Creating Fire

Chapter 2, A Strange Encounter

Chapter 2

I could feel the crisp morning air moving around me, the atmosphere slowly heating up as the sun made its way across the sky.

Making my way down the long streets of the city, Sydney certainly had been good to me but once I had my fill and bought new clothes I would have to leave.

Sitting in the petite café, the new jeans that clung to my strong legs felt more constricting than the last.  The dull grey shirt I had chosen making me blend in with the rest of the crowd as my eyes lingered on the outside world.

People walked by going about their busy lives.  A woman strode past, her heels clicking against the concrete as she talked hastily into her phone, her face scrunched in concern.

Other walked by in their usual business class suits, a briefcase held tightly in their left hand, the sidewalk clearing for their journey, there was no doubt these men and women were of a wealthy class.

The city seemed to hide the minority of the population who struggled, the elderly men and women who woke up each day thinking if they would survive the next.

Spying my own reflection in the glass, I could see how I looked as if I had been running this morning, the way my hair stuck up in places making me want to get home.

Moving my gaze to the hands which held my morning coffee, the simple connection between my palms and the cup were enough to keep the coffee at a crisp temperature. 

Sat on the plate in front of me was the half eaten breaky meal, I knew would be my last for a few days until I found another place to settle.

The stack of eggs and bacon on the small bagel was appetising enough but would only sustain me so long.

The bacon would give me protein whilst the egg would encourage me that I was full, but the saturated fat would slow me down, its heavy content difficult to break down.

This was as close to a normal life as it would get.  Eating breakfast among the general population was always a soothing experience for me, the only downside was that I was alone and a young female which always attracted certain attention.

‘Excuse me miss, do mind if I sit here’?

Looking up a young man flashed his pearly whites in my direction, my stomach sinking at the thought of being flirted with so early in the morning.  This was the attention I despised.

The man’s dark hair was combed neatly, the clothes he wore signalling he had been clubbing the previous night.  A slight leather jacket sat on his shoulders and reached his hips, hiding the broad body I could tell he possessed.  His piercing green eyes were what caught me next, their focus seeming more concentrated than I was used to.

Waving my hand for him to sit, there was no point denying these guys a chance otherwise they would follow for who knows how many blocks, their stalker ways driving me insane.

Cutting up more of my breakfast as I shovelled it in, I heard the man sit, his hands busying themselves looking at the menu sat on the timber table.

I was waiting for the cheesy pickup lines, the questions as to why I had not spoken a word yet or what I was doing here so early in the morning.

My stomach churned with uncertainty about this man which was odd.  Normally I would feel nothing towards these players, these men which preyed on the vulnerable female population.

As the waitress walked over and took his order, I didn’t miss the way the man passed subtle comments at her, her face showing she was having a hard time keeping in character for her job.