See me playing

You wanted to talk, so speak

Winnie

"Don't run away", he said before I had a chance to excape. That only made me want to bolt even more. But than he added 'please'. And that made me stay.

I don't know how he knew I wanted to walk out of the coffee shop and leave him there, but he did.

"You know why this coffee shop is named 'Bitter truths'?", he asked after a few moments of silence.

"Are you avoiding the subject now, Aiden?"

Is he nervous? He certainly doesn't look like he is.

"Humor me."

"Fine. Why is it named 'Bitter truths'?"

"The story is a bit cliche if you ask me, but..."

"Welcome to the 'Bitter truths'. My name is Anna and I will be your waitress today. Are you ready to order or do you need more time?", young woman interrupted Aiden.

She was good looking. Her hair was short and black, her make-up was dark and her left arm was completely covered with tattoos.

Somehow, I wouldn't connect her with this place. It was full of vibrant and pastel colours and this girl looked like she only surrounded herself with dark tones.

Although, her smile and eyes looked warm and genuine.

"What do you want Winifred?", asked Aiden.

You.

What? Where did that come from? Didn't I decide my wierd feelings for him are no more relevant? Guess not.

"Winifred?"

"Sorry, I've spaced out. Whatever you're having is fine."

"Cheesecake and lemonade.", he said.

"Sure, I'll be right back with your order."

After that we were left in a complete scilence. And it was definitely not comfortable. Not like it used to be.

I loved spending time with him at that camp. We used to practice together, take some long walks, sneak out in the middle of the night. It was spontaneous, and that is what I liked about us the most. It was crazy and maybe a little fast, but it felt natural and genuine.

That's why I'm here. For the old times' sake, I guess. Everyone deserves a chance, innocent until proven guilty and all that. We are adults after all. We should be able to handle this as such.

So, after the waitress came with our order, I decided it was time to get it over with.

"You wanted to talk, so speak."

"Listen, Winifred, keep in mind that gossip is just that, gossip. Judging by everything you have said the other night, someone was really running their mouth. This people need to find a life for themselves.", he said with disdain.

"This people, as you call them, are my friends, so please refrain yourself from insulting them."

"I don't care. We are not here to discuss your friends. We are here to talk about what we had."

"And what did we have?"

That question rendered him speechless.

I could feel his eyes on me. He couldn't see me, but I still felt that same fire inside of me everytime his eyes landed on me.

"I... We...", this is probably the first time I saw him struggling to find words to say.

"Darleene and I broke up a week after the school year ended."

Now it was my time to be at loss for words.

"I never called you because I was in an accident not long after the camp had finished. So I had this situation to cope with.", he said.

"I don't get it. Everyone is saying...", I did not get to finish that sentence.

"I was never the one to care about what other say. Why would I bother with what others think of me?", he asked bitterly.

"I don't know what to say to that.", was my honest reply.

"One thing you have probably heard is right. I used to be an asshole before the accident. Everything you have heard about Darleene and me is probably true. And, although I really liked you, I probably wouldn't have called you."

I had to appreciate his honesty, but what do you say to something like that?

The answer is 'nothing', you change the subject. Subtly.

"Is that why you said your name was Chance Fenton?"

He laughed at that. So much about changing the subject subtly.

"No, it was the name I used while I was at camps like the one I met you at. Father insisted on it. Security or something like that."

Suddenly, I became really interested in my slice of the cheesecake. It was delicious.

Did he remember it was my favourite?

Nah, I am reading to much into this.

"I was at of the concerts you played at this summer."

"What?", I did not expect that.

"You played the harp in the philharmonic orchestra in New York this summer."

"Yes."

"Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra."

"Yes.", he was there?

"The only piece written by Mozart for harp.", he added.

"I know that, smartass."

He laughed again. I really loved his laugh.

"Somehow I knew it was you.", he said. "When I heard you playing that is. I asked my mother to look at the list of the musicians and tell me who is playing the harp."

"Was I any good?", I asked jokingly.

"That was the first time I truly resented my condition. First time I resented being blind. I so desperately wanted to look at you. See you playing."

"I remember you loved to watch me playing.", I had to add.

"There is just something about people when you see them playing. The innocence, the emotion. The way they express the music with their bodies. It captures you and holds you captive."

His statement left me breathless. He left me breathless.

Like that wasn't enough, he continued.

"There are not many people that can do it. Do it without faking the emotion. And you, Winifred, do it without realising it. You play because you feel the music. That night I truly started to miss you. To miss everything we had."

I had this sudden need to jump across the table into his arms.

There was no way I am getting over him any time soon. Not while he says things like this. So, it is time I do something about it. About us.

"Aiden, do you want to go on a date with me?"

The surprise was evident on his face. He didn't even bother to hide it.
But, after he recovered from the initial shock, he smiled like he had won a lottery

"You are asking me out?"

"Yes, I am."

"But I get to choose where wa are going.", he said.

"I don't think it works that way, you know. I asked you out, so I plan the date."

"You want to plan the date?"

"Yes, Aiden. I want to plan the date."

He laughed and said 'fine'.

But at the end added:"There is no one quite like you, Winnie."

I really missed hearing him call me Winnie.

This thing we have going on between us definitely does not feel the same way it did back then. But, for some reason, I am glad for it.