Work Text:
Vertin walks into a coffee shop aimlessly, she isn't looking to study this time — just getting a little treat alone. She’s walked through so many shops already and it seems that nothing catches her eye. She doesn't know why exactly it's so important to her; it was just how she was feeling that day. That was, until she ended up walking into some cafe, it was a bit hidden in the street she was in, but it had wonderful lighting and aesthetics regardless. The light brown walls with candles, rendering the entire place well-lit with the help of the window to the left. You could see the bar from there and… oh; a performer. Vertin sits down, second nearest seat to the door — the view from there was somehow breathtaking. Even more so when blonde strands of hair catch her eye; playing the calming riffs and melodies echoing throughout the cafe.
Something in her tells her that she should probably order something first before she continues staring, funny. She walks up to the bar, ordering something generic as the bartender greets her with a smile. She leaves the bar with coffee, meeting eyes with the girl playing guitar.
Sitting on a stool, strands of hair cover her face when she's focused, pretty light amber eyes with a stuipid smile whenever the bartender gives her her applause. They seem to be close. She’s wearing a turtleneck with a bomber jacket, pretty skirt — fingers grazing on the guitar like she was playing a simple rhythm game. Her immense talent overflowing out of the cafe.
A tap on her shoulder.
“Enjoying the coffee?” The bartender says behind her, accent extremely recognizable from the first time they spoke to each other. “I’m An-an, the bartender.”
Vertin looks up at her, having to clear her throat as her voice sounded hellish from keeping silent for hours now. “Ah– uhm, yeah. Thank you, it’s really delicious.” Vertin says, a little startled, covering her mouth as An-an laughs. “She sees you, by the way. That one over there.” She nudges Vertins shoulder for her to look at the guitarist across the room. Vertin meets her eyes, she was still playing but it was as if time was at a standstill; what the hell was happening?
She felt her cheeks heat up a little before being interrupted by the ever so friendly bartender. “Come to the counter if you ever need a drink!” She says, walking away — Vertin was left with nothing but that and her thoughts to consume her. What did that even mean?
—
A few minutes have passed by since that interaction, she thinks that damn guitarist has been looking at her on purpose. What the hell? That charismatic smile and talent that matches it seems to be her absolute weakness the way shes been trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She isnt usually like this it’s just that— fine, even if she was acting weird there's no point, she’ll just get another drink; a pastry as well maybe.
She walks up to the bartender, stating her order and paying for it. “An-an, break!” The guitarist calls out, quite the voice — Vertin remarks in her head, giving herself butterflies in the process. What the hell? Her usual calm and composed, stoic composure nowhere to be found. “Alright!” An-an replies, “Sorry, heres your change, food will be right up.”
The guitarist and An-an’s interactions were interesting, quite a lot of teasing on the bartenders part — the way the guitarist reacted to it was definitely interesting, though. How cute.
“Here you go.” says the bartender with a smile; she only smiles back and walks away with food and drink in hand. She sits down on her table, munching on the fries she ordered.
She zones out for a moment, university, rent and friends fill her mind — it's not a bad thing but some aspects of it are definitely stressful. She sips her drink from time to time; it tastes pleasant — they have good tea here too. She'll definitely come again, the food, the service, the drinks and the entertainment sure are… nevermind.
Once again, there was a tap on her shoulder. Only this time her vision focuses on the guitarist she was admiring a few minutes ago right in front of her.
The cheeky kid smiles, oh how heart wrenching.
It was like she was looking at a sea of stars; although hair disheveled accompanied by a haphazardly worn jacket. It seems she didn't care, an epitome of a free spirit.
“Were you looking at me earlier?” She asks, voice gentler than what she heard before — almost too gentle. “Regulus, by the way.”
Vertin didn't know what to reply, she only hummed, moving the cup out of her face. “Vertin.” She clears her throat, “and… was I that obvious?” She asks, more genuinely than she'd have thought it sounded.
“Interesting name,” Regulus says, “Are you from Saint Pavlov?” Vertin didn't know what gave it away.
“I am,” Vertin hesitantly replies, “How'd you guess?”
“I just transferred there.” Regulus chuckles, “We aren't in the same department, are we?”
“Yeah, I'm in historic literature and creative writing.” Vertin says, “you?” She questions after.
“Applied Music.” Regulus says, taking a pick out of her little jacket pocket and playing with it. Vertin finds herself smiling at the little gesture.
“You play well.” Vertin reassures her in a way. “I am curious…”
Regulus only hums, head slightly tilting even if she was looking at the cup of tea Vertin was holding.
“What brings you to my table?”
Regulus snaps out of it, thinking of a reply. The silent air wasn't awkward, it's somehow genuine. It's curiosity. “Hm, I don't know. Just felt like it.”
Regulus says, and yet somehow she still seems to be mulling it over. She gives Vertin a grin before saying, “You're also just… really pretty.” It came out more sheepish than she'd have liked — at least she said it.
Vertin laughs, Regulus thinks she's pretty when she laughs. That calm face she saw across the room a few minutes ago was nowhere in sight. Now she looks brighter than the moon itself.
“Could say the same for you.” She says, before laughing along with the other girl.
Regulus hears a shout from the back, must be the bartender. It was incoherent, but the face the other girl made seemed to say everything it needed to.
“That's my queue.” She chuckles, looking back at the counter, “Pass by me before you leave, would you?” She stands up, giving her a cheeky smile before leaving.
Another shout from the back, are coffee shops usually this loud? Well, it was just for a moment after all. She hears the guitarist's voice from afar, “Jeez, jeez, I'm literally on the way!!” before it fades out.
Something about that voice has her captivated. Maybe it was just her.
—
She decided to leave about 20 minutes later. Those 20 minutes spent mulling over the blonde haired girl's request.
“Pass by me before you leave, would you?”
Again, she doesn't know what the hell that means? She only sighs, leaving her dirty glassware and utensils at the clean-up station. She walks to the counter, dropping a few at the tip jar.
She stops there for a moment. Should she…?
Eh…
Fine.
She thinks there's no harm in stopping by, so she does. “Excuse me,” She says, the guitarist only smiles at her — gesturing to wait a moment. Finishing the riff she was in the middle of.
“You actually stopped by.” She said, placing her guitar down. Vertin only chuckled. Regulus hands her a piece of paper. “Read it once you're out of here, come by again sometime.”
She says simply. Not a hint of hesitance on her face — now that's a different type of passion.
Vertin gives her greetings, gratitude. Walking out of there with nothing but a calmed heart and a slight smile on her face.
She reads the note, still at the front of the store. Both of them grinning like idiots, Regulus can see her through the window; she's wondering if Vertin did this on purpose.
09XX-XXX-XXXX
Text me, or call — or see me at school :)