She Was Hard To Ignore

III. Losing Touch

// And oh my love remind me, what was it that I did?

Did I drink too much?

Am I losing touch?

Did I build this ship to wreck? //

- Ship To Wreck by Florence + The Machine  -

I woke up startled up by the loud music coming from above me. Patrick, one of my neighbours, was a contemporary dancer and every Sunday morning he would practice at home, on his huge mat, which was lying on his 'living-room'. I sat up and yawned, then got back to cover myself with my sheets, though I didn't sleep. Some light was escaping through the blinds of my room and soon I realised I needn't to get my ass off of bed today, because Sundays are sacred and it means no work for me. As though, I wasn't one to stay inside all day, so I rolled on my sheets, burried my face on my pillows and when I was ready, I got up and stretched, walking towards the loo, to have a shower. When I was done, I wrapped a towel around my body and my hair. I wandered back to the main space of my house and stole an apple from the fruit bowl, placed on top of my little kitchen's balcony. I sank on my settee thinking of what to do of that incredibly unusual Sunday, where some slim rays of sun decide to slip through the cloudy sky. I ended up drying my hair and putting on my long-sleeved, knee-length, bordeaux dress, my black Dock shoes and my parka to keep me warm. I rocked my hair and it fell perfectly in my back. 

I sauntered downstairs and the breeze finally hitted me and it was rejuvenating. For some reason, the fresh air of a cold morning had always had that effect on me. I roamed around the streets slowly, though I know for sure where I would finish. This time I wasn't in a rush, I didn't have to work, so I could appreciate those little details that slip through my vision camp, everyday I walked to the centre of town. There was a bandstand right on the middle of this square I'd passed by and a group of kids were settling down their instruments. I stopped my track and stood silently watching them until they started playing a soft melody, which I recognised to be Bach's. I'd always enjoyed a strings' series. In the end, the beaming relatives applauded strongly as their kids smiled back to them. 

I decided it was my queue to get back on my way, I past by some known faces and half smiled to them as I also nodded. Finally my eyes caught sign of it, The Charlatan – a little caffé I used to visit every Sunday morning, near the place I work during the week. I stepped in and scanned the room, looking for a free booth.

"Good morning, darling!" I heard from next to me, I snapped my head around to be greeted by Granger's beaming face. I mirrored the smile and moved forwards. "Oh good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Granger! So nice to see you folks around!" Mrs. Granger motioned me to have a seat next to them and I did so. The young waitress made her way towards our table, a tray on her hands. She placed two lattés and croissants on the table and smiling to me, she asked me to do my order. Five minutes later, she brought me a rusk and tea. Mrs. Granger was telling me about this institution she used to visit as a volunteer, they provided lodging for orphan, homeless or abandoned kids. "It's quite a nice time there! The kids are amazing, they truly live like a community and there's none of that discrimination business, no! They all see each other as equals, really inspiring!" She sipped her latté and then stopped abruptly. "You should go there, dear! You could teach, perhaps the older ones, painting, drawing, writing, you know... people have a name for that, it's..." I thought for a while and then came up with an expression. "Workshop, is it?" She smiled and pointed out for me. "Exactly! I'm going to talk with the president, she'll find it a good idea, I'm sure of it..." I chuckled and nodded slightly. "It'd be a pleasure, Mrs. Granger!" She chuckled to me and then leaned to his husband's touch. We made small talk for at least half an hour and then I was greeted by recently known folks. I turned around on my seat, when I felt someone patting my shoulder. "Alice?" I faced Alma and Alex who had just got in. "Hey mates, what yer doin' here?" I got up and saluted them, Alex was shyly hiding behind Alma for some reason. "We were just buying some goodies! Stopped by for a break." I was beaming at them and then my manners finally got to me. "Erm...yer wanna join us? We can manage to find some space! These are Mr. and Mrs. Granger, friends of mine!" They got up and saluted Alma and Alex, with a friendly smile and then offered them their seats. "We were just leaving! Sit here, please!" Mrs. Granger insisted and the youngers gladly took their places. "See you later, Alice!" They waved goodbye as they left the bakery. 

Alma walked towards the balcony to make her order, while Alex sat where Mr. Granger had been sitting earlier. He stared at me and I gave him an assuring smile, although he kept admiring me with his big brown eyes. Feeling uncomfortable I coughed and adjusted myself on my seat, as he snapped out of his illogical trance and scanned his stare through the pastry. This time it was me who landed eyes on him, I hovered on top of the table and whispered, only loud enough for him to listen. "So 'ave yer already thought about what I said? Are yer going to take her on a getaway?" Alex blinked and then chuckled as I sat back up straight. "I dunno, still think it ain't worthy..." He played with some napkins that were displayed on the table, I looked at him with pitty eyes and felt startled up when Alma came back to our table. "What were ya guys talkin' about?" She asked as she sat down sipping her coffee, Alex mumbled something and rolled his eyes. Fortunately, she didn't see it. "Erm...Alex was just telling me he loves this pastry! It's really nice, indeed!" She beamed and placed her coffee on the table. "It's his favorite, ain't it love?" Alma beamed and proceeded to kiss Alex on the cheek. "It's not!" He blurted and she must have felt taken back, because her eyes widened and she slowly turned back to her seat. I shot Alex the eye, but he ignored me. I shrugged at Alma, trying to tell her not to bother about him and she recovered herself. "So yer wanna come on over for lunch?" She asked me beaming and I tought for a moment. "Lunch? I don't wanna be a job, Alma!" She started shaking her head and repeated 'no's'. "Alice, we're going to throw this lunch for our friends, too! O'Malley's are going to leave for a small journey in Europe 'n' we're just wanna be together before they leave! Everyone's coming!" Alex slowly turned his face to me and crossed his hands over his chin, in a praying gesture, and his eyes were trying to speak for him. "Okay, why not, then?" I said giving a brief and not too convincing smile, happily none of them seemed to read my thoughts. Me and Alma kept a small chat while we were at the shop, on the other hand Alex remained silent the all time, just observing, thinking or playing with this huge ring he had on his pinky finger. 

Okay so I'm sorry, I really can't keep a promise, can I? So I'm posting this smaller chapter, because I knew if I didn't post it, I would spend an entire month without updating. Please keep leaving comments and vote if you did enjoyed the chapter.