Strange Encounter

David arrived at the train station early in the morning. He was currently in a smaller town, roughly a three-hour train ride away from the big city where he lived. The book convention was held in this town over the weekend. David had booked a spot in the indie exhibition hall for one day, where he was going to try and sell some of his new novels. The plan had been to sell on one day and then enjoy the rest of the convention on the other days, but since Leon had cancelled, David only planned to come for one day and go back home in the evening. He looked at his watch.

One hour till the venue opens for the indie sellers to set up… hm… what to do until then, he thought and looked around

David spotted a small coffee shop next to the station. A few people went in and out and a small group stood in front of it.

A coffee wouldn’t hurt…

David glanced at the group as he got closer. Three guys were talking to a lone woman. He noticed that they were currently in the process of hitting on her. Unsuccessfully, discerning from the snippets David overheard.

Must be tough to have such pesky suitors trying to woo you… Well, not that I know… Never happens to me…Whether with pesky nor any other kind…

He looked around. People went up and down the sidewalk, some gave them a quick glance, but most just went past.

Hm… at least they don’t seem aggressive and there are a lot of people around… I’m really not up for any confrontation today… Bad enough, that I had to come alone today… Fuck, If I hadn’t already booked the spot, I would’ve just stayed at home and played video games or something…

David sighed mentally and glanced at the woman. Her hair was shoulder length, slightly curly, reddish-brown and fashioned in a half up style. She wore a simple hoodie, jeans and sneakers.

Sorry lady, but you have to shake those pesky dogs off yourself… not my problem.

David was about to go past them as the woman turned and looked at him. David’s body just stopped and froze in place on its own. Two light blue eyes locked onto him and suddenly they began to sparkle like sapphires in the sun.

“Oh! There you are! I was waiting for you Honey!”, The woman exclaimed and rushed towards David.

Huh? Honey?

Suddenly it was his problem.

“Y-You have a… Boyfriend?”, The sort of leader of the three men murmured a stuttered question.

The woman quickly came to David’s side and gave him a quick look, that only he could see. She reached under his arm between his back and backpack, practically wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

“She sure does…”, David answered, trying his best to look the part.

The three men looked even more perplexed than he felt.

“Come on, let’s get a coffee”, The woman said and tugged David towards the entrance.

She didn’t wait for an answer. Not from him or the three men. Inside she quickly led David towards a free table in the back. The woman sat down and glanced towards the entrance. The three men didn’t follow them inside and they seemed to have moved away from in front of the café. She then looked up at David, standing there rather confused.

“Sorry, to have dragged you into this, but thanks for helping me getting rid of them. They were bugging me for a while now and refused to take a hint…”, The woman said.

“Well… uhm… glad I could be of service.”, David replied.

The woman looked at him intently and began to smile. Like that she just stared at him for a few moments.

Why is she looking like that? Is she waiting for something? Why does she not say anything?

Getting nervous, David began to fidget on the spot. Her smile grew even wider.

Does she want me to sit down with her? Or leave? Should I say something?

“So… uhm… If you are… ehm… okay now and don’t… need me for anything else… I’ll… uhm… be going now,” he muttered, “Take care…”

David turned around.

Great! What now? Didn’t I come here to get a coffee? If I sit down in another seat that would be weird, wouldn’t it? Maybe I’ll go up to the counter and get one to go…

“Hey! Wont you have a coffee?”

David heard the woman say behind him and turned back around. Their eyes briefly met, but this time she looked away quickly and began to twirl a strand of hair to the side of her face.

Wait… is she…

“Let me thank the knight in shining armor, who came to my rescue at least somehow.”, She said theatrical, with a subtle hint of nervousness, to which David was oblivious.

Ah… that’s it…

“I’m no knight in shining armor, m’lady, just a regular ol’ foot soldier clad in dirty mail.”, David countered.

“Sometimes it takes a foot soldier to do a knight’s job. But regardless of rank or standing, fact is, that it was you that was there in a time of distress and such a deed warrants a reward. So… Care for a drink of the caffeinated kind, or are you a member of the decaf order?”

“By no means is a lowly foot soldier exempt of the cravings for beverages, especially of the caffeinated kind. Furthermore, it would be an affront to decline such a generous offer from such a beautiful and lovely lady as yourself, so that leaves me with no choice but to humbly accept.”

The beautiful and lovely lady blinked a few times and raised an eyebrow.

Shit, that was a bit much… wasn’t it?

David put down his backpack and took a seat. A bit nervously he glanced over and the big smile was back on her face.

“Interesting way of talking and quick with the improv… Theater kid?”, The woman asked curiously.

“Nah, just used to talk in a funny manner and reacting to shenanigans after being a Dungeon Master for a role-playing group for years now.”, David answered normally.

“Oh, you’re into some kinky shit?”

“Not that kind of dungeons… Well, we do have a horny bard in the group though, so sometimes there is some… spice… But I try to reel her in most of the time… sometimes… maybe…”

David smiled faintly, but the woman began to laugh. He was taken aback by such a strong reaction and watched her as she slowly calmed down again, as he was somehow unable to look away. The waitress standing next to them had to clear her throat a second time before they even noticed her.

“May I take your order?”, She asked with a polite smile.

“Oh, yeah! Uhm… a cappuccino for me please, and for him…”, the woman across from David ordered.

“Same for me.”, he finished the order.

“Two cappuccinos, alright…”, The waitress confirmed and went back behind the counter.

“Soo… What brings you here?”, the woman across from David began, “You live here?”

“No, I’m just in town for the convention.”, he replied.

“Ah! Me too!”

She looked at the backpack.

“Are you staying the whole weekend?”, the woman inquired further.

“No, just today. I’ll take the last train home.”, David answered.

“Oh! What a coincidence! That’s my plan as well!”

“Ah… I see…”

An awkward silence fell over them for a few moments, but luckily the waitress came with their order.

“Here you go, enjoy!”, She said and placed their drinks in front of them.

The woman across from David grabbed her mug as soon as the waitress left and took a sip.

“Ah fuck!”, she exclaimed and stuck out her tongue, “burnfh my fhounge…”

David began to giggle. The woman gave him a strict look but then realized that her tongue was still sticking out and that she had a milk foam mustache, which made David giggle even more. The woman quickly put down her mug and tried to hide and wipe her slightly blushing face with her hands.

“You’re making fun of me!”, she pouted.

“You did that to yourself.”, David replied with a shrug.

“I could not stop myself… it smelled so good!”

“True it does smell good…”

“And tastes even better!”

“Really?”

“Yeah, go on, have a taste.”

David took a sip.

“Ah, fuck!”, he exclaimed sticking out his tongue, “S’ill hofh…”

Now it was the woman that began to snicker and giggle, while David wiped the foam of his actual beard. Her merry laughter was interrupted by her phone ringing.

“Shit…”, the woman sighed after checking her phone, “A friend of mine needs help, so I gotta bounce.”

She got up before David could say anything.

“Sorry, for leaving so abruptly, but we’ll see each other at the convention, right? I’ll keep an eye out for you! Both even!”, the woman apologized and then rushed off.

David looked after her.

What the hell was that… Gone as suddenly as she appeared… That was some rather strange encounter…

He looked back at his mug and then at hers, that was still barely touched.

Well, at least I got two coffees out of it…

Then he realized that she hadn’t paid yet. David sighed and began to laugh quietly to himself.