing up to see what happened "hey is everything okay?"

He started walking towards the other side of the counter. Meanwhile I dropped to my knees quickly to start picking up the glass, hoping he wouldn't see my mess. "Yeah everything's okay! It's all good" and just as I said that a piece of glass penetrated the skin on my hand. I sucked in a sharp breath, and looked at my hand which was shaking. I couldn't feel anything at first but the blood was seeping out at a steady pace. I look up and of course there he was

"Oh god. You're bleeding"

I was opening my mouth to tell him I was fine and I could handle it, but he grabbed a cloth off the pile from under the counter and got down on the floor next to me.

"This might sting a little; I'm not trying to hurt you. But we have to get the glass out and clean the wound so you don't get infected or anything."

I sat beside him, we were so close we were touching, and at that moment I didn't care that I had a piece of glass jabbed into my skin and blood gushing from my hand. Every sense I had was focused on him, I felt lightheaded, and he put me in a daze. But I was soon brought out of my daze when a horrible sharp pain echoed throughout my body from my hand.

"Ow!"

"Sorry…I am so sorry, but I had to pull it out"

I looked down at my hand and the glass was removed and he had the cloth pressed against my hand. He started to stand up, still holding my hand.

"Come-on, let's go wash it."

I barely spoke any words during the whole process. He reached his other hand down and grabbed my arm and helped pull me to the feet. We walked to the sink and he turned on the cold water and removed the cloth and stuck my hand under the running water. I was trying my hardest not scream out in pain while he went and looked for the first-aid kit. He came back holding the box, and I shut off the faucet and sat down on a stool and started reaching for the box to wrap my hand.

"Ah. I don't think so. I will do it"

I just sat back in amazement. A hot stranger walked in the café, and I was supposed to get him water, and now he wants to doctor me. I am not complaining.

He put this cream on the cut and I clenched my eyes shut trying to keep the stinging tears from seeping out. He slowly started to wrap my hand and then he finally finished.

"There you go girly, all patched up again."

"Thank you so much….I feel so bad. You did not have to do any of that…"

"Nah. I didn't mind, I just wanted to make sure you were okay" he said with a cheesy grin.

Okay, screw butterflies, I think I had the whole zoo in my stomach. I have never had this feeling so suddenly and unexpected, I wanted to reach up and just run my fingers though his hair, caress his face and kiss him. Hard. But I cant. I don't even know his name, he is a stranger. So instead I just look up and say:

"anything you want, its on the house, I will make you anything."

He stood up and smiled "no thanks, its really late and I should be heading back to the bus"

I never have felt my heart drop so fast I forced out my slurred words "yeah it is, are you sure you don't want anything?"

"no im fine, I was just stopping in this town real quick, I tour around a lot. Maybe I will see you around?"

I felt a wave of shock come tumbling down on me, he isnt from around here, dammit. "yeah maybe"

He took a step towards me, and bent down while kissing the top of my hand "goodnight beautiful"

He slowly spun around and walked out the door, the bells clanked against the glass, and he walked down the road and disapeered into the darkness.

I stood there for awhile, looking out the window, hoping and praying I might see his silhoutte walking back towards the café, but after a good ten minutes, I gave up. I looked around the café and let out a deep sigh. I really wanted to get to know him, but I didn't even catch his name. oh well, maybe some other time. But for now I have to clean up the café and close it down, because I have to be here in the morning 5am sharp to open the café for the morning birds, maybe mystery man will stop by for coffee. I looked down at my hand and smiled because it was a reminder of him, but I pushed off the table and winced in pain because my hand hurt really bad. I went to the back, hung up my apron, grabbed my stuff, looked up the shop and made my way home….