Soren smiled again and nodded, "Nice meeting you too Rowan." He watched as she went to get her drink and he stood in line, looking at the scratchy writing on his arm and trying to decipher the order as the front counter came closer and closer. This would be so much easier if Eril had just came with him instead of trying to write on his arm.
Rowan put her notebook back into her and grabbed the four-five drinks from the counter. These were the times she was grateful drink carriers were a thing. She signed to the lady behind the counter not expecting her to understand "Thank you!". It was her policy to be polite even if no one knew what she was signing. She let out a breath and went to leave the cafe.
Soren looked up again after deciphering the order, smiling when he saw Rowan again and all the drinks she was carrying. He wanted to step out of line to open the door for her since her hands were full, but he didn't want to lose his spot if she could get it open herself since he was so close to the front. She seemed like a nice person, and even just a short exchange with her had made him smile, something that wasn't common when he had just woken up.
Rowan got to the door and was struggling to open it. These were the moments she really wished she had a little helper that could open the door for her. She muttered a few choice words in her mind and tried to open the door once more. She gave up and waited by the door for someone to enter or exit, which would surely happen soon given how busy the cafe was at the moment.
He glanced back once again as he neared the front of the line, sighing slightly when he saw Rowan having trouble with the door and slipping out of line. It may had cost him his spot in line but he walked to the door and opened it with a silent smile to help her.
Rowan gave Soren a smile of thanks back. She understood he had lost his place in line to help her and she was still grateful he helped. She balanced the tray and signed, "Thanks."
She was about to leave, but she stopped and placed the coffee down for a moment. She reached into her bag and ripped out a piece of her notebook before writing on it and handing it to Soren. She picked up her coffee and left immediately after.
He didn't understand her hand motion in response but he guessed it was a thank you, making him smile in response. When she held out a paper for him he gladly took it, letting the door close behind her before getting back to the end of the line and looking at the paper. It was going to be a long wait to get back to the front of the line, but he didn't mind since he had helped Rowan.
The paper had a phone number on it and underneath, This is my number. Don't call. Text only. Thanks for helping me out :P
Rowan stepped into the bookstore and immediately was greeted with a chorus of hellos and hey there's. She spent no time giving everyone there coffee drinks before getting her apron on and started sorting the books. Taking a sip of her own drink ever so often.
Soren folded the note carefully and tucked it into his pocket with a smile and a slight blush on his face, determined to talk to Rowan after he got his drinks. Finally, after what felt like forever, he got back up to the front of the line, deciphering the scribbles on his arm once again and ordering his drink.
Rowan put her earbuds in and listened to music while she stalked and sorted books. Once the shop opened up a few customers tapped her on the shoulder and she directed them as best she could. She hadn't been able to talk from a young age and was used to getting strange looks when she didn't respond to them verbally. It was never a choice for her though it may have started as one. She couldn't remember, it had just always been like this.
He took up a spot near the counter but out of the way while he waited, pulling out his phone and putting in Rowan's number. This was one of the few times he had ever gotten a girl's number, and by far the first from someone as pretty as her. Before he started to write out a text to her though, he was called back to get his drinks and he had to postpone the message. When he got back to his and Eril's apartment though he would text her for sure.
Rowan continued work. There was a customer who started to yell at her becuase she couldn't speak and was different. Rowan shrank away and tried to signal over someone else to deal with them. She finally caught the eye of the manager and Rowan managed to get away and to the employee room. She took deep breaths and put both earbuds in.
With the drinks held tightly in his hands, he made his way back to the apartment with ease. The route was pretty much ingrained in his memory and the only problem he had was opening the door once he got there. "Here's your coffee, idiot," He called out to Eril, watching as his roommate slowly stood up from the couch and made his way to the door where Soren was standing.
"Thanks," He replied, taking his drink and handing him a few bills in return.
Rowan waited until her coworker came and got her. She shakily signed thank you to the coworker and went back to work. She was probably just going to take it easy to the rest of the day. Maybe unpack some of the new books back in the shop and see if she needed to put them out on the shelf.
"Don't write on my arm that crappily anymore," He replied, jokingly scowling at his roommate and muttering a few words before running his hand over the writing on his arm. Thankfully Eril knew about Soren's magic use and had promised he wouldn't tell anyone. When the words had faded and his skin was clean again he took his own drink and plopped onto the couch to text Rowan. Hey, coffee shop guy here, just making sure the number works and you aren't regretting the decision of giving me your number. It wasn't the best message, but he sent it anyway, not knowing if she was even going to respond at all.
Rowan felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out and smiled at the message. She paused what she was doing in the back to type out a response, I'm regretting it. Yet. But yes, this is coffee shop girl. She went back to what she was doing opening up another box of books. She was pretty grateful seeing it was Harry Potter and they had just sold their last few copies. She looked at the door and walked over to go put the series out on the shelf.
Well then, if you're not regretting it too much, would you like to go out to eat sometime? He knew it was a little soon to ask that, but he really wanted to see her again. His drink was sitting next to him untouched as he smiled lightly at his phone. Eril flopped down next to him as well and turned on the television, going back to watching whatever sports show he had been watching while Soren was gone.
I wouldn't mind. Where are you thinking? Rowan responded not really minding. He was cute and she was going to take her chance considering he didn't seem that bad. She brushed a bit of hair out of her face as she put the last book on the shelf. She took a step back and smiled before heading back to the backroom to continue her task of unboxing. she looked up at the clock and saw that not much time had passed. This was going to be a long day, good thing she only worked there in the mornings.
Soren's smile grew and he cheered internally, texting her back pretty quickly, I know a good burger place if you eat meat, or we could go to the new italian place that opened a few weeks ago. He almost didn't believe that Rowan had taken him up on the offer, and now he wanted to try to learn sign language to be able to talk to her.
Burgers sounds great! Rowan texted him back leaning against the wall in the storeroom. She bit her lip and thought about her notebook. She might need to add a few new pages in order to have a smoother conversation. Since Soren probably didn't know sign language, Does today work? I get off of work at noon. I mean, if it doesn't that's fine too!
"Oooo, who are you texting?" Eril asked, grinning as he saw Soren's fingers flying over the screen and downing his coffee.
"A girl I met at the coffee shop," He replied, blushing a little and trying to focus on his message, Yeah today works! I have to work until about five tonight but if you want to meet up for dinner I would be happy to :) Telling her that he had to work today reminded him to get his butt in gear and actually get to work. Soren had a job at a mechanics shop down the street and for once he was going to try to get there a little early so maybe he could get off a little early. Maybe he would have time to try to learn some sign language during his lunch break or before meeting with Rowan again.
Dinner works, Rowan responded her face tinging pink. This was happening. She pulled out her notebook and started to write different conversation questions and answers. She always had to be one step ahead when it came to social gatherings. It just came with her conditions.
Sounds good, do you want to meet there at six or seven? He asked before tossing his phone onto his bed when he walked to his room. It didn't take him long to get ready, he changed into a pre stained shirt and jeans before pulling his hoodie back on and grabbing his phone once again. All he needed to do was find his keys. It sounded like an easy task, but he had a habit of forgetting where he put them down whenever they left his hand. Eventually he found them with Eril's help and childish teasing about talking to Rowan.
"Stay safe sweetie," Eril jokingly called in the girliest voice he could, grinning and waiting for Soren's usual response.
"By honey," He called back, waving and rolling his eyes as he saw Eril blow him a kiss to go with the daily joke.
Six works better, Rowan responded. She went back to her chewing on her pen thinking of responses she made need. She thought one up and wrote it down quickly with a little smile.
Soren smiled as he heard his phone buzz and he reached his car, responding to her text before getting into his car, Perfect, do you want to meet there or should I pick you up? Once he got in he was on his way, his phone tossed in the passenger's seat of his car and his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. It was hard to believe that within less than an hour, he had met a really pretty girl, got her number, and was now going to go on a date with her in another few hours.