DH AN: Seems this is the second time I have updated Jeweler for New Year's eve. Anyway, hope y'all have a great New Year. Enjoy Chapter Nine: Coffee Shop.
Chapter Nine: Coffee Shop
Filiron gently pulled her hands out of Marik's gently protective grip with a slight smile. "Shall we go?" She paused. "After all, the morning won't wait for us."
"Quite true." The blond murmured, stepping silently out of the doorway. "I am assuming that you know of a café around here?"
"Yes…I wouldn't have made the offer otherwise." Filiron stated almost hotly. Resolutely walking past Marik, she then shooed him out of the doorway as to lock the door. "I am not one to make an offer out of ignorance; you shall quickly learn that." She turned her head, catching Marik in the corner of her eye. "The café is actually just a block from here. You can't miss it. It's rather…quaint." Her voice was soft, laden with exhaustion that the amount of respite obtained had yet to touch.
"My question was not meant to offend, Miss Rylae…I apologize if it came across as such." Marik stated softly.
Filiron blushed slightly. "There is really no need to apologize…my temperament sometimes gets the better of me…"
Marik chortled softly. "It happens to the best of us, Miss Rylae." He sighed. "So, when do we get to this quaint café you have high regard for?"
"As soon as you decide to follow me." Filiron said already halfway down the hallway that led to the small lobby. Marik stepped softly down the hallway, a small smile plastered on his face all the while.
The streets were already bustling by the time the two had gotten a block past the motel. The sweet scent of baking flour wafted from an impressive stone building to their right. Filiron stopped in front of the door. "I told you it was only a block from here." She paused. "I forgot to mention the fact that it is a bakery as well."
Marik smiled slightly as he pulled the door open, being rewarded for his courtesy by the intermingling scents of coffee and various baked pastries filling the air. Filiron walked in and smiled. "It's simply breath-taking, isn't it?"
"Yes." He sighed."It is quite breath-taking." He stepped in, stopping beside her. "Is it always this…empty?"
"Not when I usually come here, but then again, I slept later than usual." Filiron murmured. "Did we come for coffee or just to stand here?" She smiled, indicating she already knew the answer as she walked up to the counter.
"Good morning, miss. What can I get for you and your friend?" A short man with a brown moustache, and a balding spot that was barely noticeable asked.
Filiron smiled "I'll have my usual, Mocheno."
Mocheno smiled, speaking as he scribbled on a notepad for orders. "A medium vanilla latte for Miss Filiron." He then nodded towards Marik. "And for you, sir?"
Marik sighed. "A large black coffee is all I can ask for."
"And a large black coffee for the gentleman in Miss Filiron's company." The short man smiled. "On the house."
Both Filiron and Marik were surprised at this, until Mocheno responded. "You both look as though you could use it." Marik quickly caught sight of the tip jar, and paid anyway.
They then found a table next to a window, looking out on the busy street. Filiron hesitated, wanting to start a conversation but uncertain of exactly how to start it. She clenched her fists repeatedly out of nervous habit, staring at them, until she finally stumbled on a question. "What brings you here?" She calmly raised her eyes to meet Marik's.
He sighed softly, as if he were relieved that the question came up. "I'm here to sit in on a business conference to complete a requirement for a business degree I am pursuing." He smiled slightly. "Also, I hear it is good to travel every so often."
"Whoever told you that speaks the truth." Filiron said, sighing softly. "Travel makes one realize how small their past views of the world really were."
"Do you know this firsthand? Or is it merely something you have heard?" Marik asked sincerely.
"A little of both, I guess." She stated. A smile flitted across her face as she heard their order being called. She stood to retrieve it, but Marik had already stood.
"Let me get it, and you can think of your next question to ask upon my return." His soft voice left Filiron speechless and the slightest trace of a blush on her cheeks.
Filiron sighed softly as Marik returned to the table. He slid her cup to her with just enough force that it stopped right in front of her. She smiled slightly, hesitating before asking her question. "I think you have questions for me…am I right?"
"Yes, and you are clever as well." Marik laughed softly, ceasing soon after as he took a sip of his coffee. His voice was then somber. "Actually…I have one." He hesitated only continuing after seeing Filiron motion for him to continue. "Yesterday…you spoke of your father." He breathed deeply. "What of your mother?" He inwardly winced as he saw a substantial amount of color drain from Filiron's face. "If you would rather not answer, I understand, Miss Rylae."
"No, it's not that…I just was not ready for that question." Filiron breathed deeply. "My mother has been dead for…sixteen years." Filiron's hands were shaking hard. "She died during labor…with me." She quickly regained her composure, with a slight smile. "I bet your mother is proud of you for continuing your education."
Marik hesitated, lowering his eyes to look at the cream colored table. "My mother is dead… under the same circumstances as yours."
"I'm sorry, I had no intention of-" Filiron was cut off.
"It's quite alright, I shouldn't have asked." Marik sighed.
"I'm…glad you did." Filiron hesitated, looking up as an employee set a plate holding two warm cinnamon rolls between them. She laughed upon seeing Mocheno wink, inclining his head toward the tip jar.
"What are you laughing about?" Marik asked softly.
"Nothing," She responded.
Marik only nodded. Filiron went for one of the cinnamon rolls, but did not get the feeling of a warm pastry underneath her fingers. Rather, she felt another hand underneath her own. The hand beneath gently withdrew and was soon on top of hers. "Go on, take it." Filiron looked up, seeing Marik's hand on top of her own. He smiled slightly as he pushed it toward her.
Filiron felt heat slowly coming to her cheeks, and tried to fight it to no avail. "Thank you." She smiled slightly as she pulled the cinnamon roll off the plate.
"You're welcome." He paused. "Thank you for not being too surprised. It was not my intention." He smiled again slightly,
Filiron could only smile sheepishly as she drank her latte. She sighed as the sweet scent of cinnamon filled her nose, beautifully mingling with the vanilla fragrance of her latte. "Where will you go after your requisite is finished?"
"Home." Marik replied softly. His tone made it difficult to determine whether he was looking forward to the end of his trip. He then took the other pastry off the plate and peeling the first ring from the cinnamon roll, munched on it and repeated the process until the middle was all that remained. He smiled childishly as he popped the doughy middle in his mouth.
"Well, I suppose you'll be pretty ready to be home by then." Filiron sighed, choosing a different approach to devouring her cinnamon roll by taking a bite out of the middle; effectively taking out the doughy middle; after which she ate the remaining portion.
She heard Marik chuckle, and was curious as he pushed a napkin her way. "What?" Filiron asked.
Marik chuckled again, "You have icing on your face."
Filiron smiled. "Is that so?" She pushed the napkin back towards him. "So do you." She pulled another napkin from the dispenser on the table and wiped the sticky substance off. "Did I get it off?"
"You did." Marik then wiped the icing from his own face. "Did I get it all?"
Filiron nodded, draining her latte. "If you have time, there are a few more places I would like you to see."
"I have time, and…it would be nice to get out before I'll have to spend most of my time in a rather boring business conference." He drained his coffee. "And I must thank you for the coffee, it was very needed."
"Don't thank me, you paid." Filiron smiled, inclining her head to the tip jar.
"I'm not one to accept products and services without paying, Miss Rylae." Marik stood from the table.
"I see that." Filiron stood from her seat, walking past him. She turned to face him. "Now shall we go?'
Marik nodded. "But first…" He placed a hand around her shoulder, leading her up to the counter. He inclined his head toward Mocheno. "Aren't we forgetting something?"
Filiron smiled slightly. "Oh yes…thank you, Mocheno."
"No need to thank me, Miss Filiron, the pleasure on my customer's face as they enjoy their beverage is enough for me." He paused. "I trust that everything was to your satisfaction?"
"It was quite pleasant. Thank you." Marik responded. With that said, he gently led Filiron out the door. Once they were seeing and hearing the hustle and bustle, he turned to her and asked. "Where to next?" He smiled.
"I thought you would never ask." Filiron sighed, trying to hide her blush. She found his smile simply intriguing.
DH: Well I had fun writing this chapter. Please review, and Happy New Year to all.