Chapter one

If he'd be anywhere, he'd be here. He had written about this place so many times, how he hated working here, that his boss was a pain in the ass, that the salary was crappy. But when I walked in, I was in awe.

The whole place was lit up only by the works of candles and dimmed lighting. There were fatboys on the floor, pillows and blankets in small wooden baskets, and several tables that were so low that you almost had to sit on the floor – japanese style. Was this place for real? We had none of that back in Denmark. People were sitting randomly, taking up space with their Macbooks and too large coffee mugs, talking in low voices to each other as if no one wanted to create any unnecessary attention to themselves.

Jesus, there was even a small stage with musical instruments. How the hell could he have hated working here?

I went up to the bar, watching the different paintings and photographs that were taking up all the space on the walls, always distracting you from all the booze that were placed on shelves and even hanging from the ceiling in small strings. Some of the wine bottles that was hanging from the ceiling was cut in half, and had small lights in them instead, creating a cozy and chill atmosphere.

"Unbelievable..." I muttered to myself.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

I looked up to catch the eyes of a brown-haired woman with glasses, who was staring at me with a wondering look, probably waiting for me to order something.

"I-I'm sorry … is, um, is Levi Ackerman working here today?" I asked her awkwardly, not used to people looking at me with such intense eyes. In fact, I wasn't used to being looked at at all. It made me nervous as hell.

"Yeah, he has a shift in about an hour or so …" She paused to tilt her head, looking at something behind me, or rather, not looking at anything at all. She was thinking, wondering. And then she looked at me again, quickly, as if she hadn't just spaced out.

"Can I ask what your business is with him?"

Well, that was kinda straight forward of her to ask, especially since she had no reason to know of my motives.

"No," I said, a little too quick even for my taste. Now I just seemed like an ass, but then again, I didn't feel the need for this girl to like me. There was no need to get in her good graces, so I just sent her a small smile, quickly mumbling sorry, before turning around and walking to the back of the room. I found a small table to sit at that wasn't occupied, and then I just waited.

I spent the time staring at all of the different things that had been placed on the shelves and the tables, things that didn't belong in a coffee shop, but who was I kidding - this was no ordinary coffee shop. This was like a coffee shop on an acid trip.

People came and left, and none of them looked like Levi's picture. Sure, it was a blurry old picture, but I was sure that I'd know the difference.

The girl from the bar sometimes stared at me from her spot behind the bar, but she didn't try to walk up to me, not even to say that I needed to buy sometimes or else I'd had to leave. I would have expected such a thing to happen, but she stayed still. Sometimes her other coworker came out from the back to chat, and at one point she even pointed at me as they talked, but I couldn't hear what they were saying and I honestly didn't care.

I was here for one thing, and one thing only. To confront the man that had been wasting my time for a whole year.

I wasn't going to get physical with him or anything, I just wanted to talk to him. Maybe yell a little, depending on how much courage I'd have left. And if he didn't come soon, that wouldn't be a lot. It was slowly dwindling as time went by, but of course, just when I had decided to get up and leave, the doorbell rang as a man walked in.

Not any man, however. A short, yet muscular man, with smoldering eyes and an extra inch or two when his hips shook from walking. He was graceful in his movements, almost as if his body was dancing without him knowing. He was wearing black jeans and a grey hoodie, yet it was wrapped around his body perfectly, as if it was made just for him.

I recognized him immediately, though it was only because of the hair. I'd recognize that undercut anywhere, especially when it was paired up with that raven hair.

Levi Ackerman.

I had fantasized about this moment for so long.

Well, I'd had several fantasies that was quite different from each other, but in the most recent one I'd stand up and yell "Hey, Ackerman!", and he would have been in total shock from seeing my handsome self, and I'd walk up to him and give him a nice slap on the face, along with the frase "Thanks for being a huge dick and not living up to your end of the deal. Go to hell, you fucking liar!" - before storming out like a fucking champ.

But of course that was a fantasy, I was still … just me. A pathetic introvert with no balls to do any of that. And seeing him now, for the first time ever, I was speechless. And absolutely not capable of moving my body what so ever. I could just sit there and stare at his back, as he talked to – no no no, please oh god no. He was talking to that girl with the glasses and she was pointing -

I jumped out of my seat and ran for the bathroom, leaving both my backpack and book behind on the table, having to time to save my precious items as all I could think about was to hide before he could see me.

Was I really such a huge coward?
Well yes, yes I was. No doubt about that.

I rushed into the nearest toilet stall, and locked myself inside with a loud sigh.

I was being such a mouse, hiding here from my problems. And top to it off, I was the one who had put myself into this very situation. I could have just stayed home with my computer and my books, and I wouldn't have had to get into this mess. But then again, I knew that I had to step up for myself. I needed not to feel any shame, because I hadn't done anything wrong.

I had to remind myself that I had not done anything wrong.

HE was the one in the wrong. He had been the asshole, and he should be the one to feel ashamed. Not me.

I took a deep breath, as I could feel my frustration and anger swelling up inside of me. It was boiling over, to the point of no return. Now was the time. I could feel how the lack of bravery inside of me was slowly being overshadowed.

I made my way back, and with a sense of new courage, I headed in his direction.

"Where is he?" I asked the girl with the glasses, using all my determination not to stammer at this very moment. She looked at me in a mix of confusion and malaise as she pointed to the open door, where Levi was in the middle of hanging his sweater and bag on a coathanger. As I stormed towards him, he turned around to face me, his face changing from a stoic look, to looking disheleved instead, as if his brain had a hard time processing to what was happening before him.

I had to admit, it felt good to see him like that.

"Hey, asshole!" I greeted him angrily, not caring that I was in the act of committing a terrible faux pas. "You don't even deserve a chance at love," I growled at him as I lifted my hand and gave him a good slap on his right cheek.

I didn't even have the time to see the impact of my head, before my body had run out of the place, heading for the nearest alley to make sure that he wasn't following me.

"Yes!" I screamed to myself, making several of the civilians jump in shock at my outburst as I ran past them. "I did it! I GOT HIM! I …. I – Fuck," I stopped immediately, looking back at the coffee shop.

"I forgot my backpack."