No Faith in Brooklyn

Rhiannon’s Perspective

After high school, I moved to New York to study Music Management and I worked at a local coffeeshop to try to pay off my school expenses. Bridget and Meredith came with me, Bridget to start her modeling career and Meredith to attend NYU, one of her top schools. We hadn’t spoken to Ciara since she’d left my hotel room that day.

Although nearly three years had passed, I still followed Alex’s career meticulously. They had risen hugely in popularity and according to their Twitters, they were making a new record soon.

I was working at the coffeeshop, which was now fairly calm since the morning rush had just ended and all the businessmen and high school girls had gotten their black coffees and sugary blended coffee drinks and gone their merry way.

I heard the bell over the door jingle and a tall man walked in, clad in a leather jacket, tight skinny jeans, and Nike Dunks. A grey beanie sat atop his chocolate brown hair and a houndstooth patterned scarf was wrapped around his face.

He stomped his feet on the rug, kicking the snow from his shoes and walked to the counter, removing his scarf to reveal a face I never wanted to see in person again.

Alex Gaskarth.

But he was studying the pastries in the glass case in front of him and hadn’t seen me, so I quickly turned my back, pretending I had to get something in the back room.

“Excuse me!” Alex called and I froze, my back stiffening.

I turned slowly, delaying the moment where he recognized me.

“Can I get--Rhiannon?!” He asked incredulously, his big eyebrows practically disappearing in his mop of brown hair.

“Yeah, h-hi,” I stammered, afraid and unsure of what he would do.

But his face gave nothing away. It was as if I were just someone he’d vaguely remembered from high school, not someone who’d tried to break his heart, and had possibly succeeded.

He cleared his throat.

“Can I get a venti black coffee with three sugars please,” he told me.

“Sure.” I nodded and processed his order. I took his credit card and scanned it, then went over to make his drink.

“Hey Rhiannon?” He asked.

“Hm?” I hummed distractedly.

“When do you get off work?” He asked.

“Three PM. Why?” I asked back.

“Oh, I uh--just--I was just wondering if you’d like to go get something to eat,” he suggested nervously.

“Sure,” I agreed.

I didn’t know why, but I wanted to give him a second chance, since he was clearly giving me one.

“Great. Can I pick you up at your place?” He asked.

“Sure,” I replied and wrote my address and phone number down on a napkin.

“Excellent. See ya tonight,” Alex said, leaving with his coffee.

Wow, that was weird.

Notes

Title: Back to the Start, The Summer Set

So this is the first chapter of the sequel! I'm not too sure where it's going, but I have a pretty good idea.

comment/sub/rate/appreciate!

xoxo

Hayley