Rain poured down outside. I shivered under my thin green blanket, wishing for warmth. The room was dark and the outline of the saggy couch looked mysterious in the poor light. Tiny rain drops splattered against my forehead and blond bangs. I looked up to see the roof was leaking again. Sighing, I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom.

The linoleum was freezing under my bare feet. A draft blew in, making the room feel colder then it was. Looking into the mirror, my blond hair was lopsided, brown eyes blood shot. Usually rosy cheeks looked pale. Either the lighting is very bad or I must be getting sick. I pulled my hair into twin ponytails and brushed some blush over my round cheeks. Searching my small closet, I decided on a lime green sweater and a denim skirt. Green clogs went on my feet. Remembering the rain, I grabbed my umbrella and stepped onto the front porch.

Chilly morning air threatened to breeze through my sweater. The sky was gray and over cast, to match my mood. Fog settled low, giving everything an eerie appearance. I sighed and headed down the narrow street.

The small café wasn't crowded as I stepped in, dripping wet. I closed the umbrella, and headed for the counter. A tall, thin man with a droopy mustache was cleaning some cups. "Hey Lou," I said, pulling out my change purse.

"Hey Eleanor, usual?" Lou reached for the coffee cups.

"You know me too well, Lou. Yes, a little extra foam." I put a few crumpled bills on the slightly sticky counter and Lou slapped them up. Soft background music played. The sound of coffee machines broke the café's silence. Lou placed the foamy cup in front of me. "Enjoy."

Sipping the hot drink, I looked around. An old man drank a cup of hot chocolate and finished the day's crossword puzzle. A teenage girl held hands with a teenage boy, God knowing what they were doing this early in the morning. My heart hurt to see them so in love. I had loved. And lost. I kept scanning the room, until my gaze hit a furry head. Something was familiar about it…

I couldn't believe who it was. I got up and headed over to the table. It was. Theodore Seville. He sat over a latte and a slice of lemon cake. "Theodore?"

He looked up and his green eyes opened wider. "No way. Is that you Eleanor?"

I nodded and sat down next to him. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, here and there. I stopped here for a week. Hoping I'd get a job. But I guess all this time I've been searching for you." Theodore looked hopefully at me.

Guilt filled me. I really hated to say this, but was there another choice? I looked straight into his green eyes and spoke the words pushing at my throat. "I'm sorry, you're too late." Theodore looked at me.

"What do you mean?"

"Theodore, you broke my heart 6 long years ago. I can't believe you wouldn't know. I bet you've been all over girls wherever you go. It pains me to say, but I'm sorry. Theodore Seville, I've moved on. Sorry. Too late." I couldn't take it anymore and ran out of the café, leaving my half empty coffee and umbrella. Rain pelted against me, chilling me to the bone. I could hardly see where I was going, but I heard one thing.

"Eleanor! Wait! I still love you!"

I closed my eyes, still running. Pain filled my heart. I love you, too. But you're too late. Trying to hold back tears, I turned around and screamed one final thing.

"I love you, too."