crème glacée [the fate of coincidences 1]

12: Jade

Jade was late. That wasn't good because she needed to leave her best impression on this Glen Oswald. She brushed her hair today and put on clothes that didn't hang on her frame like parachutes. Her dashboard clock turned to 12:46 just as she turned off the engine and got out of the car. Peet's Coffee wasn't too busy at this time so she spotted him the second she came through the glass doors.

Glen Oswald was sitting at one of the tables by the windows, the gray light of autumn highlighting the planes of his face. Blond hair that he didn't even bother to style, casual jeans and a dark green sweater. For a second, Jade hesitated approaching him because he looked so different than the first time she saw him. But there were no other tall young guys that she could see and when she texted him that she was running late, he definitely said he would wait.

She looked over at him again as he looked up, eyes squinting and then his face lit up in recognition. He raised a hand and Jade rushed over, a little flustered.

"Hello, I'm so sorry I'm late," she began but he shook his head.

"It's fine." He gestured for her to sit opposite of him. "Do you want to go get a coffee?"

Jade glanced at the paper cup in his hands as she sat down. "No, I'm fine. Coffee does weird things to my stomach."

He nodded and silence descended upon them for what seemed like a really long time but in reality was just a few seconds. Usually Jade was very good at making conversation with strangers, but all the things she found out about him yesterday was making it a little awkward.

She cleared her throat, and decided to plow through with it. "So, um, I'm just going to be straightforward here. I know for sure that my insurance won't be able to cover for the damage I've done to your car. I also barely have enough money to pay the bills right now because I've just started a new job and I won't get payed in a while. That is why," she slammed her palms on the table a little too loudly from the sudden burst of enthusiasm, "I have come up with a proposition."

Glen was looking at her with curiosity and mild surprise, and she was just a little nervous. So far, he didn't look like the type to sue her, but you never knew with these things.

"Since, I'm guessing, your car is in the shop right now," she continued, eyes glittering with hope. "How about I become your chauffeur for however many weeks it takes for your car to get fixed and we'll call it even?"

He stared at her for a little, considering the offer, and Jade tried to make her best desperate face. It wasn't hard because she was actually pretty desperate. His eyebrows furrowed, and it would have been a little scary if Jade didn't imagine that they looked like caterpillars.

"I forgot to mention earlier," she added. "But I work as Ria Argon's makeup artist right now, so it would be very convenient since we'll be going to the same place for work. I can drive you anywhere you want other than work, too, if you need, and you don't need to worry about gas."

He nodded slowly. "Alright, we can do that, then. I'll call you in advance anytime I need to get somewhere. And you'd have to drive me to work every morning at seven thirty."

She nodded vigorously, a smile spreading over her face from relief. "Thank you so much for understanding!" She grabbed his hand. "I'll make sure your makeup looks amazing on Ria."

Glen looked bewildered and she quickly withdrew her hands, embarrassed at her outburst.

"Okay, sounds great," he said after recovering and taking a sip of his coffee. "I guess we can start now? I need a ride back. That way you'll also know where to pick me up from."