fall » h.s.

lydia;

the cool wind stung my face as i walked down the pavement towards my work. it was unusually cold for a november morning in london. i made my way across the road and saw the sign on the door was flipped to OPEN, which meant theo had started early this morning. good on him.

as i wung the door open, the warm smell of coffee greeted me and teased my senses. i shut the large wooden door behind me and walked over to the staff room. when i walked in, i was greeted by molly, my excitable best friend. "hey lydia!" she jumped out of her seat a little too fast and wrapped her arms around my small body in a tight embrace. i hugged her back and smiled. her body was warm, and it was a much better heater than my sweater.

"morning, mol. theo's on shift?" i asked as she let go. i took my sweater off and threw it over the back of my chair.

"yeah, it's super busy out there this morning." molly smiled widely and i grabbed my black apron. my name was embroidered on the front of the apron in silver and the little coffee cup and book logo was on the right side.

"i bet. it's way too cold out there. and the heating in here is amazing." i said as i tied the straps around my back and made a bow with them on my stomach.

"it's almost ten o'clock, lydia." molly reminded me and i smiled. he always came in at ten. i had never talked to him, he usually just sat in the corner on his couch which had the best selection of books on the shelf behind him. he didn't talk much either. just a nod and a small "thanks" before he went and sat on his chair.

"i know." i smiled, still thinking about the quiet boy.

"i wonder if he'll say something new today." molly mumbled.

"probably not."

i walked out to the counter and gave theo a massive hug. "morning, bear." i said to him as he wrapped his arms around me. "did you miss me?"

"it has only been a day, lip." i looked up at him and he smiled. "i didn't think you'd come this morning. thought you were looking after your neighbour's cat?"

"they came back last night, i thought i told you that." i laughed. i unwrapped myself from our hug and stood behind the register, signing myself in.

"oh, right." theo smiled and took an order from the customer that had walked up.