vanilla // lrh

four

The familiar hum of dishes clinking and mumbled voices filled my ears like a sweet song.

The breakfast rush was somehow my favorite part of the day, the smell of hotcakes and bacon filled the air, rows full of people waiting to start their days.

I always wondered what each person had to do that day. Maybe a cute date with a new guy they met on tinder, maybe an old couple went out for their 50th anniversary, or even to just get out of the house.

"I just sat 3," The hoarse voice of Belinda, my elderly coworker blenched from behind me. "Young boy, think he wants some coffee."

I grabbed my coffee pot, and made my way to the third table west of the door, where I saw a blonde boy in glasses and a grey beanie, eyes pealed to the newpaper in front of him.

He held the paper with both hands, his pointer finger of his right tapping gently against the pages.

His eyebrows were furrowed, and his bottom lip with tucked beneath his teeth. I remembered that gesture like the back of my hand, as it had played over and over in my head for the past week.

If the boy was a stranger, I'd think twice to interrupt, as he looked to be so interested in the paper in front of him.

But this boy didn't deserve my courtesy.

"Coffee?" I asked, abruptly, and coldly, holding my hand on my hip.

His eyes shot up, and he gave me a small smile, no recollection flashing into his eyes.

They were blue.

Not the a grey blue, or a blue that looked as if it had mixed with the green next to it on the color palette, but blue.

Bright blue like a bird, like fresh, clean, ocean water. Blue like two sapphire pearls staring up at me without remorse.

He nodded quickly, then returned to his paper.

Does he not recognize me or is he just too big of an asshole to give me the satisfaction of being imbedded into his memory?

I filled his cup, staring at him, waiting for him to look back at me.

But nothing.

The lump in my throat that I had been avoiding like a bad itch retuned, as I hustled back to the kitchen, trying to dismiss the feeling that boy gave me.

Why did he have such an effect on me when I didn't even know him?

**

As I dragged my hand along the stairway railing, I could already hear the music from Michael's room, feeling the vibrations against the metal of the rail, it was Third Eye Blind, one of my favorites that he listens to.

I smiled to myself, humming the words to myself, as I knocked on his door, hoping for a super corny dance sesh.

"It's open!" I heard shouted, muffled over the music.

I opened the door, the familiar musky sent filling my nostrils.

His place was always a mess, clothes all over the floor, and he was nowhere to be found.

But what I did find, was two bodies, stretched out over two of Michael's couches. I followed each pair of legs up to the familiar faces on Calum, and the muscular boy who threw the party, Ash, I believe.

"Hey!" Calum shouted, noticing me standing in the doorway, and getting up from the couch.

I sat my purse on Michael's counter, then untying my apron.

"You look like you need a drink!" Calum explained, looking at me from head to toe.

"I probably do," I laughed. "But I'm good, thanks."

Just then, Michael walked out of the bathroom, his eyes and mouth churning into a smile.

"Els! These are my friends Ashton and Cal-"

"We've already met," Ashton smiled at me and then to Michael.

"Luke should be coming soon, I met the three of them in Psych-"

Luke, that was his name.

"I-uh, I actually need to go home," I breathed, fighting the stinging feeling. "Long shift, gotta shower."

"Well, come back later!" Michael said. "Wash that nasty grease smell off ya."

I nodded, then smiled at Calum, and turned out the door.

I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, loud and heavy.

I quickly turned to my door, fiddling quickly to find my house key.

"Hey," I heard behind me, harsh, demanding.

I rushingly turned my head, a slight fear trembling over me, hearing the familiar call send goosebumps down my skin.

Just then my body was dominated by height, getting so close to me that I was forced against the wall, as Luke looked down at me, fume practically spilling from his nose and ears.

My heart was racing, my eyes widened, as he stand over me, his eyes hitting through mine and right to my stomach, like a bullseye.

"You think I'm fucking vanilla, do you?"