With a double espresso-cinnamon twist in hand, I muted out everything around me and scrolled through my lame excuse for a Tumlbr. I have twenty followers, and less than a quarter of those actually like the paintings and sketches I've put up. I haven't even bothered putting together a blog.

"Mim? Mimzy, did you hear anything I just said?" Nikki swirled her ice water around with her straw. She had dumped the coffee as soon as possible, but bought two double fudge cookies for us to share.

Shrugging, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and took a sip of my espresso. "I said," Nikki nodded behind me. "He's been looking at you for, like, ever." The look she was giving me said "check that out," and I turned ever so casually towards the door. Mona's Café was small, but in that comfy, to-grandmother's-house-we-go small. Christmas was on its way, so layers of tinsel sprinkled the tiny fake trees, and there was always this pine-and-eggnog smell. Where I assume Nikki was nodding towards, a boy (Man? Man-Boy?) reclined on one of the couches, nodding to whatever blared through his headphones. His face was smooth, clear, and utterly adorable. He caught me staring and gave me a mischievous wink.

Nikki snorted into her water as I whipped back around to face her. She nudged me under the table. "Go talk to him.

"Sorry, but I like my coffee where it belongs," I got up, gathering our trash, "Which is in my stomach, by the way." I could hear Nikki listing other reasons – scared, shy, and over-dramatic – and I couldn't help but look over to the couch where the guy was sitting.

It was empty. Nikki sighed, saying, "There goes your chance," and dumped her half-finished water into the garbage bin. Shrugging, trying not to look disappointed, I headed for the door.

"Hold on, I gotta pee."

Nikki ran out towards the girl's bathroom and I slumped into the nearest empty seat. I set my chin on my fist and realized that my hands were shaking. Wow. I was really shook up about the whole almost dying thing. Go figure.

"Got something on your mind?"

I jumped out of my skin and turned around in my seat. Really, I didn't need any more scares. The guy from the couch had taken the stool across from me. He leaned on the table, arms crossed, smiling like we were friends. "I'm sorry; did I scare you?"

"N-no, of course not, no." Nikki was taking an awfully long time in the bathroom. I kept looking around the café, willing for her to appear. He was probably looking at her anyways.

The guy smiled again, revealing an array of beautiful white teeth that was striking against his black hair. "I'm Tobias Summer."

I nodded, not entirely sure that I should give him my name. He was striking, yeah, and utterly adorable, and… I don't know where I was going with that. So I said, "Mimzy."

Tobias grinned. He did that an awful lot, now that I think about it. "Cute. Nice to meet you, Mimzy."

As if things couldn't get more awkward, Nikki game rushing out of the bathroom when she saw me. Grinning, she shared the seat with me and stuck out her hand. "Nikki, Mimzy's number-one BFF."

"Nice to meet you," Tobias muttered without looking at her. He kept his eyes on me as she pulled her ignored hand back. Then he got up and walked around the table. Dipping to whisper into my ear, he quickly said;

"Watch your back. Rescues like that won't happen often."

My bones turned into ice as he left with a smirk still on his face. Nikki held my arm and asked me what was wrong, but I was reflecting on the cross-walk. People talking, yelling, elbowing me… and a bright smile glowing at me as I fell into the street.

So if he pushed me…

What saved me?