Disoriented Runes

Chapter 8

The whole way, Evergreen made sure Freed had no chances to get away as they were walking towards one of their regular coffee places in town. It was a long way to walk from the guild, but it was all worth it since they could be almost certain others from Fairy Tail wouldn't come there. It had been their regular place ever since they met, but then they used it to get away from others. Now it was more like a fun little hiding place where to talk things just the two of them, not a place where to go when hey didn't want to see their guild mates because they weren't interested of what they were doing.

Freed was... Nervous. He had no idea why, but it felt like there were alarm bells ringing inside his head ever since Evergreen mentioned that they should talk about "love stuff" and he had no idea what it might mean. That subject didn't feel comfortable to talk about for some reason. Evergreen didn't care about his worried frown as they just stepped inside.

It was a nice little coffee house. Enough space, round tables, big windows and nice atmosphere. There was only a few customers right now so it was easy for them to get a table. Waitress came over greeting them happily as she knew them and after ordering some tea and pieces of cheesecake, they were left alone to talk.

"So", Evergreen said like she was starting a meeting, crossing her fingers and leaning her chin on top of them. "Does this place feel any familiar to you?" she smiled.

Freed looked around. Warm brown walls, dark beams, pretty little lamps on every table and a big fireplace where there was some food for those who might want dinner...

"No", he had to say. "But it's not completely unfamiliar either", he added, feeling a bit stupid because he couldn't find words how to describe what he was feeling.

"I see", Evergreen huffed. "Then you don't remember the day when we were here for the first time either, huh?"

"No", Freed admitted and he did feel a bit bad because of it.

"It's alright", Evergreen smiled. "You'll remember it later, I'm sure of it. I mean, you can't just forget someone like me forever", she giggled and it made Freed chuckle amused.

"I have a feeling you're right with that", he nodded.

"You'll remember everything soon enough."

"How was that day?"

"When we came here the first time? It was awful!" Evergreen tisked leaning against the back of her chair. "And you certainly did not make it any better."

"Oh?"

"Yes! This was supposed to be my coffee house! My own place where I would go when I wanted to be alone and not see others from Fairy Tail! And here you were, a cheeky young teenager sitting on my regular table. Well, you weren't even a teenager yet really, just a really arrogant little runt -"

"Hey, you are not older than me", Freed said and Evergreen blinked.

"What?" she asked.

"You are not..." Freed started but then he realized what he was saying.

"I knew this would work!" Evergreen said excitedly grabbing Freed's hand. "You could remember something! Can you remember anything else?" she asked and the rune mage huffed, looking around.

He tried to imagine himself sitting here when he was younger, even though he had no idea what kind he was when he was younger. Did he like books then? Was he shy? Or maybe a bully since Ever called him arrogant?

"I'm not sure..." he muttered.

"When I came in, I saw you sitting right here where we're sitting now", Evergreen smiled. "And you were reading a book. I kindly asked you to move away -"