☂ who do I have to kill to get a decent cup of coffee? ☂
'-to get a decent cup of coffee,' Five's saying when I walk back into the house.
'Do you even know how to drive?'
'I know how to do everything,' Five says.
'Wait!' I call.
Five turns around.
'Can I come?'
He doesn't respond.
'Well?'
'Fine.'
He gets into the driver's seat without saying a goddamn word. The drive is-what a surprise-silence.
'So...' I trail off, picking up a sad rock from underneath my seat and watching it float in the air. 'You gonna say something?'
'What is there to say?' Five snaps.
'I don't know,' I shrug. 'Anything.'
'Well, I don't have anything to say to you,' Five says.
I shut my mouth. Obviously he has some kind of problem with me.
'How did you know who I was?' I ask.
Five scowls. 'What do you mean?'
'Back in the kitchen, you said you knew me. You never said how.'
'I'm from the future,' He says simply.
'That still doesn't really explain it.' I say.
'Look, do you want to come with me or not?'
'Fine.'
'Fine.'
The cafe is dull, lit by a broad sign above the front window.
Griddy's Donuts.
Not really a familiar place from my childhood, since I've never once had a donut.
'What do donuts taste like?' I ask as Five pulls the handle of the door. He turns to look back at me, a confused expression on his face.
'You've never had a donut?'
'Never,' I say.
'Seriously?'
'Seriously.'
'Wow.' Five says, sitting down at the counter. He rings the bell insistently as another man walks in. The man takes the seat on my other side.
A tall, thin blonde lady walks into the room from the back carrying her tiny notepad.
'Sorry,' She smiles. 'Sink was clogged. What can I get for you?'
'Gimme a chocolate eclair please,' the man says.
'Anything for the kid and his girlfriend?' Agnes, as stated on her nametag, asks.
'He's not my boyfriend,' I say at the same time as Five says-
'She's not my girlfriend.'
'Okay,' Agnes says, unconvincingly. 'A glass of milk, maybe?'
'The kid wants coffee,' Five says. 'Black.'
'I'll have a donut please,' I add.
'What flavour would you like?' Agnes asks.
'She'll have a glazed donut,' Five answers for me.
I nod.
'And a coffee please. With cream and sugar.'
Agnes seems to have given up on any expectations she has for children and coffee.
She nods, scribbling down our orders.
'Cute kids.'
Five gives her a huge smile with way too many teeth. She falters for a second before turning away to get the food.
I would say it was kind of adorable if I didn't already know how much of a jerk he was.
'I'll get theirs,' The man beside us says gruffly.
'Thanks,' I say with a small smile.
He shrugs.
__
I bite into the glazed donut with fervor, enjoying the crumbly sweet taste.
'Woah,' I stare at it. 'So this is what a donut tastes like.'
'You've never had a donut?' The man looks incredulous.
'Nope!' I swallow the rest of the desert in one bite, taking a sip of coffee. Perfect.
Five distractedly glances at the man's vest.
'You know your way around this town?'
After a brief hesitation- 'I should hope so, been driving around it for fifteen years.'
'Good,' Five says. 'I need an address.'