The day I met Him

It was another rainy day at Sunnybridge Town. I had constantly wondered who the hell gave that pathetic name to a town where it rains for over 160 days a year. I had been there for six months already, and it was time for me to leave. I was only waiting for the end of the month, so I could get my salary from the Bella Donna Café. It was the 28th of September. I remember that date well because it was the day I met HIM for the first time…

There weren't any customers at the café, so Janette and I were dying from boredom. I had already cleaned up all the tables and wiped the floor twice.

“Maybe Donna let us go early today? Who would want to go out when it rains like that?” Janette asked.

“Don't count on it,” I chuckled, mocking her hopes. “Even if no one comes here for a month, she will gladly find us new places to clean, or she will bring the paint and tell us to change the wall color.”

Janette glared at me and clicked her tongue. “You're no fun at all, Lilith!” she hissed.

She would probably have hit me with the cloth she was holding in her hand, but the bell sound of the opening door interrupted her. We held our breath, hoping for a customer that would save us from agonizing monotony, someone who would give us a tip, would be even better. Certainly, our hopes were crushed along with the view of our favorite six-year-old twins walking inside the store.

“Patrick, Paula…? Why aren't you at school?” I asked, looking at the twins wearing soaking wet, yellow rainy coats.

“The school was flooded,” Paula informed, grinning, “We want Lilith's chocolate muffins!”

I sighed, shook my head in disbelief, but then smiled. These children were like a ray of sunshine in this gloomy town. They lived with their parents, just around the corner, and they were our regulars. I thought that if I missed anything from this place after leaving, it would be those two always grinning faces.

“I baked new ones today.” I winked, corrected the cotton gloves I always wore on my hands and took out two muffins from the baking sheet. “These are with white, and raspberry chocolate.”

The kids started eating them right away. It literally took them five seconds for the muffins to disappear.

“Wow! It was super yummy, Lilith!” Patrick called, licking off chocolate from his tiny fingers.

“I'm glad you liked it,” I smiled at them warmly. “Now, run back home. It looks like the rain will only get heavier…”

“We will, Lilith!” they both called.

“Take care, honeys!” Jannette waved them goodbye as they were walking out.

“Bye Janette! Bye Lilith!” I heard their sweet voices.

I chuckled and hurriedly brought a mop to wipe the wet floor around the door and the counter.

“She should pay you more. Donna, I mean,” Janette stated lazily leaning against the table by the door.

“Yes, she should,” I smirked.

“I mean it! If it weren't for your cakes and muffins no one would have come here to drink that coffee from a machine that is broken every second day,” she claimed, crossing arms on her chest.

“But it doesn't matter anymore.” I put away the floor mop and stood beside her to teasingly ruffle her curly hair. “I'm leaving in two days. I will take my money and leave this town.”

“Why?! I mean… I know this town is a shitty hole, but it was a little less shitty with you here,” Janette sulked.

“I just really cannot stay in one place for too long…” I sighed.

“Are you one of those who try to find their place on Earth, or is somebody chasing you?” she chuckled.

I laughed nervously trying to hide the fact that she accidentally pointed out my true reason for constant running away. Luckily, she didn't notice my awkward expression.

“Anyway, good for you!” She combed her hair back the way it was, “It would be a waste if a clever girl like you stayed here longer. I'm gonna miss you though…”

“I'll miss you too,” I smiled, taking the mop to the back room.

The bell hanging above the door rang again. This time it was Joe and Frank, two locals, who always dropped by for coffee and pie as soon as they finished their shift guarding the local factory.

“It's raining cats and dogs out there!” Joe hissed, literally dropping tons of water from his jacket.

“For God's sake, Joe! I've just wiped the floor!” I called out annoyed, bringing the mop from the back once more.

“I'll do it,” Jannette offered.

“No. I'll do it. Just give them coffee,” I grunted.

Joe and Frank smiled awkwardly then bowed apologetically responding to my glare. They sat at the bar table. Janette quickly brought them two cups and poured them coffee from the pot. Obviously, it was one of those days when the coffee machine broke again.

I started wiping the floor and then noticed that the bell above the door was tilted on one side. I stood up on my tiptoes trying to correct it, stretching my hand as much as I could. Suddenly, someone opened the door, pushing me away, and making me lose my balance.

“Oh, God! I'm going to fall!” I thought, shutting my eyes close.

Yet, surprisingly, I didn't fall. I landed in somebody's arms. I carefully opened my eyes and saw an insanely handsome man with strange silver hair, and glowing, gray eyes. Unlike his hair, his long lashes were black as night.

“Are you my angel…?” I mumbled, dumbly staring at his incredible face.

He smiled faintly and helped me get back on my feet. Only then did I see that, except for having a handsome face, he was also tall and had a sexy figure. He was wearing a long, black coat with a black suit underneath. He looked nothing like the locals. He kept looking me up and down in silence until I came back to my senses.

“Um… I'm s-sorry… and… t-thank you!” I stuttered like a complete idiot, clearly showing how flustered I had become.

“You're welcome,” he replied in a deep, alluring voice.

Then he grabbed his closed umbrella, passed me by, and sat at the table deep in the café. I turned around to get him a menu from the counter and saw Janette standing still with her mouth wide open.

“He is so hot!” she whispered, although I wasn't sure if she was discreet enough.

“Hush! Control yourself… a little,” I scolded her nervously taking the card.

“Can't help it… I want to have his baby… now, if possible,” she stated staring at him blankly.

“I… I should take his order,” I muttered and walked to his table.

“What's with the gloves?” he suddenly asked looking at my hands.

“Um…” I laughed nervously, “It's just a habit of mine,” I replied hiding my hands behind my back.

“A habit…” he repeated, smirking.

“What… can I get for you?” I asked, trying to quickly change the subject.

“Coffee, perhaps?” he answered, nonchalantly.

“I wouldn't recommend it,” I smiled awkwardly, “Our coffee machine is broken, so we only have the one from the drip coffee maker, but its taste…”

“I bet that I'll like the coffee you make,” he tossed seductively.

I couldn't tell why, but he was making me feverish, and my body shivered every time I glanced into his bright eyes.

“W-why would you say that you'll like my coffee?” I laughed faintly. “Have you ever tried it before?”

I gazed curiously at him, trying to recall if I had ever seen him there, but chances for me to forget someone as peculiar as he were close to zero.

“Oh, I'm certain I'll like it,” he chuckled and slightly licked his lip, “I know that, because you smell like… sunshine.”