Love in the Minor Key

Chapter Two: Drama

He walked into the little cafe, looking at the menu they had as he stood in a pretty long line. When he finally got to the front of the line, he ordered a cinnamon chai latte and a pistachio muffin before paying. As he waited for his order, scoping for a place to sit, noticing there were no tables empty. He saw a young man, looking about in his early twenties. He had on some sky blue chinos and a gray hoodie on top of a cool celestial lion T-shirt. He was wearing some glasses and typing on a MacBook, obviously listening to music also. Next to him was a car seat with a newborn inside. She had on a hot pink onesie under a cute ivory skirt. She had on a cute pink hat with a bow and cute little lion booties. Dan was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his name being called, picking up his order and going up to the boy.



"Errm excuse me," Dan called, the boy removing his headphones. "There isn't any other seats in here and I was wondering if I could actually sit in the empty chair."

"Oh well I'm not using it," the boy smiled, Dan sitting down. "I am Phil. Phil Lester."

"I am Dan Howell," Dan returned. "Are you from around here?"

"No," Phil shook his head. "I'm from Rawtenstaw. I went to Manchester University for school and moved here after. I live on campus and they pay me to do a book club with the students."

"I see," Dan nodded, interested. "I'm actually trying to become a professor here. I went to school, thinking I was going to be a lawyer, then I realized I knew more about music composition than mandamus and compos mentis. I found a love for music and it's history. I'm a sucker for a good song honestly. So now I am trying to get. A job. Is there another outlet?"

"The bottle warmer is plugged in," Phil answered, "but Livvy isn't waking up anytime soon, so I won't be using it."

"Thanks, Mate," Dan thanked, Phil plugging in Dan's laptop. "They told me I had to write a syllabus based on what the typical curriculum is. That's what I came here for. I'm so thankful for your kindness."

"It's honestly not a problem," Phil shook his head. "I was lucky to even get this table so I get it. Where are you from?"

"Wokingham," Dan responded, "but when I went to uni, my whole family moved to Manchester. Everyone in my area knew me and my family. Unfortunately, my whole family was murdered while I was out of town. I came back and they were all gone."

"I'm so sorry to hear that!" Phil gasped. "I couldn't imagine losing my family like that. God! I'd be devastated. How did you live through that?"

"It was hard at first," Dan admitted, "but justice was served on the woman that did it. Apparently, some woman became obsessed with my father and was convinced that she was his wife. She saw him with my mother and little brother and just killed them. She did get what she deserved though. Let's just say she won't kill anyone again."

"Well it's good that she won't hurt anyone anymore," Phil smiled, "well I have to finish my discussion paper. Just write down your number on a slip of paper. We can keep in touch. I'll text you when I have an empty seat."

"Sounds like a plan," Dan finalized, writing down his number before putting on his own headphones.

Dan put on a playlist of his own music and began reading through the curriculum and previous syllabi. He noticed a theme but wanted to make his intentions unreadable, attempting to make is as impeccable and original as he can muster. He got tired of hearing his own music, so he switched to a playlist of over a thousand songs he liked. He was so into it that he didn't notice a woman walk up to the table. When he did notice, he also noticed that she was mad.

She wasn't necessarily ugly, but she wasn't his type. She looked almost half a foot shorter than him and very thin with small breasts. She had a way too sexual white shirt, which her body didn't work in, and it was under a denim jacket. Her bottoms were black leather pants and had a rose necklace and earrings to match. Her boots were black, her eyes were smokey, and her lips were red. Her blue hair was in an obnoxiously "perfect" braid, and it made Dan internally rolled his eyes when she saw the cat whisker purse. She stood there, her arms crossed and her leg shaking, waiting for Phil to notice. When he did, he smiled but his smile faded when he noticed her face.



"What's going on?" Phil asked, both men knowing that she was about to go off.

"Why the hell is this stranger here sitting with you?" She asked angrily.

"He's new to London and needed a place to sit," he shrugged. "It's called a nice gesture, Hope. You should try it sometime."

"You don't know who you're letting near my baby," she spat. "He could be a pedophile, serial killer or try to steal you from me."

"Okay, hold the fuck up," Dan snapped. "First off, I'd never do anything to any child, and I think people like that are beyond sick and deserve death. Secondly, I have never, in my life, killed a human being. Third, Sweetie, if I wanted you man, I would've already had him in one sit in. Thing his, he isn't really my type. I go more for the top looking guys. A man has needs. So fuck off with your stereotyping bullshit."

"Are you going to let him talk to me like that?!" She gasped.

"He does have a point actually," Phil laughed, "and Olivine is more my daughter than yours. May I remind you who has custody of her and who only comes around for her when they'll benefit from it? What I thought. Now I have work to get back to, before you rudely interrupted me, because someone needs to take care of MY daughter. Daniel, I am so sorry that you had to put up with that. Also, she isn't my girlfriend. She just is convinced she still is."

"Oh shut up!" She snapped. "You're the one that moved on very quickly."

"Coming from the girl who had to take five paternity tests," Phil laughed. "It's sad that the guy that was your fiance was the last man you tested, along with the man you still call your man. He isn't a man when he beats a woman and throws her baby against the wall."

"You can stop now," she squeaked out, hoping no one that she knew we there.

"No I'm done holding it in," he shook his head. "Everyone should know how much of a whore you really are. We dated for two years! Then I found out you were pregnant. I was happy about it. I was going to marry you and everything! Then I found out it was possible she wasn't mine. Four other guys! You had slept with four other guys, and you picked the abusive one. What is it about him? Because it's definitely not looks. What? Does he have a bigger penis? Is he better in bed? Does he have more money? What is it? You know what? I don't want to know, not do I care. Go to that abusive little boy. Don't come crying to me when he dumps you on the side of the road like the sad little stray puppy you are."

"So that's how you really feel, huh?" She shook her head, leaving.

"She's about to go burn my house down" Phil sighed. "Thing is, I don't give a damn. It's happened before and my important stuff is in storage. Besides, I have more than enough money to buy a new place. I'm thinking about an apartment."

"That would be smart," Dan laughed. "That was a lot of drama for my first day in London. Lucky for you, I thrive on drama. It's an art of its own."

"I guess we should get back to writing," Phil joined in the laughter before both of them went back to working on their laptops.