Chapter 16

    I shook awake by the sound of my phone vibrating, Looking at my watch I realize that it’s 2:30 in the morning.  

Deimos: Good Evening Lana, Time meeting 6:30am, Place we are meeting at The Coffee Sage café. I look forward to seeing you then.

    Good God! Did he even look at the time before he sent that!? And why did he send it like I have the money for the person he is holding for ransom? 

    I double tap just sending him a thumbs up, My eyes hurt just from opening them….. After all I have been starring at screens all day, I push my eyes shut with as much force as I can. 

    “Wait!” The word’s rush from my lips. “That’s tomorrow!” I’m not even prepared at all! I push my blanket off me, And jump to my feet. 

    “Where the heck is my planer!” I start tearing apart my desk in search of it. 

    “What do I have to be a paper hoarding idiot!” I peer under my desk to see it lopsided and my flashcard notes for character info spilled across the floor.

    “When did this even happen!” I pick it up and scramble to my feet, Flipping through the messy pages I land on the page in question. “There it is…….!” I slam my palm into my forehead. “Dam It” I shake my head, Why did I not add a reminder to my phone! I need to start adding things like this to my phone!

    Will I ever learn my lesson? 

    I let out a big sigh. “It’s fine”

    I may have forgotten, But! He at lest sent me a message to make sure we where still on, That was kind of him. Now I just need to go back to sleep so I can wake up on time at that very un godly hour!

    My left eye twitches as the blaring sound of my alarm goes off. “Well Its time.” I rub my eyes trying to encourage them to open, Pushing the covers off myself I get up luging myself along to my closet. 

    I grab something comfy and good for running away in to ware for today, After all one never knows when they may need to be on the run. 

    I pull my phone out to check the time, I only have 26 minutes left before I would fully be consider late! I jump to the bathroom quickly brushing my teeth, Then rushing to the door and grabbing my keys. 

    “Being late is the last thing I want to do to Deimos,”

 I pause at the words that just came from my mouth, Did I really just say his name like he is a friend of mine? 

    I feel a smile tug at the sides of my lips, What am I even thinking… I shack my head as the car starts.

    I arrive at 6:30 on the dot, I find a nice place to park and then head toward the Café. Walking in I look around.., I don’t see him. 

    “Did he change his mind?” I pull myself over to the long line that has formed, This is why I don’t come here a lot. There are always too many people here, And she alway’s has that one slow girl on staff who goes so slow!

    Though she seems to not be here.., In her place is a tall, Chestnut brawn hair, Dark green eyed man. That best way to describe him is as a younger male version of Sage, But at lest he is helping the line move faster.

    “Good day Mis, What can I get you?” I feel a little off, I can’t put my finger on it. It feel’s like he is overly observing everything like he is looking for something. 

    “I’ll have your Ice Sage coffee, In a large please.” I like how Sage named each of the drinks, I find it adorable. “Ok Miss is that all?” I nod. 

    “And can I have a name for your order.” I smile reluctantly. “Lana” His finger lingers above the screen, Then he smiles. “Ah! Lana, I should have know! My mother can not stop talking about you.” His Mother! 

    This is Sages son! Oh god did I have to meet him today of all days. “I don’t Know what to say…., You have the Sweetest mother, And she makes the best coffee!” 

    Why me god! I don’t even know what she has said about me to him. “She is a wonderful woman, Anyway.., We need to keep this line moving.” He waves me off, THANK GOD! I don’t like confrontation at all! 

    I walk over to the side counter were I can watch Sage who seems to be rushing around making drinks, I continue to looking around when my phone vibrates.

    Deimos: Have you arrived yet?

    Oh, It’s just Deimos. Why does he talk that way? 

    Lana: Yes I Have, I’m in the Café. I already ordered something, Did you want anything from here? 

    Deimos: No, I’ve already had coffee. I sent Troy over, He should be coming in shortly.

    Lana: Ok.., Well I may be a little bit. I’m not too sure…, Sage does not usually take too long so we should be out soon.

    Deimos: I see……, You should have Troy make you a cappuccino. 

    Lana: He know’s how to make coffee! 

    Looking up from my phone I see Troy walking in, I chug my ice coffee moving toward him as I do.

    “Careful, You don’t want to ‘freeze’ your brain!” Tory Chuckles as he speaks, He reminds me of a hyena! “Thank’s.., But I hear you make cappuccinos!?” His shoulders seem to tense, Placing his hand on my lower back he pushes me toward the door. 

    “And Who told you such a thing?” I title my head at his words. “Deimos! Who else do I know from your circle.” I say with a somewhat sarcastic tone, Witch Tory smile’s at. “I see…, Well my dear we are very late for your reservation so we must hurry!!” He rushes me out of the café to the car on the other side or the street.

    “We have a drive ahead of us, So please do make yourself comfortable! And if you need anything please do let me know!” Getting in I peek into the car, I see Deimos who is elegantly stretched out over the set.

“It’s good to see you again, Lana.”

    His word’s are almost a whisper, He opens his eye’s slowly seemingly awakening from a nap? 

    “It’s nice to see you again as well…, Deimos.” 

    I feel some what bashful in saying his name.., With a tilt of his hand Tory start’s driving.

“Did you have a nice night?”

    I paused for a moment, Then shook my head firmly. “I was ‘too exited’ to sleep!” 

I smiled as I spoke somewhat stretching truth.., As in reality I didn’t get any sleep because of my anxiety! 

“I see…, I apologize if this outing has caused you any stress… As that was not my intention!”   

    The tone of his voice seems to keep switching…, One moment it sound hard and ruff… The next moment it’s more gentle and soft, Kind of like how a dog can look mean but turns out to be quite fluffy and gentle!

    “So…, Deimos.” 

    I find myself blurting out his name in an attempt to stop my my mid from wearing off in ‘those’ thoughts!

    “What is your favorite food?” Why would I say that!

“My favorite food., I’m not sure. I have never really placed that much importance on what I eat.”

    His words seemed sharp but there was something deeper in them, Like a sadness or a heart ache?

“But., I would like to hear more about you Lana. I am already fully aware of how much you enjoy coffee,”

    He gestured to the coffee cup in my hand.

“And I can only assume you enjoy sweet’s too?”

    The look on his face is it coy? But, Than again maybe not. “You are not wrong, I do have a deep rutted love of coffee! But, As for sweet’s. I do enjoy the accessional slice of cake, But I mostly enjoy small sweets that are not overly sweet. But, Just simple and comforting.”

    He nodded as I spoke.

    “And of course, It really depends on where I am going  to procure said sweets.”

    He carefully listened while I spoke.

   “That is something I can say I am more apt to, At lest I still would say I don’t have a favorite but I do have certain restaurants that I prefer over other’s” 

    There was still something that was holding me back in wanting to open up to him, But it did feel as though he was going through a similar process to me.

    “I can voice a similar opinion,” It’s not that I find it hard to converse with him…. Rather that it feel’s to uncomplicated, And more of an effortless and straightforward endeavor. 

“I don’t mean to disturb you two but it seems like I’m going to have to go around.., There is an accident in the middle of the road.” 

    Troy’s words jolt me forward, I look out the window of the car. Not with curiosity.., But with fear!

    “Do we need to call the police? Or an Ambulance!”

    Tory shakes his head.

“No, They seem to be moving around just fine.”

    Looking over I see a man, Maybe in his thirty’s. Seemingly moving around swiftly. Too swiftly.., As he is raising his voice at the woman who hit the back of his car leaving a small dent on his ‘expensive’ car.

“Tory.”

    Tory instantly stiffened at Deimos words.

“Go and see what is holding him up from handing over a simple peace of paper to the girl.”

    Tory instantly followed what Deimos had said.

    I watched intently from the car window, What would be the right thing to say in this situation. Walking in on it as an outsider I would feel so nerves.., I probably just keep apologizing and take all the blame for myself.

“Is there something bothering you?”

    I look back at Deimos. “No.., It’s just that…” I shift in my seat moving back to facing toward Deimos.

    “I would never dream of walking straight into confrontation like that…, And to be honest.” 

    I rub my hands nervously.

    “I am quite envious of him.., As you can probably tell I’m not very confidant with people.” I keep my eye’s on my hands, I don’t know why I’m telling him this.. On the rare occasion that I do talk to people openly I try to keep it as brief as possible!

“There is no reason to be envious of Troy.”

    His words come as a slight surprise, Looking up to him his eyes where firmly set on Troy as he spoke.

“His line of work has molded him into a tool that has no fear, It’s quite the contrary.” 

    Looking back to me he finished his thought.

“He is the one who should be feared in this equation, Not the other way around.” 

    Returning to the car Tony wears a smile, The man is back in his car and the woman is already leaving.

“It seems he was only a little disoriented from the accident, But he is more level headed now and we can get back on our way!”

    Tory says happily as he settles back in to the car, As soon as the road finishes clearing of the mans car we were back at our original speed headed where ever we where going to get breakfast.