Chapter 3
Melody grins at me as she passing my coffee over the speck less wooden counter. I thank her and took a seat by the window.
Gordon proposed a date here a few days ago, and so here I am waiting for him. My eyes couldn't help but flicker every once in a while at my phone screen, waiting for a phone call or message upon his arrival.
The coffee date was suppose to be at 9:30AM, yet I am alone waiting. Deciding to take advantage of this time, I pulled out my pocket sketchbook and doodled around for awhile. My mind was blank to what subject matter I want to draw, but a scene flickers at the back of the coffee shop.
A couple glazed at each other, memorized and oblivious to the world around them. I took in the beautiful as much as I could, precise on the little details like the way their hands perfectly molded on top of each other.
My pencil gently presses a light stroke on the paper, the beauty I see in the figure. When I look back up, the girl throws her head back in laughter, a genuine one, unlike the ones I hear my Tamara and her squad.
The boy grins, happy to hear his date laugh because of him. That he could take away a simple moment and create something much better.
I guess that's what life teaches us. Life gives a moment, and we choose what we can do with it. We can go along with it as it is, or change it to a beautiful moment.
Just as I finish up the last few strokes and add ups, I glance at my home screen.
10:07AM.
Perhaps that wasn't much of a doodle anymore, rather a rough sketch in my state of mind. I sigh. It has already been over half an hour and Gordon still hasn't shown up yet. He wasn't the type to ever be late for anything, and I realized that something might have occur at the last minute.
Then why he have me a call or leave a message? I was partially annoyed I had to wait with no clue he wasn't going to show up, and that my drink has turned cold. I decided it was best if I leave the matter alone for now.
Just before I got up with my belongings, a figure hovered above me, "Hey."
It was that boy again from yesterday. He held two cups of coffee and a sheepish smile.
"Hi."
"Mind if I take a seat?"
"Of course not, I was actually about to go..."
He places one of the two cups in front of me. I gave him a puzzled look back.
The boy smiles, "it's for you, and don't worry, I didn't do anything to it."
"Should I be worried that this drink may or may not be poisoned?" I joked. I took an inhale whiff of the French Vanilla Cappuccino, the savory aroma lingering.
"Well, I'm glad you're happy again, it wasn't a pretty sight seeing you frown."
I cough, choking up on the drink, "how did you know? Wait, were you stalking me?"
"No, I just happened to past by seeing your sad face on. Was there something bothering you?"
"Nothing."
"I can tell there's something just by the look of your face, Riley."
"No there isn't -" I stop mid way through my sentence, "how do you know my name? I don't even know yours."
"Yes, you do."
I scoff, "if I did, I think I wouldn't be questioning you like I'm from the CIA, would I?"
His expression suddenly changes to a serious one, "you really don't remember who I am?"
He looked quite familiar like I stated yesterday, yes. His eyes, I feel like I recognize like from somewhere, but where...?
"Hm," I examine him closely, and gave up, "I honestly have this feeling like I know you or I have seen you before somewhere."
He raises an eyebrow, and takes another sip from his drink.
"What is your name?" I asked, bringing my coffee to my lips.
He leans towards with his elbows prop on the table, a grin on his boyish face saying, "I'm Chase."
In a few milliseconds, my eyes bulge and the coffee splutters out of my mouth while I am in a fit of coughs.
That name. Chase. It sounds altogether so familiar to me, and then it hits me. It couldn't be him right?
This boy in front of me, observing my reaction, while a sheepish look plays around the ends of his mouth.
His facial, it changed a bit overall, yet the same eyes glistened beneath. He looks at me intently, waiting for me to respond. Maybe the memories is making me miss my childhood best friend again, and I am hallucinating to thinking that this boy in front of me might be him.
"Are you Chase Greens?" My breath hitched, and hope grew butterflies in my stomach.
He flashes a bright smile, and relief floods over me, "yes I am, Riley Matthews."
I don't know what came over me, but I suddenly felt wet streaks falling down my face. I want to stop embarrassing myself like this, with the boy I missed for so long in front of me.
A pair of arms drapes over my shoulders and guides me out of the coffee shop. We walked a friendly distance apart from each other, just our arms brushes past. We end up sitting on a bench in a nearby park facing the children's playground. The screaming and laughter in the play set reminds me of my childhood.
"It's been a long time, Riley," he says.
"No kidding."
Chase suppresses a grin, "how have you been?"
"Okay, I guess. A lot has changed since," I sigh, "and you?"
A little boy chases a girl around the swing set, full of energy and without a care in the world. "I missed you Riley. It's been a long time and I didn't expect that we would even see each other again."
At the moment, those four word 'I missed you Riley' sparked a ember in my heart. A feeling that tinted in the background when I am with Gordon. His words gave me hope and filled the empty space of my heart that tore eight years ago.
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I loved writing this chapter, and it felt really nice to finally add Chase more into the scene. :)
PLEASE COMMENT / VOTE / SHARE !!
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