"Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" His chipper tone complimented his large brown eyes. Before I could answer he was already pulling out a chair from the table where I sat having my daily early morning dose of caffeine. "I'm just waiting for a friend." He added.
"Sure, it's no problem." I said taking a sip of my hot drink and flipping through the Daily Californian newspaper.
"So..." He started to say. My eyes looked up at him from the top of the paper. "beautiful day huh?"
"Uh, I wouldn't say that. I've had better." I replied taking another drink.
"Hey, did you know that coffee cultivation first took place in southern Arabia?" He asked looking at a menu.
"I know now." I replied without taking my eyes off of the paper.
"You're not the socializing type are you?"
I laughed softly and closed the paper resting it down on the table. "I see that you are."
"I am."
"I'm not usually this way, it's just...there's a lot on my mind right now." I smiled taking another sip of the drink that was still surprisingly hot.
"I see." He said softly. "Is that an espresso?" He asked nodding to my drink.
"Yea, why?"
"Here's a fact about espresso. It is not a particular type of coffee. In fact espresso is just a way the coffee is prepared; shooting pressurized hot water through finely ground coffee."
"Wow, I'm officially impressed. You seem to know a lot about coffee." I said, now noticing the metallic braces he wore over his teeth, which shockingly looked good on him.
"I know a lot about many things." He smiled wider as if he knew I was admiring his teeth garment. "By the way, my name's Del." He put his hand out.
"Nice to meet you Del. I'm Jennifer." I said shaking his soft, cold hands.
"The pleasure's all mine really." He smiled ruffling his thick bronze hair, adding a more rugged look to his already messy hairstyle. "Anymore murders lately?" He asked looking at the paper.
"They're worrying you too?"
"Serial killer on the loose, more than one murder, no one seems to be able to figure out who it is plus the victims all seem to die of intense blood lost...nope doesn't worry me."
I laughed at his statement and in seconds it turned into a frown.
"Did I say something?"
"No you just, remind me of someone." I said, thinking of Adrian.
"Oh." He commented before looking at the door. "Finally, I thought he'd never show up."
I knew he was talking about the friend he was waiting on but I didn't need to turn around and look to know who it was. The high scent of smoke got to the table before he did. "Oh my god." I murmured to myself.
"Hey you freak." He addressed Del. "Sorry I'm late. Got caught up in some stuff." He took a seat.
"It's cool I made a really pretty friend." Del said nodding to me.
"This girl?" He asked acting shocked. "She was actually nice to another person?"
"Funny he refers to you as a friend as well." I said rolling my eyes and finishing my espresso.
"I'm sorry; do you guys know each other?" Del asked.
Nick was about to answer but I spoke.
"No, actually I don't know him at all." I said getting up from the table. "It was nice meeting you Del." I left and headed for the door.
"Hey, wait!" He called after me but I was already outside. I knew he was still behind me because the smoky scent never left. "Angel, hold on."
"What do you want Nick?" I asked annoyed and stopping.
"I can tell you what I don't want." He said standing right in front of me. "I don't want you angry with me."
"What does it matter? You want us to be friends, go to parties every night and smoke cigarettes together? Is that what you want? Would that make you happy?"
"As enticing as that sounds, no. I just want us to be on a good note." He smiled raising his hand to touch me.
"No don't touch me ok. We are not friends. All you do is increase my confusion and to an extent my frustration. You're a player Nick and I am not in the mood for games so just leave me alone." I said walking.
"Angel, listen to me." He said trying to hold my hand.
"No." I continued to walk.
"Angel?"
"Don't call me that!" I walked faster.
"Jennifer!" He shouted grabbing hold of my hand.
"What?" I shouted back.
He sighed and let go of my hand. "I was trying to protect you, and leave you out of all of this crap."
"I'm already in this crap Nick. There's no getting out for me."
He took a deep breath before he spoke again while his caramel eyes looked around the area. "I can tell you something about someone."
"Who?" I asked stepping closer to him. I didn't mind the cigarette scent that clouded my intake of oxygen.
His eyes surveyed the area again and he pulled me to the side of the sidewalk. "Helen Octavius."
"You know her?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"She was my mother." He whispered.