coffee shop

she sat sipping her hot chocolate in the couch perpendicular to his. he looked different tonight. but then again, she doesn't quite remember how he looks. it's been a month, maybe more. she got tired of counting the days.

he had finally asked her out. not a moment too soon, she thought. she had all but given up on him. she was about to chuck him into the reject bin like the rest - albeit a little apprehensively - 'cause she already formed a personal policy. he didn't know it, but she had decided that with three strikes, you're out. and he almost missed the last pitch.

so there they were, cradling cups of hot chocolate in the corner. she didn't know much about him. and he didn't do much to change that. she did most of the talking, as she was accustomed to doing... if he had known her any better, he would have noticed that she was extra chatty, and her voice was a pitch higher. she thanked her lucky stars that he seemed to be a bit distracted that night.

if she had only known what he was going to ask.

~~~

all the while her words kept running around his head. not the things she was saying at the moment, but things she wrote weeks ago. he had a funny feeling it had something to do with... or was he just reading too much into girlish babble?

he had to find out. and tonight he was going to.

after an hour or two of chatter, he sprung the question. of course, he had thought out a nice opening statement already. what he didn't expect was how smoothly she was able to sidestep the question. man, she's good.

next time, then. he knew there would be a next time.

it was close to midnight when he drove her home. her voice had slowed to a sleepy murmur. then they settled into a comfortable silence.

when they got to her place, he got out of the car and waited for her to be let in.

goodnight.

she waved.

then he drove away.