Sirius Black sat down on the dirty hardwood floor of his newly purchased apartment. He pushed his shaggy black hair out of his eyes and looked around his new living quarters morosely. It was bleak, bland, and desolate. Though ten times better than his parents', it did not compare to the Potter's house. Even though James had offered he stay the summer again, he could no longer impose on his best friend's hospitality, especially when he had just received a large amount of inheritance money from his Uncle Alphard. He had moved in what little had, his clothes, spell books, and a trunk full of random junk he had accumulated at school. James had given him a spare mattress which was, at the moment, sitting in the small bedroom without a bed frame. He would have to go buy one of those when he got the chance.
He felt very alone sitting there by himself and wished James wasn't on vacation in Spain. What on earth was there to do in an apartment building filled with muggles? He had tried to tick his parents off as much as possible by moving into an almost entirely muggle community. It seemed like a stupid decision now. Sirius tended to make a lot of stupid decisions.
Taking his wand out of his pocket he began to absentmindedly flip it around in his fingers. He'd only been out of school for a little over a week and he was already bored out of his mind. He needed to get out of this dust hole!
Acting on impulse he left his apartment, taking only his wand and a little bit of muggle money he had with him. Normally he would not have any muggle money, but because he had to pay for his apartment with it he had a spare bit left over. Forty what-ever-they-were's to be exact. He found it strange that muggles used the flimsy parchment like stuff so often. It was easy to lose, not like the knuts and sickles he usually carried around with him.
As he walked aimlessly down the street with nowhere particular in mind he suddenly realized how hungry he was. What he wouldn't give for one of Mrs. Potter's homemade cinnamon rolls! He looked around for some kind of bakery.
Quixotic: Bakery and Café read a sign just visible from down the street. How convenient, thought Sirius smiling wryly to himself as he took off down the street.
Maira Benton snuck a glance at the clock behind her as she rang up the total for the customer standing in front of her. She had two hours left.
"Your total comes to three-seventy-five, sir." The customer dug around in his pockets and fished out the money. "You're coffee will be right out."
The man stepped aside and the next customer moved forward. Maira looked up from the register and her heart thudded loudly in her chest. The boy was seventeen at least and had a look of casual disarray. His shaggy black hair fell into his bright grey eyes and he smoothly brushed it aside.
"Do you have any cinnamon rolls?" he said brightly. She felt heat flash across her cheekbones. He chuckled in response. "It's okay if you don't."
"No, no." said Maira trying to compose herself. This was so embarrassing. "There's a fresh batch in the oven. You can wait if you'd like or else our brownies are very good!"
"I'll wait." said the boy. His smile was pressing against the outer corner of his face leaving creases. "So what's your name?" he asked leaning against the counter.
Maira knew how boys like him worked. He was trying to charm her by seeming interested in her life. His demeanor screamed trouble. She answered his question reluctantly.
"Maira."
"Why?" he asked. She was taken aback. What did he want a reason for her name?
"Um, well it was my grandmother's." She said slowly.
"I like it." Of course he did. "Don't worry I know all about strange names." He said misreading her expression. "My whole family is named after constellations. Oh, Merlin not that I think your name is strange! It's pretty really!" He ran his fingers through his hair. If Maira didn't know him better she would say he looked a bit nervous. But Merlin? What the hell was that?
"Yeah, thanks. Did you want anything to drink? Coffee or something?" asked Maira hoping to change the subject.
"Um, no thanks. I'm not a coffee drinker."
"You're kidding!" Maira said in surprise. She was an addict if there ever was one. "Have you even tried it?"
"Erm…no." said the handsome boy honestly.
"Well, don't shoot something down before you've tried it! What is your name, by the way?" asked Maira curiously.
"Sirius." Ha! Yeah right!
"Well Sirius, if you're a first time coffee drinker I would recommend something light, maybe a frappachino or a blended coffee?"
"Fine then, surprise me." He grinned at her, clearly pleased about something. He pulled a twenty out of his pocket and she rang up his order.
Maira had to admit the whole conversation was endearing, but clearly see through. She grabbed a cup from the stack next to her and scribbled across it in marker, annoyed to find her handwriting was a little bit shaky.
"Here, Marcus!" she said, tossing the cup to the boy making the coffee.
"So is there anything cool to do around here?" Sirius asked her looking out the window.
"What like London or immediately in this vicinity?"
"Well relatively close." He answered.
"Um…there are lots of book shops around here and there's a theater a couple blocks over." Maira was glad there was no one else waiting in line. She had a feeling he would have stood there and taken up the counter anyway.
Just then Mr. Gregory the shop's owner brought the tray of freshly baked cinnamon buns out. He gave a reproachful look in Maira's direction, to which she tried to convey a 'there's-nothing-I-can-do' look.
"Alright, I get, I get it!" said Sirius throwing his hands up. "Just give me one of those cinnamon buns and I'll leave." He put on a hurt face.
"Oh I…well…" Maira tried to say something. She knew he was trying to get her to tell him he didn't have to go, but she didn't want to just say nothing. She felt her face turn red again and went over to put his cinnamon roll in a bag.
"Don't worry it takes a lot more than that to hurt my feelings!" he said taking the bag from her and turning toward the coffee machines. "Hey Marcus, you got my coffee?"
"Yup, here you go!" replied Marcus handing him his drink. Flustered she watched him swiftly head out the door. But before he left he turned around.
"Maybe I'll see you around." He smiled and it wasn't a question. Then he stepped out into the sunshine and turned left down the street.
"Hey! What was that?" joked Marcus, poking her in the side. "Someone has an admirer!"
"Aw, shut up!" said Maira stubbornly. "He's just some wise-ass boy who thinks he has control of the world!"
"Whatever you say!" Marcus laughed.