Danny 'Fantasies'

Love me always?

Cold and rainy days are my favourites.  It's weather that really connects with you (despite making you even more lethargic than any other day), enabling you to hunker down and forget the world.  When it's warm outside and raining, that's a different type of love.  That's rain you can get soaked in, that teenager-movie-romantic-fantasy setting coming to life where you and your lover can run around and you finally proclaim your desire and lust for each other and everything is happy ever after. 

I may sound sarcastic, but that's actually how I met him.

The first thing that struck me was his eyes, similar to the color of peacock feathers.  Bright.  Charismatic.  Yet something strangely mysterious abut them.

I was in the coffee shop when he walked in.  Overcast day, great big boulders of black rock thundering across the sky, bringing the threat of rain or a good storm.  It was hot out, muggy and humid.  My hair was plastered to the side of my face and back of my neck, my face flushed with that embarrassing shade of scarlet.  I often came to this coffee shop after school for a study break, considering I can work for hours on end, but as soon as he came waltzing awkwardly in with those gorgeous eyes, I could not concentrate for a second.

I watched him stand in line, debating his choices, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip in deep thought.  Or to tease me.  He must've known I was staring at him, I was practically drooling over the poor thing.  It came time for his order, his curly, fluffy hazelnut hair covering his eyes just enough for him to look up through his eye lashes and hair.  I was forced to withhold an internal groan racking my body.  This boy was cute.

He ordered, however trouble started when he had to pay.

He started slapping his pockets on his jeans, front and back, then his shirt pocket.  He looked at the clerk, cheeks burning, speech stammering.  The clerk offered him a shrug and shoved the boy along, ready for the next customer.  My eyes stalked him to where he sat down in one of the booths, and took out his phone.  Thumbs flying in a flurry over his keyboard, he jumped when his phone vibrated on the metal table.  Even from here, I could see his breath hitch and his hands tremor.  My heart ached for this poor boy.  Something was clearly wrong.

Thumbs flying backwards and forwards again, his phone vibrated even more quickly than the last time his phone received the text.  After five more minutes, tears pricked at the corner of his eyes, some rolling down his nose.  With a big breath, he shuddered and collapsed into his hands, not moving.  I debated going over to him, but I thought I should leave him alone, seeing as he is evidently upset.  I looked away and tried to focus on my work.

A few minutes later, there was a loud sniffle.  My head snaps up and my eyes catch the boy angrily swiping away the remaining tears staining his cheeks, though he couldn't halt the running of his nose. I couldn't deal with the pain emanating from him, I needed to do something, even if it was giving him tissues and a coffee.  I overheard his order and knew what he wanted, plus I ordered myself a drink too.  A packet of tissues in one hand, coffees in the other, I cautiously edged my way towards him.

I slid into the booth, awkwardly and tense.  He had his head buried in his hands, constant sniffles loud and clear.  I pushed the tissues towards him and his coffee.  Finally, he looked up, eyes red and puffy.

"Tissues and coffee.  Looked like you needed some," I take a sip of my own and check him over more thoroughly.

"Thank you," he blows his nose and holds the paper cup in his hands.  I wondered how his hands could not be melting.  Baristas make their coffee scalding hot.

"You okay?  I know you don't know me, but it seems as if you could use a little venting session to a complete stranger," I tuck a strand of my dull hair behind my ears, avoiding eye contact as much as possible.