One shot Naruto

The shop had been busy today, the doorbell ringing nonstop and the coffee machine working tirelessly. It was a quarter to five before I spotted her in the crowd, even though she was still in the middle of three cappuccino orders.

For some reason, today had been a cappuccino day. There was a commotion every few minutes about whose drink it was, and I tried not to laugh when the customers grew irate and impatient, how their smiles never faltered and their manners never slipped.

The store closed at seven, but it was usually empty by six, and I still had a hard time talking to her.

It shouldn't be so hard. It really shouldn't. I'm good at talking to people, I know how to make them laugh, what makes them tick. I stand in front of a crowd of people most nights, making a fool of myself and being rewarded with laughter, but when I stand in front of her, my voice disappears.

She was so beautiful.

That smile, so wide for customers and so relaxed for friends, and then just a small smile for me.

But I put everything into that smile. I spent a whole day working until the last hour when the store was almost empty, and I can try to make her laugh. The drinks she makes then are the best I've had all day. I'm sure she adds something extra.

Extra cream, extra caffeine, extra love.

Something that warms me up and allows me to look into her eyes.

She has those big eyes, green like the sign above the door, and her hair swirls around her as she throws herself over the counter.

She wears the same apron every day, but a new dress underneath.

Sometimes green to match this little world of hers, but sometimes they are so floral that I am tempted to take her out into the sun and find a field, a meadow of flowers, to sit her down, just to watch.

Just to make sure it's not one of those delicate bursts of color.

Because it bursts into my line of vision in a vision of red, blue, orange, and yellow. I've never seen it in black, but I'm sure it could bring even that shade to life.

The theater is across the street, and once or twice I've accidentally, on purpose, left flyers for my show on the table, but I don't think she's ever been.

It's okay, though. Because I want to look at her more than I want her to look at me.

But if he could notice me, if he could remember my name, well, that would be all.

I'm sure we're meant to be together.

I'm not sure she knows this, but maybe when she smiles at me she's thinking about me, where I've been before, why I wasn't in her life anymore.

It took me almost three weeks to kiss her.

It was quick and easy, and I think she smiled broadly afterward. I'm not sure, though, because I pulled up my hood and stepped out into the rain.

She had been talking nonstop about how beautiful the weather was, how the rain made everything brighter, and how desperately the flowers needed it.

"I mean, look at them!" He gestured dramatically toward the patio out back, where pots of drooping flowers littered every surface.

I looked at them, but then looked back at her looking at them. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

“It’s embarrassing. I should definitely take better care of them, but I always forget about them. My brother owns a flower shop,” he suddenly turned to me, “and he’s excellent at all things horticultural, but I really can’t be bothered with that.”

“That’s a little ironic, isn’t it? All things considered.” I smiled.

"By the store, you mean?" He tilted his head and smiled again.

I nodded. I didn't want to say anything that would stop that smile.

“That's not because I like flowers. That's because of my mom. She loved nature and everything related to it.”

Her smile turned sad, and as much as I wanted her to tell me everything, all about her mother and her family, why she opened the store in the first place, I didn't want her to be sad. So instead I asked

"What's your name?"

She blinked rapidly and then laughed, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm Temari!" She extended a hand which made me laugh, but I shook it anyway. "And you?"

"I'm Naruto."

She smiled again and I could have sworn that was all she needed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Naruto." He said softly, leaning forward across the table.

She looked at me expectantly, and I leaned in. Her head tilted, and her lips looked so soft.

I felt her gasp as I pressed my mouth against hers, so I quickly pulled away.

She looked nothing but surprised, and I was suddenly sure I'd made a mistake. I quickly stood up, and she looked a little annoyed.

"Sorry," I said quickly, leaving a note on the table. Money, but also a piece of paper with a number on it.

The doorbell rang as I left the store. I looked back before turning the corner to my hotel and saw her holding the note, the money she'd left on the table.

I could have sworn he was smiling.

And that smile, well. That's all I need.