Chapter Text
She loved October. The first crazy weeks of college were behind her, she got into the groove of her own classes and the students, whose TA she was, no longer flooded her email box or besieged her when they found her in the library. She could finally focus on her studies again and no longer felt like she had to put them on hold.
But today she hated everything. She was sitting in the library with a stack of books beside her and tried to concentrate. But the constant giggling from Finn and Poe was driving her crazy.
"Could you two shut up already? It's impossible to work like this," Rey hissed.
"Sure, sorry," Poe replied and at least he looked at her apologetically, even if a small smirk was still on his lips.
Rey just shook her head and turned to book number 4. She was looking for suitable literature for her thesis and had already rummaged through half the library during the summer holidays; now it was the other half's turn.
But the giggling from Finn and Poe didn't stop and her further evil glances didn't help either.
This wasn’t going to work. With a deep sigh, she grabbed her pile of books, her backpack with all her things and stood up. "Get a room, you two - and optimally not yours, Finn," she said loudly enough for the two lovebirds to hear it and walked briskly away.
"Sorry, Peanut!" Finn said when he caught up with her. Rey was already out of the front door and inhaled the fresh air deeply. "You're not really mad, right?" Finn asked.
"Uuugh. No, Finn.” She wrapped her cosy woollen scarf, which she was wearing again for the first time today, around her neck. “It’s just- I really want to get through these books today and I can't concentrate when I have to watch you two make googly eyes at each other and in two hours my shift at Maz’ starts, so... you know." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm sorry for snapping at you."
"It's okay. I know you’re stressed, I’m sorry”, he said, sounding worried. “I'll see you at home?"
"Yes," Rey said and hugged him goodbye.
She briefly thought about going home, but going to her shared flat and then back again for her shift at Maz’s cafe would take too much time. So she decided to go straight to the café and browse through the rest of the books there. At least she could sit outside in the autumn sun and not in a stuffy reading room.
When she opened the door to Maz's café, she was met by the warming aroma of coffee and the voice of Rose. "Rey! You're early!" She was standing at the counter, cleaning the coffee machine.
"Yes, I know, I need a quiet place to work - Finn and Poe have driven me out of the library."
"Oh, they are nauseatingly happy, aren't they?" said Rose with a laugh.
"Hardly possible to even think a clear thought when those two are sitting across from you, I tell you." Rey rolled her eyes. "How about you? Not much going on today, it seems", she said looking around in the little cafe and seeing only a handful of people.
"Nope, nothing going on today. The usual regulars. Probably picks up as soon as classes are done."
"I hope so, just no guests is worse than annoying guests."
Rose giggled and nodded in agreement. "So, what can I make you?"
"A pumpkin spice latte please? With cream?"
"Sure, find a seat, I'll bring it to you."
"Thanks, Rose. I'm going to sit outside, okay?
Rose nodded and sent her away with a wave of her hand.
* * *
Rey leafed through one book after the other, with the Pumpkin Spice Latte - after the first one was finished, Rose brought another -, the sun and the peace and quiet it was easier to work and the pile of books to be worked on had already been reduced.
"Is this one free?"
Rey looked up from book number 8 and saw one of the regulars standing at her table, pointing to the chair next to her. He was a tall guy, always wearing black and with dark hair that was always aesthetically ruffled - like he just woke up. He came by every day and ordered a ‘black-coffee-no-sugar’. Everybody in Maz’s team knew him and referred to him as ‘black-coffee-no-sugar-guy’. Though normally he disappeared after ordering his coffee. Except not today, it seemed.
"Ehm. Yeah, sure," she said and turned her attention back to her book.
But getting her focus back on the book in front of her wasn't as easy as she thought. Instead of continuing to read, she became aware of every movement next to her. She heard the chair scrape across the asphalt, then a soft "oomph" as ‘black-coffee-no-sugar-guy' sat down, followed by a rustle in a bag and then the typing on a laptop. Rey took a deep breath and started the sentence over again. But she could not concentrate. Out of the corner of her eye she watched her new seat-mate, he was wearing a black leather jacket and his dark hair fell in his face. He looked good, really good. But he always looked good.
"Rey?" it was Rose poking her head out the door. "Your shift starts in five minutes. I'd be happy to stop on time - I'm meeting Kaydel."
"Oh, sure. I'll just pack up and come in."
"Thanks, hun."
Rey marked the spot she'd been staring at since ‘black-coffee-no-sugar-guy's arrival with a post-it, packed her notepad, pens and at least four of the twelve books into her backpack. She stacked the remaining books on top of each other and placed her half-full Pumpkin Spice Latte on top. She had a second bag somewhere, but it was stuck at the bottom of her backpack out of sheer haste. She would have to repack again after her shift before heading home.
"Wait, I'll help you." He stood up, picked up the dangerously placed cup from the pile of books and opened the door to the cafe for her.
"Thanks," Rey said, feeling her cheeks flush.
"No problem," he said with a smile.
"You can just put the cup there..." she nodded towards the counter.
"Sure thing," he replied, setting the cup down and turning back towards the door. "Bye," he said and left the cafe.
Rey balanced her stack of books past the counter and towards the staff room, glancing outside before the door closed behind her. ‘Black-coffee-no-sugar-guy' had already packed his things and looked back over his shoulders. Their gazes met and for a second it felt like they knew each other.