Home sweet Coffee Shop

[ringo]

Rin breathed in the fresh coffee smell as she held the hot coffee cup in her hands. It's great to be back. After her reunion with Mrs and Mr Patterson, the coffee shop owners, last week, Rin was greeted back and became their regular costumer once again. The old couple always bring a smile on to her face. They are old, but are still in love. It inspires her really. Sipping the hot beverage, Rin turned her head and looked outside. It was starting to get late. She was back on her habit of staying as long as she could in the shop. It's not her fault. This place feels like home to her. "Rin, deary, do want a refill? It's once again on the house." Mrs. Patterson said with that sweet voice of hers. Rin smiled and shook her head. They have been spoiling her since her return back to the city.

"For the last time time Mrs. Patterson, I could pay just fine but yes, I would like a refill." Rin responded as she lifted her almost empty cup to the pot in the older woman's hands as she poured more coffee into her cup. Nodding as thanks, she watched Mrs. Patterson walk away and tend to another costumer as she took another sip of her coffee. Looking back outside, a small frown replaced the smile on her face as she thought about her family. They were all far away. Even her father. She checked her old house to see it was empty. She wouldn't actually going to visit him. She just came to check. She still doesn't know if he is mad at her for leaving him with her mother. Sighing out loud, Rin took another sip of her drink. She couldn't help but to miss him though.

[|K|o|y|a|m|i|]

The wind bit at his cheeks, and he knew it was going to be another one of those nights. There was no way he was going to get home tonight without calling a cab; or at least without shifting. But he would be weaker in his shifted form, what, with all the bruises from the school fight? Ha. The cars would make quick work of his unwanted form. He rolled his eyes, cursing his parents for giving him the form of such a wild animal that belonged in a zoo...
But he couldn't focus on the thought much longer; standing here in the middle of the street. Soon people would wonder why he had stopped there, or how even, he had appeared. Bastards, too stupid to know about their own manhole system. He had been dealing, doing his duty for his brother before he could play his own little game. His eyes lighted upon the coffee shop. They'd at least have a phone for him to call a cab, or call his brother with a chew him out for sending him on a suicide mission.
He marched to the door, and yanked it open. Such a suction there was from the wind that it nearly ripped his already weak arm off, and he groaned as he slipped inside through the little slit that the howling wind allowed him. Shifting eyes looked all around, and a chill creeped up his spine. Two old people, and some young people. Great mix. Jesus. He rolled his eyes and walked over to the counter.
"Cup o Joe, where's the phone? Need to call my brother and rat my other one out."
The old man chuckled, and Ashley curled his lip back, the old man reminding him of santa claus. Yea, I'll gut you one day, pig. Took all my toys and gave me coal all those years. But the old man just smiled, and pointed toward a back hallway as he handed the blond boy his cup of coffee. Five bucks, said the old man, and Ashley rolled his eyes once again. This better be some d**n good coffee. He smiled sweetly as he pulled out his leather wallet and laid a ten on the counter.
"Keep the change, Santa. Those elves are going to revolt one year cause you don't pay them enough."
Another jolly laugh, and Ashley turned away. Unfortunately, his eyes lighted upon the girl. Something in the back of his mind was poking it's head forward, like some sort of memory. He couldn't help himself, maybe she could be an asset; make herself useful one day. Couldn't hurt.
"Hey. You from around here? You look familar."
He didn't bother asking, he just sat down across from her and sipped from his cup, waiting for her to respond.

[/size][/center]

[ringo]

The sun was slowly creeping behind the buildings of the city as shadows replaced the sunlight until there is no light at all. Rin watched how it was bright outside and many people roam the streets till it gotten so dark, she probably couldn't see anything if it weren't for those street lights. Although, she is inside a nice, warm shelter, she could almost feel the cool, spine chilling wind blowing from outside. Ding ding. Oh wait, that's because someone had entered the store. She shivered after the cold wind reached her from the corner in the store as she looked at who entered the store. It was a young man and he didn't look too happy. She wouldn't be happy with all that freezing wind outside either. Deciding to ignore him like she usually do with other costumers in the shop, Rin took about long sip from her cup as she examine the outdoors from the window. She heard him spoke again and Rin tried her best not to look over. 'He's nothing to you so don't try to be curious, Rin.' Rin had thought. Her gloved hands clutched the cup in front of her and she leaned back into her seat. The man spoke again from across the shop. Rin frowned. She glanced over to see the young man holding Mr. Patterson's yummy cup of coffee but he didn't sound so grateful. 'How rude.' Rin felt like standing up and yell at him to be more grateful and just say thanks instead of saying his Santa comment. Turning back to the window, she huffed. The Pattersons wouldn't like that. Not at all. Mr. Patterson is too nice. The man didn't deserve his joyful smile but he shined away his whites anyway.
The best she could do is ignore him.

"Hey. You from around here? You look familiar."

Rin blinked then lifted her head to the person who was talking to her. It was the same young man from before. He sat in front of her like they were old friends and held Mr. Patterson's famous cup of coffee in his hands. Rin shook her head as she examine the boy in front of her with her bright green eyes. He took a sip of the drink and he looked like he was waiting for an answer. "No.. Well yes. Um. Kinda." Rin mumbled as she looked down at the brown substance in her cup. "I mean. I used to live around here when I was child but I moved away from here five years ago." Rin looked up at the man again as she said that. She shrugged her shoulders as she smiled, remembering some good memories of the city. "And now I'm back. End of this small story." Rin peered over to the man and then narrowed her eyes. Wait.. he said she looked familiar. Did he know her from before she moved away? Strange as it is, she had forgotten some of the faces she used to know in the city so maybe.. was he her friend from before? Hm.. Hard to tell. "Why? Do you know me?" Rin asked. Funny, she said she was going to ignore the boy but now look at her.

[|K|o|y|a|m|i|]

He yawned slightly and leaned back in his chair, eyes turning to the window. How was he going to play his little game today? Was he going to be a spoiled brat, or was he going to play fair? He looked back at her, looking her over a little more throughly. Truth was, she did look familiar. And not just a little familiar, a lot. He took another sip of his coffee as he looked at her. There was something gnawing at the back of his mind, but he couldn't quite place it. Her voice came to him, and he nearly choked on his coffee as he narrowed his eyes and looked at her, waggling a pointing finger at her as his eyes grew wide.
"That's who you are! You're that girl that I had a crush on in fourth grade but mom said I couldn't ask you out cause she swore you went to a less prestigious school and you were a waste of my time!"
For once, Ashley was actually comically happy. His heart was pounding in his chest as he looked at her. He could see her now, back then, before she left; that same vibrant hair; walking past his house to her bus stop every morning. He growled under his breath as he looked to her, cursing his dead mother. This was something that he had never really experienced since then. He'd always just listened to his older brothers about what to do with woman...
"W-what's your name? I-I never knew....Mine's Ashley. Ashley Parker."

[/size][/center]

[ringo]

Rin took another sip of her coffee from her warm cup as she watched the man in front of her think. He's quite interesting. Well, to her anyway. He came up to her suddenly and started asking her questions. Did she know him from before she moved? She doesn't remember at all. Rin smiled and let out a giggle as his expression started changing. He pointed at her in disbelief and his face expression looks hilarious to her. She was about to comment about it but he beat her to it. She froze. She just sat there as her eyes widened. 'What? Wait, what did he just said?' Rin thought. Crush..? He had a crush.. on her when they were younger? She slightly blushed. She never thought anyone liked her. Yes, even though she was seventeen, she never had a boyfriend yet so hearing someone have a crush on her, even though it's in the past, it, well, flattered her. Why haven't she noticed? "Wait, wait wait. Let me get this straight!" Rin said as she waved her hands in front of her. "You." She pointed to him then pointed to herself. "Liked me when we were in forth grade?" She blinked as she scratched her cheek. Wow. How did she get into this situation? Here's the guy who was rude to Mr. Patterson had a crush on her when they kids and was now he sitting with her. Wait, she shouldn't rush to conclusions. He said his crush on her was in forth grade. That doesn't necessary mean he still has it now.. does it?

Rin decided to shrug it off and smiled brightly at him. "The name's Renee Lathlin but please, call me Rin." Rin said as she raised out her hand for Ashley to shake. She let out a small giggle. "By the way, I really like your name. Ashley.. it's really unique on a guy, you know?" Rin grinned.

[|K|o|y|a|m|i|]

He registered the looks on her face, first was shook, then confusion, seering anger, and then peace once more. She spoke, beautiful lyrics spilling from her lips as if she were an angelic fountain. He gazed upon her in merriment. Dude, she probably will never like you. I don't even like you! His conscience ranted on, but it was ignored. He looked at her, taking his cup with a shaking hand and taking a drink, thinking of all the events. She must think he was an ass after what he said to Mr. Patterson. His eyes dropped to the table cloth, and he gripped the edge and started playing with the tassels that rimmed it.
He saw her hand raise ou of the corner of his eye, and at first he shied away, thoughts of his brothers hitting games jumping to mind. Seeing she only wanted a friendly shake, he gingerly took her hand; cautiously, as if almost testing if she was real. He blushed bright red and looked away, pulling his hand away with his gaze. He loved his name, and he hated it the same. Because everyone thought he was a girl always.
He took a deep breath, and looked at her. It really was the same girl he had liked way back when. He had a lot of explaining to do.
"Yea, okay, so at least I was in fourth grade, I don't know about you..."
His eyes dropped, trying to keep the conversation going, and he heard in the background Mr. Patterson's jolly laugh. Ashley smiled weakly, and looked back to the girl.
"Rin, if you're worried about the way I talked to him, he knows I'm only kidding. I guess it must have been after you disappeared, but he's actually started doing the santa thing down at the town center for the kids. That's how I got to know him, anyway. I told him one year, that all I wanted for christmas was mom to let me at least talk to that girl with orange hair. The next year, I asked if you could come back..."
He smiled weakly, and clutched the cup in his hand tightly, giving off a fake little chuckle.
"Funny, sort of. How it was him that brought...well, both presents. You're back, and here I am talking to you. Not like I have mom's consent though; she died about a year ago."

[/center][/size]