boys and girls

june 18th

it's been almost a week since hailey went to the cafe and now she was back. and ethan was there too. it was as if he was waiting for her. he was even sitting at her usual table.

she ordered her usual tea when she walked in, barely sparing a glance to ethan. only once she got her drink, she walked towards him, laptop in hand. he grinned at her, upon seeing her. she managed a small smile.

the last time she was here, ethan annoyed her, to no end. but, he managed to make her warm up to him, just barely. his witty remarks and horrible jokes attracted her. he wasn't bad looking, either. no, no. he was really attractive. messy brown hair that was hidden under a beanie today, dark brown puppy eyes behind a pair of glasses, his handsome grin that only ever appeared when he saw her. it was hard not to be attracted to him.

"hey." she greeted him, casually while opening her laptop. she was far behind on her book, not being able to write a lot last week. silence surrounded the two, save for her typing and ethan's obnoxious sips.

"hey."
she nodded to show that she was listening.
"you never told me your name."
she abruptly stopped typing. she didn't? guess she must've forgotten to introduce herself.
"huh," was all she said in realisation. then continued typing.

he groaned in frustration.
"you're supposed to tell me your name."
"nah, i'd rather not."
"then, what am i supposed to call you?" he asked, frustrated by her brushing him off.
"how about no?"
"okay, nice to meet you, no."

she ignored him. he whined.
"pay attention to me."
silence.
"hey, i'm talking to you!"
more silence.
"stop acting like you don't hear me. i know you can."
a sigh.
"hey, the one with the purple scarf. pay attention to me."
he got the same response as last time.
"maybe i should call you purple scarf. you're always wearing it."

she finally answered him. "you've only seen me twice, including today." he grinned, satisfied he got a response. "yeah, but all the times i've seen you, you've worn that scarf. it's not even that cold." he noted.

she simply shrugged. "my grandma made me this scarf."
"oh, are you wearing it so you can keep a piece of her with you cause she's no longer here?" he asked, bluntly.

she looked up with an 'are you kidding me' face. "she's very much alive, if that's what you're implying. and i wear it because she worked hard to make it for me and seemed so excited when she gave it to me," she explained, looking back down at her laptop.

silence for a few minutes.
"so you'll tell me that but you won't tell me your name."

"yup."