Two weeks have past since I met that man in the cafe. He still hadnt called or texted, which I didnt expect. I went back there a couple of times, half hoping he would be there in that same corner booth, but each time I am met with no sight of him. The crushing feeling I get when that happens was unreasonably intense. I had only met him once, but there was something about him that I just couldn't shake. I didn't know what it was and to be honest it scared the hell out of me.

           My phone buzzed on the table and I lunged off my couch to reach for it. When I looked at the screen, the feeling of excitement was replaced by one of disappointment, which confused me even more. It was my friend Eli, and I clicked on the message.

    "Call me."

      I clicked dial and held the phone up to my ear.

         "Marisa?" His voice was tired, but alert.

          "Hey Eli. What's up?"

          "Nothing much. I was just wondering if you were doing anything this weekend? I have tickets to Hamilton and I know you are a bit of a musical person so....."

         "OMIGOD HAMILTON!?! YES of course Ill go. You are the best Eli." I squealed.

            He laughed. "Ouch, you busted out an eardrum there. You do know I need to hear the songs to right?"

          I shook my head, but that didn't make me anyless excited. I was obsessed with Hamilton and this would be my last chance to see the original cast on their farewell tour. I was practically jumping around my living room in happiness. "I know I know I'm sorry." I laughed. "Thank you thank you thank you Eli. This means the world to me!!"

         "Anytime love. I'm always happy to make you smile. " I could hear the grin in his voice. I had known him for two years now since we met in my college music appreciation class. He had been my guy best friend ever since. Lately I could sense a kind of attraction vibe coming off him, but he hadn't said anything about it. I might have been imagining it though. If he did have feelings he would voice them right?

           "Hey, by the way, I want to talk to you about something. Can we go to dinner afterwards? I would like to talk to you then. In person." He says.

         "Yeah, okay, sounds like a plan. See you this weekend."

          "Alright love. See you then." Click.

         I was about to put my phone down on the table when it buzzed again. I opened it and it was from an unknown number. My heart thumped in my chest. Could it be him?

         "Hey. This is kyle. From the café."

      I stared at my phone for a moment, trying to process this. It was him. I didn't know what to do. I just stared blankly at the phone for two minutes before it hit me that I should probably respond.

"Hey kyle. This is Marisa.... I was wondering if I would ever hear from you."

The response was almost immediate. 

"Well I was a little afraid you had given me the wrong number. Plus, can you blame me for thinking you a little out of my league? 😉"

      I laughed before firing one back.

        "You sure are a smooth one aren't you? Would you want to meet up for coffee later? Same café?"

       This time the response wait was longer. I saw the typing bubble pop up then disappear again twice before he replied.

         "Definitely. 2:00 sound good?"

        I grinned. "2:00 it is."

************************************************************************

               He smiled at his phone. It had taken him a while to get the hang of this technology over the years, but now it came naturally. And she had responded beautifully.  Now all he had to do was wait. And get dressed of course.

       He went into his closet and started to pick put what to wear. He pushed past his suits and went for his leather jacket. This version of her seemed to like stuff like this, so he thought it appropriate for the occasion. As he pulled it off its hanger, a box fell off his top shelf. It was old and worn, made out of dark mahogany with an iron lock. He gently picked it up and traced his finger over the delicate design of a heart before putting it back in its original place.