The Freedom That Paper Gives

When Percy Decided To Do Something About It (Rewritten)

That was the fourth time today, Percy thought to himself, as he caught her looking at him. The first time he thought he had spilled coffee down his cream coloured shirt or at least just on his brown corduroy trousers. Because at least then it would be har to notice, but no as always his clothes were spotless, apart from a couple of coffee grounds or tea leaves but those were to be expected when you worked in a cafe. Percy was sure her name was Marie, but he didn't know her surname. It was a common occurrence for Percy to catch Marie looking, no looking was the wrong word, staring at him intently, longingly. At first, Percy wouldn't deny, he was interest as Marie was rather good looking. While a little on the short side she managed to pull it off with grace, her long brown hair often down to reach her mid back and a choppy fringe Percy was convinced she cut herself. She always dressed quite sophisticatedly, usually a jumper and skirt with a pair of heels which meant he often heard her coming before he saw her. Today was a deep green turtleneck jumper that matched her eyes. Or at least Percy thought her eyes were green. But after a few weeks of neither of them making a move Marie's staring started to get on Percy's nerves. And this was last year. The worst part for Percy was that Marie never seemed to notice his disapproving glances back, or rather she simply didn't care.

It's not too busy in here, Percy thought to himself again, maybe I should call her out on it? But Percy couldn't do that to her, he had seen the Marie turned bright red and hid herself whenever she made too much noise of drew even the slightest bit of attention to herself in any way. Percy's mind went back to the time she accidentally spilled hot chocolate on her, unfortunately for that day, white blouse because she was too engrossed in her work. She looked close to a picnic attack and had to rush out of the cafe, after that she didn't return for a week. While Percy wasn't particularly fond of Marie he made sure no one mentioned the incident when thankfully she did return. But even now she was careful whenever she drank. Marie always seemed to be engrossed in her work, she sat in a corner seat nearest the window and charger port for her laptop. Marie was almost always in either one of three positions; hunched over her laptop typing, looking out the window or looking at Percy. Percy noticed she always had her back against the brick wall so she was looking out into the cafe and so, Percy presumed, no one could read over her shoulder. On days where she was wearing particularly dark clothes she seemed to blend in with the wall.

No, Percy couldn't embarrass her, Marie was one of the best costumers here and Percy knew better than to hurt the profit margins. Thankfully as Percy was debating with himself he could hear the familiar click of Marie's heels on the polished wood floor as she was approaching the counter. It must be time for her refill, Percy thought to himself, its about time she had been cradling that last mouthful for the past hour, it must have been stone cold.

"The usual please," Marie said quietly as she gave her tumbler to Percy and avoided direct eye contact as usual.

Now or never he thought, it is loud enough in here so that no one can hear.

"That will be £1.25 please." Percy said as Marie dropped the coins into his palm, "You know you really shouldn't stare at me like that. It makes me uncomfortable." As Percy said this he too was avoiding eye contact.

Percy immediately regretted this as he saw an all too familiar bright red spring up across Marie's face and neck. She had gone from looking just past Percy to looking directly down at her own feet as if her shoes were the most interesting thing in the world. Was I too rude? It's the truth isn't it? But Percy didn't have time to think as Marie replied with an apologetic look.

"I... I'm so sorry. But I wasn't looking at you... I was looking at the cakes," Marie indicated to the cake cabinet to her left, one that Percy just minutes ago was standing behind. "You have a habit of standing behind it, so if I want to look at them or read the menu behind you it must look like I'm looking at you. I'm really sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way, I really wasn't looking at you at all. I'm really not that type of person."