"Kristal, please! I beg of you. I'll give you my liver!" I implore holding Kristal's hands but she only laughs.

Kristal is one of our juniors and she's graduating this year. I know she's busy with uni and all the projects, I really know because I was like her two years ago. But I really need her help for this one, especially because she's not only majoring in theatre but musical theatre and for the first stop in Maca's day I need her and her friends.

"Stop offering your liver. It's no good," Archie advises which only makes Kristal giggle some more.

"Fine, no liver!" I agree but I don't let go of her hands. I won't give up on this, I'll convince her somehow.

The girl shakes her head, the curls of that amazing afro bouncing from one side to the other, captivating me for a moment. I have curly hair, but hers is just a whole other level of wicked. For three seconds I get so captivated by her hair that I forget what I’m here for, talking to Kristal who’s sitting across me in a booth in As You Like It, a Shakespeare thematic café we always stop by because it has the best breakfast in town, sweet or salty. The pie is my favourite and the coffee is just sublime. I want Maca to come here, that’s why I’m trying to convince Kristal to help me, because I want this special girl to see one of my favourite places in all town, but I want it to be even more special. I know Maca is studying literature and books are one of her favourite things, henceforth, this place should be special for her. As You Like It is not only a café, it’s a library, you can borrow books and read as you drink your favourite cappuccino and it has a whole section dedicated to Shakespearean plays and poems. We know of this place because one of our professors, Mr McDean recommended it when we took his Shakespeare class in Uni and since then we come almost every morning to have breakfast. We are practically family.

This place is very special to me and I want to share it with Maca, I want her to see every spot that makes me love this town even if almost everyone would try to live for better and larger cities. There are many places I want to show her, but I’ve picked those that are my favourites and that she could like, based on all the things she’s told me in her post-its.

It was a week after she first replied my post-it when I felt the need to mange to find out about her, without asking her directly. I had to be subtle but inviting. I couldn’t just ask her ‘hey, what are your favourite things?’ but I found a way and it worked. By saying what I liked to do, she also opened up. When I found her reply with one of those things that made her smile when things were difficult, I felt victorious for days.

      Thank you. You always have the right words to say. I though of books because books make me happy. What are your favourite things?

That was her reply when I told her what I did every time I felt down.

Back then I knew almost nothing about her, but I imagined a girl on that same bench, wrapped up in warm and cosy clothes, with her face hidden behind a book, reading completely immersed in the story, oblivious to silly old me delighting myself with the view. In my imagination, she sometimes gasped or giggled and that made me smile as well, curious to know what she was exactly reading.

When I went home after finding that post-it and leaving a new one for her to find, I pinned it on my wall that had already a few ones. Looking at it I thought of As You Like It and smiled because somehow I knew she would like it there, she would enjoy the environment with all those people reading as they drank coffee or tea, all those people discussing about a new book or a new play in town because as Mr McDean recommended us the coffee, he’d done that with all his students so most of the costumers are theatre majors.

I really want Maca to come here and enjoy the food, I want her to know of this place so she can come back whenever she’s feeling down to let herself be surrounded by many, many books. That should make her smile.

That’s why I have to convince Kristal to help me, and with her to convince all the others. I know the whole thing about doing an improvised musical is not a problem, they won’t feel embarrassed or anything, it’s just asking them to do something out from their routines.

“Ask me whatever you want, just please do me this favour,” I insist, still holding her hands with my both elbows on the table, leaning towards her.

“Why are you asking me this? I mean, you said you want to meet this girl but why do I have to meet her first? I’m just confused, Reid,” she says and I sigh. It’s hard to make people understand why I’m doing this, or at least understand a bit, enough to help. “Do you fancy her or what?”

I looked away, feeling my cheeks burning. “I might,” I whispered and I could feel both Archie’s and Kristal’s eyes on me. “I just wanna do something special for her. I want her to remember this day forever, but I can’t do it on my own. Please,” I beg one more time and she sighs.

“Fine,” she agrees and I’m about to jump and hug her, even if it means climbing on top of the table.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I exclaim kissing her hands as if she were the Queen or something. “God bless your soul for all eternity. I hope it rains puppies for you.”

She laughed out loud but I meant it, I was wishing happiness in the form of rain for her.

“You’re mad, Reid. But I guess that’s your charm. After all, you always have to do things in an unconventional way,” she commented and I shrug. By now everyone knows me and they are very aware of my tendency to take things to the extreme.

What’s the fun of doing things like normal people do? I live by the saying ‘go big or go home’ and I really don’t want to go home. Somehow, I want to leave my print not only on the world, but the people that I meet.

“So what do you exactly want me to do?” she asks and now it’s time to explain.

“Okay, on Sunday morning a girl called Maca will come. You’ll be around as waiters and when she comes, just burst into a song, anything as you put her breakfast there. I’ll pay for everything, so don’t worry. I’ll also talk to Juliana”—the café owner—“so don’t worry about that. Once she’s had breakfast, you give her the next envelope and make sure to take a picture with her. I’ll hand you my Polaroid and she’ll take it with her. The idea is that she takes a picture on every stop,” I explained she nods. “Oh, by the way, you can’t say my name in front of her. She doesn’t know it yet. The game is that she has to collect the letters of my name.”

“Why didn’t you tell her your name? You know hers,” she asks and I see Archie raising his eyebrows in a conceited way. Same question he asked and I’m sure everyone will ask.

“I have my reasons,” I say and Archie rolls his eyes whilst Kristal just shrugs.

“I insist, you’re mental. But okay, we’ll do it,” she finally says with a smile. “When will you hand me the envelope and the polaroid?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll call you and go wherever you are at the moment. I first need to convince everyone to help me before I write the letters.”

“Okay,” Kristal nods. “So know you need to talk to Juliana, I’ll talk to the others. I’ll wait for your call, Reid.” She smiles and pats my hands with her other hand, the one I’m not taking. “Good luck with this girl.”

I nod and kiss her hand one more time before releasing it. She smiles at us and waves goodbye before walking away. I look at Archie with a big smile, I’m almost done with this stop, now I just need to talk to Juliana. She’s a lovely old lady and she loves Archie, and that’s why I look at him with a cheeky smile, because I need him now.

“Archie, my best mate, have I told you how great you are?” I say and he chuckles.

“I agreed already, Reid. I’ll convince Juliana, don’t worry,” he says and my smile widens.

So we leave the booth, but before that I eat the last piece of pie I asked for. I can’t come here without having a portion. Archie is already on his way so I have to swallow fast and run after him to the counter where Juliana normally is. When we walked in to meet with Kristal she was there and I smile when I notice she’s still there, reading a magazine.

“Hello, love,” Archie says and Juliana look up, her smile happy and wide when she sees Archie leaning on the counter. I stand near him but not too close. Juliana likes me, just not as much as she likes Archie. “How are you doing today?”

“Wonderful, it’s a lovely day,” she replies. Despite being fairly old, Juliana loves cold days. They are perfect for hot chocolate and hot chocolate makes everyone happy. Today is quite chilly and she of course has a cup of hot chocolate with her. “Do you want hot cocoa?”

“I’m fine, love, but thank you. I’m here to ask you for a favour, though,” he continues with a troubled expression, as if he didn’t want to ask for this but he has no other option. He is obviously acting, but we are professionals so Juliana doesn’t know that.

“Oh, dear, whatever you need. Just tell me,” she says and I smile happily.

“My mate here is doing something special for his girlfriend,” he starts and my eyes widen but I don’t say anything unless I want to ruin this. “So could you let have some friends of us working on Sunday morning when this girl comes? They’ll do a musical! I bet that’ll even enchant the other costumers and who knows, maybe you’ll make it something official,” he says winking and she seems to ponder the option. “It won’t be something big, I promise. And he’ll leave the check paid already,” Archie continues pointing at me with his thumb. “Would you let us, love?”

Juliana doesn’t reply immediately, she is really thinking about it and for a moment I think she won’t agree, but then she smiles and shakes her head.

“Of course, dear. I can’t pay them all if you bring too many,” she says.

“Oh no, don’t worry about paying them. They’ll do it for the love of arts,” he explains and that seems to relieve some worries.

“Oh, then it’s perfect! I’ll receive help and offer something new to the costumers.” Then she looks at me. “You must really love this girl to do this, Reid,” she tells me and I don’t know what to do so I just nod with a shy smile. “You remind me of my husband. He used to do all sort of things when he was courting me,” she laughs and Archie looks at me with that wicked smile. “I’m sure that girl will love whatever you have planned for her. The best of luck, Reid,” she says and stands to approach me, her hand cups my face and smiles sweetly at me. “It’s good seeing young boys still stepping out of their comfort zone for love. You’re wonderful.”

“Thank you,” I say and she smiles before going back to her seat and her hot chocolate.

Archie looks at me now, with an expression that clearly is asking for our next destination. I have this one ready, so we just have to carry on.

“Thank you,” I tell him and he nods in acknowledgement. “Now we shall pay Mr McDean a visit,” I say and his eyes widen in surprise.

“What are you planning now, Reid?” he asks and I smile happily.

“They are having a street fair so I have to use that opportunity, don’t you think?” I question and he laughs.

“Did you pick this Sunday on purpose?”

“I did,” I confess with my smile still there. “Shall we go?” I ask and he sighs.

“Let’s go, I haven’t seen Mr McDean in a long time.”

And that’s how we leave As You Like It and head to our old Shakespeare professor’s home.

-:-:-

Reid is probably the cutes character I've ever created xD hehehe I hope you love him even more than in Post It <3

Picture of Archie at the sidebar! 

Bel, xx

PS: If you have questions or anything, you can contact me on twitter @BelWatson