Flashback- Two years ago
Her effervescent smile radiated throughout the small but stylish apartment. The warmth she brings quite obvious. She giggles as she turns the corner to the lounge room. Trying but failing to be quiet.
As she tiptoes towards the next room, she sways her head around careful not be caught. Pressing her small hand to her pink lips trying to suppress the giggles from coming.
She reaches the hiding spot in the hallway closet and slowly opens the door and slides in pulling the door shut behind her.
When she is settled in the dark closet, she slips her hand into the pocket of the hoodie that she is wearing and pulls out the chocolate chip cookie. Smiling through the dark she nibbles on the homemade treat.
She was hungry. But was in the middle of a very serious situation, that she could not jeopardize her hiding position of. But her stomach over ruled and she had ventured out of her safe house to snatch a yummy cookie that she had just baked.
Suddenly her phone started vibrating in her pocket. She shuffled around trying to grab her phone out to silence it. It might give her position away. It fell out of her pocket and onto the soft sheets. Quickly she clicks the answer button.
"Yes?"
"Where are you?" He whines. Just hearing his voice makes her melt.
"Somewhere only I know," she whispers, teasing him.
"I don't want to play anymore," he whines again.
"You always give up," she huffs.
"I miss your face."
"It's only been an hour."
"An hour of playing a child's game," he states. She can picture him raising his eyebrows and tilting his head.
"I love hide and seek though!" She exclaims, slightly louder than she should have.
"Grace," he says with a deeply serious voice.
"Oliver," she mocks back at him.
"Please," Oliver begs.
"Thank you!" Grace chirps and hangs up the phone.
But instantly she felt guilty. They had played hide and seek last week and Grace knew how much Oliver really didn't want to play today.
Sighing she clambers out of the closet and looks around trying to find Oliver.
"Oh, did you give up?" Oliver says from behind her.
She spins around and sees a grinning Oliver.
"Oliver! That's cheating!" Grace wines and pouts with her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry, baby," Oliver says and steps forward to hug his pouting girlfriend, "How about I take you for coffee at this new adorable shop down the street?"
Grace nods her head suddenly so much happier at the thought of coffee and spending time with Oliver.
Oliver slips his hand into hers and grabs the keys from the kitchen bench.
"Let's go, Gracie," he says smiling his charming smile.
The pair reached the coffee shop in no time, as it is only down the street from their apartment.
They push open the heavy, green door and entered the small and cosy shop.
"Oh, I love it!" Grace exclaims, spinning around trying to take in all of the coffee shop at once.
Her smile was everything Oliver ever needed. If she was happy, he was over the moon. It always worked like that. And vice versa. If she was feeling sad, something in Oliver would be crushed. He really loved her, and it showed.
They walked up to the shiny red counter and a lovely old woman took their orders of coffee and cake.
The loved up pair slide into a booth near the window. One wear they could watch the people passing by. Grace loved to do that. To try and work out what they were thinking or where they were going. And Oliver loved watching Grace try to do just that.
"I think that lady in the red coat is going to pick up her children after a long day at work," Grace stated.
The lovely old lady comes and gives them their coffee and cake with a warm smile. She really looked like a proud grandmother when she looked at the pair.
"Thank you very much," Grace says smiling back at the lady.
"I think that mans homeless," said Oliver as he digs into the chocolate cake.
On other occasions, Oliver tries to refrain from guessing what the people are doing because he always gets it wrong. Well, according to Grace he gets it wrong.
"No, he's not homeless," Grace says, "He is playing music to get some money to feed his family. I think he is just poor but he does have a home."
Grace frowns as she watches the man play his guitar. Oliver smiles and watches Grace try and decipher what's wrong with the guy. But instead of giving a long lecture to Oliver about how he is wrong, she slides out of the booth, purse in hand and walks towards the heavy green door.
Oliver watches as Grace crosses the road to the man playing the guitar. He sees her open her purse and pull out a note to give to the man. He stops playing right in the middle of his song and looks at Grace. Grace nods her head and gestures for the man to take the money. The man cries and Grace pulls him into one of her warm embraces. She pulls away and puts the fifty dollar note in his hand. She smiles at him one last time and turns back towards the coffee shop.
That kind gesture, tugged at Oliver's heart strings. As soon as Grace walked in the door, Oliver bounded over like a happy puppy and collected Grace in a bone crushing hug.
"Oh gosh. Put me down, Ollie!" Grace squeals.
Oliver puts his girlfriend down and they venture back to their booth to finish their coffees.
As the couple leave, Oliver turns around and walks back towards the counter. In the glass jar that was collecting dust beside the till, he leaves a generous tip.
With a smile, Oliver and Grace push open the heavy, green door for the first of what would become many occasions.
This coffee shop, saw their tears, their smiles, their fights and their make ups. This was Oliver and Grace's special place.
And no one or nothing would ever be able to erase the memories they made here.
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So....that was your first meeting of Grace. I hope you all like her...
Please vote, comment and follow. I'll love you forever :)
And let me know what I can work on. This is my first story and I would love some constructive feedback!
Love you all,
Sarah xoxo
