I walk into the coffee shop. There are some small tables by the front counter. The lighting is soft and there's a strong smell of roasted coffee beans in the air. Towards the right side of the cafe there is an open area; a living room type space with a few lounge sofas and comfy chairs.
The cafe is busy. There are a few students studying. A guy with a laptop. There is a couple having a quite fight. I notice hoodie guy sitting in the living space area.
He's sitting on one of the lounge sofas. I walk over to him and as I get close he gestured for me to sit besides him by patting the sofa cushion.
I sit down in a comfy chair across from him.
He smiles, "Are you feeling okay? You looked terrible when I left."
" I'm okay. You wanted to explain things? "
"Yes I do, but first. Can I buy you some coffee?"
"No thanks..."
" Oh, I insist. I really want to treat you. Please? "
I don't think he's gonna take no as an answer. "Alright."
We go to the counter and order.
I greet the barista and order a dark roast, with one sugar, a splash of vanilla creamer and I also get a chocolate chip cookie. Hoodie guy orders a caramel latte with an extra pump of caramel.
The barista takes our order and asks, " Name for the order? "
Hoodie guy says, "Jack".
We return to the spot we were sitting at. I start eating the cookie I ordered. This is so awkward. I can't stop feeling tense. Why am I eating this cookie?
The barista calls out, "Order for Jack!"
He bounces out of his seat and goes to get our drinks. When he returns, instead of sitting on the lounge sofa across from me; he sits in the comfy chair besides me. "Here you go Michael." He placed my drink in front of me. He's sitting so close to me.
"Um, thanks Jack." I grab the coffee.
He places his hand on mine. "Careful, the coffee is hot." Then he laughs a little as he pulls his hand away, "And my name isn't Jack. I just use that name at coffee places."
"Then what is your name?" I take a sip of my drink.
"My name is Felix. Sorry I never introduced myself. I guess we skipped that part."
"Okay Felix, maybe now you could explain about yesterday. What happened after I passed out? How did the cashier at the convenience store die?"
Felix's handsome smile fades from his face. "What?" It looked like he was about to begin drinking his coffee but he set his drink back down. "What do you mean? The girl from behind the counter was injured when I started digging you out from the mountain of soda that fell on you, but she was alive. Because you were unconscious I told her I'd take care of you. She said she'd be alright. From what she told me; someone came in and hit her across the temple then knocked the shelve over onto you. I was kinda focused on you so I don't know what happened after I took off with you, but she seemed fine. Is she really dead?"
"That's what I understood when I talked to an employee there today. The guy told me it looked like a robbery, but that they only ever had kids shoplifting candy at their store. You're telling me you have no idea what happened to that girl?"
" Yes. I wanted to explain that me running into you at the library and then at the convenience store was a coincidence. I wanted to say this at your apartment but you seemed so freaked out to see me, I thought I should just take off and let you rest. " Felix takes a sip of his coffee.
We sit in silence for a moment.
"Here is your sweater." I hand the black hoodie back to him.
" Thanks. "
"You should probably stop wearing that. The neighborhood watch by my library is looking for you. I think that, they think; you're a prowler."
Felix looks around the cafe. I look too for some reason. When did everyone leave? No one is in the cafe anymore. Even the barista is missing. Felix says, " Was it a woman named Cindy with a little dog named Cinnamon? " Then he stands up and grabs me by the hand. "I think we're gonna have to cut our date short."