Chocolate Fudge Brownie- A Vanilla One-Shot

I dug the scoop down deep into the tub of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream, scraping out all that was left from the tub, fitting it all perfectly on top of a cone. It was one of those rare steamy days in England. The weather was hot and the rays of sun pounded down on tourists like the spring rains. People had been flocking to Walden's rocky beaches and the ice cream shop all day. Daniel and I had practically had to push people out the door when we closed- half an hour past normal hours- I might add.

With a hard days work done, I saw no reason to not finish off the last bit of chocolate ice cream left. I swirled a bit of brownie piece off the top with my finger, my legs propped up on the opposite side of the booth I was lounging in. All the table tops were wet from cleaning and the floor nearly dry. Daniel was in the back washing off dishes and and the things he usually did.

I savored the treat, my mind drifting in the silence with only the sloshing of dishwater in the distance to fill the void.

All day long as I had scooped and schlepped ice cream, I'd been watching Daniel out of the corner of my eye and just waiting. Waiting and watching for any kind of signal or look of recognition that would hint to him realizing what day it was.

Perhaps I had gotten my hopes up too much. Boys have a reputation for forgetting dates. But he'd certainly remembered my birthday… Or maybe it was because that day was just stronger in my memory than his.

One year ago that day I'd moved to Walden On-Sea. Nora, her pregnant belly, and I had gone around touring the town and stumbled upon that very icecream establishment. That was where Daniel and I had met and somehow connected despite my awkward shyness and lack of communication. I was feeling extra nostalgic. Even my flavor of ice cream seemed like a blast from the past, the exact flavor Nora had picked after much decision making and contemplation. At the time, I kind of hated how much she dwelled on such a simple decision, but I might owe her partial credit for winning me that much more time with Daniel.

"Someone's lounging around," Daniel said, startling me from behind.

"I got all the cleaning done."

He broke out in a wider smile, seeing through my silliness and the streaky mopping job I'd finished in minutes. "I can see that. Good job. It looks great."

I took a giant lick off the side of the cone, seeing it halfway melted. "You're welcome."

Daniel seemed to notice the treat in my hand and speculated, referencing an old joke of ours. "What? No vanilla? Some might say it's the ultimate ice cream flavour."

"Oh, it is. And also a way of life. But, I don't know," I paused, twirling it around before taking another smaller lick, "I just felt something different was in order."

It's true. I lived my life like vanilla- simple, light, happy vanilla with consistency and as few traumatic surprises as possible. I loved vanilla, and I wouldn't of changed my life for any flavor in the world.

"With your speedy cleanup, we definitely have some time to spend at the beach. Erin said something about going there after work. Maybe she and Jay will be around."

Daniel didn't have to say much else, I was out of the booth with my fingers through his in seconds. With all of the work in finishing my A levels and working full time before starting Uni, I rarely got a glimpse of any of my friends besides Daniel. Even his younger sister, Erin, was a rarity because she still worked in a different city most of the day.

Daniel laughed lightly at my excitement, catching up to me along the pavement to the beach. Most tourists had cleared out already, and among the brightly colored beach towels, swimwear and other things, one blue head stood out above the rest.