Sip by Sip [OPEN]

[Ava Finlay]

Its always exciting venturing into a new town, there are never any expectations of what is going to be round the next corner. Actually, it can be quite emotionally draining at first. This is what had made Ava stop at the coffeehouse, the english blood within her was urging her for a cup of tea. The cure to everything. Her usual choice was a green tea but occasionally she did spice it up and go for something different. But, not today. Today she had been exploring her new home and area and now it was time to have something that wasn't so new. So, green tea it was.

'Green tea, please'


She checked the price and rummaged for any change she may have. She cringed a little as she realised she was going to have to be one of them incredibly annoying customers and hand the poor assistant a $20 note.

'I am really sorry, this is the smallest I have!' 


She gingerly handed the note over and collected what seemed like a substantial amount of coins. She poured them into her purse in acceptance; well it was her fault after-all. She carefully picked her tea up and glanced around at the tables. She originally began to look for the most secluded table; that would always be her first choice. But it seemed to be a popular coffeehouse, and she ended up looking for any free table whatsoever. She spotted an empty table, but it was clear of the reason why it was empty. It was on the opposite end of the room and was going to result in her having to slide in and out of all the other people and tables to get there, whilst balancing this brim-filled cup of tea. Challenge accepted. 
She began to make her way through. The odd 'excuse me' was having to be given to those who liked to have their chairs as far out from the table as possible. She had almost got to the table when she brushed someone sat on the table next to her soon-to-be hers. She gently touched their shoulder apologetically with her free hand, hoping that she hadn't caused them any annoyance.

'Oh!, I'm sorry!'

She wondered how many more times she was going to have to apologise today.

[Layla Montgomery]

Layla loved coffee; she probably had at least two cups a day, especially during the week. It was very a familiar sight for her coworkers or her students to see her with a cup of Starbucks in her hand, or frequently refilling her mug at the Keurig in the teachers lounge. She was tempted to get her own Keurig to keep in her own classroom…just for her. But she didn’t want anyone to think she had a problem.

Saturdays and Sundays were a bit more relaxed though, and while she did still need her one-a-day cup, it did not need to be downed like it did during the week. It was a sort of routine at this point that after she and her friend would head to the Velvet-Toned Coffeeshop every Saturday around mid-afternoon.

This Saturday, however, was not exactly going according to plan. Her friend had texted her while she was on her way that something came up. She wouldn’t be making it this week. Well, that wouldn’t stop Layla from getting her daily dose of caffeine. She was already almost there anyway.

So Layla, still dressed in her workout clothes from this morning’s run, sat alone at the table, her cup of coffee in front of her, scrolling through her phone. She would have brought something to grade or maybe a book if she’d known that she was going to be alone. Oh well…

She jumped a bit when someone bumped her shoulder, looking up from her phone as they placed their hand on Layla’s shoulder and apologized. Of course, Layla wasn’t mad at all. It was crowded in here so people were bound to bump into each other while they were trying to squeeze past tables and chairs.

“Oh don’t worry,” Layla assured, with a smile. “You’re fine.”