Darkness had fallen over the city and my stand was desolate. It had been for a few hours now so, I returned home, the cracked pavement walkway jagged under my sneakers. It was warm out tonight. Summer was approaching. Good, I thought to myself. Maybe more people will visit the stand if the temperature rises.
Maybe he'll come back.
I couldn't get the stranger out of my head. A simple conversation between us had led to hours of daydreaming. I had never felt this way about anyone, much less a guy.
I guided my feet along the curb, my arms spread to the side in attempts to keep my balance. I wobbled slightly for a moment before catching myself and continuing on my way.
My apartment came into view soon. It was a rugged building about 5 floors tall. Chipped paint and filthy windows greeted residents as they follow through a set of double doors. The building was rough but there wasn't much more I could afford with my current salary. Lemonade couldn't buy mansions.
"Matthew!" Judy greeted me as I entered the lobby.
She stood before the stairs, two paper grocery bags in her hands and a smile beaming up at me. The woman was on the shorter side. She was wearing a bright purple dress and her hair was the regular wild curls she showed off most days.
"Hey, Ms. Judy," I said to the woman. "You need some help with your groceries?"
"No sir," she called out. One thing I loved about Judy was her big, booming voice. She could fill up any room and never took shit about it. The more shushes she got the louder she spoke. I wish I was like that sometimes. Powerful.
"You could do me a favor, though."
"Sure, what's up," I responded, taking one of the bags from her hand. Despite what she said earlier, I was always quick to help Judy up the stairs. Her hip was bad and seeing as though our elevator shut down last spring, the stairs were her only option.
"I'm having a party for my son this weekend and I want to fix him up some lemonade. And, well, your's is the best I've ever had. Would you mind running me through how to make it?"
"No problem," I said, flattered by her compliment. "It's really simple, actually. You're gonna want to heat up 1 cup of water with 1 and 3/4 cups of sugar. Bring that to a boil and then let it cool. Next, juice 1 and 1/2 cups of lemon juice. Combine the lemon juice, sugar mixture, and 7 cups of water in a pitcher and bam; easy peasy lemon squeezy."
She chuckled out loud at my pun before thanking me and leading me to her room. I dropped off the bag I was holding and made my way down the hall to my own room.
An hour later and I was exhausted. I laid beneath my bed sheets, the fan quietly whirring above me. My curtains were drawn, letting city light flow through and cascade across my floor. Noises of cars rushing down the street bounced through my small apartment.
The man still took up space in my brain. His bright eyes, his tan skin, his perfectly chiseled features. I wondered why on earth I couldn't stop thinking about him. For God's sake, he didn't even buy lemonade. I shook off my daydream and focused on what I knew could make me fall asleep.
Step one, I thought. Bring water and sugar to a boil.
I shut my eyes and turned to the left.
Step two. Juice your lemons.
I curled in close, the sounds of the city becoming more and more muffled.
Step three. Combine everything with water.
The world faded as I fell into slumber. Even my thoughts of him disappeared with sleep.
Step four. Serve.
A/N
LMFAO WHY TF ARE YOU READING THIS. EMBARRASSING
