The Change

Prologue

"Sofia I have to go!"

My best friend, absolutely smashed and already home by ten pm, was hugging me very tightly as I tried to leave the door.

"B-b-but I don't want you to!!" she hiccuped, her breath smelling of wine.

Trying to coerce her in to her bed, I resorted to bargaining. "If you brush your teeth and go to bed right now, I promise to bring you back a raspberry and white chocolate brownie."

"You would do that?" Sofia's face lit up like a little kid at Christmas.

"Well I kind of have to now! How much did you even have?" She had the grace to blush at this and I laughed at her and gave her a squeeze. "Love you darling, see you tomorrow!"

"Bye Nina," she grumbled as I picked up my laptop, and put my phone, keys and wallet into a small bag.

Even though it was late, I had never felt more motivated; the evening was the only time I knew I had to not be interrupted and let my thoughts flow for my college essays and reading. The coffee shop a few roads away meant that I wouldn't procrastinate and put on my pyjamas to watch Gossip Girl.

It was still warm out, and the sun had just set, putting London in a dim light as I walked. The busy-ness of the city meant I never felt afraid to walk alone and the constant car and people noises were the perfect background noise to get my shit done.

I pushed open the doors hearing the familiar jingle of the family owned all-day-n-night coffee shop bells and returned the warm, dimpled smile to the waiter Theo before sitting down in my corner table/booth - the one with the best signal and the mains plug.

"Your usual?" he called over.

"Yes please Theo!"

I stretched and then pulled out my headphones, putting a Rolling Stones mix on before hearing Theo speak again as he handed me my coffee -

"Hey whilst no one else is in here, do you wanna put it on the speakers?" I have to admit, he was good looking, the kind of sweet-guy-next-door boy and I thought to myself, if his music taste matches mine, I've found the ONE.

"Yeah sure, do you mind the Rolling Stones?" I replied and he faltered.

"Um... yes!"

I put it on but we did not carry on our conversation - it was a silent agreement between us as I started my work and he went into the back room and shut the door.

After about half an hour of Forty Licks blasting around the café I knew that Theo wasn't coming out any time soon so I went to the counter and unplugged my phone, feeling really really awkward.

It was about half past midnight when I finished my work, and I called out to Theo before I left "Hey I'm just taking a muffin for Sof, I've put the money on the counter!"

I heard a muffled "Thanks!" before I turned around to pack up my things. The bells on the café door chimed and I looked up in surprise - no one apart from me ever came this late.

The guy's head was covered by a black hood, but I could make out dark blond scruffiness underneath. I tried to ignore him but his cologne was consuming the café, not in an intrusive way but enough for me to notice from the other side of the room.

I could feel his eyes on my as I studiously avoided his gaze, but when I heard the jingle of coins and looked over at the counter, my money was gone, I could ignore no more. Sympathy for the Devil started playing through my headphones around my neck, loud enough for him to hear, and he laughed, a loud hearty laugh, all rough around the edges.

I plucked up the courage to call out to him "That's Theo's money! I put it there for him, you can't take it!"

"Stop me, princess!" he laughed more and threw over a wink.

Under normal circumstances I would have left it at that, handing over the ultimate problem to the waiter who was not supervising the café at all. However, something about the witching hour gave me more sass and courage than normal, and I spoke to him again.

"Okay, not-so-prince-charming, hand me the money, and pay for a coffee with your own cash, don't take an honest man's coins. Didn't your mother ever tell you it was wrong to steal?"

"I don't have one." He spoke quietly but firmly, leaving no room for anymore conversation. But he did take out £2 of his own, and call out for anyone to come and serve him.

Maybe the right thing to do was apologise, but I felt I had nothing to be sorry for - he was stealing and I didn't know better about his family. I didn't even know his name. I watched him for a while, and every so often I felt his gaze on me but I still couldn't see his face.

Theo came out and felt the tension in the air, putting my muffin order in first, and taking the money on the counter, none the wiser to what had happened, and then took the mystery man's order of a black americano.

The guy took the booth a couple of ones down from mine and took off his hood to drink his coffee. He blew Theo out of the door with his attractiveness, it was more rugged and raw - sexy rather than cute. His eyes were a bright blue-green and a couple day's stubble grew quite evenly on his cheeks. His brows were thick and even, and his jaw was very prominent. His lips, although pillowy and full, were split, as were the hands warming against the mug.

After some very blatant staring on both of our behalves, I got up, and dropped eye contact. I picked up my bag and little wrapped muffin, put on my jacket and shook out my hair around my shoulders, which didn't go unnoticed by him at all. His lip curled up in a smirk, which I didn't respond to, and attempted to walk out of the café without saying a word.

He however had other plans. He took my forearm as I walked past his booth, and I turned to face him.

"What?"

"Your name, what's your name?"

It took me a couple of seconds to understand what he said, and I finally replied, "Nina Lunare - Valentina actually."
I don't know why I told him my full name - I'm not fond of it because despite its meaning, I've never been lucky in love.

He nodded and let go of my forearm, repeating my name. Valentina sounded good when he said it.

I had just reached the door when I turned to look at him another time.
As if he knew I was looking at him, he said, "Romeo. Romeo Da Silva."

I shut the door on my way out and walked home in the dark. Somehow I knew, it wouldn't be the last time I would see Romeo Da Silva again.