This is dedicated to Tina. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, TINER<33
Written Romance
The day seemed endless for Tina as she tiredly and aimlessly wiped the tables with a damp cloth. Faint music was playing in the background of the tiny café as Tina counted down the minutes until she closed. It was 5:23. She had 37 minutes until she could sweep up, cash out the register, lock up, and head home for the night, only knowing she’d return the next day to do the exact same thing she’s been doing for three years. She finished cleaning the tables, giving polite smiles to the customers that sat in silence, drinking their lattes, reading their newspapers or books, or typing away on a laptop. The sounds of chimes filled the room and Tina looked up to see one of her regulars step in. She looked at her co-worker, Ryan, who sat at one of the tables, his eyes half closed. Tina rolled her eyes, groaning as she dropped the broom, taking her place behind the counter. She put on a smile as the guy walked up, giving his order, his hazel eyes sparkling. He paid her, and dumped the change in her tip jar. He walked over to the booth he always sat in, and pulled a book from the crook of his arm. He rested his chin on his elbow as he burrowed his brow in thought, concentrating on the material in front of him.
Tina continued the sweeping, wrote on the chalkboard for the next day, emptied the garbage, and began to get rid of the coffee. She came out from the back to find the café completely empty, except for Ryan. Wordlessly, Tina began to clean the tables that were once occupied. She made her way over to the back booth, her eyes settling on a leather bound book. She carefully picked it up in her hands, knowing exactly who it belonged to, but not knowing his name, or how to give it back to him. She put it securely in her apron, finishing her work.
****
Later that night, when her iPod was softly playing in her bedroom, Tina leaned back against her headboard, examining the book that she brought home. It was a brown, worn, leather book. The corners were a little frayed and lighter than the rest of the cover. She ran her fingers over the intricate design on the front. She turned it over in her hands, and in the bottom left corner saw an engraved inscription. PKJ II. The letters meant nothing to her as she continued to look at it in confusion. Knowing it was wrong, but not caring, Tina flipped the book open to the front page, finding the each and every page was filled with lyrics, thoughts, ideas. Her eyes could barely keep up with what was written as she desperately tried to get everything in. Words jumped out at her, igniting the beats in her heart. The feelings expressed through the words written gave Tina chills, leaving her in awe. His insight was admirable, his emotions leaving her breathless as she dedicated the rest of her night reading his innermost thoughts.
The next day at work, anxiousness filled her body, wondering if the owner of the book would come in, looking for it. A part of her hoped that he wouldn’t, so that she could keep the book, the words, and the feelings with her.
It was around that time, the time when he came in. It seemed that every five seconds she was checking the clock, hoping that it was closer to 6 than she thought, so she could close up and not have to return the book. Her heart dropped when the chimes dinged and she saw him come in. He went straight to the counter, got his usual, paid, gave her the change, and went to his regular booth. He sat down, this time staring at the Styrofoam cup that was surrounded by his hands. He would occasionally look up, giving a knee-weakening smile to her. Each time he did, a little bit more guilt filled her, and her conscious would demand that she return the book to its rightful owner.
Two more days went by until she had had enough. She felt horribly guilty that she had kept the book for as long as she did. Before work on Thursday, she grabbed a small piece of paper. She hesitated before writing, You left this at the café. I’m sorry I didn’t return it sooner, but I couldn’t. I wanted to, and still, do want to keep it. Your descriptions and your emotions in this book are astounding. I’m not sorry for reading it, because I loved every single second - every word- but I am sorry that I kept it as long as I did, preventing you from writing more. With a satisfied nod, she taped the note, sticking the book in her purse for work.
5:30 came around, and her eyes were glued to the street, looking for the boy whose book burned a hole in her apron. Twenty minutes before closing, she saw his shadow cross the street. She hurried towards his booth, placing the leather bound book on the seat, making sure that it would not escape his sight. She rushed towards back to the counter just in time for the chimes to ding. She gave him a wary smile, him returning one. He got his usual. He made his way back to his booth, but stopped short. He placed his latte on the table, picking up his book. As much as Tina wanted to watch, she didn’t want him to know it was her. She turned her back, busying herself with nothing, playing with the cups, adjusting them, and using all the self-control she had not to turn around. She went out back, and a second later came back to see the boy bent over the book, his hand moving furiously over the paper. Her heart lept into her throat as he stood up and made his way over to her.
“Did you happen to see who left this for me?” He asked, his eyes searching her face. Tina took a shaky breath, wondering if she should tell the truth. She nodded slowly.
“It…it was a regular customer. She um, she picked it up a couple nights ago, then asked me to return it to who it belonged to. I’ve seen you write in it before, so I placed it on your usual table,” she quietly explained, hating herself for not being able to tell the truth.
The boy nodded, a smile growing on his face. He ran a hand through his unkempt curls. “Well, if you happen to see her, could you give this to her? Make sure she takes it, okay?” He asked her, the look in his eyes making her breath catch in her throat. All she could do was nod as he handed her the book, still warm from his touch.
“Thank you. Have a good night,” he said, turning on his heel and leaving the café. Tina could hardly wait to open the book, to see what he had written. There were 8 minutes until closing, so Tina busied herself in the work, the book always popping up in her mind, sending her stomach into somersaults.
Careful not to break the speed limit, Tina rushed home. Her eyes were glued to the unopened book as she made her way up the stairs to her bedroom. Thoughts ran through her mind, wondering what he could’ve written. She sat down on her bed, cross-legged, and took a deep breath before opening the book. She flipped to the page that she had read last, her heart pounding when she saw there was a new page, covered in his writing. Slowly, not wanting to miss a single word, she read what he wrote, transfixed by it. She finished, not satisfied that that was all he wrote, her heart pleading for me. She re-read it, melting at every word. “It is people like you that make me love what I do. You know about me, so tell me about yourself. Don’t leave anything out. –Kevin” was the last thing he had written. She said his name softly, finally being able to put a name to his beautiful face. Without thinking twice, she began to write in her beautiful, curvy handwriting. She talked about her life, her struggles, her dreams. She tried to put as much emotion as Kevin did, but knew she paled in comparison. She fell asleep that night, her pen hanging lifelessly in her hand, her cheek resting on the opened book.
For the next week, Kevin would come in, immediately going to the counter, getting more than his coffee. Tina would hand him his book, get a smile and return, and watch him read it, apprehensively reading his facial expressions as he read what she wrote. Her heart would leap every time he took out a pen, responding to what she had written. Nothing but casualties were ever spoken between the two of them, but Tina knew that they shared a bond that was written down on paper, a bond that was slowly engulfing over her heart.
One night, Kevin didn’t show up at his regular time, causing Tina’s heart to drop a little bit. She was surprised when she looked at the clock to find it was ten of six. She kept the book in her apron, as she began to close. She walked over to the door, giving up hope that Kevin was coming when she saw a figure cross the street. Her hands shook as he waved, and rushed towards the door. A wrinkle crossed his brow.
“Are you closing?” He asked, somewhat out of breath.
“About to, sorry. I just got rid of the coffee,” she explained softly, looking at the ground.
“Oh. Don’t worry about it. Sorry,” he said, turning.
“Kevin!” She blurted. She reached into her apron, her hand covering the book. He turned around, his eyes wide.
“She wanted me to give this to you,” Tina said, holding out the book. Kevin’s face broke into a smile as he took the book, his fingers brushing hers, causing a chill to run through Tina’s veins.
“Thanks,” he smiled, turning back around.
Tina sighed as she locked the door, watching Kevin walk away, her heart lying in that little brown book of his.
The next night, Kevin didn’t show up. Not even as she was closing. She was taken aback by her emotions, feeling as if she was about to cry. She shook her head, furious that she would get so wrapped up in a boy that thought the letters to him were from an unidentified customer, not the girl who gave him his coffee every night. Tina said goodnight to Ryan as she made her way to her car, stopping in her place when she saw a shadow leaning against the car. Her heart jumped to her throat, and she could hear nothing but the blood pounding in her ears. Ryan had just left her, alone and vulnerable. She was terrified. She took out her cellphone and her keys, not sure what she was going to do with them. She took a frightened step closer to her car. Her breath was ragged, turmoil weaving in and out of her. As she got closer to the car, her heart stopped beating. She recognized the figure, and immediately she began to feel light headed. Words escaped her as she came face to face with Kevin, whose face was barely illuminated by the street lights above.
“Wh-“ she could barely get out the word as Kevin’s hands cupped her face, pulling his closer to her. His mouth covered hers in a soft, but breathless kiss. Immediately Tina tensed up, but then melted into him, their bodies pressed tightly together. She put her arms around his neck as she lost herself in the kiss. They pulled both pulled back, Tina’s face flushed and her head light. Kevin gave a small laugh, stroking her cheek, with his finger.
“How did you know?” She whispered, her voice cracking on each word.
“You called me Kevin last night. I’ve never once told you my name. Plus, the other night I caught you writing on the chalkboard, realizing that the curve on your “y’s” and “g’s” were identical to the ones in my journal,” he explained, his fingers lightly brushing up against hers.
Tina was speechless, not knowing how to respond. Emotions wracked her body, ranging from embarrassed, to loved, to astonished. Her eyes searched his face as he dipped his head a little, his lips brushing hers in the slightest way. She closed her eyes in bliss as she felt something being slipped into her hands. She immediately recognized the feel of his leather book. She looked down at it, then back up at Kevin.
“Goodnight,” he whispered onto her lips, causing goose bumps to appear all over her body. He turned away, without saying another word, and disappeared into the darkness. She opened the book to the last page, squinting to see what he had written. She gasped, reading the one sentence that he had written.
I fell in love tonight with a girl whose name I don’t even know.
This one-shot is dedicated to Tina<3 HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, TINER!
