Twilight Java

Chapter 10

It was hard not to feel a rush the moment you step out from a quiet and relaxed space out into the fast paced rush of the city streets. I stumbled out into the sidewalk, slightly disoriented from my hazy state of reading and drinking coffee. Ellis followed after me and he pulled me over to the side of the cafe roughly.

"Are you from a small town?" He asked.

I frowned, "Yes, why?"

"It's pretty obvious," He snorted. "Don't be one of those people that stand in the middle of the sidewalk."

"There aren't even that many people around," I defended, my arms crossed over my chest. Sure, there were a couple pedestrians around but I wasn't disrupting their walking.

"Doesn't matter, just don't do it," He said. He began to look around us as if looking for someone or something. "What are you in the mood for?"

His question caught me off guard. "Huh?" I blurted out.

Ellis sighed irritably as if now regretting asking me to hang out with him. I'll admit, I was surprised and caught of guard, but also excited for what would come. I was finally going to explore this old but bustling city and what would be my home for the next four years. It was important for me to know how to get around, and here was Ellis already offering to show me the sights.

"I meant as in food," He said, his annoyed frown now turning into a small smile. I played along, and put my hand up to my cheek as though deep in thought. Although it looked like I was faking it, I really was taking my time to think of something. This was all so sudden. Even though I knew him for only a little bit, I had quickly learned that Ellis was an intense and quick person. Full of surprises and twists, but still lucid. I continued to stand and contemplate my selection until I looked him in the eyes, which were back to looking jokingly irritated, and told him what I was, in his words, in the mood for.

"Pastries," I announced, my mouth already watering with thoughts of eclairs, cannolis, macarons and so many other delicious bites of goodness.

"Oh look, I just turned fifty," Ellis said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. I simply shook my head with a giggle. "Well you're in luck because I know the most amazing sweets place. The baker there is actually from France."

Ellis nodded his head in the direction towards what I thought was the middle of the city, so I followed and we walked side by side down the street.

"Are you saying that the pasries there are better because the baker is French?" I said, amusement in my tone.

"Of course I am," He said with pride. "I need to support my people."

I snorted at the way he addressed other French people, but was also intrigued. "Do you speak French?"

"Bien sûr," Of course.

"Intéressant, sont tout deux vos parents français?" Interesting, are both of your parents French?

His eyes widened and he dropped his jaw as he stared at me in shock. I smiled sheepishly in defense. "I took French in high school, so it isn't the best."

"No, you just caught me off guard," He smiled and stopped in front of an intersection as cars dashed past us, "For four years, you sound pretty fluent."

"Key word is 'sound'," I said. "I'm definitely not fluent but I can manage. I practiced it a lot in high school because I really wanted to learn it and not just get the foreign language credit."

"That's kind of a bummer because now I can't talk shit about you in front of your face," He said with a fake frown but before I could even react to his remark, the pedestrian light turned on and he diverted his attention to the crosswalk, "Come on."