A date on the Eiffel Tower

Chapter seven:

The weekend came and so did my shift. The day dragged on as I spent the whole time watching the door but no one ever came through it that I wanted to. As it came to closing time Mia Lily comes by to check up and get any information out but I have nothing.

I make her a drink and lock up. We walk back to my apartment as she tells me about how the area I'm in is dodgy and warns me that if Thomas asks where I live, don't tell him I live here as she thinks he will get defensive of me which I think is cute but agree.

We order pizza and sit watching movies until twelve never mentioning Thomas again as we both had our hopes up that he would come back. My sofa pulls out to make a bed so she stays there for the night.

In the morning she wakes up the same time as me and leaves at the same time. She puts my hair in french braids as my hair comes to just below my chest. We walk to the cafe together as I go inside getting her a drink before she leaves and returns home.

The day plays out the same as yesterday although today I didn't watch the door as I had given up on the image of him walking through them. I stand with my back to the room stacking the marshmallows on top of the fluffy cream of someone's hot chocolate.

The bell often rings signally and arrival or departure. I spun on my heels placing the cup and saucer on the counter as two wrinkled hands picked it up to a ladies face. She has a warm smile on her cheeks which was slightly hidden by her silver hair.

It is one of the usual customers. I smile back at her as she shuffles away to her chair picking up her newspaper and starting on the crossword puzzle. The small queue from behind her moved forward. There was only one person there but as I looked up, I locked eyes with him.

It was Thomas. He smiled gently as we refused to move our eyes away. I finally broke off picking up a napkin and wiping it across the surface clearing the ring of condensation left by the previous cup.

"What can I get you?" I ask trying to sound unflustered by his appearance.

"Same as before." I nod and start to prepare the pumpkin spiced latte and slide it over to him who is patiently waiting. "I'm surprised you remembered. It was over a week ago when I last came." I feel my cheeks blush as he smirks.

"Well... umm... " I search for the right words before deciding to just say the truth. "You um... you ordered the same drink as I get every day before work... it's my favourite drink and it's unusual. I have never heard anyone else order it before you."

"Really?" He smiles at me, the grin almost reaching from ear to ear as his eyes sparkle in the brown pool surrounding the pupil. "I thought nobody liked that drink either. You get it everyday?"

"Everyday." I reply timidly as I can feel him staring at me.

"What about if one day I buy it for you?" I snap my neck up to look at him in shock at his words. Is he asking me out? Why would he ask me, out of all people.

"W..what do you mean?" I stutter.

"The city is its most beautiful in the morning. Just as the sunrises over the sleeping city with a orange glow. Nobody is around and everything in the world feel at peace." I smile at him as he describes how beautiful he thinks it is. "Maybe I could show you. If you wanted to that."

I can feel butterflies swarming my stomach, the nerves almost consuming me. I swallow back the surprise just enough to be able to answer as he waits anxiously staring into my eyes.

"I'd love that." His face no longer looked anxious but rose into a large grin.

"I'll pick you up here tomorrow morning an hour before you start work. Text me a time and I'll be there." He hands me a sheet of paper that looks like it's been torn off the corner of a newspaper. It has his number written on it with his name underneath next to a small heart.

"Bye." He smiles at me softly picking up his drink and walking out the store looking back at me as he leaves. My heart beat suddenly increased and I let out a deep breath I didn't know I had been holding in my throat. I can feel tingles of excitement pricking me skin. I run for my lunch break calling Mia Lily to tell her everything. We agree for her to come round later so she can help pick an outfit for me.

The rest of the day goes fast and it's already closing time. I skip out the building and into Mia's little Fiat that's waiting for me across the road. I hoped in as we drove back. The rest of that evening we rummaged through everything I had until I found the perfect outfit.

It was late and we had completely forgotten to cook something to eat so we ordered chinese while she taught me how to braid the top of my hair into a bun at the back, and then curl it.

I snuggled under my duvet the second she leaves and falls almost instantly into a deep and hopeful sleep.