Audra was excited,that much I could tell.Her fluff was bouncing violently as she spun around me,she really was excited.Her vivacious aura was almost contagious."What's got you all excited?"I chortled.She purred,her bouncing never stopped.I could tell,I knew she was excited to see Esen and Phil.She landed on my hands and dropped me some chocolate covered espresso beans."Yeah,I didn't sleep all that well,"I hummed,remembering last night's events.One by one,I ate the espresso beans as thoughts plagued my mind and echoed around every corner of it.Why did I think of Phil?Why was I willing to leave my comfort zone for him?Why was I scared of his disappointment?Why did I care so much?We've barely known each other for a month yet we clicked so fast;it's kind of scary.I closed my eyes and focused on the taste of the caffeine-filled sweets.I sighed as I ate the last one.Audra dropped some more,never leaving my hand or seizing her excitement."Audy,"I smiled at her excitement.Audra is so lazy that her excitement is like an annual event.No matter how busy my mind is,she always seems to make me happy.I smiled,my eyes still closed.Just as I was going to eat the second batch of caffeine goodness,I felt someone's breath on the nape of my neck."Hey,"they whispered.Audy was vibrating against my hand and it didn't help my state of panic.I yelped and turned my head around so fast that my neck hurt.Phil laughed so loud that it sounded like he was crying.My face shifted from fear and panic to frustration."Phil!!You almost gave me a heart attack!!"I sputterted.I couldn't help the slight tint of pink on my cheeks,Phil always scares me like this and it makes me look so idiotic.He completely ignored me and laughed,"oh my god,you should've seen how fast your face changed.You really should stop closing your eyes like that while out.I could've been a burglar."His laugh was so contagious that I couldn't help but laugh myself and shove him playfully."Well,gramps,lesson learned.But you aren't safe from my vengeance,"I said dramatically."Ugh this nickname..let's see you try get back at me Daniel,"Phil rolled his eyes,smile not weavering.In the excitement if the moment,I didn't notice Audy run off to cuddle Esen."Come on,lovebirds,"Phil said,poking Esen to move.
I seem to not notice a lot of things.As we sat down in a booth at the corner of the cafe,I started to notice how pale and sick and just plain horrible Phil looked.Phil looking pale in itself is weird because I'm pretty sure that if he stood beside a white wall,he'd just blend in with the wall."Are you okay?You look horrible,"I asked after having a good look at him."Yeah,just a little sick.And I stayed up looking after Esen.You don't really look any better yourself,"Phil smiled.Esen dropped three pieces of toffee.I looked at Phil and arched my eyebrow in query."He just likes to make sure I'm as happy as I can be,"Phil said,petting Esen-who was too busy trying to snuggle as close as possible to Audy.I nodded,deciding that not pushing him while sick would be better."What are you sick with?Looks like you coughed your brains out,"I was trying to lift the momentarily silence that settled between us.He chuckled,voice hoarse from the sickness and laughing too much,"I just have a normal flu,and you look like a beaten up,wet sock."The smile that was itching to happen finally made an appearance."That's what late night stargazing does to a person,"I lied.I might have clicked fast with him but I can't just dump my nightmare and how I feel on him because I'm pretty sure I'd scare him away.Oh hey Phil I look like this because I had a nightmare about the wind and I was scared but the stars comforted me and oh yeah I forgot to tell you that I couldn't sleep so I texted you because I first thought of you,yeah right."Nerd,"he stuck his tongue out at me."Spork,"I mirrored his childish actions."What would you,gentlemen,like?"the waitress asked politely.Phil coughed and I looked down in embarrassment because of how she emphasized gentlemen-clearly hinting that she saw most of our ordeal."Um,a caramel frappe with extra caramel and with the special whipping cream,"Phil chose his order."Old costumer I see,"the waitress smiled,and looked at me.It took me a second or two to realise that meant she was waiting for my order.I looked at the menu and,quietly,asked for a drink called 'starry night'."Good tastes,"she hummed as she wrote down our orders on her notepad."Name's Louise,by the way,"Louise waved as she walked away,pink hair bouncing behind her.
I opened my mouth to talk before shutting it again.Just as I was about to talk again,Jour De Pluie's colored,glass doors burst open and an angry PJ stormed in.I looked at Phil as if to silently ask him 'what the hell?' and he looked down and shrugged.Poking my head from the side of the blue and purple booth,I looked to see what PJ was doing.He seemed to be furious and looking for something.As soon as our eyes locked,he continued stomping in our direction even faster.Phil sunk into the chair further as he heard PJ approaching."Phil!!Don't you fucking dare hide from me in my own workplace,"PJ's voice got louder as he got closer.As soon as he saw Phil,PJ slammed his hands on the table and chastised Phil,"Phil Lester!I clearly told you to not stay up late in the labs yesterday!You were sick for god's sake and you were looking after Esen!!Then you still go to the labs?!I get this is all what you work for and that it's for Esen and 'for the greater good' or some crap but that doesn't mean neglecting yourself for it Phil!Not to mention disappearing to hide from me in my own workplace!!You better explain yourself very well Phil!"Phil sighed and Esen dropped some mint candy."Listen Peej,I wasn't hiding from you.I only wanted to breathe some fresh air and hang out with Dan here.I also hadn't meant staying up too late in the labs.I thought...I had something I guess but I didn't so I just gave up.Nothing new,"Phil murmured.PJ looked at me when Phil made sure PJ heard my name.He cleared his throat and apologized,"Dan,I'm sorry.I just wanted to talk to Phil about something kind of..private.May I steal this rascal for a little talk?"I nodded.My chest ached from Phil's expression.He looked so sad,exhausted,and just utterly defeated.Phil and PJ started walking to a further away booth and teared my vision away from Phil's depressed expression and let it settle on Esen.Esen looked just as tired as Phil,with the custos' fluff being less fluffy that it usually is and with his attempts at seeking comfort from Audra.Esen still occasionally dropped mint candy.I pet both of them as my eyes stayed fixated on Esen.Is it normal for him to drop this much candy due to disappointment or exhaustion only?,I thought.I sighed,the question still floating in my head as I pet the clouds."Got ditched?"a female's voice broke my trance.
Louise (the pink-haired waitress from earlier) placed our orders on the booth's translucent,kind of iridescent table."No,he's just talking to someone,"I answered,eyeing our drinks.I could tell which was mine.My drink was a bright shade of blue with,what I assume is vanilla syrup,decorating the drink.As well as,cotton candy at the top and some edible stars and glitter."Looks good,"I smiled at her."Well,you will enjoy it.Louise guaranteed 100%.Make sure you enjoy it extra well,dear,it'll cover up for your date's absence well,"she chatted.I almost choked on my first sip,"He's not my..date.We're just hanging out,I think he feels a bit glum."Now that Louise mentioned it,I haven't been on a date in God knows how long.A date with a handsome guy or a pretty gal sounds nice.I have long determined that I don't really care for genders.You love your partner for who they are not what they identify as or what society determined for them."Well,he looks like he'd be a nice date.And some advice,don't push him to say anything.He probably knows that you know he's down in the dumps.He'll talk when he's ready so,for now,do your best to cheer him up.He'll appreciate it,trust me,"She advised.Despite her nonchalant appearance,Louise seems wise and like she'd be someone you can depend on.She seems like some sort of mother."Thanks,"I said in gratitude."Anytime,dear,"she waved as she ran to the next booth to see their orders.I could hear Phil and PJ's steps come closer as they returned.
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hello hello
sorry for the late chapter,was busy
and i'm also sorry because the upload schedule might get a little wonky the next 3 weeks due to my sat trials and 3rd quarter exams *jazz hands*
if anyone has any speculations or questions about the plot,feel free to ask
thanks for reading and for more than 50 reads,hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for the next chapter
-1437 words-
