Bestfriend or Best Lover

FIVE

Belle's POV

I aimlessly made my way down the busy street of Grand St and inhaled as much fresh air as New York had to offer through the thick fog of car smoke emission. I was pleased when I finally spotted the building in front of me, encased in an off-white pebble dashing and displaying a rather modest sign which detailed its name, proudly so - Le Pain Quotidien. It was a family diner and had fast become our meeting place.

"Hi Belle, usual?" asked Grams, the owner.

"You bet!" I replied, desperate for a tea.

The inside's quaint furniture and Victorian atmosphere were unusually captivating, proving to be the perfect addition to a business situated just off of Time square. The streets were often filled with all sorts of wonderful people; where friends reconnect and new friendships are forged over the shared appreciation of delicious food and good company. the smells just as often as mysterious. As the loaves emerge from the ovens, warm and fragrant, handmade bread serves as the canvas for a myriad of organic and seasonal ingredients. The hum of conversation fills the air, jam is passed around the table, and, ever so gracefully, time slows. In a space where colour comes to life, music mingles with the melody of conversation and fresh-baked smells stoke the imagination.

Inside, are the usual customers, where they reconnect with friends over the shared appreciation of delicious food and good company. Also appeared in their normal seats, chatting away in their distinguishable groups with the odd tourist dotted around, desperately scanning maps as though their lives depended on it. In the corner, I spotted Katy, Grams eldest daughter, and offered her a friendly acknowledgement in the form of a huge smile.

"You okay?" I questioned, making polite chit-chat.

"Better than him," Katy laughed, pointing towards Arden who was hunched over, looking worse for wear.

"Poor boy had a rough night," I smiled, removing my jacket. "Hey gorgeous, looking fresh this morning," I sarcastically stated, forcing his head up so that his piercing blue, slightly bloodshot eyes met mine.

He was still in last night's clothes which had become somewhat creased and his hair a glorious mess.

"Oh Belle, I feel like dying. Have you got a mentos or something? I haven't even brushed my teeth this morning. I've lost my fucking keys," He moaned, mirroring the look of a truly wasted person who engage in an alcohol-fuelled binge. If you haven't seen one. This is how they looked.

I outright laughed at him and pulled out my packet of mint, offering it to him. Grams chose that moment to come over with my coffee and placed a rather peculiar looking drink in front of Arden, stating the concoction to be the world's best hangover cure.

"My kids swear by this," he said, offering Arden a sympathetic glance before turning his friendly face my way. "The usual, Belle?" I nod at him and told him that our friends are on their way too. Grams just gives me a thumbs up. Then soon sauntered away when another regular entered the café, and I focused my efforts on making Arden feel a little more human again, starting with his lost key situation.

"I have a spare key on your house in my bag. We'll have some food and get going, if you want, we'll text the guys," I suggested, watching him drink the foul looking liquid in one gulp.

"Christ, that's disgusting!" He informed, reaching for yet another mint. "Thank you. Where would I be without you?"

I smiled at him in response and decided to ask how his night went, which was met with nothing but a blank stare on his behalf. It would appear blondie was not worth the hassle after all.

"Shit! We got back to hers and as it turns out, she's a massive fan of cats. I have never ever had sex while being strangely stared at by an awful looking white Persian?" he bellowed, sounding nothing short of outraged.