Twilight Town's Whispers

Writers block

Closing her laptop, she leaned back in her chair, a loud sigh ripping through her quiet surroundings. She's been here a week and still hadn't started her book. Nothing sounded right, it didn't matter how many times she tried, but the words seemed to elude her. Usually, writing was the one thing she had complete control of. She didn't experience writers' block. Once she started, it flowed out of her like she was just the vessel for another to tell their story.

Now finally here with the peace and quiet she so desperately needed, and she couldn't seem to get one word down. Leaving her laptop on the dining table, she walked into the kitchen. She needed some caffeine and maybe a snack.

"You've got to be kidding me," She grumbled, opening up the coffee tin to find it was empty. Had she really gone through a whole tin in a week? "I need fresh air,"

Pulling into the nearest parking spot, Mina headed straight for The Book Nook Café. She needed her caffeine and she needed it badly.

Heading to the counter, she was met with a bored glance from the same Brunette she had met a week prior. Today she had a name tag pinned to her shirt that said Hi I am Tara.

"Welcome to Book Nook. What can I get you?"

"Hi Tara," Mina grinned, only to receive a cold unimpressed stare back from Tara. "Can I get a black coffee?"

"Is that all?" Tara sighed, seeming to be annoyed just by Mina's mere presence.

"Ye-," A beeping interrupted Mina, her eyes darting down to her phone alarm. "Actually, can I also get a chocolate croissant as well?"

"Is that for here or to go?"

"For here please,"

"K," Tara punched in the order. "Your name,"

"Mina,"

"You can sit anywhere you like. I will call your name when your order is ready,"

"Thanks," Mina nodded, stepping away from the counter, only to halt and turn back around. "Oh, do you have wifii?"

"Book Nook with a capital B and N," Tara grumbled, turning her back to Mina and walking towards the coffee machine.

Headphones in her favorite writing playlist, Mina blasted out chapter after chapter at an astonishing speed. Something about the caffeine and food broke through her temporary writer's block, allowing the words to flow out. Maybe she just needed a change of scenery? Either way, whatever it was, it was working.

Typing away like a mad woman, Mina nearly jumped out of her seat at the sudden tap on her shoulder. Saving her page, she removed her headphones and turned to find none other than tall and grumpy scowling down at her.

"There's no loitering in here," His deep voice rumbled out, sending a shiver down her spine.

"I am a paying customer. I bought a coffee and food," Mina beamed up at him, making his scowl deepen.

"You have been here for four hours, one coffee and a croissant isn't enough to allow you to mooch on my internet and take up seating other customers could be using,"

"I actually have bought three coffees and a croissant. They are delicious, by the way," She grinned triumphantly at him.

"Is that all you have had today? Three coffees and a croissant?" He looked down at her like she had grown two heads.

"I had toast for breakfast before I headed here," Mina shot back, unable to explain the sudden urge to defend herself.

Growling something under his breath, he stormed away from her table, leaving a very confused Mina to stare after him. Why did he seem so annoyed with her answer? Why would he care he didn't know her? Shaking at the very confusing situation, Mina closed up her laptop, slipping it into her bag along with her headphones. Not wanting to irritate tall and grumpy anymore, she decided to clear out before he came storming back in. Reaching up, she removed the clip holding her hair hostage, allowing the long blonde waves to cascade down her back. Standing, she grabbed her bag, readying to flee from the shop.

"Eat," a gruff voice commanded.

"What?" Mina looked up to find tall and grumpy holding a plate with a sandwich on it for her.

"What don't you understand by the word eat?" He said thrusting the plate into her hands before storming away.

"Thanks," She called after him. "I think," She mumbled to herself, sitting back down.

The giant grump was an odd specimen. He seemed not to like her very much, and yet he went out of his way to make her a sandwich. Was he just trying to make sure she didn't leave a mean review? Was this something he did with all the customers? Forcing them to eat if they didn't meet his standards? No matter the reasoning behind it, she didn't waste time devouring the sandwich. The man may have been a big walking rain cloud, but he could make a delicious sandwich. It took her considerable effort not to moan while devouring her delicious snack.

She didn't see him after that rather odd encounter, but she did make sure to leave some cash on the table to cover the cost of the sandwich. There was no way she was going to leave without paying. Nodding her head at the unimpressed Tara at the counter, Mina made her leave, determined to get out of there before tall and grumpy made another appearance.

Deacon’s POV

Sitting in his study, Deacon glared at the sentence he had been attempting to read for the last five minutes. Why did he go down there? He didn't need to go anywhere near that woman, let alone question and force her to eat a sandwich. What was wrong with him? Leaning in his chair, he pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation.

She came barreling into the shop a week ago with all her infuriating sunshine. Why was she so happy? Who the heck walked around this happy? It baffled and annoyed him. Not only was she a ball of sunshine, she was ridiculously gorgeous. With her long golden hair that fell down her back in waves, thick dark lashes that framed those bright green eyes that seemed to peer right into his soul. Well, the spot his soul should exist. That creamy pale complexion and those pouty lips. Her fit frame with those delicious curves and that scent that made his mouth water. She had a rather unique scent to her that called to him in a way he would rather not acknowledge. Sighing, he closed his book, slamming it down onto the desk.

No! He wasn't going to sit there like a pervert daydreaming about her. She was just some stranger. This was just loneliness. He didn't have any sort of pull for her, that was all just in his head. He was just lonely and trying to find connections where there weren't any. He was just fascinated with her because of her beauty, that's all, there was nothing deeper to it. She was just someone new and nothing more.

Ears twitching at the sound of the bell chiming and the door shutting, Deacon shot out of his chair. Rushing downstairs and into the café, nearly barreling into Tara on the way.

"Wow," Tara jumped back in surprise.

"Sorry about that, is everyone gone?" Deacon crossed his arms, attempting to sound disinterested.

"Yeah, the blondes gone." Tara huffed, placing her hands on her hips.

"Good you can leave. I'm closing up early today,"

"I just need to clean up one table over-"

"No!" Deacon shot forward, stopping Tara from approaching the table. "I will clean up. You can go home now."

"Okay whatever," Tara shrugged, grabbing her bag and phone, sauntering out of the café.

Sighing once she was gone, Deacon headed over to the table in question. A small smile curved his lips, seeing she had eaten the whole sandwich. The joy that she had enjoyed it had slowly fizzled out as a wave of irritation crashed over him at the sight of a twenty dollar bill poking out from under the plate.

"Seriously!" Deacon yanked the offending bill from the table, glaring down at it. First she didn't take her change for that book, he was more than a hundred percent sure she didn't actually want and now she leaves money for the sandwich he had gifted her. This would not stand.