I swept into the café, and my eyes went straight to the booth where I had first seen him. He wasn't there however, so I walked up to the Barista to order my usual hazelnut infusion. This time I had him add two shots of espresso, hoping the caffeine would calm my nerves. Once I had my drink, I sat at the booth and waited.

     And waited......and waited some more.

        It was 2:20 when I heard a voice behind me. "Hi. Sorry I'm late. I got caught up on the subway..."

       His voice sent shivers down my spine, but not in a bad way. He sat down across from me, those forest green eyes boring into mine. I felt a blush creep up my neck and I took another sip of my drink. I had gotten a second while I waited, this time without the espresso, and a blueberry muffin with it.

          "Thats alright. Things happen...." I say, the corner of my mouth quirking up. I look down and pick at my muffin, not wanting to get entranced by those eyes, so as to not lose my focus. His gaze was intense, and I started to feel a little nervous.

         "So, Marisa...... Tell me about yourself. " He asked, lifting an eyebrow.

          "Like what?" I countered, mimicking his movement.

          "Like your hobbies, favorite books, your likes and dislikes. I want to get to know you.....that is of course, if you want to get to know me to?" The hope in his eyes was like a child's, full of sincerity and a little bit of hesitation. That got me.

         "I do......" I whisper, trying to breath a little. Those eyes.......

          "Good." He allowed himself a small smile. "Lets make a deal. You give me five random facts you would like me to know straight off, and ill tell you five facts about me. Deal?"

        "Deal." I grin, and the nervousness disapates a little. I stop to think for a moment, taking a bite of my muffin as I do. When I have them, I swallow and look him straight in the eye. "One, I love music. Of all varieties. Two, I am obsessed with the play Hamilton. Three, I have a best friend named Eli. Four, I am an avid book reader. And five, I am in love with American Horror Story, especially season two,  Coven. "

         He lets out an appreciative whistle. "Hamilton and American Horror Story huh? And who is this Eli?"

       "Ive known him for two years. We met in my music appreciation class. He is taking me to see Hamilton this weekend and he is my closest friend." I reply. There was a flash of curiousity and irritation in his eyes but it was gone so fast I thought I must have imagined it.

       "So what are your favorite books?" This time his voice is quiet, rough, and he doesn't meet my eyes. Its like he knows what I will say amd is hoping that the answer would be what he expected....like he always expected it from me and has heard it before. The thing is we haven't ever met before.

     I hesitate a moment before I answer. "I love fairytales. Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Prince and the Pauper, The Pied Piper, Rumplestiltskin...things like that."

      The look in his eyes tells me I was right. He did expect it. His whole expression remained unsuprised but there was a smirk on his face. I swallow and take another sip of coffee.  "Alright, now your turn."

      He stared down at his hands for a moment before looking back up at me. "One, I am also into reading books. Two, I am a history nerd. I have studied each century very.....closely. Three, I like to play the piano and guitar sometimes. Four, I also sketch, and five I think that you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my entire life."

        I raise both my eyebrows at this. "That last one wasn't a real fact."

      "On the contrary that is a fact. I really do think it, which makes it true, which constitutes it as fact. You are truly beautiful Marisa." He says, eyes boring into mine. "And if you'd let me, I would want to spend more time with you, and hear so much more about you."

      My breath hitched, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from his. They were so entrancing and something about them felt so familiar and so......safe. I didn't realize that we had moved closer to each other, his arms crossed on the table with his torso leaning over them, and my body doing the same. It felt instinctive, and deep within me I felt a strange closeness to this guy that I had just met, who I didn't really know a thing about. It was ridiculous.  I moved back slightly and took a deep, steadying breath.

      "I think I would like that." I whisper hoarsely. He smiles like the Cheshire cat, all playful, mischievous, with a certain warmth behind it.

        "Thank you. I'm honored that you agreed to that." He whispered back. "Would you like to hang out again? Maybe go to a museum tomorrow? I could show you how much of a nerd I really am so you know what you are getting into by knowing me."

       Again there is that childlike hope, like he is actually afraid I will say no. But how could I say no? He was cute and.....this feeling I get when I am around him is fascinating. Scattered, yes, but also womderful at the same time.

         "Of course. Just tell me when and where."

         "There is one only a block from here, so meet here at 2, then walk there? We can get coffee before we go to warm us up?" He suggests, eyes alight with satisfaction and happiness at my agreement.

        "Sounds like a plan...." I murmur. Then I look at the clock. It was 3:15. "I suppose I had better get going now. I have some work to do at home."

       "Here, let me flag you down a cab." He offered, standing with me.

        I smile. "Sure."

      He walked me to the curb and let out the best whistle I have heard for a cabbie and opened the door the let me get inside. He grabbed my hand before I sat inside and kissed it softly.

       "See you tomorrow."

       Then I got into the cab and he was gone, disappearing behind me into the snow.

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

        Fairytales. It was always damned fairytales. It saddened him that while she dreamed of these magical places, she didn't know the real cost of true magic. How dark it could be. How it could curse a life.......or return one to happiness. That was what he wanted most out of all these years. Her, and their happiness together. He wanted it back, without this thing holding them back and he wanted to be free from him. The bastard wasn't going to succeed. Not this time. Not while he still breathed and his heart still beat.