II

Seated by the window in the café, she'd given herself a perfect view of the dark grey clouds rolling in overhead. It was bound to rain with the sky looking like that, and she began to grow nervous after considering her mother's probable reaction, not only to seeing her daughter come home after she'd ran out without permission, but seeing her drenched and dirty as well. Would it be more wise to stay where she was and wait the weather out? She certainly did not want to leave immediately since she'd only just arrived. With her tiny elbows on the wooden surface, the girl's chin rested in her palms as she swung her legs back and fourth beneath the table and considered her options. Even though a full year had passed since she'd first visited the café, her feet didn't yet touch the ground when seated in their chairs. It bothered her, but only because she'd been teased for her height at school, silly as that was.

"Good afternoon."

A bit of an odd noise escaped her lips as she moved her gaze toward the figure at her side. What were the chances that it would be him? His violet hair dangled awkwardly over his left eye, hiding it from view as he greeted her, beaming as always. Immediately the girl's attention traveled to the counter to find someone else standing there in his regular spot. Maybe he'd been switched positions for a day again.

"...Miss?"

She turned back to face him.

"Here's a menu, so I'll return in a few minutes—"

"Macaroons." She spoke in an instant. "Three, please."

"What flavours?"

The girl paused, wondering if she should pick her favourites this time or order some she had yet to try. After a bit of thought, she decided upon two old and one new. "Orange, currant and strawberry, please."

"Nothing to drink?"

She shook her head.

And with that, he and his glowing smile had hurried off, leaving her alone to stare at the few droplets of rain that had begun to tap rhythmically against the window glass.

Talking to him was hard.

Those days when he wandered the tables as a waiter were never pleasing. She'd been watching him for so long, it felt strange to interact as though they were complete strangers. Well, in a sense they were, but in another, she knew him well.

She sighed. Coming here might have been a bad idea after all. At least she was sure her mother would agree with that.

"Here are your macaroons," Garry chimed, placing the plate of colourful pastries in front of her. She thanked him politely and waited for him to rush off to the next table, although the place certainly wasn't busy enough for him to always be in such a hurry. However, this time he did not take his leave.

Wide eyes wandering upward to meet his, she had not expected to find his bright grin having disappeared, leaving a rather pensive expression to take hold of his visage in its place.

"Do I know you from somewhere?"

The girl sat speechless in her seat. She'd been watching him for almost a year every time she visited his workplace, but she certainly couldn't tell him that without having to explain the reason why, which she wasn't quite sure how to word. Could it be that he'd noticed her gaze following him? The fact that he'd only brought it up now meant he hadn't realized until recently, didn't it?

"Maybe." An evasive answer was a good answer, much like the ones he'd always given her friends when they'd questioned him.

His smile was back, though it seemed to be more of a courtesy grin than his regular beaming one. Surprising her again, he took a seat opposite her. "My name's Garry. But you probably knew that," he chuckled, fiddling with the name tag pinned to his apron. "And you are?"

"Ib."

The confusion on his face wasn't the slightest bit subtle.

"It's a nickname," she added.

"I see."

The air between them grew silent, but not particularly discomforting. Outside, the pitter-patter of rain could be heard, and the window to her right was now difficult to clearly see out of.

I'll wait for the storm to pass. Then I'll go home.

She hadn't considered what would happen if it lasted until dark.

"You order macaroons every time you come here. You must like them a lot." Garry's voice brought her back to the table, leaving Ib with a rather curious expression. How had he known that? Of all the times she'd stopped by in the last year, he'd only served her a total of maybe two or three. It was odd, but she didn't think to question it.

Nodding in response, she continued to stare him until he chose to break the recurring silence for a second time.

"I like them too. They're good aren't they?"

She nodded again.

Another pause, and he stood up from his chair. "Well, I have to get back to work. It was nice meeting you, Ib." He hurried off, grinning as he made his way to another customer who'd just taken their seat.

They were on a first name basis now. The thought made her smile wider than she had in a long while.

AN; Sorry this chapter is a bit short orz. I have more written, it's just that there was really no better place to cut the next chapter mark but here. So, look forward to a much longer one coming up next! ; v ;