A/N: Hey guys! It's been a hot minute since I've written anything. I'm also considering reviving my "Secret Admirer" fic if I find the time. I did this same thing a year ago so I figured I'd try again. This time the prompt will be different AUs I've found on the internet. Hope you enjoy! Leave a review if you want! (Also I apologize the website is absolutely butchering my spacing)

April 1st — Coffee Shop AU

It wasn't the first time she'd come in the shop. He'd seen her there for a couple weeks now. It seemed that every Tuesday and Thursday, around 4:00pm, she'd come with the same order: vanilla iced coffee and a blueberry muffin. She'd take a seat by the window, pull out a notebook, and she'd write. He had no clue what she was writing, but for some reason she fascinated him, with her long, light brown hair with streaks of indigo, her jeans with stars colored in with markers on the cuffs. Something about her seemed magical, otherworldly.

He realized how odd it was to be this invested in a total stranger, but his life was boring and on lackluster days in the cafe he'd much rather people watch than listen to his coworker ramble on about some sports game or his relationship problems.

He hadn't talked to her—well, outside of taking her order, which he made sure to do every time she came—but he always wanted to. Every time she came in, he felt that much closer to asking her name, her number, her favorite color, anything. After all, how hard could it be to say, 'Hi, I'm Evan, what's your name?'

Apparently, it was very hard.

It wasn't the first time she'd seen him working there. Most every time she came into the cafe, he was the one to take her order. She came in on Tuesdays and Thursdays after her band practice to get coffee and a snack and relax. It was usually quiet, compared to the constant conflict at home, and she was able to get inspiration for songwriting here. And something about the barista fascinated her. She felt a weird connection, despite only talking to him for business. He had deep blue eyes and light, almost curly hair. He seemed shy, but always made an effort to be kind. Something about him made her want to get to know him more, but she could never think of a non-awkward way to do it.

The iced coffee at the cafe was good, sure, but he was the real reason she kept her visit in her schedule. Every time she sat down in the same window spot, song lyrics just flew from her head. She'd look out the window and think of the lives of the people walking by. She'd write about the blue-eyed barista who'd landed a spot in her brain.

A week later, as he brought her coffee and muffin to her table, she noticed something written on the napkin. Moving the plate aside, she picked it up. Hi, I'm Evan. Want to get a coffee some time?

He actually did it. He wrote the note. Evan stayed focused on something behind the counter, trying his best not to stare at her, but failing, peeking every now and then. He'd been so nervous about talking to her, but something inside of him said do it. And so he did it. As he subtly glanced over at her, he caught a smile growing on the corner of her lips. Aware that he was turning a bright red, he went into the back room for absolutely no reason other than to contain himself for a moment.

After catching his breath, he returned to the counter to see her standing right there. She held the plate and handed it to him.

"Thank you again," she smiled. He grabbed the plate from her.

"Oh yes, of course," he replied as she winked. He took the plate to the back and realized a folded-up piece of paper was sitting on top. Evan quickly put the plate in the sink and unfolded the paper. Hi Evan, I'm Zoe. I'd love to get a coffee with you, but maybe at a different cafe. On the bottom of the page was a phone number. "Zoe," he whispered under his breath.

Zoe stood outside the coffee shop, arms folded. Evan had texted her back later that day and they immediately hit it off. She learned that he was a freshman at the local community college studying botany. They agreed to meet at another coffee shop a couple streets down from where he worked, and now she was waiting for him to arrive. She pulled her phone out from the pocket of her jean jacket, checking the time. He was 15 minutes late, no text. Zoe felt a drop of water fall on her nose. She looked up at the gloomy clouds above her, it was definitely going to rain. Then, a grey sedan pulled up into a parking spot. Evan rushed out of the car.

"Zoe, I am so so sorry there was an accident on the freeway and it was taking me forever I'm so so so—"

"—It's totally fine," she interrupted. "I really don't mind." He took a deep breath.

"Sorry," he chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

"No need to apologize, now let's get inside before it starts raining," she said, holding the door open. The two ordered and settled in at a table by the window— Zoe's choice.

They talked about everything. Hobbies, likes, dislikes, funny stories, personal stories. They ended up talking for a few hours before Zoe got a spam of messages from her mother.

"Ah shit, my mom is freaking out. I'd really love to do this again sometime, though."

"Yeah, that would be awesome,' Evan said, grinning.

Zoe looked out the window with a frown. "It's pouring, that's gonna be no fun to walk home in," she chuckled.

"Do you— do you want a ride?" Evan asked.

"Oh no, you don't need to do that."

"I really don't mind—"

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to bother you—"

"Not at all!" Evan said, louder than he should have. The two chuckled.

"That would be great, thank you so much," Zoe said with a smile. They both stood up and Evan grabbed his umbrella. Zoe held open the door again as Evan opened up the umbrella and the two walked to his car. It wasn't far to Zoe's house and before she knew it, they had said their goodbyes.
-

These little dates continued, sometimes getting coffee, other times seeing a movie or just driving around and talking. She would still come to the cafe on her regular days, but now they would actually talk to each other. Evan never really found it easy to talk to people but with Zoe it was easy. And it seemed like it was the same with her.

But then one day everything changed. She stopped coming into the cafe. She stopped responding to his texts. It was like she was wiped off the face of the Earth. He was heartbroken. He finally found someone he understood, someone who understood him, someone he was beginning to love, and she was gone like that.

He missed her every day he worked at the cafe. Something seemed so empty about it. As the days went on he tried his best to forget. But he never really could.

One night, Evan had to work the late night shift to cover for his coworker, who was apparently getting married that night. It was 11:00pm. No one was in the cafe, it was completely silent besides the very quiet jazz music playing over the speaker. Evan sat in front of the counter, fiddling with a pen. A voice alerted him.

"Hey, could I get one of those blueberry muffins?" Evan looked up.

"Zoe?" She was shivering, her hair and hoodie soaking wet. "What— how— where have you been?" Evan exclaimed. Zoe sighed.

"My brother… attempted again and my mom completely freaked out and put our house on lockdown. She took our phones and didn't let us leave, not even for school. It's total bullshit."

"What? That's insane." He walked out from behind the counter to face her.

"I know. It's been awful."

"Well, how'd you get out? And why are you wet?"

"I snuck out through my window. Didn't have a chance to grab an umbrella," she said, grinning playfully.

"Why'd you sneak out?"

"To see you of course." She smiled.

"Why me?"

"You ask an awful lot of questions," she said, taking Evan's hand. He turned bright red.

"But—" Before he could say anything more, she reached up and kissed him. It took a moment for it to register that yes, she was actually kissing him. She placed a hand on his cheek and he grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. After a moment more, they both pulled back.

"That's why," she said, grinning. Evan nodded.

"Good reason," he replied before quickly kissing her again. She pulled away.

"Now, how about some tea because I am very cold." They both chuckled.

"Coming right up."