Helenium

3. Luca

After finishing my food, which seems to be just in time too, if Sapphire's moans from eating ice cream and the look in Bob's eyes are anything to go by. I don't even want to know how a vampire can eat ice cream, since the last I heard vampires don't require actual food. Figuring it's time for me to leave, I grab my bag and pay my bill before walking out of 'Yes now, bob' one of a small handful of places that I can stand to eat at. 'I still have half an hour before I need to get back, what should I do?'

I begin walking down the main street as I contemplate where to go. 'I could go to the library and pick out some books, but I promised gran that we would go together and she could pick some out as well.' Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and think it over. 'Make up your mind already Luca or you'll run out of time.' The heavy scent of caffeine leads me down the street until I'm standing in front of Jewels Cafe. 'Oh yes, Jewels will work.'

Heading to the door with the thoughts of coffee, a hint of syrup and lots of heavy cream makes me want to drool. The line inside isn't very long thankfully and most of the seating appears to be taken but I spot at least a couple of open tables around the room.

"Welcome"

When I finally reach the counter I'm surprised to find an unknown man who has a definite scent of a shifter, standing there instead of Amber, a cheerful woman and one of the owners. I've also sort of grown accustomed to seeing each time I come in and after a quick observation I don't see her anywhere in the cafe. I spot Julian minding the espresso machine, which means at least there's a good chance that my drink won't be mixed up with something else.

"Um... are you going to order something?" The man in front of me looks confused, as if unsure of what's going on.

"Large white mocha, half sweet, extra espresso shot, no whip, made with cream." Taking out my card ready to pay only to see the man stares at me like he has no idea what I just said. "Yes?"

"Could you by chance say that again, only slower?" The man raises his hand as if to scratch his neck only to stop before reaching his neck, he lowers his hand and rests it on the counter. "It's my first day and I'm still learning how to ring everything in."

Realization dawns on me that since I haven't seen him before, it makes sense that he would be new and still learning the till. "Right, sorry." I nod my head in understanding, as I had the same problem when I started at Krafting Krafts. "I get it, no worries."

"What's going on?" Julian walks up to the counter to see what's happening. "Hey Luca, getting your regular?"

"Yeah, I'm due back in half an hour." I scan my card at Julian's prompting as he shows the new guy how to ring in my order, which gives me a chance to look at him. I notice that he's at least half a foot taller and more muscular, than the grumpy currently waiting for me to return to work.

"I'll bring it out to you." Julian walks back to the espresso machine to start making my order.

I walk to an empty table which is just off to the side, which gives me a clear view of the counter and currently the only open two-person table since most of the customers have decided to stay in. I watch as the big guy seems calm despite how nervous he seemed just a minute ago. 'A wolf maybe.'

Each time he turns his head I notice a small tail sticking out at the back of his head, which makes it obvious that he has long hair, but not too long, just enough to be able to tie it back. 'No, a tiger perhaps.' The more I watch him, the more I feel as if I've figured out what kind of shifter he is. 'Possibly a bear of some kind.'

"Here you go." Julian puts a large take out cup down on the table. "Figured it would be easier for it to be to go, in case you aren't able to finish it."

"Thanks." I smile and silently wish he had been still single and wished he had been gay, but like always I'm out of luck, though he's an okay guy despite being taken and straight. "Where's Amber today? It's not like her to leave you here alone during a busy rush."

"She's with her sister, enjoying some girl time, at least that's what she told me." He motions to the counter. "I'm not alone, Wyatt's lending me a hand." His voice drops to a whisper so no one can hear. "We're only this busy today as all the single ladies in town are coming in to get a look at him." He smiles. "Enjoy your drink."

Julian walks back to the counter. I don't know if it's because of how busy it is or because of the familiar scent I catch coming from the door. I take a sip of my drink just as the chair opposite of me, slides out and when I look up I see Wes sitting down in the chair.

"Hi" He leans back in the seat. "I hope you don't mind, everywhere else is full." Wes motions to the rest of the cafe.

"It's fine with me, I'm only here until the end of my lunch." I take another sip of my drink, before putting it back down on the table.

"I don't get why it's so busy like this, you'd think no one had seen a bear work at a coffee shop before." Wes's gaze is drawn to the line that had formed since he came in.

'So I was right he is a bear.' I look around the room at all the women watching Wyatt with interest. "Julian thinks it's because everyone's come to see the new guy and from the looks of it,

he's not wrong."

Wes takes out his cell phone and snaps a photo of Wyatt for some reason, before typing on his phone. "I guess." He types on the screen for another second before putting his phone down.

The two of us sit quietly with only the chatter from the other tables filling the silence. I sip my drink, enjoying the taste of the warm cream on my tongue, making me purr in content at the sweet creamy taste.

He smiles at me in amusement, as if silently laughing at the sound. "Good?"

"Yeah" I start fidgeting with the beaded bracelet around my wrist, a nervous habit I picked up as a teenager after my mom gave it to me on my seventeenth birthday.

After a short while, the cafe starts to empty, as people started going back to work, signalling that I will have to do the same thing in a little while. Wes stands up when the line starts going down which I don't understand why he just goes behind the counter when he got here.

"I've taken up enough of your time, so I'll leave you to it." He picks up his phone and slips it into his pocket.

"Wes" He turns back to me, lifting an eyebrow in question. "Can you thank Zoe again for me, for coming to the store two days ago. She was a big help getting rid of all that glitter."

A smile appears on his face as if amused which only leads me to believe that Zoe told him about how all the glitter got all over the store. "Sure. Call if you need help with any other help."

"I will, thank you." He nods before walking away leaving me in peace for the last of my lunch, which doesn't give me enough to do any more reading as I had hoped.

Taking another sip of my drink letting myself focus on the comfort it gives me and how I feel more relaxed now, that I'm sitting alone. After another sip, I decided that it's time for me to start heading back to work since those boxes aren't going to unpack themselves.