girl with the broken smile

“Thanks, they are from my mom actually, but I don’t think she’ll mind me stealing it from her. I think this cashier never had the pleasure to just sit and eat a bunch of donuts. What is he doing with his life?”

“I’m sure she won’t. And to be honest, I have no idea but it must be sad. Donuts are like little pieces of quick happiness.”

“There is not a damn thing wrong with being one of those people, love. Aye it did, very well. After all I am here now, talking to you, ain’t I? –Well, two drinks in me and I’ve a siv. I promise it won’t be that hard. Thank you for the welcome.” 

“Yes, you are. Unless you are some kind of illusion and I’ve gone mad without realizing. Either way, I’ll still buy those two drinks to tickle some information out of you.”

“Really? Well I have met people who have lived their whole lives and never left the town they were born in. I guess it’s not that unheard of.” He thought it was strange, but that was neither here nor there. “I had an extreme case of wanderlust. And I used school to do it. Worked out well for everyone. Aye, I am.” 

“I might not be but I wish I wasn’t one of those people. It’s just that I never found the time to go anywhere. Not when I was younger and then I had to focus on my study and job. But it sounds like everything worked out for you which is great. One day I’ll force you to tell me some stories from all those places. But until then, welcome to Montreal, I guess.”

“It’d fun for the first week or two and then you’d get rather sick of the food, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, probably. In that case I should be grateful that I don’t have to work there.”

“France, Ireland and a plethora of other places. I have been to– every country in Europe and it’s a lovely place. I highly recommend it. Sadly no. I’d never been to North America, and I got a job offer at the university.” 

“Oh wow. That sounds amazing. I haven’t even left Canada before and here you are. I can only imagine how great it must be to have seen so many beautiful places. Basically like a dream come true. You’re a professor then, huh?”

“Judging the consumer is the only fun part about working in fast-food.” 

“I could imagine sneakily eating some of the stuff could be fun. But at the other hand, they fire for that if you don’t pay.”

“Good. As long as you’re aware of them then you’re on the right track. Yes love, I did– and no I am not. I’m not even a tid French, but that is where i was before here. I’m from Ireland.” 

“France and Ireland, huh? Both great places that I haven’t been to but Europe is definitely somewhere I’d love to visit sometime. How did you end up in Montreal though? Did all the french that’s being spoken here lure you?”

“Winter will do that to you. Blame the sky for turning dark in a short amount of time.” Gideon cracked a smile, readjusting his fingers on the hot fabric of the cup. “It’s quite all right. I can walk you to where you need to be if you’d like?” Besides he could use the exercise, and Emma always was pleasant company to keep. Right now he didn’t even see her as his doctor, which was probably a bad thing for as you didn’t know the limits, the doctor visits would become too personal, yet so far it didn’t seem to bother either of them.

“I will make sure to curse it the next time I can’t get off the couch.” The smile remained in place as she gave thought to his offer. “Sure, but only if you trust me enough not to bore you to death.” Emma took a sip of her coffee, her hands clutched tight around the cup as she was grateful for the warmth of it. “I’m actually just headed home. I think it’s a sign that I’m aging. Usually this was the time when I got ready to enjoy the evening. Now I’ll probably end up in the living room with a tea kettle, watching pretty woman once again...which is totally not interesting information at all. Sorry. There goes my attempt to keep you entertained.”

“I don’t know if they have them here– but in France they have these Eclairs, and they are absolutely divine. If you had to pick a doughnut to be, pick that one.” 

“Oh, they do. Probably one of the best things in the sortiment. You said in France, right? I don’t mean to be nosy but you don’t sound very french to me.”

“I mean you could be spending on alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, so really.. Donuts are your best option. Close to becoming a pastry yet?”

“That’s a way to see it too. I’m not even half-way there but once I start to feel it I’ll roll around your corner and let you know.”

“Money spent on donuts is a really well spent money, I used to say this all the time. What’s wrong with becoming a donut?”

“Wise words. And you’re asking the wrong person. I am ready to turn into one, the cashier was the one to judge that.”

“Well, like, finally. Someone who comes along and gets it. Why don’t you try it on?” Ally smiled, handing her the expensive, beautifully made dress. “You’re a size zero, right? Same kind of body as Gigi. Go on, try it on. Like my grandma would always say, dresses are meant to be worn. ” 

“Oh, no. I don’t think that’s the best idea.” She gently held the dress the blonde has handed to her. “I can’t pull dresses like that off. Your grandma is right but every dress has the matched wearer and I’m definitely not the right girl for this one.”

“They would have to get in line first along with the rest of the interns and doctors who hate me at my work place. It was an emergency situation, Emma, I didn’t have any time to page you since we had to rush all the way to the OR, which, due to the nature of the emergency, was already crowded with willing interns. I could have made them lick my feet for a chance of participating the surgery, either way, the guy might need you tomorrow, when he wakes up.”

“Same things happens to me when I order Holiday Shareboxes at McDicks and they realize I’m alone. Oh well.“

“They should all stop to judge. If I pay for it, I should also be able to eat it without anyone giving me the side-eye."

Placing one hand over her face, Maddie closed her eyes as she tried to reason with her. “Kissing strangers, staying classy.” Shaking her head, the brunette moved her hand away. “Sorry, my friend was supposed to be my kiss and everything is a little blurry.. You should join us, I mean we’ve kissed, so we have to spend the year together. It’s now my birthday, so come join, we have drinks, lots of drinks.”

"Don’t worry about it, you did it with style and grace.” The more she watched the girl, the more she had to laugh with amusement. “Tell your friend that I am sorry. Didn’t mean to steal her kiss.” Emma hesitated only for a second before she nodded her head. “Alright, I’d love to join. And I guess it’s appropriate to wish you a happy birthday. Wait a second.” With a grin she started to dig through her purse and eventually took out a pack of gum. “It’s either that for a gift or tampons. Your call.”

“Oh, that’s actually a really good idea! I never really thought about that one, honestly. Yeah, I guess you’re right. I just get so embarrassed so quickly. I’m weird like that, honestly. —Oh! Uh.. just.. honestly.. wow, how many more times can I say that word.. ha.. anyway.. uh.. it’s a long story and I really don’t want to bother you with it.”

“No one’s counting, go ahead and use it as much you want. It’s a great word.” With a nod, she smiled at the girl. “Oh, that’s alright. You’re not a bother but if you don’t want to talk about it then that’s fine. It’s none of my business anyway.”