There For Me Always

Chapter 4

I spent the afternon lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. I knew he was going to be fine, but i couldnt help but worry. I must have fallen asleep because then next think I knew, it was no longer as light in my room, and my alarm clock was flashing 9:00pm. I sighed heavily before rolling out of bed and walking to my bathroom. I turned on the shower and let the steaming water consume me for a half an hour before I rejoined reality and stepped into the cold air of my bathroom. I blowdried my hair and let it fall in its naturally wavy state and, after deciding against makeup, put on my thick black framed glasses. I pulled on my black crewneck sweater with a band logo on it and dark purple legging before throwing on my black combat boots, and walking out of my room.

I peeked into my moms room, to find her sleeping peacefully in bed. I crept down the stairs and switched a light on in the kitchen. There was a note on the table from my mom, and i picked it up to read it.

'Went into your room to see if you wanted dinner, but you were fast asleep and i didnt want to wake you. Figured you'd be up sometime during the night, so theres half a pizza in the fridge, and a $20 next to my purse if you decide to go to that cafe. Be safe, love you. xx'

I've always been a night owl and my mom knew it. It hasn't made my life so easy when it comes to getting up early for school, but somehow ive managed. I've always loved staying up until 4:00am reading books, watching movies, and sometimes just listening to music. About a year before when I had just gotten my license, I drove around town for hours just for fun and I stumbled upon a little cafe. This cafe was a little out of the ordinary though. It was a little hole in the wall, easily passed over when scanning the street shops. The walls were lined with books and on each little table for two was a journal where past occupants wrote about their visits. The cafe was open all night, and that's what I found most appealing about it.

I parked my car on the curb and made my way into the place I call my second home. As soon as I opened the door, I was engulfed in the warm atmosphere and smells of brewing coffee. After smiling at my favorite waiter Scott, a cute curly headed blonde boy in his twenties with a goofy smile, I walked over to my special seat. I tucked myself comfortably into the nook of the plush chair seated in to corner of the cafe, and then reached into my bag for the latest novel I had been reading. A few pages in, I paused to order a red velvet hot latte and chat with Scott. Then I once again immersed myself in my book, where I planned to stay for several hours.

Sometime around 1AM, I faintly heard the sound of the bell above the dark wooden door chiming. Ignoring it, I continued to read the fast approaching conclusion. I had my legs tucked up under me while holding the book in my right hand, and lighting biting at my right thumbnail. My eyes rapidly moved back and forth across the pages and then suddenly a nearby cough shattered my focus. My head snapped up and my eyes were met by all too familiar hazel ones. I was frozen, simply staring with my mouth open in disbelief.

'why the hell is he here? is he actually stalking me?' I thought to myself as I continued to look at Matt like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide.

I eventually was able to complete a coherent thought, and said

"What the hell are you doing here?" angrily.

He didn't have his usual slight smirk on him face, he really just looked tired. Once he heard the tone of my voice his brow furrowed and he was looking at me with quite a bit of intensity. He looked like he was trying to figure something out, but never the less his silence both irritated and further angered me.

"Well?" I basically hissed. This was my special, secret place. Not a soul knew about it and I could come here to escape anything and everything. And he was ruining it.

Unfazed my my tone, he licked his soft pink lips and locked his eyes on mine. I saw something in his eyes, though I wasn't sure what's it was.

'Confusion.....?' I raised an eyebrow and let out a breath of frustration through my nostrils before he finally spoke.

"To be honest, I... I don't really know what I'm doing here. I don't even think I know what 'here' is, exactly." He gestured to the interior of the cafe.

He looked so lost, and I recognized it because that's all I saw every time I looked in the mirror.

"I've been driving around for a few hours and then I saw this little cafe had its lights on and I just walked in... and as soon as I did, I saw you." His eyes were now wondering, tracing the knots in the wooden table between us.

"I hate being alone. I really really hate it." He said it in such a low whisper, almost as if it were a thought that was accidentally said aloud.

My expression softened and I slowly placed my hand over his. Clearly he was struggling with something and even though I had no idea what that something was, I understood. I could feel him tense under my touch, and his eyes darted up to mine once again. A sad smile appeared on his face, and he went back to exploring the cafe with his eyes. I watched as his gaze landed on the little brown leather journal towards the back of the table.

"Its a journal. It's purpose is for people who sit here that experience something memorable, or just have something to say, can write it in the book for future customers to read. It's suppose to inspire people, or to bring them happiness." I explain to him, while sliding the journal in front of him.

He started to flip through the pages and once he seemed to be really invested in reading the entries, I slowly took my hand off of his. I snuggled back into my chair and went back to reading. But my mind was racing and the words on the page weren't registering in my brain.

'What is even happening right now? Who is this vulnerable guy sitting in front of me? Because he sure isn't the cocky jerk I've encountered time and time again.' My mind circled around those thoughts.

I heard a few faint laughs from him and as I sneaked a peak up at him, I really saw him as a normal guy. Not the annoying obnoxious personality I had met so many times lately, but the true person he was. The guy who sat in front of me with his innocent expression was a whole different person, and one that I liked very much. I was snapped out of my daze by the sound of his voice.

"Do you have a pen?"

I blinked at him a few times before dumbly stuttering.

"W-what?"

"A pen. Do you have one?" He made a writing motion with his hand, as if we were saying charades or something.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah I think so." I dug into my purse and retrieved a pink fine point pen. "Here." I handed the pen to him.

He smiled and let out a soft laugh. "Pink. Really all you got?" He teased.

"Hey you wanted a pen, and a pen is what you got. Instead of complaining, think of it this way: now you will know exactly which entry is yours." I smirked while tapping the blank journal page in front of Matt.

As a response, he clicked the pen and began to scribble onto the page in his surprisingly neat handwriting. Before I could decipher his words from my upside down view, Matt slapped the journal shut and slid it back to its resting place. He seemed to be in a much better mood now, so his following actions were something in should have expected. He stood up from the table and ruffled my hair before saying "See you around." and striding out of the cafe in much better spirits.

After smoothing my hair back down, and making sure Matt was gone, I reached for the journal. I flipped through the pages until I spotted the newest entry in bright pink ink, and began to read.

"10/24

- I was in a shitty mood, but then a pretty girl was able to make me smile."

I don't know what I was feeling after I read it, but my eyes were burning holes in the paper trying to figure it out. Then a thought entered my head that washed away everything else in my brain.
He stole my pen.