a work in progress

It Takes Two (part deux)

I stood there a little bit paralyzed, a lot a bit shell-shocked. And when I thought he was going to speak, I had to first.

"Right. Okay. So...I promise I don't usually do that," I said speedily.

He took a few steps toward me, undoubtedly so I wouldn't mistake his slight chuckle for a colossal laugh. As he stepped I turned around to grab my bag, tripping as I did.

"Oh, and I am generally not this clumsy," I said as I hopped around trying to disentangle my foot from the strap of my bag.

Bouncing about I could see that he had removed his left hand from his pocket and placed it over the smile he was desperately trying to cover.

"Oh good geez," I said as I finally freed myself, my back now to him. I turned briskly over my right shoulder yanking my hair from my mouth to say, "Yeah....so...'kay bye,"

And ran as fast as I could back in the direction I'd come.

I never knew what it was like to run an 8-minute mile, but I think this particular mile, I'd done in under 5. I ran until I couldn't see the campus anymore landing just outside the bookstore. It wasn't open yet so I sat on the curb a while to catch my breath. Feeling safe and alone I put my head between my knees and scolded myself aloud.

"For the love of all things sweet Noe, what were you thinking? You looked like a complete idiot back there flailing about. How long had he been there?" I asked peering into my hands as if they held the answer.

"Oh goodness, I may be thinking about the possibility of feeling like I have to vomit in the near future," I continued grabbing hold of my stomach.

"No you don't. It's cool. You'll be fine. The school is big enough. He probably won't remember you. And you'll probably never see him again anyway," I resolved.

Disrupting my self-inflicted chastisement, I felt three small taps on my right shoulder. Slightly frightened I sprang to my feet and turned to see him...again.

"And I also don't make a habit of talking to myself...while sitting on the curb...alone," I instinctively retorted.

I went to run again, but he gently grabbed me forcing me to halt. He held my left hand cupped in his, his thumb lying firmly across the back of mine.

"Before you run off again," he said, "want a cup of coffee? Not that you need it."

I did an awkward half smile and he continued holding my hand as he unlocked the door to Café y Libros. Pushing the door open, he tugged my hand a bit and asked, "So what'll it be?"

Not having the strength to tear off again, I shook myself free from my daze, and sighed a little.

"Sure."

"Alright then," he said releasing my hand, "after you." And he guided me into the café.

I walked in without a word, absorbing all of my surroundings. He began his own routine changing the door sign from closed to open and then off behind the coffee counter he started turning on life.

"Is decaf okay?" he said with a wink and a smile.

"Decaf is fine. If you can do con leche I'll be immensely grateful," I said with a sweet smile.

"You got it."

Listening to the churning of the coffee machines, I surveyed the landscape. The shop was small, but it was bursting at the seams with books. I touched many of their spines finding new worlds I had yet to explore, melting in the smells of cinnamon and jasmine, poking each of the cushy chairs spaced sporadically about the shop until eventually I found myself at the coffee bar.