Love & Cigarettes

Chapter 4 - Dining room meeting

We get inside the restaurant, it's  packed and some chilled old-school is playing in the background. It's not as fancy or italian as I expected it to be but it's very big and I can see some familiar faces in here too.

We walk past a few tables before reaching our table which is closer to the window. I am so happy because I can eat while enjoying the view outside- the windows are tinted too so I can stare at a person outside the restaurant but they won't see me staring at them from outside.

After we are seated, the waiter approaches our table and greets us before taking our orders.

I am not exactly hungry so I order a Greek salad for starters while Anna orders some coffee. The waiter takes our orders and walks back to the kitchen.

"You're never gonna stop being a coffee addict are you?, I ask my friend.

Anna laughs,

"No, I'll stop the day you also stop being addicted too".

She's right that I am a coffee lover but an addict? No.

I have always loved coffee because both my parents love it, my dad owns a coffee shop, tea tastes terrible while juice is the worst.

I only drink what? Like two or maybe four cups a day, if I have to be extremely busy but now that schools are closed I don't need caffeine boosting my energy.

Everything is running at its own pace right now.

"I won't quit coffee, ever!" I tell her and she laughs and I join her.

After a lot of catching up and gossiping about almost everything. The waiter returns with our orders and we quickly dig in.

" So have you ever thought about like, dating after Diarn?" Anna asks after taking a sip from her cup and I immediately regret not ordering some coffee for myself too.

Dean immediately comes to mind.

I'd date him.

After Diarn,I never considered dating at all but I knew that eventually I will but it's not my priority at the moment,

"Uhm, no not really - besides you know my dad would just bribe them away or sabotage it for me. I need to find someone my parents will like the way they did with Diarn " I say this and sigh.

" Okay but do you want someone like Diarn again?" Anna says,

I shift from my seat not sure where she's trying to take this conversation and reply,

" I really don't know, whatever my parents want for me- is good enough for me. I did love Diarn- deeply but I..dont know" I stare outside the window.

"But it's not what you want, I can tell." Anna presses.

Ofcourse not, Anna. I want a guy like Dean...he's so...intense, dark and attractive.

" Yes, it's not but I still don't know what type to go for after Diarn, even the snobbish rich boys my dad tried to set me up with, were lame", I say and Anna just stares at me.

I know she's battling on wether to say what's on her mind as usual or try to be the understanding ride or die friend.

"I just hope this time, if you meet the one you want, you go for him without hesitation" she is now looking at me with sympathy.

"I hope so too" I reply and look at waiter as he is walking towards our table.

We are done eating and he takes our plates, Anna requests that he brings back the menu we want to order again. It's so nice catching up with her and I missed my friend and her blunt honesty.