This Old Coffee Shop :{Ryan Ross One-Shot}:

There was something about this coffee shop that Ryan loved. He didn't know what it was, he just knew that it had a special something that kept him coming back every day for a tall, black cup of coffee.
He knew it wasn't the coffee that kept his interest, because it was a very simple process here. They used simple machines, simple ingredients; sugar, coffee and cream, not much more, and the environment was basically like every other coffee shop on the outskirts of Vegas.
Maybe it was just how normal it was. It was nothing over the top like Starbucks, but it wasn't some run of the mill place like a local donut shop. It had the big cushy chairs like every other place. Basically the same menu as every other local shop. And it took the same amount of time and money to get just what he wanted... like everyone else. The normality of it might have enchanted him in such an abnormal town.
Or maybe it was her. Iona Masters. The girl that had worked there as long as he could remember coming into the place. She was a very average looking girl. Probably about a size six, a little over five feet, and shoulder length light brown hair that she would constantly pull in and out of a ponytail. The one feature about her that made her anything more than average were her large ocean blue eyes. They would stun just about anyone who saw them.
He remembered the first time he talked to her, how sweet and melodic her voice was when she took his order. He hadn't talked to her since, though she'd worked there every day for the last three weeks.
"Would you like a refill, sir?" a smooth voice questioned, the girl was holding a small pot of coffee in her hand as she watched the boy run his figure around the rim of his empty coffee cup as he stared out the large plate glass window. "Um... excuse me, sir. Would you like another cup?"
He snapped away from his thoughts and was entranced by her eyes. He nodded slowly. "Um... uh... yes." he said quickly handing her the worn mug before trying to retrieve his wallet from his pocket to pay for the fresh cup.
"Black coffee gets free refills sir." she informed him as he pulled two dollars from his wallet.
"Oh." Ryan muttered before sliding the bills back into place. "Right."
Iona smiled. "I hope you don't mind me asking you this, but why have you been coming in here so much lately? I do believe you've come in every day for the last three weeks and sat in this exact spot just to stare out the window. Does something on the other side interest you that only seems fascinating through out window?"
He smiled as her sing-song voice inquired these things. "I honestly don't know what keeps me coming back. I guess I just like this spot a lot. And I tend to space out when I think."
The girl grinned, satisfied at his response. "Thats good to know. I'm glad we could be your refuge to think." She was about to turn back to her job, but sat down across from the boy instead. "I'm Iona... if you need anything, just let me know and I'll try my best to help." she introduced herself.
"Ryan." He replied. "And thank you. I'll be sure to follow you up on that eventually, but right now I'm good."
She stood up and nodded. "Great. Well, I should get back to work. It was a pleasure meeting you Ryan."
"You too Iona."
He watched as she walked back to the counter, placing the pot back on its warmer before removing the apron from her waist. She hung it on a hook located by the register and walked into the back of the small shop where he could no longer monitor her motions.
He knew why he came to this coffee shop. He had discovered the reason after his second encounter with this enigma of a woman. She fascinated him and he wanted to figure her out. He would keep coming back until her knew her life story.
The days passed and Ryan kept returning to the same old coffee shop that Iona worked at. She greeted him warmly now, knowing exactly how he took his coffee, having it ready before he could even reach the counter.
And slowly, he began to know her life story. They would talk because Ryan had a gift for coming when everyone else was gone and Iona was allowed to leave her post at the counter. He discovered who the enigma was. How she dreamed of being a sculptor, but her parents would not allow it. How she was forced to go to college to study to be a nurse. A very admirable job, Iona believed, but not the job she saw herself doing. How she used her job at this coffee shop to get money so she could afford materials to sculpt, if she had time, which was very rare, juggling classes and work.
In return, Iona discovered just how Ryan was living the life he dreamed. His life as a rock star playing shows for thousands of screaming fans. She envied the boy, but she would not let him know this. She didn't want her newly established friend to feel bad about living a life he deserved to be living. A life she could only dream of.
"We're almost done with our second album." Ryan announced one afternoon as Iona sat across from him, a pot of coffee sat on the table in between them, two mugs freshly filled to the brim. "I'm pretty satisfied with it. Its definitely an improvement from our last album."
The girl nodded slowly. "Thats good to hear. So you say you've improved as a musician?"
"Oh most definitely!" Ryan said fervently. "But, I guess that comes with the fact that I've been playing my guitar so much. Getting acquainted with your instrument makes you a lot better at whatever you're doing."
"Indeed." she sighed. She was tired and upset because she knew she had not been using her 'instrument' as much as she should. She missed her work as a sculptor. And she knew that Ryan would be leaving soon because when an album is finished, one tends to go out to promote it.
"You seem... sullen." Ryan announced looking over at his friend, staring into the deep blue abyss of her eyes. "Is something wrong?"
She shrugged. "Nothing new really. I just haven't gotten to sculpt much recently and I miss it."
"Oh." he muttered. He didn't like seeing her like this. He enjoyed the optimistic Iona he met nearly two months prior. The girl that was always incredibly cheerful and kind and welcoming. Now she was upset and shut out and cold.
"When are you leaving, Ryan?" Iona inquired.
He looked at her curiously. "Um... I have to be back at the studio at five."
"I mean for good. When are you going to start traveling again? I know you'll be leaving sooner or later Ryan. Most bands promote the albums they just finish producing." she clarified.
"Oh..." he paused because it wasn't that far off. "March... we're headed to Europe in March before doing a North American tour in April, May and June."
The girl nodded. "You don't sound excited." She said slowly. "That sounds like a dream come true, but you have no enthusiasm in your voice. Care to explain?"
Ryan was usually excited beyond belief when it came to touring. He felt great going from town to town to play the music he wrote for anyone who was willing to listen, but not this time. He was unsure and upset about the whole plan this time.
He looked up at the girl from staring into the dark of his coffee. "Well..." he breathed. "I guess I have things holding me back from this one."
Rest in Results ->
"Holding you back?" Iona was surprised at his statement. "What in the world could be holding you back? You have everything at your fingertips."
A crooked grin met the boys lips. "Do you really want to know?" he questioned before the girl fervently nodded her head. The grin grew larger. "Well, if you must know... you are."
Iona blinked. "Me?" she whispered her query. "Why?"
"Lets just say I figured out what kept me coming back to this old coffee shop."