-

After a while, when things like happiness feel above and beyond your grasp, things like faith and religion feel like false hope. So you believe in what seems tangible, things like karma, the very idea that every single ounce of pleasure or pain that you experience comes from your own actions.

I've done plenty of wrongs and collected my fair share of pain but it seems like I've finally done something right.

Mystic stretches forward, her soft hands gripping my own as she pulls me back into Sam's shop.

The buzz of electricity I feel when her fingers lace with mine is the kind of feeling I think poems, books, plays and movies are written about.

I may have been deadweight behind her as she practically drags me towards her booth but I feel as light as air, like I'm walking through cloud nine.

More graceful than a swan, she slides into the booth, releasing my hand in the process.

Though I didn't expect her to keep holding my hand, I can't help but feel gutted at the absence of her warm hand.

"You're not working, right? Come on, sit with me." Mystic's honey-voiced travels through the air, each of her words sweeter than the next as she places her-my book on the table.

And just like all times before, I seem to have swallowed my words around her and all I can do is nod as I sit in front of the beauty.

Her cherry lips quirk up into a smile that makes her eyes gleam brighter than the stars, leaning forward she rests her elbows on the table as she gazes at me - right then and there, I know that if she wants to, she can heal the world.

"You don't say much, huh?" Mystic's smile quickly morphs into a sly smirk, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. "I swore to God, you couldn't speak. Now that I know you can, at least give me a few words buddy." She laughs, so soft, so sweet, its music to my ears.

Here was my chance to impress her.

My chance to speak to the sun and pocket a little of her sunshine.

In the weeks I have come to admire her, I have stolen a thousand glances and imagined one hundred different exchanges. I had so many questions I wanted to ask, yet only one question enters and refuses to leave my mind.

"Where have you been?" The words slip out before I have the chance to catch them and immediately I can feel the heat rush to my cheeks as her eyes widen and she leans away from me.

"The last few days?" her voice was so low and hesitant that it eases some of my own nerves. "You noticed?"

I lean in closer and nod, "Well yeah, you've come in here and sat at the same booth, ordering the same drink, reading some book every day for a few weeks now. I was starting to think you and the furniture were a packaged set."

Mystic's lips form into an oh, before she ducks her head in a coy manner that only makes her more stunning as she bellows a laugh.

Soon, she looks back up to me, "I guess you become real observant if you don't waste time talking." Her lips stretch as she levels me with a sly grin.

"My brother came to visit and he dragged me all over to the sites, he wanted to see. He had no interest in coming to see my favourite little coffee shop." She shrugs and her eyes lose some of their usual spark.

"But he's gone, now. I'll be here, right on time, no worries."

I shift closer to her, my curiosity peeking at her cryptic tone - anything that can cause an angel to frown is worth a question but I don't get the chance to investigate as I see Sam barreling down to our table.

"Johnathon Ryder, did I not tell you to take-" Sam comes to a screeching halt as his eyes land on Mystic and for once I'm not the only one lost for words around her.

Mystic turns to Sam, giving him one of her glamour smiles, the ones I wish she'd save just for me.

She stands from her seat, stretching her hand towards Sam and without pause he takes her hand in his, giving it a gentle shake.

"I'm sorry Sir, I asked him to join me but if he has to get back to work, I understand."

"No, no, no! Not at all!" Sam practically shouts as his eyes dart from me to her.

"He can stay here with you, as long as he wants, please." Sam ushers her back into the booth, allowing her to slide back into her previous position.

Her eyes widen in amusement and she glances at me before turning her attention back to Sam.

"Well, that's great. He doesn't say much but he's good company." she laughs which only signals all the butterflies to rocket against my stomach.

I was good company, I was her company.

I don't have to look in a mirror to know how ridiculous of a smile I am wearing but it doesn't matter, I'm wearing the smile given to me by my one and only auburn beauty.

"Since this is a coffee shop, I'll just go get you kids some coffee, my treat." He turns to Mystic clicking his fingers as if trying to remember something. "Straight black coffee, right?"

She nods thankfully and then Sam turns to me with a huge smug smile plastered all over his face. "And what for you Johnny?"

I shake my head and glare at the old trickster, feeling Mystic's gaze heavy against the side of my head.

"You're always surprising me Sam, go ahead and surprise me now." I mumble through gritted teeth.

Sam only grins and chuckles, his laugh growing louder and more booming the further away he gets until it disappears altogether.

"Your boss has to be the coolest guy to ever own a coffee shop." Mystic's warm brown eyes are alive with excitement as she throws her hands up in the air like a child on a rollercoaster. I chuckle and shrug more mesmerized by her than ever.

"He's more like a father than my boss, he's the greatest guy, I know." She nods and reaches over, placing her hand ever so lightly on top of mine, restarting the butterflies that had just begun to rest.

"I can actually see that, that's amazing." She raises her eyebrows, the corners of her mouth tilting up into a grin. "So Johnny, huh? That's a lovely name, it has rock star quality."

My heart speeds up so fast, I swear a blood vessel is going to burst.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I can't help but think she knows exactly what she does to me, exactly how powerful she really is.

"And what's your name?" I feel like I'm asking the answer to the biggest mystery of the century.

"Alice, Alice Carter. But, I've never liked Alice, it's sounded too wonderland for me, too pretty. And these days, I seem to hate Carter too." Alice's tone is sharp and sardonic, leaving no room for compliments but I find a space and I make my way in.

Alice Carter.

Alice Carter.

Alice Carter.

Alice Carter.

I must have said her name a thousand times in my head before I dare to say it out loud.

"Alice Carter! Hah, that's perfect, I can tell you're a wonderland." Her name tastes so sweet against my lips, I want nothing more than to sing it to the heavens.

Alice and Johnny, I like the sound of it and as she playfully rolls her eyes before sticking her tongue out at me, I wonder if she likes it too?

-

Sam sent Macey out with Alice's black coffee, a Cappuccino for me and a plate of chocolate chip cookies to share between us.

Though I tried to discreetly shoo her away before Alice notices her lingering, Macey insists on taking pretend photos of us and inaudibly aweing until Sam sees and hauls her away.

Thereafter, more than enough times, Alice and I had reached for the same cookie and I got to feel her tender touch as her fingers brushed against my own.

I think what I like the most is the way our conversation flows slow and easy, like old friends, finally reunited.

"What are you talking about? Superman would destroy Batman, the batmobile and even Alfred with one flick of his wrist." She practically screeches as she narrows her eyes at me.

'Superman is just raw strength but Batman," I reach up and tap the side of my head as I grin at her. "He's the brains of the operation."

"Take away Batman's money and -" her reply is cut short by the blaring ringtone of her cell phone. 

She glances down at the name flashing before sighing heavily; peeking up at me, a small smile crosses her supple lips.

"I've got to go but I'm not finished with you yet. Give me a call sometime, would you?"

I'm too stunned to speak, too shocked to move as she reaches over the table, plucking a pen from the front pocket of my shirt and grabbing my hand.

She writes her number and several smiling faces - then without another word she leaves through the front door, taking my heart with her.

As I watch her disappear through swarms of pedestrians, I begin to think things like happiness aren't above and beyond me, just yet.