Second Chances

Chapter One

Ella's POV

'...Are you there yet?' Liam asks me from the other side of the phone.

'Liam, stop checking in on me. It's just a walk to the café' I say as I roll my eyes.

'But...' He starts, but I interrupt him.

'No buts, you're the one who ditched me. If you really wanted to make sure I'm safe, you'd be here' I snap.

I love him and all, but this is getting ridiculous. I went on a morning run yesterday, and he kept calling me every five minutes to make sure I'm alright. I see where he's coming from though. His younger sister had been assaulted in broad daylight, even though, I keep telling him it's not his fault.

I hear him sigh, 'sorry, it's just it's a big city, and the thought of you out there alone is...'

I stop at a crossroad, as I wait for the light to change.

'I know....we've been through this before' I take a pause to walk across the road, 'if it makes you feel any better, I always take that pepper spray you got me'.

I continue walking, the 'DREAM 'N' CREAM CAFÉ' sign in my view.

'Wow I feel so relieved already' He says sarcastically. I can already imagine him rolling his eyes at me.

'I just got to the café, want anything?' I say just as I'm about to enter.

'No thanks, I'll just get a late coffee on my way back' He sighs, 'I have to get to work, I'm pretty sure my boss has been glaring at me for the past five minutes' I laugh, 'Love you, bye'.

My smile turns into a frown.

I'm not sad that he has to go. I know how much he loves his job. It's all he could talk about when he first got it. He's been dreaming about working as a sales rep at The Big Inc. since he graduated. It took him three years, but he finally got. It's partly the reason we moved to Boston.

I'm sad because he never says 'I love you'. It's always 'Love you', even though I'm sure we've passed that stage. We've lived together for 2 years before we moved from Miami. The only time he's ever said it is when I first blurted it out during one of our Saturday date nights.

'Love you too' I say cutting the call, as I open one of the double doors of the café. I am soon greeted by the chime of the bells.

I let my sadness get washed away by the smell of coffee and paper bags.

I walk up to the counter. It's thankfully free except for a man in a three-piece suit, who looks like he's in mid-thirties, ordering coffee.

I order a medium coffee with cream and sugar with a bag of muffins and some chocolate chip cookies, because I know Liam will probably be too busy to get some on his way back from work.

I get my money out, as she bags my order. I look around taking in the small café. There are six small white tables each spread out from each other. Each are accompanied with two chairs, some pale green others coffee-brown.

There's a big cupcake styled clock above the entrance door. Pink wrapping and green swirl icing on top. Three fans on the roof, chestnut in color. The café spots a natural look. There are a lot of windows including a glass wall, so a lot of sunlight enters the room. The are a lot of potted plants around from small plants to larger ones.

'That would be $12' The cashier tells me handing me my drink and paper bag as I hand her the money.

I head out from the café, the sound of bells in my wake.

I sip my coffee, the paper bag in the other hand, as I look around the building trying to remember my way here.

The café is at the corner of the street with an apartment building across it, and a small offic-