Love at First Flight

The bustling city streets hummed with life as Ava hurriedly made her way through the busy Chicago crowd. Her heart raced with anticipation as she clutched her purse, with the cold and windy November weather pushing her dark curls out of her face. She couldn't believe she was about to meet the guy who she has been talking to online for the past month. She had just gotten out of her biology lecture class at Loyola University and was heading to meet him at a coffee shop downtown.

This was typically out of character for her, but she didn't care. All she cared about for now was being young and free. All throughout high school and beginning of college, she was so shy and afraid to take chances and meet guys, but that wasn't until her best friend Courtney pressured her into downloading a dating app and talk to new guys. That was when she started talking to Gabriel.

Getting off the streetcar, Ava, bundled up in her favorite navy-blue trench coat and walked into the coffee shop. She always found solace in the bitter yet sweet aroma of coffee beans filling the air. It was a sanctuary for her amidst the otherwise chaotic city. She loved to immerse herself in the narratives she would weave around the strangers who too, sought comfort in the warm ambiance of the café.

On the other side of the room, there was Gabriel standing at the counter ordering a coffee. Gabriel was a different story altogether. Born in the heart of Europe, in a small town in Ireland, he grew up embracing a completely different culture. He was in America as an exchange student, studying business at Loyola. Gabriel, with his platinum dark hair, crystal blue eyes, and precise mannerism, he was the complete opposite of her.

Ava took a breath as she walked closer to him.

Okay I can do this.

She was looking down and as she turned the corner, her path bumped into Gabriel.

Ava stumbled, tripping over her own boots. Flustered and slightly embarrassed, she looked up to find a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes staring back at her. He had a charming smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry," Gabriel said, extending a hand to help her up. His accent was a melodic blend of languages, hinting at a life filled with wanderlust and exploration. Ava blinked, momentarily lost in his gaze.

"I'm fine, thank you," she managed to say, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Actually, I'm sorry."

Gabriel laughed. "You want to sit down?"

"Sure." Ava replied. She already ordered ahead at the coffee shop, so she went and grabbed her iced Americano.

They sat down at a table near the window. It looked like it was about to start raining.

Gabriel looked at Ava into her dark brown eyes, his blue eyes glistening. "It's finally nice to meet you in person. You look beautiful."

Ava felt her cheeks burn. She is used to being told by guys that's she's beautiful, but there was just something about the way he said it that made her blush. She tries to shake that feeling out because she knows that he is a foreign exchange student and will be leaving in a few months. They're only friends. "Thanks, you too." She said.

"So, how are you liking Chicago?" Ava asked, talking a sip of her iced coffee.

He takes a sip of his. "I like it. It's very different the Ireland. It it is a really nice city."

The continue talking about their country differences and having a good conversation for the next hour, not even noticing that the coffee shop was just about empty.

Eva looked at her watch. It was already 7:00 PM. "We should go," she said, starting to get up. "I have work and two lectures tomorrow."

Gabriel smiled, "Okay."

They walked out to the front of the coffee shop and awkwardly looked at each other, not knowing what to do next.

Gabriel slowly leaned in and grabbed Ava's hand. Ava looked up as Gabriel leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was tender and sweet. As they kissed, it felt like the whole world was spinning and it was just the two of them. She felt his muscler arms touch her back.

"Get home safe. I'll talk to you later." Gabriel said.

Ava smiled. "Thanks, you too." bustling city streets hummed with life as Ava hurriedly madeThe bustling city streets hummed with life as Ava hurriedly made her way through the busy Chicago crowd. Her heart raced with anticipation as she clutched her purse, with the cold and windy November weather pushing her dark curls out of her face. She couldn't believe she was about to meet the guy who she has been talking to online for the past month. She had just gotten out of her biology lecture class at Loyola University and was heading to meet him at a coffee shop downtown.

This was typically out of character for her, but she didn't care. All she cared about for now was being young and free. All throughout high school and beginning of college, she was so shy and afraid to take chances and meet guys, but that wasn't until her best friend Courtney pressured her into downloading a dating app and talk to new guys. That was when she started talking to Gabriel.

Getting off the streetcar, Ava, bundled up in her favorite navy-blue trench coat and walked into the coffee shop. She always found solace in the bitter yet sweet aroma of coffee beans filling the air. It was a sanctuary for her amidst the otherwise chaotic city. She loved to immerse herself in the narratives she would weave around the strangers who too, sought comfort in the warm ambiance of the café.

On the other side of the room, there was Gabriel standing at the counter ordering a coffee. Gabriel was a different story altogether. Born in the heart of Europe, in a small town in Ireland, he grew up embracing a completely different culture. He was in America as an exchange student, studying business at Loyola. Gabriel, with his platinum dark hair, crystal blue eyes, and precise mannerism, he was the complete opposite of her.

Ava took a breath as she walked closer to him.

Okay I can do this.

She was looking down and as she turned the corner, her path bumped into Gabriel.

Ava stumbled, tripping over her own boots. Flustered and slightly embarrassed, she looked up to find a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes staring back at her. He had a charming smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry," Gabriel said, extending a hand to help her up. His accent was a melodic blend of languages, hinting at a life filled with wanderlust and exploration. Ava blinked, momentarily lost in his gaze.

"I'm fine, thank you," she managed to say, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Actually, I'm sorry."

Gabriel laughed. "You want to sit down?"

"Sure." Ava replied. She already ordered ahead at the coffee shop, so she went and grabbed her iced Americano.

They sat down at a table near the window. It looked like it was about to start raining.

Gabriel looked at Ava into her dark brown eyes, his blue eyes glistening. "It's finally nice to meet you in person. You look beautiful."

Ava felt her cheeks burn. She is used to being told by guys that's she's beautiful, but there was just something about the way he said it that made her blush. She tries to shake that feeling out because she knows that he is a foreign exchange student and will be leaving in a few months. They're only friends. "Thanks, you too." She said.

"So, how are you liking Chicago?" Ava asked, talking a sip of her iced coffee.

He takes a sip of his. "I like it. It's very different the Ireland. It it is a really nice city."

The continue talking about their country differences and having a good conversation for the next hour, not even noticing that the coffee shop was just about empty.

Eva looked at her watch. It was already 7:00 PM. "We should go," she said, starting to get up. "I have work and two lectures tomorrow."

Gabriel smiled, "Okay."

They walked out to the front of the coffee shop and awkwardly looked at each other, not knowing what to do next.

Gabriel slowly leaned in and grabbed Ava's hand. Ava looked up as Gabriel leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was tender and sweet. As they kissed, it felt like the whole world was spinning and it was just the two of them. She felt his muscler arms touch her back.

"Get home safe. I'll talk to you later." Gabriel said.

Ava smiled. "Thanks, you too." her way through the busy Chicago crowd. Her heart raced with anticipation as she clutched her purse, with the cold and windy November weather pushing her dark curls out of her face. She couldn't believe she was about to meet the guy who she has been talking to online for the past month. She had just gotten out of her biology lecture class at Loyola University and was heading to meet him at a coffee shop downtown.

This was typically out of character for her, but she didn't care. All she cared about for now was being young and free. All throughout high school and beginning of college, she was so shy and afraid to take chances and meet guys, but that wasn't until her best friend Courtney pressured her into downloading a dating app and talk to new guys. That was when she started talking to Gabriel.

Getting off the streetcar, Ava, bundled up in her favorite navy-blue trench coat and walked into the coffee shop. She always found solace in the bitter yet sweet aroma of coffee beans filling the air. It was a sanctuary for her amidst the otherwise chaotic city. She loved to immerse herself in the narratives she would weave around the strangers who too, sought comfort in the warm ambiance of the café.

On the other side of the room, there was Gabriel standing at the counter ordering a coffee. Gabriel was a different story altogether. Born in the heart of Europe, in a small town in Ireland, he grew up embracing a completely different culture. He was in America as an exchange student, studying business at Loyola. Gabriel, with his platinum dark hair, crystal blue eyes, and precise mannerism, he was the complete opposite of her.

Ava took a breath as she walked closer to him.

Okay I can do this.

She was looking down and as she turned the corner, her path bumped into Gabriel.

Ava stumbled, tripping over her own boots. Flustered and slightly embarrassed, she looked up to find a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes staring back at her. He had a charming smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry," Gabriel said, extending a hand to help her up. His accent was a melodic blend of languages, hinting at a life filled with wanderlust and exploration. Ava blinked, momentarily lost in his gaze.

"I'm fine, thank you," she managed to say, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Actually, I'm sorry."

Gabriel laughed. "You want to sit down?"

"Sure." Ava replied. She already ordered ahead at the coffee shop, so she went and grabbed her iced Americano.

They sat down at a table near the window. It looked like it was about to start raining.

Gabriel looked at Ava into her dark brown eyes, his blue eyes glistening. "It's finally nice to meet you in person. You look beautiful."

Ava felt her cheeks burn. She is used to being told by guys that's she's beautiful, but there was just something about the way he said it that made her blush. She tries to shake that feeling out because she knows that he is a foreign exchange student and will be leaving in a few months. They're only friends. "Thanks, you too." She said.

"So, how are you liking Chicago?" Ava asked, talking a sip of her iced coffee.

He takes a sip of his. "I like it. It's very different the Ireland. It it is a really nice city."

The continue talking about their country differences and having a good conversation for the next hour, not even noticing that the coffee shop was just about empty.

Eva looked at her watch. It was already 7:00 PM. "We should go," she said, starting to get up. "I have work and two lectures tomorrow."

Gabriel smiled, "Okay."

They walked out to the front of the coffee shop and awkwardly looked at each other, not knowing what to do next.

Gabriel slowly leaned in and grabbed Ava's hand. Ava looked up as Gabriel leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was tender and sweet. As they kissed, it felt like the whole world was spinning and it was just the two of them. She felt his muscler arms touch her back.

"Get home safe. I'll talk to you later." Gabriel said.

Ava smiled. "Thanks, you too."