Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - Coffee Shop

I walked into the coffee shop as I tried to block out the cold and blistering wind that pushed me back and forth. It was hard and tedious, but I was able to pull back the door enough to where I could go inside. I flew into the place, with the door shutting behind me before I realized everybody was staring at me.

"It's windy out there, isn't it?" spoke a familiar voice.

I looked up from where I was sitting on my knees to see Frank standing there extending his hand to me.

"No doubt," I replied taking it and standing up.

"What is up with the weather, anyway? It's only September," I said as we sat down near a window.

We looked out at all the trees that were blowing really hard and leaves going everywhere and the people that were trying to get into their cars or homes.

"I heard a heavy front was coming in this morning and through all of this week so it's gonna pretty gusty and rainy for a while. Here, I got you some hot chocolate to make you feel better," he said pushing a reindeer coffee mug towards me. I looked at the steam that rose from it showing that it was freshly made.

I grabbed it and took a sip from it, but then I put it down and locked my fingers together and looked at Frank.

"So,...you said you wanted to start a new friendship with me, didn't you?"

He replied. "That's sort of what I was going for."

I took another sip of my hot chocolate and continued to look at him.

"Well, if you were saying you wanted to start a new friendship with me, then I guess that means we should start over from the beginning."

He smiled. "That shouldn't be a problem, stranger."

He stood up and walked away from our table, but then to my amazement, he headed out the door of the coffee shop and into the windy, outside world.

But after a few seconds, he walked back in and walked near my table and stood there. He looked around the room pretending there were people in every seat. But then, he looked over at the empty chair across from me, and then looked at me. I was about to start cracking up laughing.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but may I sit here? It seems as everywhere else is full."

I looked around the room at all of the empty chairs with the exception of one old lady in the back, but then I smiled at him.

"I would be delighted if you sit here,...ummm.."

"Frank...My name is Frank."

He sat down in front of me and looked straight at me.

"So, what is your name, if I may ask?" he said starting to use normal speech.

"Haley. I just moved here from Brookhaven, Rhode Island because of a job transfer for my mom."

"Cool. What kind of job does your mom have?"

"She's a model."

"Nice. I think you would make a pretty good model."

"You know, I don't think it's good for a random stranger to start flirting with a random girl in a coffee shop whom you're trying to be friend's with."

"I wasn't flirting."

"But you were trying to by complementing me if I wore a bikini and heels."

"I didn't say that," he said starting to get kind of defensive.

I started laughing.

"I'm just joking. You don't need to get so defensive about it."