He scratched the back of his head as if he did not know what to say next. I took it as my cue to stop staring and speak.

“So? Shall we get a cup of coffee?” I asked awkwardly, “I think it’s still early enough.”

“It’s never too late for coffee.” He said.

“okay, then. Lets go.”

We started walking to this little mom and pop shop around the corner. We didn’t say much on the short walk. Truthfully, this is the first time I ever felt speechless. This stuff usually came easy to me, but this felt different. I almost felt relieved when we reached the shop and I could speak and put my order in.

“Next in line.”

“Yeah, can I get a small ice coffee, extra sugar and extra cream?” I asked.

“Whoa.” Daniel said.

“What?”

“That is a lot in a small.” He said, “In an iced too. The sugar won’t even melt.”

The lady handed me my coffee.

“Is there even coffee in there?!” Daniel laughed.

“Hey, I don’t judge your choices,” I said.

“What can I say, ‘I like my coffee black, like I like my Metal.” He replied.

“Mindless Self Indulgence.” I nodded, “Good band. What else do you listen to?”

“A little bit of everything I guess.” He smiled, “You?”

“Probably a little bit of everything too.” I said, “But there is just something about Metal, with all the guitar riffs and the beautiful sound of the drums. Same with Industrial, I love it.”

“You like all the instruments,” He said walking over to a table.

“Pretty much.” I nodded as I sat across from him.

“So, who is your favorite band?” He asked taking a sip of his coffee.

“It’s hard to say. I have many.”

“If you had to pick one as of right now?”

“One? Well then I’d have to say Marylin Manson.”

“Really?!” He asked

“Dedicated fan since I was twelve.” I said proudly.

“He’s probably going to run away now”, I thought.

“That is intriguing.” He smirked, “I wouldn’t think you would be into him.”

I snorted, “Yeah, well. I am totally hardcore like that.”

He started laughing.

“No, but seriously?” He asked.

“Honestly,” I said taking a sip of my coffee, or the sugar mess, what ever you want to call it. “I don’t know. I just really like his music. Just like, I like a little of Slipknot. The drummer is awesome and I just love the percussion. But I also love 80’s bands like Depeche Mode and The Cure. It depends on the day. Some days I rock out to P!nk all day. Depends on my mood. Oh, it also depends on the season too.”

“What?” He asked.

“Yeah, I don’t usually listen to Type O Negative in the Summer. I usually save them for the Fall. It just fits.” I shrugged and smiled a little.

Daniel nodded his head and took a sip of his coffee, “Well, okay.”

“Yeah, he’s definitely going to walk away now.” I though.

“Well? What about you?” I asked.

“Foo Fighters.” He replied.

“Wow you didn’t even have to stop and think about that did you?” I teased.

“What?! They are a good band.” He said.

“I didn’t say they were bad.” I said, “I never actually listened to them, so I can’t judge.”

“You, should give them a shot.” he said, “Best of You, is my favorite song right now.”

“I’ll give them a listen.” I said.

We were quite again. I stared at my cup and tried to think what to ask next. Music was a good icebreaker, no where to go?”

I felt my phone buzz.

“Could you hold on a second. It’s my mom.” I said

“Yeah, sure.”

I picked up the phone.

“Hi, sorry. I forgot.” I said, “Yeah. Oh, Maggie is picking me up later. Yeah. Okay. See Yeah. Love you too.”

I hung up up the phone, and put it back in my pocket.

“Sorry about that.”

“No, it’s okay.” He waved his hand, “So, who is Maggie?”

“My best friend.” I said. “She is like my sister to me.”

“That is like my buddy Ben.”

“Oh, I though you and Derek, we like best buds.” I said. “You guys always seem to be together.”

“Yeah, he’s cool, but Ben has been there since high school.”

“Same as Maggie.” I smiled.

“You have brothers and sisters?” He asked.

“Yeah, I have a brother.” I said. “ You?”

“I have a little sister.”

“I am the oldest too.” I replied, “How old is she?”

“Fourteen.”

“A baby like my brother. He’s fifteen.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t act like a baby though.” He laughed a little, “She is wise beyond her years.”

“Smart, huh?” I smiled.

“A smart ass.” he laughed.
“Aren’t they all?!” I laughed.

“No, she’s actually a good girl. She was funny about today too. It is like she knew.”

“Knew what?” i asked intrigued.

“That I was meeting a girl today.”

“What do you mean?”

“She must have been snooping around my room, because she mentioned your picture.”

I nearly spit my coffee across the table.

“You have a picture of me?”