"New boy toy?" Whit winked from behind my stack. "Haven't seen one approach you in ages here."

"Shut up, Whit," I snapped, whacking his arm. Ignoring his whimper of pain, I continued, "He's a childhood friend. And thanks for having us again. I'll try to drop by next week."

"You better," he retorted. "I barely see your baby faces anymore." He pinched my cheek. I swatted his hand away and scowled at him. Giving Preacher one more rub along his back, I gripped the large paper bag with both arms.

"Love you too!" His chortle faded into the distance as I dove back into the store to search for Pax. As I scoured the back where I'd previously found her, my phone buzzed in my pocket with two incoming messages.

One from Pax read "sry, I left without you. catch a ride with g". And the other screamed at me with many exclamation points saying "u left me outside!!! Hurry up!" from Gio. I replied to both with the same general agreement and made my way back to the front.

"Thanks for letting me know," I hissed at Whit on the way out. I left him still dying of laughter, puzzle cube and cat long forgotten.

"So did Pax fill you in?" Gio shoved his hands into his pockets. "I came on my bike, so it'll be a little weird." I tilted my head and stared at him to make sure I'd heard right.

"A bike in this heat?" I held up my sweating forearm in evidence, propping the bag against my hip. "You have to be crazy."

"Good thing I'm Italian then, right?" At my unamused expression, he straightened and coughed. "Fine, I'll call my mom."

I watched as he dialed a number and once his mom picked up, he asked, "Mama, can you come around to Whit's End? I'm with Thisbe and we need a ride home." I could hear the excited screams from where I was standing. I winced as I caught phrases like 'your future girlfriend' and 'haven't seen in forever'.

"How's the family anyway?" I hadn't been over to the Marcelles' place in the longest time. Schoolwork and books were plenty to handle anyhow. "My mom says you guys have another addition."

"That was a few months ago," Gio confirmed. "And we're doing okay. Just a little bit of trouble on my dad's side. His siblings are fighting over the will my granddad left them." I nodded awkwardly and we stood for a while in the heat.

For all our history, when we were left to our own devices, we always ended like this. Thankfully, it had gotten better over the years, but I was still glad to see the familiar white Honda pull into the parking lot.

"Come in, come in!" Mrs. Marcelles greeted cheerfully, moving piles of miscellaneous objects to the front, undeterred by her guest. "It's nice to see you again, Thisbe. I'm sure you're very hot from standing outside for so long."

I grinned. "Mrs. Marcelles! It's been too long. And yeah, but I'll cool off soon."

She twisted in her seat to face us. Seeing my luggage, she gasped and scolded Gio, "Shame on you! You let her stand out there in the heat and you didn't offer to carry anything, did you?" Gio scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Can I get anything for you?" He held his hands out with an embarrassed smile.

"No use now," Mrs. Marcelles tsked. "Just get the bike, my darling. And Thisbe, set the bag in the front." I complied and carefully balanced the big bag on top of the mountain of things already dumped in the seat. I threw myself back into my own chair, with a sigh of relief as the AC began to hit me.

We took off the moment we heard the trunk slam shut and Gio jumped into the car. Even in late May, no sane citizen of our town would even want to stay out in the full force of the sun on such a day. We coasted down the streets in a comfortable silence, Mrs. Marcelles checking the rearview mirror with a sly smile now and then.

"You know about Brea, yes?" Mrs. Marcelles glanced pointedly at the car seat next to me.

"Yeah, I do! How is she?" I looked up from my book, ready to hear the details. I could see Gio already nestled into his own seat, anticipating the long ramble that was coming.

I let her happily chatter away, gladly soaking in the new information. I hadn't had someone carry the conversation in a long while, and it was something I surprisingly missed.

"You'll give my regards to your mom, yeah?" Mrs. Marcelles turned in her seat the moment she stopped in front of the familiar yard only decorated with patches of flowers here and there.

"Of course," I agreed. "She misses the days when you guys spent the afternoons talking. Thank you for the ride. Tell Gio that I'll meet him at Tea End tomorrow at nine before we go bowling." I popped the car door open and made my way around to the passenger seat to retrieve my bags.

Mrs. Marcelles winked. "No promises, love. Remember just how deeply in love my boy is in with his pillow. Especially on weekends." She handed me my bags, struggling slightly as her arms took my purchases' unexpected weight.

"I know that very well. In case he doesn't wake up, I'll just speak with him at the bowling alley." Smiling guiltily, I relieved her of the unnecessary effort and prepared to shut the door.

"Come see me sometime. The boys miss you too," Mrs. Marcelles bit her lip with those beautiful puppy eyes directed at me.

"You know I can't say no to that face," I objected affectionately. "I'll see you soon, Momma M." Mrs. Marcelles brightened and smiled her famous smile and peeled off into the distance.

I hurried to the safety of our cool house and my mom called out to me as I unstrapped my sandals and discarded them haphazardly on the shoe rack. "Was that the Marcelles' family car I just saw?"

"Don't say anything," I rolled my eyes playfully. "Momma M invited us over for a visit anytime, so you go ahead and round up the family sometime." I could see the barely suppressed smile taking over my mother's features, starting with her eyes and seeing it made me happy.

"You're in a bit of trouble though," Mom said, struggling to straighten her face out. "A certain someone left a very precious possession at school that she promised not to lose."

"Let me guess," I groaned. "Daddy found it." Mom offered an apologetic face.

"He's picking up Eris from her play rehearsal, so they should be back soon," she said, returning her focus to her charts in front of her.

I sighed. "Okay, I'll wait for him, I guess. Good luck with your scary pregnant women." Mom laughed at that and waved me off, now in what she called her zone. Smiling to myself, I climbed the stairs to my room where I decided that my bed looked more interesting than cleaning up the mess I'd left in the morning.

I set my bags down next to my desk and fingered my book pillars lightly as I flopped onto my bed. The second I closed my eyes, I heard the front door open and reluctantly sat up.

"Mom!" Eris' voice called. "I got the lead and we're gonna blow your mind." I couldn't hear my mom's response, but it didn't matter because my dad's footsteps were getting louder.

"Have a good day, Thissy?" His knowing smile occupied his entire face. "Must've been if you could forget something so important."

"Psh," I tried to play it off. "You know me. Always distracted. Ditzy Thissy." I grinned and reached out towards him.

"Nuh uh," he chuckled. "As your dad and your principal, you are officially grounded... actually, that's not the word." He paused for a moment, tapping his chin.

"You just can't use your camera for the next week, darling. That's all he means." Mom's head popped in and back out, mischief in her bouncing steps.

"I'm not a F.O.B. anymore, May! I'm a grown man." My dad pouted like the grown man he was. "But yes, that's what I mean. I know that Candice's farewell party is important, so I won't keep you from that. Just try to put that good noggin to use more often, please."

I tried to dodge his hand as he rapped my head twice. "Sir yes sir. I'm surprised you don't have anything worse this time. Last time, you made me write my name in the air twice in our front yard." He tried to hold back his laughter, but my dad lives to laugh so it was no shocking thing when he burst out in fits of giggles.

In between laughs, he choked out, "That was a test run. No more of that. It almost killed me seeing you like that."

"He means that it was too funny," my mom translated. "But we lessened it for you; you're welcome." She winked at me and slipped through my dad's arms as he chased after her into their room.

"This isn't over, Thissy!" I rolled my eyes endearingly at the sound of his voice. "It's just very delayed."

"Sure, sure," I replied. Too alert to try again for sleep, I decided to tackle some AP readings and sort through the room's trash before dinner.

"Thissy." Someone shook my shoulder. "Wake up you piece of garbage."

I startled awake. Shaking my head, I looked at my sister through bleary eyes. "Huh? What time is it?"

"Fourteen hours since you fell asleep, I think," Eris answered. "It's seven in the morning, my dude."

My eyes widened. "And you woke me up why?" I moved to relocate onto my bed. Before I could take a step, Eris stopped me.

"I vaguely recall you telling me to wake you up at seven on any given day if you aren't up before then just in case. Besides, you might want to check your phone." With that, Eris was out my door, murmuring what must be her play's lines under her breath as she went.

I found my phone under a pile of clothes in my closet after a bit of searching and unlocked it to find a text from Gio that reminded me of our planned meeting. I shrugged myself into an oversized shirt and shorts before running a brush through my hair and coaxing it into a bun.

Once I made it to the bathroom and put in my contacts, Eris surprised me at the base of the stairs. "Breakfast," she said, nodding at the apple in her hand, her attention directed at her phone. "I'll tell them you're at Tea End."

"Thanks," I kissed her cheek and swung my tote over my shoulder. I didn't have to be watching to know that she was cringing heavily at the display of affection. With the apple between my teeth, I slid into my flip flops and bounded out the door.

Frowning at the already warming weather, I revved up the engine to my mom's car and pulled out of the driveway. After I connected my phone to the car's stereo and spun the volume all the way up, I dug through my tote to make sure at least two books were still there.

As soon as the car rolled to a gentle stop in the café's parking lot, my phone began to buzz with an incoming call from Pax. "Well, well, well," I greeted. "Look at this early bird." I hopped out and locked the car with a satisfying beep.

"Morning," came her groggy voice. "Eris said you're already out and about."

"Yeah," I nodded, gaining an odd look from a lady coming out of the café. I cringed and pushed through the door. "I'm at Tea End."

Even through the phone, Pax's gasp was so loud that I could practically feel her breath on my cheek. "The coffee shop down the main road? The one run by Vanessa? You're there without me?" Tea End was a relatively new café run by Whit's twin sister, Vanessa, which explained the similar names. Pax and I often found Vanessa in Whit's End chatting up a storm or browsing through books with a cup of coffee in hand and we'd been ecstatic to discover her café. So we became her most regular customers, almost coming on a daily basis when we had the time.

Remembering Pax was still on the line and that I wasn't the only one in the coffee shop, I brought myself out of my reverie and asked, "What do you think I should get?"

"That doesn't answer me and their special is always good," Pax exhaled reluctantly. "I'll be over to pick you up after lunch, so try not to move, okay?"

"Okay. And yes," I giggled. "I'm here without you. Love you! Bye!" I ended the call and approached the counter with a smirk on my face.

"What'd you do this time?" Vanessa cocked her head, her curly hair falling to the side. "I know that look. I see it way too often."

"Nothing," I grinned. "Can I get today's special?" I put my phone on its do not disturb mode, effectively stopping the constant pings from Pax.

Vanessa eyed me skeptically before calling to somebody hidden from my view, "El! Get today's special please!"

"Did you get a new barista?" I frowned. If she had, I didn't remember it.

"More or less," Vanessa agreed. "He's been here for a couple weeks now. Serves you right for not coming to visit."

"Love you too," I winked. Vanessa smacked me on the head with her towel and I avoided it by ducking my head, snickering.

"Here," the mysterious barista interrupted. "Chocolate malt milkshake." I froze.

"Thanks, El. Thisbe, this is on the house, so don't waste it." Vanessa slid the whipped cream topped drink under my nose.

"Thisbe?" I looked up into Daniel's face with just as much enthusiasm as Pax had when she was face-to-face with homework. "What're you doing here?"

"Having my shake," I said, attempting for a jovial tone. "Thanks, Vanessa. I owe you one." Holding the milkshake up in a form of farewell, I made my way to a table with a view outside.

I took a few sips of my drink and stared at the sidewalk lost in thought before I allowed myself to sink into my book's world. Every now and then, I'd absently reach for the forgotten shake and swallow more of the melting sweetness, preferring to stay immersed in the story.

Before I realized he was there, Daniel coughed for what must have been the nth time. "Thisbe?"

I rolled my eyes, not wanting to leave Doerr's pages. "Can I help you with something?" I glanced up and took note of the fact that he was in his apron but looked like a front page model. I almost opened my mouth to let out a snide remark before I stopped myself.

"Um," he began, not sounding anything like the cocky self I'd come to know. "What're you reading?"

"Seriously?" I gave him a dubious look. "That's what you're gonna spend your break time doing?"

"Yes, and we all know that you'd rather spend time with me anyway," he smirked. With a tight smile, I closed my eyes for a long moment. There was the flirt that I'd pegged him to be.

"No, you're actually interrupting my book time," I waved the book in front of his face.

Unperturbed, he laughed. "Whatcha reading?" I stared at him, not believing that he was still after an answer.

"A how-to guide on getting rid of people who can't read clear signals," I grumbled. I redirected my attention to my page, hoping that he'd pick up on my not so subtle hint and leave me be.

To my surprise, Daniel cracked up, saying, "I've never met anyone so blunt. It's beautiful."

"Thanks," I replied shortly. "Now let me read. Marie-Laure is about to meet Werner and this is the climax."

"Not 'til you tell me what you're reading." I watched him cross his arms stubbornly.

"You're like a child," I half-whispered. "Typical dude."

"Well?" He rose his eyebrows expectantly. "I'm giving you time of my day that plenty other people would jump at the chance of having."

"I barely know you," I sighed. We had a silent staring contest that lasted for a solid thirty seconds before I relented. "I'm reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr."

Daniel's eyes lit up. "See? Wasn't that easy? And now we have a foundation to build our relationship on! You won't be able to say you don't know me after this," he promised.

My face scrunched in disbelief. "Daniel, you and I have literally no reason to talk to each other at all and you just want to be all chummy out of nowhere. What the heck?"

He clapped his hands cheerfully. "Isn't that how all friendships start? Out of nowhere?" I opened my mouth to retaliate, but he had a point. I let out a long breath and he scrutinized me, obviously waiting for my response.

"Is this how you plan on getting to Pax?" I asked instead, the thought only just occurring to me. "Because that'd be a new one, but it could still happen."

Daniel blinked at me with something like shock in his eyes. "What? No, Pax and I are just friends. Plus, she already knows who I want." He wasn't completely telling the truth, but I pushed that observation away, thinking nothing of it and saving it for later.

"Alright," I consented. I checked my phone for the time. "Since Gio's probably still sleeping and'll stand me up, we can talk. You're really weird and I don't know how I feel about you, so lay it all out."

"Then," he tilted his head at my melted milkshake. "Let me get you a coffee and we can start calling these times our Beginnings at Tea End."

As much as I wanted to tell him that I didn't drink coffee, the poor guy had made a pun, so I'd let it slide. Instead, I offered him a wide smile as my approval.

Do you remember how we'd spend hours there just talking? That was our spot. The good old days, y'know? But people get replaced. Not because either party wanted it to happen, but just because that was what it was.

Okay..? I really want you to forgive me though. Let me come back.

What's done is done. You hurt a lot of people, and I guess this is life's way of teaching you a lesson. I hope you'll learn that lesson. Anyway,

To the days when life was good.

[word count 3171]

[published 12:10 AM Friday, September 7, 2018 (GMT+9)]

cover (also) by oceanwaved.