It was late in the afternoon when I made it to the cafe. Damien wasn't here yet and I went to lean against the wall near the entrance. I took a deep breath, filling my nose with the smell of baked goods and coffee. Even though I was standing outside, it still smelt like I was standing right next to the oven where the sweets were baking. My phone dinged, breaking me out of my daze.

Damien💪: Meet me at Bean’s Cafe

Me: Already here😌

Damien💪: How’d you know where I’d ask you to meet?

Me: Hellooo??? It’s the best cafe in this town. If you would have chosen a different place I would have made you come here instead.

Damien💪: Fair point. I’ll be there in 5

Me: 👍

Oh boy. Why am I nervous? There’s no need to be nervous. I’m just meeting up with a friend. A friend who looks really hot in a low-cut tank top and honestly he looks hot by just simply existing. 

“Hey, Kayden,” 

I jumped, startled, I was too far in my thoughts to notice Damien standing directly in front of me and also very very close. He wore a white buttoned shirt, with the first few buttons undone. “Hey. Um. Shall we?” I gesture towards the door of the cafe.

“After you.”

We walked in through the glass doors. The place was very cutesy, with pastel blue painted walls and pastel pink checkered floors. The tables and chairs were white and vintage. They looked like they came from an old ice cream parlor. The counter and shelves around the cafe were littered with bunny and cat plushies. Despite the childish look they still served the best coffee in town. It's especially comical when you see grown men who probably lift 200 pounds a day, surrounded by pink bunnies and drinking coffee out of a pink cup with a heart on it.

“So, what kind of a coffee guy are you?” I asked, turning to Damien while we waited in the short line.

“Hm? I don’t drink coffee.”

“What? But didn’t you invite me to get coffee with you?”

“Well yeah. What else was I going to say? Want to get water with me?”

“Touché. So you’re just getting water? What about tea?”

“I don’t drink tea either.”

“Lemonade?”

“Nope.”

“Do you just not like these things? Or do you strive to be as basic as you can be?” I joke.

“You’re hilarious. No, caffeine makes me too jumpy-“

“What about-“

“And before you say anything about decaf, I don’t like the taste of coffee or tea so there’s no point in drinking it anyway. And I’m allergic to lemons so no lemonade.”

“Oh. Makes sense I guess.”

“What about you? What are you going to order?” 

“A caramel latte and probably a piece of chocolate cake. Want to share?”

Damien sighed. “I’m allergic to chocolate.”

“Vanilla?” 

“I’m not really a fan of sweets in general.”

“No wonder your body looks so good. You’ve got no temptations to just drown yourself in sugar.” I tease. Damien rubs his neck and looks away. Hah! Now it’s your turn to be flustered. “You know, I said it as a joke before but do you actually make it your life goal to be basic?” 

He elbows me in the ribs playfully. “Shush, Kayden. I just don’t like certain things, okay?” He chuckles.

“Whatever you say, muscle man.”

We put our orders in at the counter. Damien got water and I ordered my caramel latte with a piece of vanilla cake, in case Damien decided he wanted a bite.

Damien picked a corner table by the window while I collected our drinks and cake.

“So, I always see you in the library and we’ve been hanging out even after that. Do you work?” I asked.

“Hm. My Dad is the mayor of Riverstone and he owns a large corporation. I help him out whenever he needs it but no, I don’t really work. I’ll be taking over the company once my Dad retires though.”

I was surprised to hear that. But I didn’t make a big deal out of it. “Ah I see., So, you had to come back to Riverstone eventually then? Why’d you leave in the first place?” Damien shifted in his seat and looked a bit uncomfortable. I started to panic a bit. Did I cross a line? “You don’t have to answer if you don't want to.”

Damien hesitated before speaking. “Sort of. I was… running away from my problems which was clearly not the right thing to do since everything only got worse. For the last 4 years I’ve actually been living in the next town over, Kist Kreek, working on myself.”

“What? Really? What were you doing for the other 6 years?”

“Traveling from place to place. I… I got into a lot of bad things during that time. I rather not talk about it. There’s a lot I regret.”

“Hey,” I reached across the table to hold his hand, giving it a light squeeze, “look at you now though. You’ve seriously changed into a completely different person, in a good way of course. So, even though you may have things you regret, those things made you into who you are now. I’m proud of how far you’ve come.” Damien just stared at my hand on his for a while until he finally looked up. 

“Thanks, Kayden. I honestly wasn’t expecting you to want anything to do with me. I really do regret everything I did to you in high school and all the time I wasted when I could have been making it up to you. And the many people I've hurt through the years.”

“It’s fine. I forgive you. I mean you were probably shocked when I told you back then.”

“What?” Damien furrowed his brows.

“Why you started hating me, it was because I told you I was gay right?”

“Huh? No? That would have been hypocritical of me.” Damien let out a soft nervous laugh.

“What?” Now it’s my turn to be confused.

“I’m bi, Kayden. I was in high school as well. I never said anything against you being gay.”

I practically choked on my coffee. “You’re what?! Since high school? Then why did you suddenly- after I told you, you- then why did you hang around Zack and Griffin and why did you-“

“Alright alright calm down. One question at a time, yeah?” Damien said, holding his hands up in a calm-down gesture.

I took a breath. What is happening right now? Could this whole thing actually be some elaborate prank? Are Zack and Griffin in on it? 

“You look like you’re doing the opposite of calming down.” Damien held my hand again. My eyes snapped to our hands and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

“Sorry I was jumping to insane conclusions.” I paused, before continuing. “Then why did you push me away so suddenly? And the day after I came out to you too?”

Damien sighed but before he could answer his phone started to ring. He picked it up to read the name on the screen, “sorry I have to take this.” I nodded and he answered the call, putting the phone up to his ear. “Hello, Father. Yes. What? Right now?” Damien stood up. “Yes of course. I’ll be there as soon as possible.” 

“Is everything okay?” I asked, concerned.

“Yes, my Dad needs me to help him out with some urgent business.” Damien sighed before making eye contact with me. “I’m sorry to cut this short. But I promise we’ll continue this conversation very soon. I also promise that what happened in high school had nothing to do with me being against your sexuality, okay?” Damien ruffled my hair.

“Okay,” I mumbled. And with that, Damien said his goodbyes and rushed out, making another phone call. I sighed, letting my forehead hit the table. This was a lot of information to process and I don’t even know all of it yet. Then it hit me again. Damien’s bi. My heart started to slam against my chest. No no no. Stop it. He’s just a friend and always will be a friend. Yep… I froze in my seat. Oh god I like, Damien don’t I? Stupid heart making decisions without me. High school me would think I was insane. 

***

Unlocking my apartment and sluggishly stepping inside, I took off my shoes. I glanced out the window and saw grey storm clouds meaning it was probably going to rain soon. I was mentally exhausted from today’s events and just wanted to sleep and not overthink anything. But now that might be impossible. I’m terrified of storms. Mainly thunder. 

“Please don’t thunder,” I muttered, filling up a glass of water and walking over to my coffee plant and cactus, pouring the water on them. I could already see some raindrops congregating on the window. Sighing I got into comfy clothes, made myself a cup of tea, and wrapped myself in a blanket on my couch. I really hate thunder and loud noises in general. It just makes me really anxious and panicky. A few flashes of lightning lit up my living area followed by light rumbles of thunder. My hands were already shaking lightly and I no longer felt like drinking the tea I just made anymore. Rain and wind could be heard hitting the window. The thunder only got worse from there. I was curled up, with my eyes shut tight and my hands covering my ears. I didn’t know how much time had passed before a sound came from behind my front door. It sounded similar to a knock but there was something off about it. I almost thought I imagined it until it sounded again. Getting up, still wrapped in a blanket, I made my way over to the door. Who would be here at this time? And during a storm like this. I looked out the little peephole but the hallway was empty. That’s strange. I know I heard something. I unlocked and opened the door and immediately found myself falling on my ass, groaning. 

I cracked my eyes open only to come face to face with the same dark brown wolf from my dream.