Imperial Coffee

Calm: Part Seven

When Cinder got up in the morning, she noticed there was no sleeping form in the other bed. It was only 7 AM—she must have woken up at that time on instinct. Had Kai woken even earlier than her? Where was he?

She decided it was too early in the morning to answer such questions and instead took her things to the bathroom since she hadn't showered the night before.

When she came out of the bathroom, she found Kai sitting cross-legged on his bed eating a scone. He smiled at her and pointed at a steaming cup of tea and another scone on the bedside table.

"I went out and got us some breakfast, I hope you like blueberry scones."

"Um, that's...thank you." She picked up the scone and tea, noticing Kai had somehow put in the exact amount of sugar and milk she preferred. He was more observant than she gave him credit for.

"You can sit there too," Kai said, pointing at her bed. "I want to talk about today. We're in LA, after all."

"What?" Cinder sat down, tilting her head.

"Well, you see, I've never been down here for anything other than work. I'm also pretty sure you have a lot to get off your mind. So I propose you take me sightseeing."

"Sightseeing?"

"Only if that's okay with you. How much do you plan to visit Peony today?"

"Well...there's not a lot I can do, and I want to avoid Adri and Pearl as much as possible. So maybe just once, unless something comes up. What you don't understand is I know about as much about sightseeing in LA as you."

"Didn't you grow up here?"

"To be honest, I barely went anywhere out of our neighborhood."

"Hmm, okay. Any suggestions, though?"

"I guess the beaches here are better than those in NorCal," Cinder conceded.

"So I've heard."

"And the Getty is amazing."

"You? Like an art museum?" Kai cocked his head.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm just surprised."

"Just because I'm a mechanic doesn't mean I can't appreciate something beautiful when I see it."

"Point taken."

Kai took the last bite of his scone and finished chewing before he continued speaking.

"Alright, we can go to the beach this morning, hopefully beating the crowds. We can have lunch out somewhere nearby, and then we can go to the Getty. I don't know the hours, but I can check that while you finish eating."

Cinder nodded, and Kai got up from the bed and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Cinder asked. Kai poked her cheek and she blinked.

"Try to at least act excited about this, okay? I'm doing this for you, I want you to enjoy yourself today. Got it?"

He was about to walk out when Cinder called after him.

"But why?"

"Because, as your new and most loyal friend, I know there's a lot you're dealing with. Why not?"

Cinder considered giving him a hundred reasons. Because I'm already in debt enough. Because it's unfair for me to be happy while my sister is sick. Because honestly, I want to sink through the floor and cease to exist.