Thursday came, and to David's surprise, Eleanor beat him to it.

"Look, David." She said, quickly glancing to see a non-existent line behind her, "I'm sorry if this is weird," she spoke haltingly, her body language the most awkward David could recall ever seeing her, "but I've been thinking about it all week... I need to clear something up."

"Yes?" David furrowed his brow. Is still going to tell me that she has a boyfriend, and I shouldn't flirt with her anymore? I mean, if having conversation can even be considered flirting... I don't know!

She took a deep breath, "I'm worried there may have been a misunderstanding the other day. I'm probably overthinking it as usual and reading into stuff way too much," she began to ramble, "I don't mean to assume anything but I feel like I need to clear this up, but at the same time I-"

"Eleanor." David cut her off, and she looked at him, biting her lip nervously, "It's alright." His voice was kind as he asked, "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Eleanor silently nodded, then she nodded again before bluntly saying, "'Jasper' is a dog."

"A dog?" David echoed with a furrowed brow, What? As in, he's an absolute jerk?

"Yes. The sweetest tri-colour cavalier." She gave him a sheepish smile, "Jasper is my first client of the day. He's quite arthritic - poor thing - so I'm able to hold and sip a drink as we walk, since it's pretty slow going. It's good to him to get out and about for a little though. Usually I get my mocha and then go and pick him up, but the other day I had to pick him up first then come here since his owners had to head off earlier than usual."

"Oh." Said David, feeling himself flush with embarrassment at his incorrect assumption. Thank goodness she spoke first, before I aked her if Jasper was her boyfriend! "Thanks for explaining that. I was, uh... wondering."

A soft ting signalled the entrance of another customer.

Starting to move out of the way, Eleanor spoke again, her right shoulder raised slightly, "Um, so yeah. I just wanted to clear that up, I don't know."

"Wait." Said David, Eleanor looked at him, and he thought there was the slightest blush on her cheeks, "No mocha today?"

"Oh, how mortifying!" Eleanor briefly buried her face in the hands before lowering them and shaking her head, mumbling, "Forgetting the very thing I came in for." David couldn't help but notice how striking Eleanor's eyes looked as the blush on her cheeks increased in intensity. She handed him the money quickly scrabbled out of her purse, "Here you go. Sorry about that David - I don't know where my head is today."

David murmured a "it's all good" as he passed down the cup - which he had already written Eleanor's order on as soon as she walked in - towards Deb, who had walked out from the back upon hearing the door chime and was watching this last bit of David and Eleanor's exchange with a bemused expression.

She always seems to disappear when Eleanor comes in on Thursdays and there's no other customers, David realised suddenly, with an odd surge of gratitude and exasperation. Cheeky bugger.

Having put Eleanor's payment in the cash register, David gave Eleanor a quick smile and nod as she headed towards the order pick-up end of the counter, where he could hear Debbie already frothing the milk.

He only allowed himself a fraction of a lingering gaze before turning his attention to the person who had entered, inwardly struggling to focus after that unexpected bit of oddness.

By the time he had finished getting the customer's order, Eleanor had already left.

Having handed the new order across to Debbie, David picked at his fingers. He hoped he would see Eleanor again on Monday and get a chance to continue their conversation properly.

She seemed so embarrassed though... His heart gave a pang of pain, What if she decides not to come back?