The Scholar of Time

Chapter 3

I open the door to Dandelion Cafe and inhale the warm scent of coffee. Luckily, it's later in the afternoon so there's barely anyone here other than a few college students with their headphones in.

"Hey, James!" hollers the scruffy-haired barista from behind the counter. "It's been a while, how have you been?" I smile at him realizing it's Marcus.

"I've been a good Marcus. A bit busy with deadlines. How have you been doing? Classes going ok?"

"They're going. Damn, Calculus is kicking my ass though," He grabs a coffee cup behind the counter and picks up a nearby Sharpie. "Want me to start your usual?"
"That sounds lovely, thank you, Marcus. Oh, it'll be for here, not to go."

"Oh?" he says, cocking an eyebrow. "Are you meeting someone? A special lady friend? Or a special guy friend, maybe?"

"Oh, it's nothing like that," I say, laughing nervously. I don't think I've been on a date in the past hundred years. "I'm just meeting an...acquaintance." I wasn't sure how to define the relationship between Solstice and me at this moment. Acquaintance didn't feel like the right choice but it was the word I landed on.

"Well there's a table further in the back for you and you're 'acquaintance' can have a chat and not be disturbed," Marcus says adding a wink at the end.

I let out a small chuckle as I head towards the small table in the back nestled in a corner next to a window. I started coming to this coffee shop around the time I first moved to Seattle. It's always been a comfort of mine because everything stays the same, including Marcus. It's almost impossible to not imagine Marcus standing next to an espresso machine or a milk steamer. It's always nice to see his crooked grin and mismatched outfit whenever I walk in.

I stare out the window and watch as the different people walk by trying to figure out how to do this. How do you explain to someone that you're immortal, And how do you ask them how they figured out your secret?

The little bell at the top of the entrance rings. I turn nervously to see Solstice entering the cafe. She's wearing a black dress with a daisy print pattern and a forest green cardigan. Her eyes scan the room until they land on me. She doesn't do anything at first. We both just stare at one another, not sure what to do next. Then, she offers me a flat smile, but a smile nonetheless, and walks over.

She sets her book bag down in the seat across from mine. I notice the art on the bag is an M.C. Escher painting. "I'm going to order a snack. Do you want anything?"

"I've already ordered but thank you," I say, trying to sound polite instead of anxious. She nods and walks back over to the register. I let out a long sigh. Okay, so far so good. Just plain and simple small talk. I nervously fidget with my wristwatch as I watch Solstice place her order and make her way back over. She sits down and slowly smooths her dress.

"Hi." That's all she says. Just a calm and simple Hi.

"Hello," I return. "How are you doing? I hope you didn't get caught in the rain yesterday."

"I'm alright, and no, I didn't get caught in the rain yesterday. I had my umbrella on me. I've lived here all my life and it's habitual to always keep an umbrella on me at all times."

"I've lived here awhile and yet I still can't figure that out," I say with a small chuckle.

"How long have you lived here?" She asks with inquisitive eyes.

"About 7 years."

"Where are you from? I can't pin your accent. I want to say British, but it sounds more like a mixture of European accents."

"I've traveled a lot so I think I've lost my original accent somewhere along the way."

"Oh. Where have you been?"