Troubled Boy

Four

Harry continued to gaze at Kylie with a curious face.

"Erm...yes?" He chuckled with a smirk lying below his narrow nose. Kylie froze and her breathing grew heavy.

"Hey, um Harry? Yeah. She's just really nervous. Sorry about that. She'll get over it. I'm Mia, by the way," Mia curtsied next to a wide-eyed Kylie and beamed a white, soft smile. Harry smiled back at Mia and averted his gaze back to Kylie. Mia jutted her elbow into Kylie's rib cage and her friend smiled weakly at Harry while gathering her words.

"Sorry. I'm sorry I'm being such a bother." She smiled nervously. "I'll just go."

"No, no stay. It's okay!" Harry said.

"I'll just leave you two to it." Mia said winking subtly at Kylie. "Bye, love!" She spun on her heel and skipped to the bar in the back leaving Kylie to fin for herself while speaking to Harry.

"So..." Kylie began.

"You don't have to be nervous. I won't bite." Harry chuckled which sent a shiver down her spine.

"Sorry. So...what brings you here?"

"Just wanted a bit of coffee is all. With French vanilla!" He quipped cheerfully.

"I love vanilla!" A flood of relief washed over Kylie as the corners of her lips turned up in a smile. Harry slid his menu toward the wall next to him and scooted toward it patting the cushioned seat next to him. Kylie thankfully accepted the invitation and sat. Her face flushed at the feeling of the warm plastic beneath her where Harry sat. She hung her head and focused on her white converse under the slightly elevated table (thanks to Harry's knobby knees and long, skinny legs.)

As she continued her marathon of staring, she noticed Harry slide the glossy menu across the table under her forehead. Kylie looked up and blinked at the menu.

"Thanks." She said and Harry smiled.

*AUTHORS NOTE: Every time I am about to write Harry's name, I am so tempted to write Hazza. Just wanted to let you know that haha. Okay....continue reading!*

Kylie grasped the sticky menu and skimmed the front. She could feel Harry's eyes beating down on her and all she could do is just stare at one sentence on the menu and not comprehend a word. She turned her head to look at the boy next to her. He smiled.

"Would you like the menu?" she motioned the menu in front of him.  He shook his curls gingerly.

"You have nice eyes." Harry blurted. Kylie felt her face flush as she turned to look at the front door of the cafe. A smile crept up on her now crimson face and she mumbled a quick thank you and bit her bottom lip. No one had ever complimented her like that before and she felt a pang of happiness hit her as a petite waitress who looked to be about twenty, glided to their booth.

"Hello. How are we doing today?" she beamed at Harry not accounting for the girl right next to him.

"We are splendid. Thank you for asking." Harry answered. The waitress continued to stare at him with hungry eyes and Kylie could feel Harry grow uncomfortable. The way he twiddled his thumbs, faked a smirk, darted his eyes around the table. His tells could probably be noticed by a six-year-old. Developing enough courage, Kylie spoke in a confident, sarcastically cheerful voice.

"So I would like a medium roast coffee with three tablespoons of french vanilla creamer, please." She seemed satisfied with her small order and maybe a bit bitchy with her tone, but no one noticed. She looked at Harry who now stared at her with admiration and his eyes twinkled a mere thank you for getting him out of the awkward situation. The waitress gazed at Harry, waiting for his order, her pen at the ready. He looked at her then nervously glanced at the menu that Kylie held.

"I'll just have what she's having."

The waitress smiled at Harry and turned her attention to Kylie before sauntering off with a fiery glare left in her crystal blue eyes.

"Jeez, what was her deal?" Kylie rolled her eyes.

"I have no idea." Harry sighed and locked his eyes on Kylie's cheekbone and soaked up her beauty in one glance. "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are," he asked with a knowing smirk.

Kylie hung her head and returned her gaze to her converse, not saying anything.

"I take that as a no. I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Well, just so you know...I think you are breathtaking."

Kylie smiled weakly. Her tear ducts started to fill with salty tears.

"Hey, don't cry, love."

Kylie held her breath, hoping, praying, that she wouldn't break down in front of Harry.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, sympathy brimming his eyes. Kylie just shook her head slowly. When the coffee finally arrived, the two of them sat in silence, sipping their hot beverages.

After they finished, Harry saw Kylie staring blankly out of the large window to the right of the cafe door. He followed her gaze to see a middle-aged woman dragging her two children down the side walk like one of those toy ducks connected like a train at a toy store. The mother held her children's hands firmly but the love between the family lit up like a halo around them. Harry looked into Kylie's eyes once more and noticed the yearning in her eyes. The love, the hope, the want. She wanted that. She wanted a family that loved her, cherished her, and enjoyed her presence. He now knew what was wrong.

"Kylie?" He said her name like it was the most precious thing; like he was scared that saying her name would shatter it...or her. It didn't. She only looked at him tentatively.

"Would you like a ride home?" he asked softly. She nodded and the two walked out of the cafe. Harry and Kylie both glanced around. The woman and her children were gone. Just like Kylie's hope. Gone.