First Dance - MunchingCanadian

3: An Ending and a Beginning

*Tyler*
Three letters were sitting on the floor in front of my apartment door. I picked them up as I shuffled through with one hand, using my other to fish my keys out of my pockets.
One was the electricity bill, one was a reminder to return my library books, and the last was another letter from home. I sighed as I opened the door to my apartment and tossed my keys onto the coffee table nonchalantly. I closed my door and locked it and walked through the dark living room to the kitchen, where I turned on the light. The two business letters I put on the my kitchen table which I got at the local thrift store to deal with later, and the one from my mother I put with all the other unopened ones in their respective drawer. I drew a sigh. "Sorry, mom, I'm not really in the mood..."
I went to the fridge and opened it, pulling out the half gallon of milk I had. I poured myself a glass and sipped it as I sat at one of the three chairs around the table, my shoulders sagging. A few beats passed before my cat hopped up onto the table with a soft, happy, "Hrrmph!"
I couldn't help but smile as he rubbed against my shoulder affectionately. "Hi, Bo..." I said softly, petting his head. I had gotten the tortoiseshell cat when I was in college, about two years back. Bo was a kitten then, but now he was full sized and very fluffy and very affectionate. He had been abandoned by his mother, so he got pretty bad separation anxiety. I honestly felt bad leaving him home alone all the time, but I had to so I could work and earn money so we could both eat. But I let him stay in bed with me and I played with him all the time on my off days to make up for it. Bo had always been a good friend.
"...I met a boy tonight..."
Bo looked up at me curiously, as though he understood me - or maybe it was just my imagination.
"He was really cute. Not like curry cute, like you, he was... well, he was hot. He had these brown-yellow eyes, like caramel, and his hair looked so soft and his hands were bigger than mine and his lips..."
Bo looked surprised.
I found himself blushing and I smiled sheepishly, looking away, still scratching Bo behind his ears. "Anyways... I had a fun time at work today..."
Bo purred and rubbed against my shoulder. I rolled my eyes. "You just wanna be fed, don't you?"
Bo meowed in answer and hopped off the table, moving quickly to his food bowl. I smiled and poured him some food and rested my mug in the sink before I went back to my room, which was pretty cluttered with clothes strewn all over the floor. The only outfit I took really good care of was my work uniform, because I was required to. I took said uniform off and hung it safely on my doorknob before changing into my pajamas, which was just an old baggy tee shirt and sweatpants. Then I flopped onto my bed on my belly, plugging my phone onto its charger and setting it on my nightstand beside the clock and the little sprig of bamboo in its pot I had for luck.
As I did so, Bo hopped up beside me, purring and full and content. I smiled, pulled up my covers, and turned off the light while Bo curled up happily at the foot of the bed. As I was falling asleep, I couldn't help but think back to the boy... Mitch. I felt like some middle schooler with a crush. He was just so pretty and charming and warm and the way he held me...
I was blushing just like I was when he kissed me. I could still feel his taste on my lips. It was minty but with some chocolate, probably from the wedding cake... He was so cute. His eyes when he looked at me, when he kissed me - so certain, and kind. If made my heart flutter thinking about it, but then my heart sank a little.
I didn't have his number, or his email - not even a last name. I would probably never see him again. And with that sad thought, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

I was woken by the sound of my phone beeping, telling me I got a message. I groaned. Damn it, I forgot to turn the ringer off...
I laid still a few more minutes anyway. I could hear birds chirping pleasantly outside, and when I opened my eyes, I could see the sun shining through the window, and blue sky above with a few feathery clouds drifting past. It was a beautiful day.
I finally sat up, sighing as I stretched. Bo was still curled up where he had been last night. He really liked to sleep. I reached for my phone and opened it, squinting as the I read the text I got.

Ty: You off today?

I already didn't like where this was going.

Me: Yeah, why?
Ty: Adam just went through a breakup and he's really sad. Can you go pick up a cupcake a bring a funny movie or something? He's moping pretty hard.
Me: Yeah, sure.
Ty: There's a cute bakery on Maple, Adam likes the red velvet cupcakes. I'll pay you back!
Me: I'll be over in twenty.

I sighed, clicking off my phone. "There goes my day off..."
It was a shame though, that Adam and Dawn broke up. They were really cute. Oh well... They had been fighting a lot recently anyways. Maybe it was for the best.
I got up, changed into a hoodie from my old college and jeans, and promised Bo I would play with him later before I left. I drove to the street Ty had mentioned, Maple Street, and took my time driving down it. It was a Monday morning, so people were walking down the streets on both sides, some on phones, some carrying briefcases, some with children in tow. I found the bakery pretty easily. It looked really cute, and it had flowers with the displays in the windows and a bike sitting out front.
I parked in the bakery's lot and locked my car before heading to the front door with my hands in my pockets. I looked around, smiling a little. It had cute pictures of photography from places all over town, and pink and blue decorations everywhere. It even had a couple round, white tables where you could sit and eat in peace.
As I looked around, the shop keeper greeted me. "Hi, how can I-?"
And we both froze.

*Mitch*
"So what's so special about this dude as opposed to the others?"
I sighed in answer. "Well he's not a dude, he's just... A boy. A cute boy. Really, really cute. I mean, when we danced he was clinging to me in the most adorable way cause he had no idea what to do, and when we kissed..." I handed the waiting customer her change and then the white bag containing the butterfly cookies she had ordered. "Thank you, enjoy your order!"
She smiled politely though she was on the phone and left, making the little bell on the door jingle as she went. The shop was empty now. I leaned in the doorway behind the counter leading into the kitchen, where Jerome was currently stirring a mix for a cake someone had ordered just a few minutes ago. "He's just so... soft. Everything about him. His skin, his voice, his lips, his hair..."
Jerome was smiling. "Dude, this guy has gotta be the one." He said, making me tense just a little. "You get his number?"
I sighed, brushing my hair back. "That's the problem..."
Jerome looked up in surprise. "You didn't?!" He asked incredulously, and I shook my head. "Oh, that sucks..."
"Yeah..." I sighed again. "I guess it wasn't meant to be. Shame."
"Tough luck." Jerome began pouring the batter into a circular pan. They were quiet a few seconds. "How's the book going?"
I just groaned loudly.
Jerome laughed. "That bad, huh?"
"Terrible writer's block." I replied. He looked ready to say something else, but then the bell on the door jingled, indicating that someone had come in. I smiled, and said my line. "Hi, how can I-?"
Then I turned, and saw who was there. I froze, my eyes widening.
It was him. The boy from the reception. The boy I danced with. The boy I kissed.
Tyler.