Lost.

1

As a single man, it comes as a surprise when I tell people I have no interest for anyone. Except for this one girl I've never even spoken to.

And there she was.

Once again, at the booth in the corner. In my 3 years of working at this coffee shop,we hadn't a more consistent regular than her. She always ordered the same thing; one small black coffee. She always sits in the same booth, Number 7 by the window, and she has never, ever, held conversation with another person.

She had become one of my curiosities. A mystery, in one of the smallest towns i had ever known, was rare to find here. This was the small town of Lento, Colorado. The town itself only boasts a couple thousand residents, leaving no room for mysteries. Everyone knew you somehow, from somewhere, some sort of recognition was associated with your name. I had lived here my whole life and, in that 24 year period, nothing new had ever been seen .

So, when she appeared randomly 2 years ago, It was like a breath of fresh air. Finally, someone different had appeared. I soaked in the feeling, rolled in the happiness, and pushed the fear of her away.

I straightened out my teal apron, adjusted my name-tag, and set myself back to work. I had daydreamed away my 10 minute break as usual.

"Dan, table 5 needs some more scones ASAP. Mrs. Johnson is getting impatient." My coworker, Sara, yelled frantically. I sigh and grab a fresh tray, walking as calmly as I could to table 5.

"Here you are Mrs. Johnson. Those fresh scones, just as you ordered." I set the tray on the table neatly, smiling as best I could. She only scoffs at my gesture.

"It's just like you young people to always be late with orders! I've never been served as badly as I have been here! If I hadn't been here all my life, i surely would've left by now!" She yells. I only smile, trying not to yell back. She mumbles a few curses under her breath, some making me flinch more than others.

I return back to my post at the register, waiting patiently for more customers, until someone pops up in my face.

"Sara," I sigh,"What is it now?" She looks me in the eyes, smiling brightly. Sara is a brunette girl with sparkly green eyes and a dazzling smile. If I didn't know better, i would've pursued her by now. Her attractiveness, brings suitors from all around but she has never accepted any of them.

"I just wanted to say, you're doing great today!" She says cheerfully . I give her a small smile, and she skips away to clean dishes. I sigh, and start to ring up orders, watching the afternoon rush of people slowly start to file out. I leave my station, looking at the clock. 4 pm, almost 5.

I walk over to tables, cleaning up messes, and dishes left uneaten. I scrub at table 6 when I hear a soft voice behind me.

"They're not that considerate, are they?"

I freeze, looking around for the source of the voice. As I am looking my blue eyes meet  dark brown eyes at table 7. I smile at her slightly, trying not to shake from excitement.

"N-no, they really aren't." I respond. She only shakes her head, and looks down at her book. I finish cleaning  table 6 quickly before walking over to her.

"Uh I'm Danone, but everyone here calls me Dan." I tell her. She looks up, watching me for a moment.

"Anika."

"Oh um nice to meet you Anika."

"And you,Dan." 

"Can I call you Ani?"

"No."

"Well okay..then." 

Sensing the impending awkwardness, I walk back to my station at the counter. Sara looks at me curiously. 

"You got black-haired girl to speak Dan?" She asks. I nod, looking out the window. Sara sighs loudly, then forces me to look at her.

" I told you about that eye contact thing. Stick with me here Dan. Do you  see anything in her?" I shake my head, looking at Sara.

"Just a curiosity right now. I think she could be something...different." I say, running my hands through my brown hair.  Sara blinks, then her shoulders slump a little.

"Of course she is.."Sara mutters before walking away. I watch her walk away, confused at her sudden change in mood. Before i could think about it, Anika leaves her seat, sets money on the counter and leaves.

I watch her walk away, wondering what she does after her time here.
I guess I'll never know.

A couple hours pass, and my shift is over. I rejoice in the the feeling of closing up, packing all of my things away. Sara walks past me quickly, almost running away from me. She hadn't spoken to me since the incident earlier and it left me worried. I leave the shop, waving good bye to my boss. 

My normal route home felt longer than usual, the evening air a little chillier than normal. I walked past all of the closing shops, until I heard footsteps following me closely.  A voice calls out frantically from behind me, begging for help.