Wait, don’t write that down. (Alex)

They talked for a long time. Alex couldn’t remember when was the last time she held a conversation for that long with someone else. Her Switch packed inside her bag, forgotten. But somehow, she didn’t miss it. She discovered that talking to Hayley was easier than she had previously thought. Between the girl’s clever remarks and gentle personality, Alex found herself slowly putting down her guard.

– Oh, shoot – Hayley covered her mouth, eyes widened. – I completely forgot why we came here. Are you feeling hungry?

Somehow, that question brought Alex back to the first night, when Hayley made a clumsy invitation. She couldn’t stop thinking that this simple request had brought them to this moment.

– A bit – Alex admitted.

– I’m so sorry. – the girl apologized. – Let’s order something.

Hayley called the waitress again and Milla quickly came to them. Even though, it was about lunch time, there weren’t many people, probably due the Cafe being new, just as Hayley had told her before.

– Could you get me two croissants…

– Sweet or salty? – intervened Milla.

– Sweet. – answered Hayley. – With grape jelly and, hmm, a caramel frappuccino.

The waitress noted the order on a block note, then turned to Alex.

– What about you?  What can I get for you today? – she asked.

Alex looked quickly to the menu before answering. – Uh, just a tuna sandwich is fine.

Milla quickly noted the order. – Got it. Would you like something to drink too?

– Sure – Alex drawled, indecisive. On another table, she took a glimpse of a waitress serving a customer; she was carrying a pink drink with a strawberry on top. Its colour faintly reminded her of Hayley’s hair.

– A strawberry shake would be good – Alex murmured to herself.

– Got it. – Milla wrote it down. But before Alex could say something, the waitress was already leaving and added: – We’re going to prepare your order.

Alex sighed, defeated.

– So, – started Hayley. – You like wearing grey and black?

The question got her a bit surprised, but she answered: – I guess. Why?

– Well, because whenever I see you, you always seem to be using one of these colours – said Hayley.

– No, no – Alex shook her head. – I actually have one blue jacket.

The girl laughed lightly, raising one brow. – Just one?

– Sometimes I like to spicy it up with white. But yeah.

They laughed at that.

– Funny thing – Alex added. – My keyboard and mouse are more colourful than I am.

– Strange. That’s the one thing I’d expect most people to have just black.

Alex shrugged. – It’s easier to see the keys if they’re glowing.

– What? Your keyboard glows? That’s cool.

Alex smiled to see Hayley’s awed face. Usually, she never questioned much people to get to know what they were doing or what they liked, but, for some reason, she wanted to know what would be Hayley’s answers. And Alex found herself asking:

– What about you? Any particular colour in mind?

Hayley pondered a bit, wetting her lips, before saying: – I like vibrant colours. When I was a kid, my aunt planted some hyacinths on her garden. I remember seeing them during spring, they had this kind of long shape, with tiny flowers clustered together along the way and they had this purplish hue that I thought was so pretty to see amidst all the green.

Hayley had a vague expression, glancing down, but not in any particular direction.

– Seems like a nice childhood – Alex carefully commented.

The girl grimaced. – Well, not at all.

– Hm, why?

Hayley once again had that vague expression, but she quickly seemed to recover, wearing a playful smile: – Too much green.

– You don’t like green? – Alex asked.

– It’s not that. – the girl furrowed her brows, thinking. – It’s, how should I put it… I think I saw too much of it and it gets a bit repetitive.

– Hard to not get bored of it when we live in England.

Hayley chuckled. – I suppose. But I quite enjoy London, it’s a bit more vivid from where I lived.

– How so?

– Well, I used to live in Buxton. It’s a nice city, if you like going to parks and watch the lake. It’s our main attraction, and I think people like going there because of that, you know? As if they were inside one of Jane Austen’s books. But…– she paused. – Growing there it’s not nearly as good. I mean, it’s nice going back in time and be surrounded by trees, maybe read a book beneath one, but if you want to do anything else besides that, it gets boring.

– Doesn’t seem that interesting for a kid, huh? – Alex commented.

Hayley nodded with a wry smile. – No, not much. I guess, that’s one of the reasons why I moved.

– And you started living in London by yourself?

The girl grimaced. – Well, I’d say so. But that might be a different case for my neighbours. – she laughed at Alex intrigued expression, adding: – I think they want to dig a hole in my ceiling and join the apartments.

– That noisy?

– To say the least. I sometimes think they might be just tap dancing, but wearing pirate costumes, you know? With the wooden legs.

Alex laughed at the image of that. – Seems tough.

– What about you? – Hayley eyes met with hers. –  Any loud neighbours?

– No, or not that I know of. – she said. – I also don’t live in an apartment, so that must help too.

– You have a house here in London?

– Not exactly, I rented the place from a couple that retired to the countryside. It was a nice place and they seemed happy to have someone using the house.

– What about their kids?

– I don’t think they had any.

The girl nodded, comprehensively. – I see. – then, playing with her bottom lips, she smirked. – That’s why you call your mom late at night? Loneliness?

Alex smiled, embarrassed. – It was just one time! She’s a worried person.

– Oh, no, no – Hayley shook her hand, after sipping from the cup. – I’m not saying it’s bad at all. – then she added, with a wink. – But you can call me next time you get scared. Don’t need to wake up your parents.

– Wouldn’t that make me wake you up instead?

– Well, I usually go to sleep pretty late.

Alex was about to retort, when Milla got back with their order.

– Here’s your food. – she said, serving them. – Hope you enjoy it.

– Thank you. – said Hayley to the waitress.

When Milla went away again, Hayley turned to Alex. – Sorry, were you going to say something?

Alex shook her head. – No. I think we should eat already.

Hayley answered by taking a bite out of the croissant. Alex had to hold her laugh, while the girl closed her eyes savoring the dough; she had a strange ability of making food seems tastier than normal.

– Good? – asked Alex.

The girl nodded eagerly. – Really good. I love the grape jelly they make here.

Alex smiled, finally sipping from her own milkshake. She had to admit, the drink was extremely good, sweet but not sickly, and the small pieces of strawberry were perfect to lighten the milky flavor. Although, she knew it wouldn’t be nearly as good if she were to drink it alone.

When they finished, Hayley paid for the food and tipped Milla, even though Alex tried to insist she could easily pay for that. But the girl seemed adamant about it and wouldn’t be swayed.

They walked slowly to the college campus. The weather had closed again painting the sky with dark grey clouds and a gust of wind blew a few autumn leaves away. The air was heavy and had a strong smell of rain when they stopped by the parking lot.

– Thank you for coming with me today – said Hayley. – It was fun talking to you,

– Me too. – agreed Alex, quickly adding. – I mean, I also had fun talking to you.

– Next time, you teach me a new game, okay?

She smiled at that. – Alright.

Hayley looked down at her phone. – Shoot, I think I’ll be late for work.

– I can give you a ride. – Alex offered.

The girl seemed pensive. – It’s not fair. Today I was supposed be thanking you properly, I don’t wanna make you go out of your way again for me.

– It’s not a problem. Besides, you’d be late, otherwise.

– Still…

– Ok, give me one reason why I shouldn’t help you right now – she defied the girl. – Then I won’t do it.

Hayley struggled to come up with an answer and Alex took the opportunity to win her point.

– See? Nothing. Now, let’s go. I don’t want you to get late.

While they reached for Alex’s bike, she heard the girl murmuring:

– So bossy.

Author note:

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