Kismet

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Winter has started. White snowflakes. Yellow street lamps on blackened skies. Winter is one of the darkest but prettiest seasons. I'm in the cafe all alone, reading one of my favorite books. I'm reading it very fast because I need to finish my other thing on my list. Ding. The bell of the door ringed. Wait, the bell. Rarely anyone comes on a Tuesday afternoon. I glanced up to my surprise a young boy comes through the cafe doors. His face pale but his cheeks and nose rosy pink. Dark chocolate hair, eyes gray like the skies.

"Can I have a tea," the boy said.

"Yes, What type of tea?" said the cashier.

"Camomile with lemongrass," he gave the cashier five dollars.

"Hot or cold?" asked the waiter.

"Hot," the boy replied.

The young boy looked over at me and gave a warm smile. I guess he noticed I was staring at him. Dammit. I gave him a small smile, respectively and looked away. My heartbeat quickened, I kept reading my book. Still my mind on the young boy. It's kinda odd I've never seen him in town before. Probably his family is staying here for the winter break. One of the perks of having cancer is not going to school. 

Our town is pretty small. I know everyone in the town, being the sheriff's daughter and all. I've never heard of anyone's family coming to visit. I hear footsteps coming towards me.

"Is this seat taken?" a deep voice asked. I looked up it was the young boy. He gestured towards the seat, asking permission to sit. I nodded to assure him it was okay.

"Thank you," the boy said. I nodded again, I couldn't get myself to speak. I kept staring at my book. Why am I nervous? It's not the first time I've talked to someone attractive. I must look like a total fool.

"The Outsiders," the boy read the title of my book. "What's a highschooler, reading a middle school book?" the boy asked.

"It's one of my favorite's, it would be a sin not to re-read it," I looked up from my book. Why did I say that? Such a book worm.

"Uh-huh re-read aye?" One of his brows raised. "So it's your second time reading?"

"No, third."

"Oh, what do you like about it?"

"The detail, the plot, the emotion, it takes my breath away," I explained. He was staring right at me. "Sorry, I just really like the book."

"You shouldn't apologize for something you are passionate about," he said. I looked into his eyes, it seemed there was more to that statement then he leads on. There was silence for a few seconds until the waiter came.

"Here's your tea, sir." He placed the tea right next to the boy.

"Thank you," the boy said. He took a sip.

"So what's a teenager drinking tea for?" I teased.

"Well, first of all, you're an onlooker," he taunts. "I don't need to be old to drink tea."

"It's just boring," I said.

"Don't judge if you haven't tried it," he pushed his cup of tea towards me. He gestured me to drink. He was offering me to drink from his cup. Is this really happening? My first indirect kiss.

"Sorry, but my mother taught me not to drink from strangers cups," I said.

He laughed, " and funny. Well, I'm Joshua, but you can call me Josh. What's your name?"

"May, but you can call me May," he laughed.

"May, it's beautiful," he said. There was a pause. He called my name beautiful. I didn't know how to reply. I bit my lip. The silence was killing me. That's why I was grateful when he opened his mouth to speak.

"So, now that we aren't stranger, try the tea. Trust me, you'll like it," he said. Trust me. Something about the way he spoke, just made me want to do as he said.

"You're right, what type of stranger calls someone else's name beautiful," I giggled.

He laughed. He gave out an honest laugh ever. It made me want to laugh too. The room somehow seemed brighter. He was passing me the tea, I reached out to grab the cup. Our fingertip touched. I looked up from the cup, and our eyes meet. Butterflies everywhere in my stomach. I was falling for his stormy eyes, his wavy dark chocolate hair.

 What is this feeling?

This feels like I'm falling in love...is it?

**********

I know people fall in love in mysterious ways, but the touch of a hand? Our eyes were just locked on to each other. Unable to look in another direction. I smiled and he smiled, teeth straight as a line, white like snow. Was the feeling mutual? Then I felt something hot on my finger

"Ow," I winced at the pain.

"Oh so sorry," Josh said wiping the hot tea off my finger. I looked at Josh, I can see he was beating himself up because of the spilled tea.

"It's okay, don't worry about it," I said.

"Sorry," he sighed.

"You said that already," I giggled.

"Oh yeah," he said shaking his head. "I'm still sorry. I just suddenly became..."

"Breathless." I jumped in.

"Yes, exactly," he smiled. I couldn't believe that this was happening to me. The perfect guy right in front of me. Nothing can ruin this moment. That's when I felt my phone vibrating in my purse. On my phone screen, DAD. Why'd I jinxed it? I checked the time it was 7:55. I was late for dinner. How can I lose track of time?

"Oh, shit." I tuck up a leg and smack my kneecap on the table. Josh laughs with surprise. People always laugh, because they don't expect words like shit to come out of someone so petite, someone with a voice so quiet, so sweet.

"What's wrong?" He asks. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything is fine. I'm just late for dinner and my dad is calling," I explained "I should really go," I said while getting up from my chair.

"Yeah of course," he got up from his chair.

While I was putting on my jacket and scarf I said, "I still need to try that tea."

"Maybe next time," he replied.

"What makes you think they'll be a next time?" I asked.

"I just know," he smiled.

I smiled back.

"Until next time," he said.

"Next time," I replied. I headed towards the doors. While reaching for the handle I turned around for one last,  just to make sure I haven't made it all up. He was standing there next to the table, watching me leave. He waved at me and I waved back. No, it was all real, so very real. I pushed the cafe door. Ding.

I couldn't wait until next time...