Five Minute Fiction

Hidden Treasure.

Damn it man, get a grip! He hopped from foot to foot, unable to stand still. His body was filled with so much nervous tension, he actually felt slightly sick. It was always like this, had been for over a year since he had first discovered the tiny place, tucked away down a darknened alley. It was like a piece of treasure, hidden from everyone but those who had stumbled across it accidently, and it was exactly what had him coming back again and again, because it felt special, like he was part of some elite group, a secret society.

There were five people in front of him, which meant he would soon be at the front, it would once again be his turn and he wasn't sure he was ready. He swallowed hard, hoping the sweat wasn't visible through his suit jacket. He hated how he perspirated whenever he was nervous, it wasn't the most attractive of traits, in fact, it had ensured that his school years had been nightmarish, giving the cruel kids even more of a reason to tease and make fun of him...because braces, acne, a lisp and thick glasses hadn't been enough.

Four people...today would be the day, he had awoken that morning, looked in the mirror and told himself that today would finally be the day. It was about time, after a year of being too much of a wimp, he would finally man up and do what he had been wanting to do for so long. He had lost count of the hours he had spent cursing himself, mentally beating himself up for being too much of a wimp. Hundreds of people did it everyday, yet he found it so ridiculously scary he had never built up the nerve.

Three people...His eyes darted around nervously, trying to calculate damage control if it all went wrong. There were enough people around to make him start questioning whether today really was the day. Perhaps he should wait until a less busy period, a day when it would be empty. Who was he kidding, it was never empty.

Two people...his stomach rolled. He had come a long way since those terrible school years but he still wasn't sure the years had prepared him for this.

One person...crap, this is it. His knuckles were white and he thought at any moment he could pass out. No, today wasn't the day, he would do it another day, today just didn't feel right, something was telling him that today

"Hi Mark! The usual?" He nodded, smiling at the beauty before him. He was glad he hadn't had to speak as there was a serious chance he could have vomited all over her and that just wouldn't help his situation in any way, shape or form. He watched her auburn ringlets dance in the dim light of the coffee shop as she deftly frothed milk while filling cups and sprinkling things in. He didn't really know what she was doing but she made it look effortless, like it was an art form. It mesmerised him every time.

Since the first day he had stumbled across The Crafty Coffee Shop, since that first day he had ducked in to avoid the rain and seen her stood, serving up a cup of coffee and a giant slab of cake, he had been smitten. Not that he had done anything about it.

"There you go," she said, smiling warmly as she handed him a to-go cup. "On the house."

"Are you sure?" he asked surprised, finally finding his words. His voice was deep when he spoke, his teeth straight and white as he smiled at her. He might have started out an ugly duckling, but the years had been good to him. Not that he ever noticed, he still saw himself as the spotty, shy kid that no one was interested in.

"Absolutely, I think after buying coffees from here for a year straight, it's the least I can do." He was taken aback, wondering whether he should just go for it, whether he should finally ask her out. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it, chickening out at the last second.

"Thanks Casey," he mumbled, giving her a small smile and turning to the door.

"Hey Mark..." she said, reaching across the counter and grabbing his hand.

"Yes?" he asked surprised.

"You want to go out for dinner one night? If you aren't busy I mean." His heart stopped, his ears not daring to believe what she was saying. Eventually he spoke, his face cracking into a giant grin.

"Yes...Yes I would bloody love to!"