The Rendezvous (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfiction - ON HOLD INDEFINITELY)

Chapter 1 - Eleanor Baker

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NEW YORK, FALL 2017. A cup of hot earl grey tea is getting cold between my hands as I've been staring at the small coffee shop in front of my apartment for an hour this morning. Besides, this corner where I spend most of my time looking to outside world is getting comfier every time I sit and lean my back against the wall. Probably because of the natural light, slightly covered by branches of old honey-locust tree so the sun wouldn't burn my skin off and people on the street wouldn't even notice my presence, or because the small staircase to the roof where I could just relax or do whatever I could do on the roof like drying my laundry or stargazing the northern stars at night.

Back to the coffee shop problem, there was something unusual happened to the shop today. It's closed without any explanation. The 'closed' sign hanging on the glass door of the shop. Mr. Giuseppe always opened his shop before 5 am and now it's 7.30 am. 2 and half hours late than usual. Although his shop is a small corner bellow his apartment, it is where the money come from for him and his family. Plus, it is where I get my breakfast sandwich. So, right now I haven't ate any single food for my breakfast, only this earl grey tea.

"Mr. Giuseppe went to New Jersey last night." Jake's voice came from middle of nowhere, breaking the silence and answered my unspoken wonder.

"Do you know what's going on?" My voice was curious, still wondering why Mr. Giuseppe left without notice.

"Mrs. Holmes told me that..." He paused. Mrs. Holmes is the landlady of 3 stories building that I currently living. A genuine old lady who gave me the rooftop apartment with cheaper price because she was my mother's best friend back on high school and I promised my mother to take care of her just like my own parent. "Mr. Giuseppe's brother-in-law passed away yesterday and he with his family need to take care of the funeral." He added.

Oh, poor thing. Maybe that's why he closed his shop earlier than usual. It would take at least 2 or 3 days until the shop opened again and everything back to business, which also mean that I need to cook my own breakfast until then.

"I made you a breakfast." Jake appeared again in front of me, this time with a white ceramic plate filled with scramble egg, bacon and toast. I noticed how he already changed into his white doctor uniform with his hair perfectly comb backward. "Come on, you need to eat and get up. You will have a class at 10, won't you?" He added, knowing that I didn't move an inch from where I sit.

"Thanks." I replied shortly, taking the plate from him gently. "You know you don't have to do this, Jake. You don't even need to be here. You have your life out there." I decided to put my cup of tea alongside with my plate on the table so I could enjoy them properly. One and two bites later, I realized how hungry I was. I didn't eat anything since last night and right now, my stomach is in joy.

"And leave you alone like this? No." He shook his head briefly before dipping his mouth back to sip his black coffee. He joined me this time by sitting across the table. His plate was already empty, leaving small breadcrumbs on the side of plate. How could he finish it so quickly without me even noticing his move? Or did I got too distracted by my own thought till I don't even realize my brother have making himself busy in the kitchen?

"You're silly boy. You think I can't take care my own life because of this? I should be the one who take care of you." I rolled my eyes unbelievably.

"Well, I'm not the one who got drunk and screaming like maniac on Central Park at midnight after found out that my ex was an asshole." Certainly, he was talking about me. I flushed on the thought of that accident. I spent my day teaching my students and go home, cried like a baby and finished a bottle of red wine which later I found myself screaming like a crazy person on Central Park. Needless to say, someone from hospital knew me and called Jake to rescue. "You should be glad no one called the police or Mika would get involved."