Studying Abroad

Chapter 1 - the boy in the café

*Disclaimer*
Hi reader! This is my first story here on FF. I'm not sure how many chapters long it will end up being, but I'm excited to keep writing it and I hope you all enjoy it. FYI, an apostrophe beginning and ending a sentence or paragraph indicates it's Clara's thoughts.
Example: 'I want to go home.'
Once again, I hope you enjoy and I'll see y'all in the next chapter!

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The September sun struck through a hole in the clouds, illuminating a patch of garden in the center of Paris, France. In that patch of garden was a wooden bench just big enough for three people, although there was only one person sitting on it. That one person was a rather petite girl who looked to be about five feet tall and in her early 20s. She had a small, mousy face and light brown hair that framed her cheeks before falling behind her shoulders. She wore a gray sweater with faded red accents dotting the front and a pair of baggy black jeans. She gazed down at her phone in a trance-like state until two chimes of a clock rang out, jolting her head up. Amber and honey danced in her eyes as the sun’s beams hit her face.

“Ughhh…” she mumbled. She slowly lifted herself off the bench and fumbled her phone into her pocket, her feet shuffling a few hundred meters until she reached a rustic building. It was small and charming with modern lighting features visible from the front window, but the girl made her way to a back entrance. She slowly grabbed a key from her bag and placed it into the doorknob, twisting it open. She stepped inside, her footsteps creaking on the wooden floor.

“Bonjour!” A cheerful voice rang out from the manager’s office.

“Bonjour,” the girl responded. She peaked her head around the corner into the office, mustering up a slight smile.

“How are you today, Clara?” The manager spun around in her chair, a white light from her computer screen illuminating the back of her head.

“I’m good, ma’am,” Clara responded. “Hoping for an easy day.”

“Today has been slow so far,” the manager said, hoisting herself out of her chair. “Maybe it will stay that way, for your sake!”

“I hope so,” Clara grumbled. She tied her hair into a ponytail and pulled it through the gap in the back of her black company hat before tying a brown apron around her waist. It accentuated the dainty girl’s figure, hugging her slim sides and curving out around her chest and behind.

The hours at the café went by steadily. It was indeed a slow day, but for no particular reason – the weather was beautiful outside. Customers came in few and far between, and usually didn’t order much. A latte here, a pastry there. Clara nearly dozed off at the register several times, always being stopped by the footsteps of coworkers behind her. However, when the café was beginning to close as the sun set around 8:00 pm, the door’s cowbell rang. Clara lazily turned her gaze in the sound’s direction, expecting to see one of the evening regulars trudging in. Instead, her eyes fell upon someone different.

It was a boy, seemingly around her age. He was pale and had dirty blonde hair that burned under the sun’s orange beams. It looked soft and relatively short on the sides, but had some length on the top and back. His eyes were a stormy blue, like the sea during a bout of rain. He was looking around the walls of the café like a lost puppy, but Clara was staring directly at him. Her gaze continued downwards – his jawline wasn’t very defined, accentuated by the beginnings of a double chin. He wore a faded white shirt that slightly exposed his nipples and didn’t do a great job of hiding his belly button outline. He wore baggy black pants that were cuffed at the bottom and a pair of older natural-colored New Balance sneakers. He wasn’t particularly tall, probably around 5’8, but he was tall in Clara’s eyes.

'He’s kinda chunky,” Clara thought. “Not really my type, I think… why can’t I keep my eyes off him?'

Clara had never been in a relationship before, but she’d hooked up with a few guys she’d met in various bars. They had all been fit and athletic – some simply toned, some with hulking biceps and chiseled abs. She liked those features, but she’d always wondered if that was really her taste in men or merely the taste she had been coerced into having by society. There was a lot Clara didn’t know about herself.

'He’s really cute… probably gives nice hugs. His eyes are nice. His hair is nice. I could definitely go for a hug right now. Maybe I’ll-'

Clara’s train of thought was interrupted by the boy, now standing just a couple feet in front of her. She blinked, taking her out of her dreamy state and back into reality. Her breath hitched, and the boy gave her a slight smile.

“Bonjour… do you speak English?” he sheepishly asked.

'Ohhh… he’s American. And shy. I like that.'

“Yes, I do! What can I get for you?” Clara enthusiastically responded.

The boy heaved a sigh of relief, and his smile widened. “I’ll get a large hazelnut latte, a chocolate croissant, and… one of those chocolate chip muffins, please. And I’m sorry for coming in so late, I hope it’s not too much of a bother.”

“I’ll get those right out for you! And not at all,” Clara replied, flashing her kindest smile. “Can I have a name for your order?”

“It’s Jack.”

“My name’s Clara, nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you too,” Jack responded, his smile widening again. He turned and took a seat near the order pick-up counter.

Him coming in late would usually be a bother, but… I’m not annoyed at all. Why was I so forward? I never introduce myself to customers. God, I’m so awkward.

Clara’s coworker bent down to grab Jack’s pastries, but Clara stuck her arm in front of him.

“Don’t worry, I can do everything myself,” she said.

“Be my guest.”

She delicately picked up the croissant and muffin, taking extra care to not crumble any bits off.

“Do you want these heated up?” she called out.

Jack opened his mouth and paused for a second before responding.

“Uh… no need! I don’t want you to do any more work than you need to.”

Clara heated them up anyways. She took her time crafting his latte, making sure to get the espresso-milk-syrup balance just right. Just as she was about to deliver his order to the counter, she paused. A sudden wave of confidence washed over her as she reached for a black marker. She scribbled a heart on the side of the cup in plain view before making her way to the pick-up counter.

“For Jack,” she said. Jack carefully slid his chair behind him, stood up, and walked to the counter. He lifted his head up, only to be met with Clara’s eyes already gazing into his own. He smiled, perhaps unintentionally, and quickly looked down at his order.

“Thank you very much, Clara. Everything looks great,” he said.

“You’re welcome,” Clara responded, her cheeks burning maroon as an array of warm spices and vanilla struck her nose. “Are you planning on dining in or taking it to go?”

“I was going to take it back to my dorm room, but I like the atmosphere here, so I think I’ll dine in,” Jack replied.

“Let me grab you a tray!” Despite a stack of trays on the counter, Clara bent down underneath the register to grab one, partially to gather herself and partially to hide how deep of a red her cheeks had become.

'It’s just cold in here if he asks. Just cold.'

As she raised her head back up, the same wave of confidence that struck Clara earlier washed over her once again. Her eyes locked with Jack’s, and before she could stop herself, her mouth went on autopilot.

“My legs are a little tired from standing all evening,” she said. “Would it be okay if I sat with you?”

Jack’s breath hitched as his cheeks turned the same shade as Clara’s.

“Y-yeah! Sure!”