Chapter 3: A Cafe of Opportunity

People say that college is the best time to reinvent yourself, but I've never been to college before so now is as good a time as any. I've always wanted to play the role of that girl who was simply 'too cool for school' or at least, that's the way they're described in the TV shows I used to watch before the power got shut off in the building I live in. 

That's why I wear this jacket, and carry around a pair of sunglasses with me everywhere I go so that I can dramatically put them on as I flip my hair over my shoulder. But it seems today that I have forgotten my sunglasses at home. 

This may affect my act going forward as now I only have a cool leather jacket with no motorcycle or pair of shades. I imagine that I basically look a fool trying to act cool, but that can't be because I know I'm cool. 

After my mental pep talk, I walk into the dimly lit cafe with surprise for when the door opened a sound of bell's chime echoed across the cafe. I looked around to find the source, typically a small bell on the upper part of the doorframe, but there was no such bell as far as I could tell. It could be that the inside of the cafe was unusually dark even with the sun coming through the windows, but I'm fairly certain there is no bell so where then could the sound have come from?

After many moments of me standing by the entrance looking around for a bell with grace. I decide that perhaps, there is more magic in this world than just vampires. Looking forward I see a woman, the same as before, sitting alone at table with a simple sandwich and a pink colored drink. 

The sight was sorrowful, not only because she was all alone, but she looked happy being alone. She sat there with a look of pleasant content all around her, as if this was something she was looking forward too all day. More than pity, I felt that I needed to help this girl somehow.  

[The atmosphere of the cafe changed when this strange woman walked in. Her demeanor didn't match her appearance. As her head twisted and turned looking upwards around the cafe, the patrons couldn't help but believe this woman was paranoid about something.

She was dressed like how an 80's bully would, with her raven black hair and a matching jacket. Her eyes hidden behind her sunglasses (which she had forgotten were on her face still) conveyed rather clearly that she was out of place here. But in her mind, this is exactly where she belonged.

Rather than see herself as a nervous wreck as she stood there drawing everyone attention looking for something that didn't exist, she saw herself as someone moving with grace, a dignified celebrity through and through.]

Patrons of the cafe started to stare at me, no doubt enamored by both my beauty and overall coolness. Most people would consider staring to be rude, but I wouldn't blame them. It's not everyday I bless the world with my presence. Even so, I felt embarrassment swelling deep in my chest. I did my best to push that down and compose myself before taking a seat.

I can't understand why it is I am drawn to this human, and I know it isn't the best idea to get involved with one. Should someone notice that I don't age, the repercussions scare me. Even so, I feel that is what my heart wants, and to get it, I need to lie.

"Hello, my name is Cecilia. I am new to this area, and I was hoping it wouldn't be a bother to ask you to show me around. Once you have the time, of course." 

The woman sitting across from me looked at me startled. She was utterly frozen in fear, and I started to feel horrible. She looked so uncomfortable being seen and talked to by a stranger. Normally I would seek to, but this time I didn't need to understand why in this age people are less sociable. I had done something wrong, I needed to make amends.

"Apologies dear miss, more than being new to town, I am new to this country. I hail from Europe where customs differ from this nation's. If I offended you, or if my being here is rude, please let me know, and understand I am sorry."

That seemed to calm her some, her shoulders becoming less tensed was a clear giveaway. 

"You're okay, sorry, I'm just not used to talking to people. I work behind a desk..." she took a drink from her straw, in the glass appeared to have pieces of fresh strawberries mixed all around. 

"My- My name is Lauren... if you're free this weekend, I could show you around some. I haven't explored much of this area myself, but, I'm sure I could still help you regardless." She tried a smile at the end but it didn't last long and was quite subtle.

"Lauren..." I repeated her name, to help is stay in my mind. Even though I know fully well that I could never spend a future with a human if I wished to stay safe, my mind kept me from thinking about that sort of thing until after it was already too late.

"I appreciate your offer Lauren, truly. Is there a time and place you would hope to meet up on this weekend? There is no need to worry about my availability, currently I am without a job, so whenever is convenient for you, I believe, is the most ideal."

"Oh um... yea, this weekend works, wow uh- What do you say to sometime around 2 p.m.? We could meet up here if that's okay, it's just, you found your way here already so I'm sure it'll be easy for you to find this place again is all. Sorry."

"Then I suppose it is as they say, a date." I stood up rather quickly, faster than I had intended, and with a smile and a slight bow, I took my leave, eagerly awaiting this very weekend.

Although, there is one major obstacle in my way, even though I can assume the time by placement of the sun in the sky, I don't have a way currently to know today's date... 

My only hope, is to show up here everyday until that day arrives.