Bella's Babe

60) Passing Stranger

Bella/Alice Pairing
AU

The wind swept past as I moved lightly from foot to foot trying to keep my toes from going numb and falling off in this cold winter weather. I had a scarf and gloves and a coat it seemed disproportionate that the lower half of my body has nothing but a pair of worn out jeans, old socks and the bad foot ware choice of converse in such cold weather but I refuse to wear those furry boot things everyone else seems to have. I pulled back my sleeve revealing the slowly ticking watch but I think this is what I deserve for being up at six in the morning on a Monday...well almost six if it were six the stupid coffee shop would be open and I wouldn't be waiting outside like an idiot.

I huddled closer to the shop leaning in and pressing my shoulder against the large window. The lights were on inside but no one was there yet the whole street seemed eerily quiet it was something I rather liked about this time in the morning getting to see the world wake up.

I heard her before I saw her, the clacking of her heels against the pavement made an unmistakable sound that echoed down the passing alleyways. She drew my eyes like a flame her beauty was unreal her face was white like snow but has glimmers of red most likely from the cold. She had her hands deep in the pockets of a green pea coat the first few buttons were undone in a fashionable way. I realised I had been staring as she approached and I averted my gaze to the ground expecting her to pass by as she stopped and looked inside the coffee place lightly trying the door only to have it clack ceremoniously against the lock. She let it go with a small huff and an annoyed stare much like I had done ten minutes ago. It was silent again as she stood at the other side of the door leaning just like me. She gave me a quick look and a one sided smile probably glad not to be the only one out here at this time. We both stared out into the empty street our heavy breathes seemed to fill the air and she seemed to shuffle as I seemed to look without even realising it as she took a small green book one I recognised instantly.

This stranger not only a stranger but a beautiful one to be exact that gets coffee before six am and carries around a tattered old copy of Walt Whitman's 'leaves of grass'. The smoke of my breath seemed to give away my amazement as I covered it with a small cough. She appeared immersed in the written word her mossy green eyes slowly moving over as her lips seemed to almost ghost the words. She was a curious little stranger as I found myself peeking at her under the guise of looking up the street. Her un-gloved fingers caressed the page before swiftly turning it over.

In my attraction I missed be boy as he passed right in front of me keys jingling as he opened the door throwing a sorry smile over his shoulder.

"Sorry for the wait, you guys can take a seat and I'll get your orders but it takes a few minutes for the machines to start up."

He didn't look even twenty yet as his baby face smiled and he held open the door. I shrugged I wasn't one to argue or make a scene it would take the time it took. The boy disappeared and it was nice to get out of the cold thou it wasn't much warmer inside. The coffee shop was small I knew this from the small amount of times I had been here. There were only three tables and I sat at the middle table in front of the window as she took the far away table directly facing me. She placed her book on the table before taking a seat and the boy reappeared wearing an apron and carrying a note pad.

I placed my order and gave him the money as he moved over to her and I watched as she smiled up at him almost grinning her pearly white teeth shining in the dim morning light. I don't know what it was about her that seemed to draw me in I only realised I hadn't stopped thinking about her. I wonder if she noticed me...

Our tables were so close I could easily say hi and introduce myself but then what else do I say? I never did this kind of thing...but I had never seen anyone like her before either.