"Jeff, no! I have to get to the Brew if I'm going to propose to her today." I pocketed the ring I was going to give to Sarah Beth at the Brew. That is, if Jeff didn't take my car.
"Ben's just at Paige's house." Jeff pleaded with me. "And Ben is allergic to taxis. Something that they clean them with, I think.
"Why is he even there?"
"Maya was over last night, and... she's pretty loud."
"I don't even need to know that! You could have just-"
"Come on, mate. You're like a brother to me! A brother with a car that isn't in the shop!"
I sighed with aggravation. At last, I gave in, retrieving my keys from my shirt pocket. "Fine, but-"
"Yes!!! By the way, I have to take Maya home if you don't mind I might be somewhat later than you'd like but goodbye good luck love you man!!!"
I didn't have time to curse Jeff out, so I let him go and then proceeded to take inventory of my things:
Wallet, check.
Phone, check.
Whatever else, check.
And the ring in my right front pocket, check. I guessed I'd have to just take a cab.
---
I smiled from ear to ear in the cab. It might not have been my choice of transportation, but at least it was clean. I tapped the back of my foot as I became impatient. The cab driver, a pale, black-haired man only a tad older than me, looked in the mirror back at me.
"You gotta piss or something?"
"Huh? Oh, no. No, mate. I'm proposing to my girlfriend today." I showed him the ring
"Aw, I see! That's right wonderful. Got me a wife and babies back home. Yes, that's good. Wish I could do more than just besides driving cabs. But it's a living. What do you do?"
"I own a café. She owns it with me. Oh!" I got the ring out of my right front pocket and showed it to him. "This is the ring I'm proposing to her with."
"Good job! Hope the best for you. Eh, almost to your destination. I'll have to stop by this place someday. Name's Phil."
"Ashley." I paid him and wished him a good day. The taxi rolled away as I stepped into the Brew.
When I got inside, I saw a black figure standing near Sarah Beth. I walked over to them. Eleanor Malfoy turned around an greeted me warmly, if not a bit nervously.
"Hey!" I grinned. "What's up?"
"Oh, well, I'm giving Sarah Beth and you the..." She looks around and whispers "tickets to my show."
I'm a tad puzzled. "Show?"
Sarah Beth gets excited. "Elle's a playwright! She made this sung-through show about her life called 'A Memoir,' and it's really popular."
Elle smirks. "Yeah, especially with the playwright being the crazy niece of a figure in the war. The money goes to St. Mungo's psych ward. Raising money for better healers."
Sarah Beth chortled.
"Anyway, I hand-deliver these to keep them away from any scalpers. I've had about six owls shot down and killed for these, you know."
"Wow." widened my eyes. "That's wild."
We stood awkwardly for one moment while the customers shuffled in and out. Eleanor took a breath and cleared her throat. "Well, I must be off! Have a good day, see you there, and..."
