Lost Christmas

Chapter 3 - Getting to know you?

I blinked.

He was still there. 

"Um, hi! I was just, uh, sitting here."

I blinked again. 

Nope. Still there. He was definitely human and not a figment of my imagination.

"Uh, are you ok? You look a little pale." He said with concern.

"Oh I'm ok! haha Uh, ho-ho how did you find this place?" 

"Oh I found it while taking a walk a while ago. Do you want me to go?"

"Oh no! It's ok! It's just that no one really knows about this place. How did you find it?"

"I have a knack for finding places that no one really knows about.", he said with a grin.

"Oh." 

An awkward silence fell upon us. I wasn't very good with people, I only interact with my family. I don't even have any friends in school.

I decided to break the silence that fell upon us.

"You seem to be new around here. Did you recently move here?" 

I didn't mean to sound rude or anything but believe me I know everyone around town without them knowing me so seeing him here was a bit of a shock.

"Yeah! We moved here recently from Australia. We moved in the house across the street from the Andersons. You heard of them?"

Oh well I didn't notice them moving in. He seemed to have read mind.

"We moved our stuff about a week ago. We just needed to move ourselves here."

"Cool! Welcome to Old Brooke then! I hope you like your house!" I said and turned to leave.

"Wait, can I at least get your name and get you a drink?" 

"My name's Narsha, How about you?"

"Alex. Just Alex." He said and held out his hand. I shook it. 

"You want to grab a drink right? Come I'll show you a good place."

We walked out of the park and I directed him to a little coffee shop near the end of town. Not many people know that place. It took about a 30mins. walk to get there from the park because of the snow.

"Here we are!" I said and held the door open for him. 

"Little Bean. It has a very nice ambiance." I hear murmur to himself.

I know the people here very well. I found this place one day while walking around town when I was 10. I got locked out of the house that day. Jake was at work, Nina was in the UK, Dad was ina seminar, and Nick was going to be home late in the afternoon. I was cold, wet and hungry. I walked into the shop and the two elderly people who were running this shop kindly gave me an extra jacket, some hot cocoa and some cookies. They allowed me to stay there until Nick and Jake came to get me.

"Hey George and Lisa! How are you both doing? I haven't seen you in a while!" I said smiling warmly at them. Whenever I'm with them, I can't help but smile.

After exchanging our greetings and settling in one of the booths, we ordered hot cocoa with some oatmeal cookies. I know, I know, what was I doing eating with a complete stranger I met from the park hidden in the bushes! But for some reason, I don't feel anything threatening or off about Alex. He just seems like a really nice guy. When our orders came, we paid and dug in.

"This is really good!!!" Alex said with a content sigh, warming his hand on the mug. I couldn't help but laugh at his expression! He looked like he could die happy! I giggled.

WHOA. I. JUST. GIGGLED. Someone is seriously wrong wrong with me. I don't giggle. It's just not my thing. He must have noticed my expression because he suddenly leaned forward with concern in his eyes.

"Are you ok? Do you feel unwell?" 

"I'm great!!!! I was just thinking."

After that, we talked for a while about our families and hobbies and the stuff people usually talk about when you first meet. After finishing, we bid goodbye to George and Lisa and just went around town. I didn't realize I've been  gone for six hours until I saw the clock near the park.

"Omg! I have to go home! It was really nice meeting you Alex!" I said.

"I'll walk you home! If that's alright with you that is." 

"Oh no it's ok really! I'll be fine thanks! Anyways, I have to go! Take Care Alex!"

"Alright! Take Care Narsha!" And with that I ran home...