January and snow

Hot cocoa and hash browns

The warm steam basked my face and streamed into my nostrils. I sighed in pleasure and gulped down my hot cocoa. It was even better than it looked. I took a slice of the hash browns and the sweet flavor melted on my tongue.

I looked out the window and noticed it had become darker and snow had completely covered the road and probably my car. Some minutes ago, I tried dialing up my parents but there was no service maybe due to the bad weather. I looked away from the window and scanned the entire diner.

It looked like it had been here for awhile but I hadn't noticed it. Maybe because I didn't frequently use this road or I just didn't pay it attention because it didn't intrigue me enough or I never wanted to go to a diner. The humidity in here was warm and welcoming and the food didn't contrast with it. My eyes landed on the other non-employee in here. He was knee deep into whatever he was researching on his laptop.

He had short auburn hair and thick eye brows. He looked like a guy that could be a girl's interest in a book, researching and sipping hot cocoa. His eyes left the screen of his laptop and landed on me. I was shocked for a moment because I never thought about what would happen if he was to notice I was staring at him.

I was busy counting how long our staring contest was going on for that I didn't notice he had smiled. I stared blankly for a nanosecond before realizing it would be rude if I didn't smile back, so I did. He looked away and continued whatever he was doing on his laptop, not sparing to glance once more. I faced my own hot cocoa, before it would turn cold. I sipped it and realized this was going to be the longest night ever.

I opened my phone and checked the time—8:10pm, Saturday 30th December. I dropped it back on the table and looked at the opposite direction. I noticed a wall that was elegantly decorated with fairy lights, ribbons, neon signs and Polaroid pictures. I stood up from my chair and walked over to the wall. The wall was just Pinterest worthy.

One thing stood out from the rest—a glass figurine. It was a figurine of a ballet dancer with aquatic animals swimming around her placed on a high stool. I picked it up to look at it better when I felt a touch on my shoulder. I jumped, startled by the touch and spun around. My eyes widened and I placed my hand on my chest.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," the man with short auburn hair said. He had an accent, unfamiliar to me. I sighed and shook my head.

"It's fine," I replied. He looked at the figurine in my hand and pointed at it.

"We aren't allowed to touch anything placed here, especially the figurine." I nodded and immediately placed it back on the stool.

"Thanks for informing me." A woman rushed over to us and pointed at the wall and then the figurine.

"Please don't touch anything, especially the figurine. Just look, thanks." She walked away and I turned to the man who was already looking at me. He had a look on his face that clearly read I told you so but he didn't say it out loud.

"What made you come to a diner when there's a blizzard outside?" He asked. I shrugged and played with my fingers.

"I was running away from the police," I lied. He acted shocked and leaned in closer.

"Don't tell anyone, but I'm also running from the police. The FBI," he joked. I chuckled and made a zipping gesture with my lips and threw away the invisible key. "I'm Christopher by the way." He pulled out his hand for a handshake.

"January," I shook him. He looked confused but he had a smile on his face. "An odd name. My mum bore me in March but named me January because she always wanted a daughter named January."

"Okay, that explains it all because for a second, I thought you were playing with me." I chuckled and shook my head.

"I would not." His eyebrows furrowed and he let go of my hand.

"I'm not really running from the police, but are you?" He joked again. I laughed and shook my head.

"I'm not. I was on my way somewhere and got stuck in the blizzard because I didn't check the weather forecast. What about you?"

"Came here to drink some hot cocoa and by my third cup, I forgot it was winter and snow could possibly fall then the blizzard started and I was stuck here. The end."

"How could you possibly forget you were in winter?" I asked, amused. He raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth.

"Seems like you haven't tasted the hot cocoa," he huffed and looked away.

"I have actually. It was great but not great enough for me to forget it's winter time." He seemed the more shocked at my words but didn't say anything. I became mischievous and wanted to look for some more trouble. The light bulb in my head turned on and a devious smile slid across my face. "Don't be offended, but I didn't think it was tasty." He gasped and clutched his chest.

"My heart goes out to the wonderful barista behind the beverage." I laughed out loud and he joined in. "Do you really think it's bad?"

"No! I was just messing with you and you fell for it." He smiled and dug his fingers into his hair.

"Gullible little me," he said. I shook my head in disagreement and smiled.

"I'm very sure you're not." He smiled but suddenly, his eyes widened. His hand flew to his mouth to cover it.

"Oh my God, is that Taylor Swift?" I immediately turned back to see if my idol was actually here, in a diner, in the middle of a blizzard. I scanned the whole diner but nobody was in sight.

"Where?" I asked.

"Here," he said. I turned to look at where he was directing at. "Payback," he said. when I saw what he was showing me, I smacked him on his forearm.

"You falsifier!" I accused. He laughed and dodged my hand.

"Falsifier?" He laughed again. He showed me his phone that the Taylor Swift picture was in and laughed once more. "Isn't she Taylor?" I frowned and his laugh increased. "Really? Falsifier?" I rolled my eyes and laughed too.

"Great, now he won't let me live."

"That's because I'm a falsifier," he laughed again and the laugh was soo contagious that I joined in. In a matter of minutes, I would start rolling on the ground.