melting [pearlet]

t h r e e

VIOLET

   BACK in Atlanta, I used to go to this coffee shop every Saturday. Since I'm in New York now, I'll have to find my makeshift "Condesa Coffee." That's where I went. I find one on 38th street. I didn't bother to look at the name.

   Once I walk in the smell of fresh brewed coffee fills my sensitive nostrils. I haven't had coffee since the last time I went to Condesa Coffee in Atlanta. I was too afraid to try any other one, but I've been craving a latte for a while.

   I walk up to the counter and see all the fresh baked deserts on display right next to the cash register. A young teenage boy comes up to the counter his name tag reads "Alaska". "Hieeeee what can I get you todayyyy?" He draws out a long and raspy Y.

   "Hi can I get a caramelized honey latte, extra foam?"

   He fumbles around with the brewers, I assume he's new. "Here you go." He smiles handing me my latte. I check and see he got the order wrong, it's not a big deal. I give him a friendly wave before walking over to a booth. Sitting down scrolling through my phone exploring for some kind of news or text. But yet again, my phone is full of emptiness.

   The same boy I saw at school before comes out from the back, running his fingers through his hair while having small talk with another barista. I can't believe he works here? Is it a coincidence I'm seeing him again? I don't think I can ever get away from him.

   He looks over and notices me, his eyes widen a little big and a big and goofy grin appears on his features. He takes off his brown apron, tossing it to another barista and jumps over the counter. He walks towards me. I start to panic, is he going to talk to me? What do I say?

   "Hey, nice to see you here!" His beaming smile and bubbly personality is something I can't resist. He looks like someone you'd see on the street and you'd stop walking. Just to see him go by.

   "Hi." I smile shyly.

   "Can I sit down?"

   "Um yeah."

   He folds his hands neatly on the table with a big grin.

   "So you work here?" I ask taking a sip of my latte, getting foam on my upper lip.

   He shakes his head smiling at the white mustache that appeared on my face. He finally replies, "Yeah I do."

   We're interrupted by one of his co-workers, "Pearl! Whatcha doin'? You got work to do." His thick New Yorker accents makes it hard to understand him.

   "I'm on my break, I'll be a minute!" He calls back out shooing the barista with his hands.

   The guy throws his towel swung over his shoulder on the ground, shaking his head as he walks to Alaska at the counter.

   "So how do you like NYC so far?"

   "It's nice. The people are nice here, it's hard to adjust but I'm sure I'll be fine."

   His boss walks over, holding a platter of cookies. "Hey Pearlie, who's your friend here?"

"Oh he's new around here."

"Well to gesture a warm welcome I brought some cookies."

He whispers loud enough for me to hear, "Is this ya boyfriend or somethin? Cause he's cuter than the rest of the boys."

He pushes her off covering his face, "No, Linda. We're just friends."

So this mysterious boy right in front of me is gay? The planets are starting to align and everything is making sense. The long gazes, the flirty smiles, the gestures. It's all adding up.

His boss gently places the platter of chocolate chip cookies right in front of us. I feel it's appropriate to take one. I bite into the warm and soft cookie. It melts in my mouth like ice cream, I close my eyes and chew for a while.

Once I open my eyes up again, I see him across the table, His chin rests in the palm of his right hand, his eyes are boring into my own. He's smiling.

I feel like melting, his smile is beautiful. An unconventional beautiful. My phone ruins this beautiful moment, it goes off disturbing the whole café, I see my mom calling. I answer, she wants me home.

"I'm sorry I have to go, this was...nice." I admit rubbing my arm subconsciously.

"It was. I'll see you at school." He starts getting up from his seat.

"Wait." I stop him.

He stops in his tracks and turns around.

"I never got your name."

"Pearl, Pearl Liaison."