sunflower cafe

t h r e e

t h r e e

"So, Ollie, why did you decide to open a cafe and name it Sunflower Cafe?" Milo asked as he took a rather bite of his Italian food from a small local restaurant.

"My mom's name is Laurel Sunflower May. I named my shop after her," Ollie replied not wanting to go into detail.

"You did not answer all my questions," Milo pressed.

Ollie looked into her bowl and stirred her pasta around. "My mom wanted to open a cafe because she was so kind and loving. She believed she could spread happiness, warmth, and love to others through coffee and good food. But that never happened. So, I decided to open the cafe to carry on her dream."

"That's really neat. What about your dad? You haven't said much about him," Milo questioned trying to get to know Ollie better.

"Oh," Ollie exhaled. "He's in jail."

"Why?" Milo asked mid-chew.

"Well um—," she stuttered, hesitating to open up to him more than she already did. "Basically when my mom died he blamed me for her death because she died after giving birth to me. Growing up my friend, Juniper, and her family took care of me most of the time. But when I was home my dad would yell at and hit me He occasionally would throw empty bottles at me, he usually missed. When I was fifteen he left me and my older brother. Later on he was arrested for something, I am not sure what."

"Are you okay, Ollie?" He asked lifting her chin with his finger as he peered into her saddened eyes.

"Yeah, I am fine."

...

For the rest of the dinner awkward small talk and silence was shared between the two, along with the quiet murmuring sounds that filled the restaurant.

When they finished their meals, Milo insisted on paying. Ollie agreed without a second thought. They both stood up and Milo put his arm around Ollie's waist, shocking her a bit.

Outside the restaurant the two stood on the sidewalk. The cold tingles their skin and enveloped around them. Ollie was about to thank Milo for such a great time when she felt the warmth of someone press against her lips, banishing the cold tingle. Her eyes closed slowly as she took in the gentleness of the kiss. When Milo pulled away he gazed into Ollie's eyes with such love and compassion with his deep emerald eyes.

"Ollie," said Milo's raspy voice, breaking the silence. "Would you like to come to my place tonight? It's closer than the cafe and it's warm and private."

"Oh, no thank you, I have work in the-," Ollie was cut off by another gentle and soft kiss from Milo.

"Oh come on," He pleaded as she pulled away.

"Milo, I can't. I have work in the morning," Ollie said as she turned away.

That's when she felt someone gripped her wrist and pulled her back.

...

"Milo let go of me!" Ollie yelped, slicing into the silence of the night.

He tightened his clasp on her arm and he began to pull her in the direction of his flat. That's when Ollie lost it. She began to scream and slap him. Nothing worked, he kept his hand around her wrist and didn't stop dragging her away.

"Milo!" Ollie screamed even louder finally getting the attention of people on the street.

"Ollie, be quiet! It's okay," Milo whispered, trying to keep Ollie from making a scene.

Ollie tried to resist Milo's grasp, failing over and over again. That's when a brave soul came over from the onlooking and growing crowd. Without any hesitation, the stranger who had come to Ollie's rescue punched Ollie's attacker right in his perfect nose.

Caught off guard, Milo loosened his clasp on Ollie's wrist, just enough for Ollie to pull and back away. Ollie's savior looked toward her and that's when she realized who it was. Juniper.

"Ollie? Are you okay?" Juniper questioned reaching out and putting her hands on her shoulders.

"Yeah, I think so," Ollie answered still in shock as she was pulled into a hug by Juniper.

Juniper released Ollie from the hug and whirled around and threw another punch at Milo's face. Luckily Juniper wrestled in middle school and boxed in high school so she had some practice under her belt.

Milo tried to return a punch to Juniper in the nose but Juniper caught Milo's arm before his fist could make contact with Juniper's face. With Milo in Juniper's clutches, Juniper locked eyes with him and whispered in her tough, hoarse voice,

"Touch her again, and I'll hurt you far worse than your little brain can even fathom," Juniper said while tightening her grip on Milo's fist

"Will you? Because last time I checked, petty threats from petty girls don't do anything. They just anger me more," Milo threatened.

"You will not touch her, talk to her, or even look at Ollie again if you want to live to see another day, got it?" Juniper growled. "And I am not a petty girl."

"Good thing I don't care about you or her. I've got time for the ladies but no time for a girlfriend."

Juniper got one more good punch and kick in before she threw Milo to the ground and walked over to Ollie, giving her a long hug, pulling her close, and then putting her arms protectively around her to walk her home.

m i l o ' s     b o n u s

After the pleasant experience of being beat up by Juniper in public Milo stumbled on home to his flat.

Silly girl she thinks she can mess with me and not get something in return. Oh please, she's got plenty coming.

Slamming the door he slid off his shoes and headed to the bathroom to wash the dry and crusted blood off his face.

He looked in the mirror and thought to himself, as soon as I don't look like this pathetic loser who lost a fight to a girl I'm heading right over to that "Sunflower Cafe" and giving little "Juni" a surprise.

A malicious grin spread across Milo's face as he plotted how to get rid of Juniper so Ollie would have no one to turn to but him.