Morning light came pouring down the windows, once again the curtains remained open during the night, making her wake up with the sun.
Days like these were far away from being Effie’s favorite but waking up early was something that you had to do when you run a business.
Nonetheless, waking up at this time of the day does come handy when you are looking to avoid your roommate.
To say that things have gotten worse between them would be a lie, but they have not turned any better either. There is an invisible veil between them that keeps them apart.
It is an odd experience, to want to be close to someone all the time and yet do the most to keep yourself away.
Furthermore, is painful to know that there would be no awkwardness or tension between them if they were normal people.
But they aren’t, and she has to face the consequences.
She looks outside the window, the snow is melting quickly under the unexpected rays of the sun. Luckily for her, the warmth has found a way to make itself present.
When she was younger, she was a big fan of the cold, of the snow and the rain. She still is, nonetheless, she can’t enjoy them from a close distance.
Her hand approaches the closest window and the ice that has been melting starts to take shape again, freezing completely.
Effie sighs, and her sight falls on her arm, a bit of skin is peeking through her blouse where the end of an old key is, the scar that marks her arm like a tattoo. It’s right under her wrist, beside her veins, and looks as red and inflamed as it always has.
She touches it with her fingertips, drawing the lines above her blouse, and pulling her sweater down once she draws it all.
It’s been there for sixteen years and she still doesn’t grow accustomed to it, the warmth it radiates can turn uncomfortable sometimes, especially when Niko is uncomfortable with the heat, those times its when she hates the mark the most.
However, between the bad things this mark signifies, she is lucky that it is not a horrible scar. It’s a regular-sized antique key, however, it has a handle in the shape of a flower. It’s beautiful and that’s the lucky mark that adorns her arm, and she would not have it if Niko hadn’t brought the key with him. The same key she is wearing on a necklace right now.
When they were called to the palace all those years ago Effie only took her fear with her.
Niko went prepared, even if back then they had only heard about each other by members of the Le Fay’s Society.
But Niko was his kind and obnoxiously knowledgeable self even back then, so he was aware of what’s was going to happen -unlike Effie- and had brought the key with him as a gift for her.
She wears it ever since.
“Stupid prince,” She whispers. She can’t recall how many times a week she says those words… they are way too many.
Getting out of the apartment without seeing him is hard but she manages.
She ties her sneakers outside of the apartment and goes downstairs running, greeting one of her neighbors and her cat before making it to the slim central hall and take her bike from under the stairs and makes her complicated way down to the street.
Before she takes off she makes sure the bag on the basket won’t fall off and then she makes her way into the bike street.
The way down to the centre of the town is not long, or at least not as it used to be the first time she made her way on the bike. Now she knows the path like the lines on the palm of her hand. Every turn and corner, every painted door and rocky crumbling old wall. She even knows a few of the people on the little shops she passes by, saying hi to them while keeping her balance as she pedals.
Effie arrives at the coffee shop when two of her more loyal customers wait outside.
She jumps out of the bike and turns into the street beside it.
The shop is about to open up in a few minutes and the smell of fresh baked goods and steaming coffee is already pouring down the street.
Effie takes off her helmet and goes inside her business with a smile on her face.
It still feels insane to have this place.
She wouldn’t have such a good location in the center of the city if it wasn’t for her family’s legacy in Le Fay’s, but that’s the only thing she is thankful for when it comes to the secret society.
Fixing her hair a little and putting in up in a ponytail she enters the kitchen where there’s already lots of movement.
“Good morning, guys!” She greets her staff with a big smile on her face.
Sara perks up and smiles back at her, “Morning, Effie!”
“Morning, boss!” Finn waves from the front desk, as he pours water into the espresso machine.
“Come try this, Ef,” Sara calls.
Effie takes steps further to get to where she is working.
She looks at the workspace, flour all around, beautiful macarons in one tray, a few cupcakes ready to put on display, and bowls with unbaked dough on it.
She cleans the edge of the bowl Sara is pointing at and licks her finger.
“Woah, it tastes great!” She says and claps joyfully.
“Uff, I’m so relieved. I was concerned no one but I was going to like it.”
“Nah, it is good. I’m still going to need to taste it once it’s cooked but it already tastes amazing so that’s a good sign. What’s on it?”
“Rose petals and mint, a little bit of lemon too.”
“I could taste the citrus flavor and the mint, the rose petals are a nice surprise.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking about dropping dye on it and making them pink. What do you think?”
“Bake a few with dye and a few without it, let’s compare.”
“As you say,” She nods and goes back to whipping another bowl in the table.
Effie takes the tray of cupcakes on the table and brings them with her to the front of the shop, to put them on display and get them ready to sell.
“Hi, Effie!” Evan, a recurrent client, is at the end of the bar receiving his daily cup of coffee.
“Good morning, Evan, hope you have a great day!”
“To you too, hun! And you too, Finn!”
“Thank you, man!” Finn says and waves back at him, walking back to the register machine, “How is everything going, Effie?”
Finn spins on his heels and takes the tray out of her hands.
Effie nods as a thank you.
“Fine, but I have a lot of homework to do today,” She shakes the bags on her left shoulder.
“Then let us do the heavy work today,” He winks at her and ruffles her already messy hair.
“Thank you, Finn.”
Taking him on his word, Effie walks to the little room she has turned into her office. It counts of a small wood desk, a little pink sofa, a match to the one she has at the apartment, a few books and plants, and a big window to let all the sunlight that the grey skies of England can let leak through.
She drops her bags on the sofa and sighs.
Extending her hands up and stretching a little she lets the thin rays of sun wash away the tiredness she still feels on her body.
After a few seconds, she opens her eyes and takes her laptop out of the bag, putting it on top of her desk, ready to dive in all the projects she has to manage for class.
She is about to sit on her chair when her names get called out by Finn.
“Is it important?” She asks, pinching the bridge of her nose. He just said that he would take care of all today.
“It is annoying,” Finn answers and somehow that’s all the answer she needs to stand up and walk to the front side of the shop.
When she gets there, she sees him.
Niko is leaning on the counter, waving and smiling.
Effie sighs.
What is he doing here? He is supposed to be getting ready, or if he woke up early he would be commuting to work.
“Good morning, my love,” He greets her as she approaches.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m hungry,” He smiles.
It is inevitable, she rolls her eyes at him.
“There’s enough food at the apartment.”
“But none of it is your champagne and white chocolate cake,” He smiles and, without asking, circles the counter and gets inside.
Effie does her best to keep her distance, but he always makes it disappear.
He puts one hand on her waist and leans down, pressing his lips on her cheek with a soft kiss, “Please don’t go without saying goodbye. It’s rude.”
“I was late.”
“You’re never late.”
“I’m always late.” She disagrees.
“Which makes you on time,” He laughs.
“Hey, Niko!” Sara says from the kitchen, making the pair walk towards her.
Niko has his hand on her as they take the steps, and only let’s go to greet Sara, who has small smears of batter splattered on her left cheek.
“Wow, Sara all of this looks amazing,” Niko says and takes one spoon full of batter to lick. Effie takes it away immediately.
Niko grunts and frowns at her, disappointed.
“What’s ready to take?”
“Nothing for you,” Sara huffs and Effie laughs.
“C’mon, you can’t just leave me hanging,” He secures his arm around Effie’s body and brings her close to him, “Effie, you’re the boss, tell her to give me just a bite. Don’t be mean.”
“Buy something, we’re a business,” She simply answers, and as much as she wants to stay in his arms she shakes him away, “And stop wasting time and go to work.”
“Coming to see you is never a waste of time.”
Effie gulps.
Why does he have to act that way?
Why does he have to be so touchy and lovely all the time? Can’t he see what he does to her?
Why isn’t it uncomfortable for him to act as nothing happened between them?
“Let him try your experiment,” Effie orders, and pushes Niko away “I’m going to be in my office. I have some coding to do.”
She walks back to the small little room where her desk is. The only place that she can be completely by herself.
But, Niko follows.
“Have you eaten anything? I didn’t hear you at the apartment.”
“Go try Sara’s recipe or go take your piece of cake, Domeniko,” Effie says, opening her laptop, keeping her eyes glued on it and away from his honey eyes, “I’m busy.”
“Okay… okay… but be sure to eat.”
“Alright.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Niko’s steps echo in the room and his heavy presence latches on her as he comes close.
“What’s bugging you?” He asks, very close to her ear.
Why can’t he just leave?
“You’re tense and moody,” He explains as if her silence explains it all.
“I can’t make the website work and the project is due in three days,” She says. It is not a lie, but it is not the truth either.
“Don’t stress out, you’ll figure it out.” Niko squeezes her shoulders and softly massages.
How can he act so normal?
Only a month ago he was wearing his broken heart as a medal; glimmering, cold, attention-catching, and now he acts like he hasn’t told her that he was madly in love with her.
“Hey…” She hears herself say.
“Mm?”
“It is something bothering you?”
“No, why you ask?”
“We… we haven’t talked about… about how your date went.”
Niko’s stand changes. His hands stop moving but he keeps them threateningly close to her.
“It was fine.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah… have you seen her again?”
“I don’t feel like talking about this with you, Effie,” He says and finally, he puts some distance between them.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted…” To know that you still love me.
“It’s fine.”
“I hope it’s working out,” She is not lying but it hurts to wish him that when she wants to be the one on his arms.
Niko doesn’t answer, he picks up his things from the sofa and walks away, closing the door behind him. His goodbye words fly in a small whisper that doesn’t get to hug her as his words usually do.
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