Bound By The Lazarus Pit

1| Cafe de L'amour

Chapter 1: Cafe de L'amour (Mari's POV)

I can't believe that I do this to myself. Wake up early so I can come and sit here at this cafe.

"Mari!" I snapped out my thoughts. I strolled over to the counter to grab my tea from Ms. Lenoir. "What's up with you? No sleep, again?" Katy asked.

"Not much anyway," I said, the affairs from yesterday coming back again. I sighed, taking my tea from her with a small smile before going and sitting at my usual table. I come to Cafe de L'amour every morning, wake up earlier than I should, just so I can come here and have a moment to myself. Away from the chaos and all the noise.

Strange how I live in New York and try running from the chaos, everyone here breeds. I'm not from here, but I've learned to become a New Yorker. Well.. not really. But I do look like one.

I come from Paris. I moved here about four years ago with my parents because my dad had a great job here. He's a real estate agent. My mom was an artist.

She organized her exhibitions and created all her work. She's not dead. Just divorced. Divorced but hasn't left yet. They got divorced over six months ago, I've lost count, but she still hasn't gotten herself a place.

Her life and my dad's, are very distinct. He's put together, organized and logical. She's the complete opposite, which I used to admire about her, but it turned toxic when she stopped caring about everything except for her work. The house became a shack with nothing but junk and trash all over it.

So, consequently, we moved out, got a bigger house. Hoping that the change of scenery could change the circumstances of our family. My dad worked hard for it, this was before the divorce happened, and what do you know? The same thing. Again. Now, it is all about trying to get her out of there. I love my mother, even though she hasn't been much of one. I just wish, she was sometimes.

The bell to the cafe chimed. I don't have to turn around to see who it was. At this time, every Monday, its' always him. He comes later on Mondays and every other day... he's here before me.

 I mumbled his order as he placed it, knowing it by now. It wasn't a complicated one. And don't you dare think of me as a creep!

"A large black coffee with one cube of sugar," I whispered to myself.

I mean, look at him. Who in his right mind likes Black Coffee, and one cube of sugar? One? My goodness!

I pulled out my laptop and started working.

Ha! I say work as if I earn from it.

I like to write. Anything from short stories to novels to poetry. That's my thing. Everyone has a thing. A hobby of some sort they are invested in. Writing is mine.

Well, designing clothes too... but I'm not too invested in it as I am in writing.

"Damian!"

I didn't turn around like I wished to. I don't know what it is about Damian Wayne that's so magnetic. Something just pulls you to him. I guess that explain's why he's loved by all, huh? He is though, quite literally, loved by all. The girls at least.

Not me.

We are just strangers... I guess?

The guys are mostly just jealous but put up a front to be in his good books because once Damian Wayne has a problem with somebody, high school is over for them. And, I'm so not kidding.

It was a help though. With Adrien. Adrien was my boyfriend.

Was.

Things simply fizzled out between us. Because of his god damn lies. Not too long after our break-up, he had a little rough and tough time with Damian about the lacrosse team. Damian is the captain of the team, and Adrien was benched because he fought with the other team in the previous game.