Random Drop

-Prompt:-2 (Part ll)

Lilac

Pushing the door open to the new cafe, a girl, Lilac, stepped inside. The soft ding of a bell echoed around the shop. Lilac never saw the use of beanies as she gave her hair a brush with her hand to rid it of snow.

Being new to this city, Lilac didn't know what to expect as she studied the coffee shops menu board. The scents of fresh coffee, muffins and odd perfumes surrounded her.

Spotting her favorite drink, a flat white, and the service desk directly in front of her, Lilac pocketed her gloves and moved towards it.

She was greeted by a short blonde, who radiated friendliness in her smile.

"Welcome to Cofée."

"I'm Chase," The blonde explained, her grey eyes twinkling. "What can I get you today?"

"One flat white, please." Lilac answered relaxing as she was glad to be away from her family's claws.

Turning to the machine behind her to start Lilac's order, Chase added over her shoulder, "The wait won't be long."

"Not a problem," Lilac said. Her thoughts drifted slightly as Chase's voice reminded Lilac of the soft summer rain back in her old state of Tennessee.

Forcing down a pang of sudden loss, Lilac used the chance to finally get a proper view the cafe Cofée.

Lights, hanging from the ceiling, gave off a warm glow, which added to the warm air that intensified the scents when she walked in. Like the cafes Lilac had seen in movies, wooden rustic tables and chairs sat in pairs on either side of the door. Being a winters day, the shop was filled completely, expect for one table. A girl, around the same age as Lilac, sat alone, one hand holding a coffee, the other a book.

Soon, money and coffee had changed hands. Thanking Chase for her service, Lilac made her way towards the lonesome girl.

"Excuse me," Lilac asked, causing the girl to lift her head suddenly. "May I sit with you? There's no other free tables."

The girl studied her for a second before answering. "Absolutely."

A smile of warmth and friendliness on the girls face made Lilac smile in return.

"Thank you." Lilac said.

Gesturing for Lilac to take a seat on the opposite chair, the girl removed her coat, gloves and hat off the table, placing them on the ground under her chair.

Sitting down, Lilac wrapped her near numb hands around her coffee cup to warm them and watched the girl before her.

The girl opposite her returned to her book when Lilac noticed it's title. Jane Eyre, one of her favorites.

"Jane Eyre," Lilac mused softly, causing the girl to blink.

"Pardon?" she questioned.

"Jane Eyre," Lilac repeated, gesturing to the book. It's spine was faded, the tops of it's pages thin and ripped, as if it'd been read so many times.

"Oh." The girl looked sheepish. "It's a great story."

"Yeah..." Lilac paused, drifting away with her thoughts.

An awkward silence fell upon the girls as Lilac struggled for something to say.

"What," She cleared her throat.

"What interested when you first picked it up?" she asked finally, meeting the girls soft brown eyes.

The girl smiled. "I'm named after it.. Her." she swallowed clarifying, "My mum was highly into Jane Eyre."

Lilac nodded to the book. "How often do you read Jane Eyre, the pages look to have seen better days."

The girl ran her fingers over the pages fondly. A sigh escaped her mouth.

"I lost count after fifteen," she said distantly. "I read it every day every year on the week of my mother's birthday."

Lilac nodded slowly in sympathy. "Sorry for your loss."

The girl blinked as her eyes clouded with a distant memory.

"It's okay now," she said. "It was years ago." Her smile almost looked forced.

"And please, call me Jane."

"Jane it is." Lilac removed her hand from her coffee cup and held it out towards Jane. "The names Lilac."

"Lilac? Like the flower?" Jane eyes brightened as Lilac nodded. "That's funky." Jane added with a grin before shaking her hand.

As the girls talked, little did Lilac know that they're friendship would become something more.