Our Own Little Pocket Of The World (Aster X Ellie)

Our Own Little Pocket Of The World (Aster x Ellie)

Summary: Sophomore Ellie Chu meets Aster Flores for the first time, not in school, not at the church…but at a coffee shop. 

Word Count: 881

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The coffee shop isn’t nearly as lucrative as penning papers for desperate teenagers, Ellie thinks, and not nearly half as easy for her. Who knew it would be more instinctive to knock out philosophy papers than make a cup of coffee? 

At least it’s calming. Steady. And she can work behind the counter. 

Squahamish doesn’t have a Starbucks, or any big brands, really, just existing in its own little pocket of the world, where all the businesses are family-run and everyone knows everyone. 

It’s kind of nice, being able to hide away like this. This particular coffee shop is one that Ellie used to frequent before Fran gave her the job, when she had a little extra cash in her pocket and the time to spare. Hardly anyone of their age comes here, really, preferring to hang about in convenience stores and slurp sugary slushies. 

Quiet. The gentle smell of dark roast permeates, wafts through the air, the rhythmic sound of the coffee grinder occasionally punctuated with the sharp shrill of the panarello. The old lady in the corner sits for hours on end, ordering a single piccolo in the whole time. A routine that Ellie’s been used to, accustomed to, desensitized to. Sure, Ellie likes stability…but this is pushing it. Months of working this job have taught her to expect repetitiveness. Never ending repetitiveness. The days all feel like one. 

Overcome with boredom, just when Ellie has just picked up a pen, rolled up her flannel’s sleeves and started to write…the little bell jangles. 

Her eyes dart upwards. 

Aster. 

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