-------- 2 YEARS LATER ---------

I smiled and thanked the waitress who brought my americano to the table of the small coffee shop. Even though anyone passing by would just see a sweet little coffee shop with red and white checkered table cloths and pretty yellow tulips scattered about, what I saw was something completley different.

I saw the beggining.

Of course I was here. It had become my habit to frequent Tulip's Coffee, most of the people who worked here knew me, and I knew them.

The girl who served me was Anna, the guy at the counter was Jake, the male waiter was Adam; I knew these people and they knew me, but none of them knew WHY.

They didn't know that six years ago, I had worked here. Six years ago, a rowdy trio if people had entered this shop. Six years ago, a man named Gilbert had saved me from a creep, kissed me on the lips and given me his number all in one day.

I sipped my americano and scrolled through my phone when I git a text from Antonio, which read:

Antonio: Come do some modelling tommorow?

I rolled my eyes and replied with a yes, then sat in the shop for around an hour, drinking my coffee. Anna flitted from table to table, taking orders, Jake served those who were taking away their coffee, and Adam would tend to bring people their drinks and food.

I finished off ny americano, stood up, and paid for my drink. Jake smiled at me and wished me a good day, so I replied with a 'you too'. Slowly, I made my way out of Tulip's, not really wanting to go outside in the cold autumn air. Eventually, I made my way out onto the street, a light drizzle hung outside, and the people who bustled through the street seemed to notice it aswell.

As I was walking along, a couple who were walking behind me were talking about it as well.

"It's rather cold, right?" A slightly posh, slightly accented voice said behind me.

"I know right?" Another voice said. I stopped immediatley, my whole body froze up. The couple bumped into me. "Hey! Watch where you're standing!"

I swallowed with great difficulty, my pulse quickened, breaths uneaven. That voice... no, I could've imagined it, right? I realized that I would have to turn around sooner or later, better to not seem rude...

I whipped around, and my eyes immediatley focused on a slightly tall, brownish-black haired man, who had purple coloured eyes, wore glasses and had a mole under his mouth. My pulse slowed, as it wasn't who I thought it was, but then it completley stopped when I saw the other person in the couple.

He was tall, around six foot, and had white hair and very pale skin. His eyes were a mix of pink, purple and red, and resembled rubies. The arch in his brow was downwards, like he should have a permenant smirk, and in his hand was the other male's hand. I swallowed again, but it didn't seem to work, the lump was still there. I tried to move, to speak, to do anything, but I couldn't.

Because Gilbert Beilschmidt was standing right in front of me.