AN: Before i begin, I just wanted to say thank you so, so incredibly much to all of you who actually read chapter 1 (!) To be frank, I was totally not expecting it. I uploaded this story as my exams are currently over and I have some free time. I was not expecting anyone to read it. All the favorites, reviews and follows mean the absolute world to me. I am not much of an author but nevertheless, enjoy chapter 2!
Chapter 2
Like a hungry vulture, Aria devoured Ezra's book. In a way, she could relate to the book's main character, Atticus. The only difference: Aria was far from finding her significant other. Or so she book was written incredibly well, there were absolutely no words to describe the talent that Ezra Fitz possessed. It was written with so much raw emotion that Aria suspected that Ezra had written Atticus after himself. Unknowingly, Aria has also begun to develop a liking for the quiet, mysterious and hopeless romantic only known as Atticus Galbraith. Throughout Aria's shift, her eyes were perpetually glued to the literature masterpiece as she served her customers coffee and pastries, almost knocking over the pot of boiling coffee twice. She knew that she was giving Henrietta's loyal customers the worst possible customer service, but she just could not stop reading the book.
The chiming of the clock signalled that it was 11 o'clock, also the end of Aria's shift. She finished spraying the whipped cream on the top of a cappuccino before handing it to her final customer and shooting the middle - aged lady a small smile before she sauntered out of the coffee shop. Aria sighed. She could not wait to go home and collect her daughter from her kind neighbors who had kindly agreed to watch her for the day. She undid her hair from a bun, letting her chestnut hair cascade down her back. She took off her apron, grabbed a washcloth and started to wipe the oakwood tables. Suddenly, the chiming from a tiny bell rang, echoing throughout the empty coffee shop.
"Shop's closed, sorry!"
Aria said without looking up from her cleaning duties. When she finally did, she was met by a pair of beautiful blue eyes. Not too piercing, and not too dull. The perfect shade of blue. The kind of eyes you could get lost in for hours. The mysterious man had a head full of curly and messy jet black hair, baby pink lips that looked so soft, so...kissable and he wore a black blazer over a simple white t-shirt that hugged his slightly toned body, paired with dress pants and a pair of simple black work shoes.
"Please? Just a simple cup of black coffee with two shots of espresso?"
Aria snapped out of her daydream and opened her mouth to reply but no words came out, making her look like a pathetic fish our of water that was trying desperately to breathe. She quickly nodded before getting to work on the order. God, Aria. Get a grip. Aria told herself as she blushed a deep shade of red. He probably thinks you're gross. Aria fumbled with the coffee as her face grew even hotter. Suddenly, Aria caught a glimpse of the back cover of Love's Vanishing Acts sitting on the counter with its back facing up, showing the book's synopsis and picture of the author Ezra Fitz. Wait a second, Ezra Fitz was standing right in front of her. Holy cow.
Aria's head snapped up as she handed Ezra his coffee, her eyes wide in shock.
"You're... Ezra Fitz. Author of "Love's Vanishing Acts! " Aria exclaimed gesturing wildly to her copy of the book.
"Yeah, I am," Ezra said, his voice husky as he let out a chuckle and shrugged. "I see you've read it."
"It's honestly a masterpiece," Aria said. "You have incredible talent." "Thank you but it's really nothing," Ezra said humbly. Aria was honestly getting frustrated at how lowly Ezra thought of himself and his writing abilities. She wishes he could see how talented he was with his own eyes.
"Anyway, here's your cup of black coffee with two shots of espresso. Enjoy."
As Aria handed Ezra his coffee in a styrofoam cup, their fingers brushed against each others' causing an electric like feeling to surge through Aria's body and also awakening the butterflies in Aria's stomach. She drew her hand back quickly, almost knocking the jar of honey over as she felt her face getting warmer. Embarrassed, she quickly averted her gaze.
"You work here?" Ezra asked curiously. "Ye..yeah I do. Night shifts to be exact. Every day, " Aria answered timidly, secretly hoping that she was not rambling too much. "Cool, see you. Thanks for the coffee,"
Ezra replied, shooting Aria a boyish grin that melted her heart.
That night, after Aria Montgomery bid farewell to Henrietta, her walk back to her embarrassingly small and empty apartment consisted of nothing but her thoughts of Ezra Fitz. She was confused. Her emotions were in an absolute mess. She has absolutely no clue why Ezra's presence had brought out the teenage Aria, also known as the hopeless romantic. After giving birth, the last thing on Aria's mind was finding a boy as she knew that work and supporting her little one came first. But it all changed when Ezra Fitz came sauntering in earlier that night. Just thinking about him made Aria's adrenaline pump and stomach flip. She was so incredibly lovesick over someone she has seen only once, and it was incredibly unusual for the new Aria. Her feelings and reactions confused her. The more she thought about it, the more her head hurt. It was almost as if Ezra had casted a love spell over her. Ezra's perfectly sculpted face and boyish grin kept flashing in Aria's mind. Ezra's husky voice asking for a black coffee and two shots of espresso kept replaying itself, sending goosebumps down Aria's arms. Who am I kidding why would Ezra want someone like me? I am a complete mess. Aria thought to herself as she walked back to her apartment complex.
By the time she got back to her apartment complex, Aria had come to two conclusions a. Since Ezra's novel was so critically acclaimed, he was probably a busy author and would probably have no more time to visit the coffee shop and b. She was simply tired and her brain was playing tricks on her to make her think that she was infatuated with Ezra. Aria sighed and after collecting her daughter from her kindhearted neighbors who had volunteered to watch Aria's daughter while she worked, Aria entered her miserably empty apartment and laid her 9 month old in her crib. Looking at her beautiful sleeping daughter, Aria suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
"I love you Lily Elizabeth Montgomery. I know Momma hasn't got the chance to spend much time with you but when I earn sufficient to support us, I promise I will. Momma loves you," Aria managed to choke out before tears rolled down her pale cheeks.
AN:There you go. Hope y'all enjoyed that. I forgot to mention that if anyone has any ideas or suggestions for the story please feel free to drop me a message on here!
