#corny fluff

“He had no choice, you were passed out.”

I groaned, resting my head in my palm before glaring at the apparent couple sitting on the other side of the dining table. I observed Olivia, closely noticing how she defended her lover rather than supporting her sister.

“Are you both dating?” I questioned, clearly unamused when Rayan choked on his cappuccino and Olivia glared at me with a furious blush.

“What?” I shrugged in defence before pointing at them, “You both look like you’re already married for 10 years.”

Olivia jolted up, rushing to my side and pushing me out with her towards my room. I blinked at Rayan, who stared at our disappearing figure while wiping his mouth.

“For god’s sake, Eli. Shut up.” She sighed, shaking me by my shoulders once we entered the room. My face scrunched in confusion, “What did I do?”

“Why do you talk like that when he’s around?” She groaned and I plopped on the bed, rolling my eyes at her ignorance.

“Bro, you talk like you have been dating him for ages when he is around. You both flirt in front of my holy eyes, and when I state the obviously obvious,  I’m the one who is making assumptions? Just kiss already.” I buried my face in the pillow and winced at the smack on my head.

“Come on, Eli. We’re taking it slow. Besides, I won’t make a move before him.” This girl.

“Okay, whatever helps you not blush and make your cheeks maroon.” 

She threw a glare at me, to which I just raised my hands in surrender. She shook her head before wringing her fingers and began in a soft, appealing tone.

“I told you that I called him to check up on you since you were not picking up my calls..”

He came from Dubai to Manhattan just to check on me within 5 hours? Sounds fancy and not so Rayan.

“..and that our flight was delayed, so we could not come on time to you.” 

My eyes rolled at how she was trying to mould things into something justifiable. Her excuses were quite lame, considering she was a lawyer.

I gasped in mock surprise, pointing a hand at her as I whispered. “Let me guess, you both have already been meeting. It would be too obvious that you both are together, so you decided to send him first and come later. Moreover, you have the spare keys to my house. Oh shit! Why did I not think of it earlier? How did he have the keys?”

She blinked. I smiled and flicked her forehead.

“If it’s not evident enough, then let me break it to you. You are dumb when you are in love.”

Before I could receive another smack, my phone rang in my pocket. I slipped it out and looked at the flashing screen. My heart dropped and my smile faltered when I saw the caller id.

“What’s wrong?” Olivia frowned at me, clearly noticing the change in my demeanour. 

“I- It’s him.” I stuttered. After last night, I barely had the guts to talk to him.

She tilted her head before snatching the phone from my hand and answering it.

“Hello. Hi Jiju, it’s Olivia.” – “Yes, she’s here.” –she glared at me as the conversation continued– “Talk to her.” I shook my entire body in bewilderment, but she did not listen.

Olivia kept the phone in front of me as his voice echoed through the speakers.

“Charlotte? Baby, I’m sorry.”

I dropped my head with a low groan. This is the part that I hate the most. It would not be his fault, yet he would apologize. And that would make me feel bad because he never did anything, to begin with.

I hate it so much because despite knowing what he did or not, he said sorry. He would be worrying about me the entire time, thinking it might be his fault.

I hate to see him like this.

And at that moment, it made me miss him more.

“Darla, are you there?”

His voice broke my little head rant and Olivia sighed beside me. “Yes, she is.”

I looked at her and she held my shoulder assuringly. “Talk to him” was what she mouthed before leaving me alone with him, his voice, to be exact, in the room

“You did nothing,” I mumbled and for once doubted if he heard me or not.

A tired sigh came from the other side. 

“Of course, I did something that made you ignore my calls and texts. I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to hang up on you like that.”

I shook my head as if he would see me disagreeing with him. “Seriously, Clyde. You did nothing. I should be the one saying sorry. I overreacted, as usual, I missed you the entire day. It made me upset that you didn’t call or even text me the entire day. Moreover, I was feeling a little low.”

“You were not overreacting, love. I know it’s my fault. I should have texted you, I’m sorry.”

I hushed him, hoping he would stop apologizing. After a small pause, he continued.

“I heard about Rayan from Olivia.” My eyes widened slightly, I had no idea why my heartbeat was fast.

“I’m glad you have people around when I’m not there.” He said it in such a gentle tone that my eyes teared up.

“They’re not you, though.” My bottom lip trembled and I averted my gaze. The lighted screen with his photo was not helping the situation.

He smiled. I felt it. 

“I’m trying, baby.”

“No.” I hesitated. “Work is important, I get it. You don’t have to rush things because of me.”

“But I feel upset being away from you too, Charlotte.” 

We both sighed.

“You don’t have to hurry things because of me, Clyde. Take your time.”

I looked at the clock ticking on the wall. “Baby, your meeting.”

“Yes, Darla. I’ll go in a while. I love you. Take care of yourself, hm?”

After a few moments, the call was declined. I stared at the ceiling.

It was supposed to be our first Christmas together.

There was a knock on the door, my head turned towards it and before I could answer, it flung open.

I rolled my eyes seeing that conceited apple.

“We are going out. Do you wanna tag along?” He leaned over the doorframe and I smiled at him.

“You want me to third-wheel?”

He turned around to leave while commenting. “It is fun seeing you third-wheel.”

I stuck my tongue out at his figure. But I was bored being at home the entire month. It would be a good change.

~

Good change, my ass.

“I feel like I’m single.”

I stood in the middle of the pathway, watching the apparent couple being lovey-dovey.

“You have a husband,” Rayan remarked, pointing a finger at me while wrapping Olivia in his overcoat.

I grinned, turning my head towards a tomato-Olivia. “Will you mind being single again because I’m going to kill him?”

She averted her gaze, breathing heavily as the fog through her mouth hit the crook of Rayan’s neck while he fixed the collar above her back.

“He’s not wrong though. You torture us all whenever Orhan is around.” She mumbled, clearly fazed by their proximity. Wow, I feel utterly single.

They will never stop with this, would they?

“Stop guys,” I wailed, walking ahead of them while ticking my boot over the snow-covered walk lane as my gaze roamed around the decorated street and well-lit colourful shops, “If you talk about him, I might miss him more.”

Turning around and walking backwards, I see them smiling at me. A pout formed on my lips. “What?”

Olivia tilted her head, shrugging with a beam. “It’s good to see you both still together.”

“Yes,” Rayan chimed in, “When are you making me an uncle?”

I rolled my eyes, staring at him from head to toe before swirling around. “You already are one.”

Olivia gasped, running over to me and grabbing my arm, “Are you pregnant?”

What?

In my silence, which was just processing time, she jumped and ran to Rayan. “She’s pregnant! I knew it. The way you’ve been acting, I knew it. Oh my god.”

The guy just stared at me, bursting into laughter when he read my face. 

“Jesus,” he muttered, and as Olivia bent to talk to someone in my tummy, he came over and held her by her shoulder, pulling her back. “She’s not pregnant, Bee. It was just an attempt to call me ‘uncle’.”

Her face scrunched in disappointment, “Are you serious, Eli?”

“Well, now I know how you’ll react to the news.” She smacked my head, making me wince.

“By the way, why did you come alone?” I questioned as we walked down the lane, casually contemplating entering a store but then not.

“Vivi? She will come tomorrow.” Olivia answered before dissolving into a conversation with Rayan.

I sighed, entering a shop which had snow globes stacked on their entrance.

“Charlotte?” Rayan called out as they both entered after me.

“Yes?” I touched the pretty designs, but one caught my attention. It was about the size of my hand. In the glass globe, there was cotton snow. A couple standing right beside a small tree, holding hands, kissing. A perfect gift.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. We’d promised each other forever but it appeared he had other plans. 24 hours after he’d promised to never hurt me I caught him kissing another woman. I found myself standing there, wondering how I let myself end up in this situation again. I promised myself I would never let a man do this to me again, and here I was, in the same situation yet again… but this time I refused to be the victim. I refuse to let him see that he’d hurt me. Last night when I found him kissing her I simply told him to enjoy his night and left without another word. He’d tried to contact me but I ignored him. I wasn’t going to let him in again… I couldn’t… no matter how much it killed me.

“Where’d you go, love?” Nat asked, pushing a drink toward me.

I chuckled, taking a sip, before answering. “Nowhere important.”

“Thinking about Loki again?”

I rolled my eyes.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“It’s just so frustrating, Nat!” I huffed. “Not even 24 hours after he was promising me forever and that he’d never hurt me… I find him kissing her.”

“I’m sorry, love.”

Just as she’d finished speaking my eyes found the girl he had been kissing and I felt the bile rise in my throat. She entered the party as if she owned the place, a smirk on her face as she locked eyes with me before making her way toward a group of men in the corner of the party.

“Suchka,” Nat hissed. I placed a hand on hers as she reached for the gun she kept on her at all times.

“Don’t, Nat. She’s not worth it.”

The atmosphere at the party suddenly changed as a slow song began playing and couples partnered off to dance as I downed the rest of my drink, signaling the bartender for another.

Baby, this love…

I’ll never let it die

The bartender placed another drink in front of me just as Loki arrived.

I’m a mad man for your touch, girl, I’ve lost control…

I’m gonna make this last forever, don’t tell me it’s impossible…

My heart clenched as his eyes locked with mine.

Cause I love you for infinity

I took a breath, looking away from Loki, as I grabbed the glass in front of me and downed this one as well.

“Darling?”

I jumped as he spoke, his silky voice filling my ears and making me question my resolve.

“I suggest you walk away, Laufeyson,” Nat hissed. “There’s nothing for you here.”

“My everything is here,” he murmured, looking directly at me.

Oh, darling, my soul…

You know it aches for yours…

“Go away, Loki… I can’t do this again.”

“Please, my love… just let me explain.”

His hand reaches for mine and I quickly stand, knowing if he touches me it will be far too easy for me to give in. “I’m not doing this again, Loki… I can’t, okay? I-I know what I saw.”

“My love, please… it’s not what you think… I promise I’ll explain everything, my darling… just listen to the words of this song… I had them play it for us… for you.”

Cause you’re the reason I believe in fate, you’re my paradise.

Loki took my hand, pulling me against him as his lips brushed my ear and he murmured the words of the song in my ear, his voice lulling me to a sense of calm.

And I’ll do anything to be your love or be your sacrifice…

Cause I love you for infinity…

Suddenly the promise of infinity snapped me back to reality as he’d made that same promise less than two days ago. The song lagged for a moment as the DJ rushed around trying to get the song back on track. As he did I looked to Loki, my heart clenching as he lifted a hand to my cheek.

“I love you for infinity.”

“Right,” I scoffed, no longer able to contain my anger as the lyrics began flowing from my lips at the perfect moment. “Infinity turned out to be a set number of days and when you said forever… Did you mean ‘till seasons change? You really had me fooled. I truly thought that you would stay but I just wasn’t it for you… a new girl’s in my place.”

“Darling, I-.”

“Beautifully done… I thought I found the one. Damn, you did that… you sure had me at infinity… you really got me to believe, oh… you’d love me for infinity.”

With that the song picked back up as Loki’s eyes filled with tears.

“I forgot how beautiful your voice was, my love… the thought of never getting to hear it again… that’s worse than any punishment Odin could inflict upon me.”

“Don’t say things like that, Loki… Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“I mean all of it, my love… Please, just listen to me… She kissed me… you walked in just before I could push her away from me. She’s been after me since I started working for Stark but I love you, darling… all I want is you.”

Cause I love you for infinity.

“I will only ever want you, my darling… please… Please believe me.”

“Why?”

“I never meant to hurt you. I- I didn’t kiss her. I-.”

“No, Loki… why? Why do you want me?” I could feel my voice threatening to crack as I spoke, not understanding why he would choose me over her.

He looked confused before pulling me against his chest. “You saw me when no one else did… my heart beats for you and only you.”

I love you for infinity.

The song slowed as Loki gently swayed us to the music, whispering a thousand apologies and promises in my ear. I only hoped I could believe them.

**********

Nat translation

*Suchka - bitch

“You need to get out of the rat hole you’ve created in the place you once called your house.” Olivia rebuked, glaring at the wrappers of lollies and chips behind me. I sighed, lowering the volume of my laptop and scratching my ears. “I can hear you well enough even if you whisper,” I mumbled under my breath, sliding the packets underneath my blanket.

“Oh my god, Eli-” The reprimand was thankfully cut off by Viviana, who laughed and leaned over her palm. “Charlotte, if you were single, we would be cuddling and fucking under the very blanket you’ve covered yourself with.” 

I grinned, falling back on the edge of the couch while fixing the mattress I was sitting on. Olivia, just, rolled her eyes, making my grin turn into a giggle. Suddenly, there was a rush over me. My smile faltered, and I sighed. There was a huge silence over the call and I felt my lips wobble while I wriggled my hands. “Guys, I miss him.”

Viviana groaned, her tone turning accusative. “Look, Olivia. That’s why I told you we should reach there early. Charlotte, baby. Don’t cry.” Her words made a broken sob leave my mouth, and I heard Olivia curse. “Eli, don’t cry. He’ll be back soon.” I wiped my tears with the sleeves of the sweatshirt and shoved another piece of candy in my mouth.

“Are the cramps painful, baby?” Vivi asked in a soft tone. I shook my head, looking at the screen, “My date is near. It’s just pre-mood swings.” 

-

After the call, I went straight up to the laundry, putting his clothes to wash, because for the past three weeks, I had solely been wearing his clothes.

My phone rang, and the familiar tone made me squeal as I jumped on my feet before hurrying to the living room. Jumping on the couch with every ounce of excitement, I picked up the call. It had started snowing outside, and the glass door of the living area, separating the cosy hall from the house garden could give a full view of white cotton falling from the sky.

“Hi, bubu.” I grinned, resting the phone on speaker while laying on the couch over my belly, swaying my legs.

“Hi, baby. How are you?” I could hear him smiling, and my heart fluttered. I felt like crying though, I missed him a lot.

“I am pretty upset, just going to turn in my husband for not calling me for the past…3 hours.” I tried changing my tone, but he laughed on the other hand.

“I can hear you smiling while you say that, Charlotte. And I’m sorry, baby. I was stuck in a meeting.” He spoke before I heard some muffled sounds behind him. It was an incoherent trail of conversation, I could barely understand anything.

“Mhm, I know I know.” I sighed, plopping on my back and holding the phone in my hands. “Can I video call you?” I asked vaguely when Vivi’s text popped up on my screen.

“No baby, I need to go now. I’ll text you in an hour. I love you, Darla. Take care of yourself.” He babbled before declining the call.

My head tilted, trying to process what just happened. Suddenly, Olivia’s caller id popped up. It was a video call and the moment I picked up the call, I admitted, “He’s cheating on me.”

Olivia, who was apparently going to elaborate on Vivi’s text, opened her mouth agape in pure bewilderment. “How can you even think that?”

A pout formed on my lips. “You know, I heard some woman talking to him on the call. And he even abruptly put the call off saying he’s busy.”

Olivia rolled her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re overthinking. Sleep, Eli. And yes, for tomorrow’s Christmas Eve, Vivi and I are coming to your home. So please clean the mess that you’ve made like a kid. Don’t overthink, he’s not cheating on you.”

Now that she mentioned sleep, I felt sleepy. But if he was cheating on me, I swear to God. Sighing, I threw the phone aside and snuggled against the cushion, pulling over the blanket and dozing off to sleep.

-

Suddenly, the blanket was snatched off. Despite the heater working perfectly amazingly, a chill ran down my spine but I was too lazy to open my eyes.

I whined against the cushion that was tucked cosily in my arms, "Clyde, what are you doing? Let me sleep-" my eyes fell open as I jolted up.

Clyde was not at home.

“Xie? Vivi?” Of course, if not him, it must be them. They said they would be here for tomorrow’s day.

I sat back on the couch, the lights were out. Looking out the glass door, I found it was already nighttime. The snow was glowing under the garden lamp. Though, I could barely outline the silhouette of anything inside the hall.

Shit, did someone break in?

I tried to search for my phone. It was not on the couch. A sigh of exasperation left me, and I got up, carefully keeping my foot on the floor without making any noise while squinting my eyes to look around.

I kept my foot on something…cracky. The crispy screech right beneath me made me flinch and sob.

“What the fuck?” The mood swings were not helping at all. My eyes could barely see anything, the tears came to bless its way.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. The dim light coming from beside the couch received another cry from my heart. How thankful I was for the caller.

Rushing up and picking up the phone, I saw it was him. Simultaneously, my gaze fell on the time. It was thirty past ten at night. My heart fell, but I answered the call.

“Baby? I’m sorry I was busy, I couldn’t-” My frustrated sigh cut him off. “Let’s talk later, I’m busy right now,” I spoke before declining the call.

“Fuck these lights.” Grumbling under my breath, I headed outside the room. Why was it so dark?

“Charlotte.” I flinched hard, who was this? Whipping myself around, I searched for any sign of visibility.

“You found your phone.” Eh? My face scrunched in confusion.

The person sighed, before speaking again, “Turn on the flashlight, Rat.”

Oh. It was a man.

Rat.

Oh.

Oh?

My fingers stabbed into the screen before flogging the white light in that direction, and the moment I saw him, my eyes rolled with a loud curse. Over six feet, arrogance plastered on his face like nature’s gift, hands folded in front of his wide chest, eyebrows furrowed in clear disappointment but with no surprise that I was still as stupid as ever.

“Who the fuck let you enter inside?”

Rayan Emir Yildiz, a famous architect in Dubai, my childhood best friend but more of an overprotective brother, four years older than me and conceited as fuck.

Throwing a pillow on his face, I rolled my eyes again and when I found the switches off and the MCB had fallen, I glared at him. He shrugged, responding to my unasked question nonchalantly, “You were sleeping.”

“I would wake up,” I stated, clearly annoyed, “and why were you standing there like Enderman?”

“Didn’t expect you to.” He mumbled but I heard him, throwing another cushion at him. Catching it effortlessly, he walked towards the couch and made it up. “The heater was melting the ice on my boots pretty amazingly.”

My eyes darted on his boots, orbs almost falling on the ground when I whipped my head and saw the muddy wet footprints he had marked in my entire living room. A loud groan left my throat. “Rayan, tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Look what mess you’ve created.” Plopping down on the chair, I stared at the mess.

“I think the house was already under the impact of the earthquake and the volcano eruption–” he pointed at me for that– “tornado–” he picked up the mat, revealing the empty wrappers of junk. I averted my gaze and looked around the living as I felt my cheeks turning red in slight embarrassment– “and now just a little touch of the flood.” He nudged his head towards his boots.

“Tsunami.” I corrected, giving him a sweet grin. “And you’re planning evacuation and before that, managing the casualties all by yourself. You’ll find your troops in the bathroom which is on the left turn the moment you leave this area. Good luck, Soldier.” I stood up and patted his back, heading to my room upstairs when his words stopped me dead in my tracks.

“Olivia called me here.”

“See you later, Clarke!”

Clarke waved. “Be careful on the drive home, Ray.”

Raven laughed and tugged her hair into a ponytail. “You too, for you know, when you decide to go home.”

Clarke looked at her watch. “Not for another three hours.”

“Right. Well, thanks again for everything, Clarke. You know I can’t do it without you.”

 Clarke smiled. “It’s okay, Ray. I’m glad I can help.”

Raven smiled and waved one last time, before she closed the door behind her and the smile on Clarke’s face dropped. Clarke quickly looked at the time again. Two minutes left.

In a blur, Clarke ran around the little café bar, gathering what was required. Sugar, coffee, milk, cream was repeated over and over in her head as a croissant went into the toaster and the price tangling in her pocket. Clarke pulled her wet, blonde hair up into a clean bun and straightened her work clothes out. Her cheeks were flustered and her heart throbbed at the reminder of seeing his face again. She felt like she was taking laps in the pool again.

Bellamy Blake, a security guard who worked from one to five p.m on Saturday’s and four to eight p.m on weekdays, is Clarke’s definition of picture perfect. His face was kissed with freckles with the upper scar lip on the right side of his face she was sure he got from shaving. His muscles aren’t thick, but they’re sturdy and well enough to handle oncoming danger. She knew this because she had seen him in action, a few times, and because he liked to talk about them with her when he buys his food.

Clarke didn’t think she was obsessed, perhaps a bit desperate to have his face fuel her fantasies, but not obsessed. It’s impossible not to picture him naked while tied up to her bedpost. A crush could be her underappreciated statement of the year.

Besides, he probably has a girlfriend by now, Clarke reminded herself as her watch ticked three-fifty p.m. Right on time. Clarke looked up and saw her Knight making his way over. Knight, Clarke thought. That’s a new turn of events.

“Afternoon,” she said. He looked so delicious. He didn’t bother with gel today, and it made his features look boyish and laidback; it made his brown eyes look fuller, darker and a little bit lusty against the easy-going sunset.

Okay, maybe not that lusty, she thought, but they were definitely heated.

“Hey—” don’t swoon, Clarke— “I’ll just have the coffee today.”

Clarke raised a brow. “Nothing else?”

“Nah, I had a morning shift. I just need something to wake me up.” He leaned in forward, and captured her attention with the little smile he had on his face. “I have a date afterwards.”

Clarke’s eyes shot up. “Oh, really?”

Bellamy chuckled, nervously. “Yeah, around eight at Ground-canyon. I’m picking her up after her shift ends.”

Clarke swallowed back any inexcusable emotions she was having and forced a smile. She knew it. “Right, well, give me a few minute’s and you’ll be on your way.”

“Hey, uh…”

Clarke turned around in an instant. “Yes?”

Bellamy smiled warmly. “Don’t you need to know what I want in my coffee?”

Clarke’s shoulders sagged, and a sigh leaked out. He’s known her for what, three months? and he still acts like he just met her.

Keep it cool, Clarke told herself. He’s not only a customer, but also a security officer, and he will drag your ass out if you step over the line. So, Clarke fisted the change in her pocket and smiled. “What do you want in your coffee, sir?”

“Two sugars, light, with a dash of cream.”

“On it.”

She slipped around the corner where the machines were, and made his coffee as quickly as she could. So far, her shift was…not how she imagined it to go. It was unusual for him to act like he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. As if they never talked to each other; as if he didn’t know she was a lifeguard. As if he didn’t come here every day to get his usual. Like coffee beans being pressed, she felt her energy sinking.

She placed his coffee a little too hard on the counter before him, causing some of the liquid to splash. Bellamy blinked, and she could see the confusion in his eyes…she really needed to stop doing that. She needed to stop analysing him, stop looking at him as if he did something wrong. He only wanted a coffee.

Bellamy handed her the money, and she was surprised that he pulled out the correct change. He nodded at her and took his coffee off the bench. “Have a good day.”

Clarke said nothing and turned to the next customer. Bellamy didn’t leave until Clarke was writing down the customer’s order. And even then, she wished she hadn’t fluttered her eyelashes up to watch him glare at his coffee. He flexed his fingers through his hair and cleared his throat.

“Listen, I uh, I wanted to know if you…” he had started, but the customer’s voice was louder, and it demanded attention. Clarke saw Bellamy shake his head, as though the thoughts that were running through his mind had left his stomach in knots. Clarke could understand. She understood perfectly. Whatever, she thought bitterly. He could ask her tomorrow.

The rest of her night dragged on tortuously. It was almost nine and the café was getting closer to closing up. Clarke smiled politely as a man dropped five dollars in her tip jar. This is good, Clarke thought. “Raven’s going to be so proud.”

She made thirty-eight dollars and fifteen cents. At this rate, the apartment Raven wanted was becoming a much closer target. All she needed was five-hundred dollars more, which meant Clarke needed to continue working at the café for at least two more months. They could do it; she could do it.

Clarke’s smile dropped as she once again looked at her watch. He’d be out, or probably at home with his girlfriend, canoodling on his couch while they watch cartoons, or in his bed. Maybe he was making love to her, or watching her fall asleep. People can go to be this early, she thought.

The bell at the door rang, but Clarke was too lost in her thoughts to have paid any attention. She fiddled with the change in her pocket—maybe she should put it back now—and tapped her nails against the glass. Maybe she should just tell Raven she couldn’t do it anymore, and just stick with her lifeguard job. The pay was better than this. She could just pay her half of what she got. It was quicker and more effective than…than…

She heard someone moving from behind her, and sighed, slamming the change onto the bench before her. Couldn’t they see it was closing time?

She turned around. “Excuse me, but we’re close…” Her thoughts evaporated.

Bellamy grinned. “Close…what?”

Clarke couldn’t come up with anything to say out loud. Why was he here? How long as he been here? What happened to his date?

“I, uh…” she swallowed and approached the counter. “Is there a problem, sir? I’m just about to close up.”

“There is.” His voice dropped. Clarke scrunched her skirt up. “My date; apparently, she didn’t finish until later than I expected.” Bellamy smirked and laughed nervously. “I’m pretty sure she didn’t realise she was asked out in the first place.”

Clarke released her skirt. She was not in the mood to talk about his personal life. She sighed—for the hundredth time that day—and said, “Sir, as much as this is amusing—”

“Bellamy,” he said. “My name’s Bellamy.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Then say it.”

Clarke frowned. What were they in, Twilight? “Bellamy.”

“Yes, Clarke?”

So he does know my name, she thought. “It’s closing hours, what are you still doing here?”

“I told you, I think my date didn’t realise she was asked out.”

“Maybe you should go and tell her that.” Clarke leaned up to scroll down the shelter that prevented anyone from slipping through. “In the meantime, I’ve got a place to close up.”

Bellamy laughed and held the metal barrier. “Hey, Princess, open your eyes a bit; I am telling her.”

She was dreaming; it was another one of her dreams, she could feel it. Any second now, her clock was going to pull her out into consciousness, and she was going to go work at the café as always, and wait until Bellamy showed up, ordering his coffee and croissant, and she might see him around, and they might talk before he’d be sent off doing his job; she’d get changed for her lifeguard job, go home and sleep, and tell herself how stupid she was for feeling the way she did.

She wasn’t waking up. Bellamy remained standing in front of her, watching her, smiling at her. This was not a dream; he was asking her out.

“I um, I didn’t know.” Her eyes left his. “You didn’t make it clear enough that you were asking me out.”

“I did try to ask you properly, but…Look, I can make it up to you now.”

Clarke blinked. “What did you have in mind?”

“Hey,” he said.

Clarke cracked a smile, confused, but went with it. “Hi?”

Bellamy looked up at the menu bar. Clarke bit her lip to prevent her giggling like a child. “Two croissants both filled with the usual and two coffees please.”

Clarke took the money, and replaced it with the change. “Two sugars, light, and a dash of cream, sir?”

Bellamy smiled. “Yes.”

“Have here or take away?”

“Take away.” He leaned closer. “I’ve got a date here in the café.”

"The café is closed, Bellamy"

Bellamy pointed to his uniform. “I think we can get away with it.”

Clarke prepared the coffees and the croissants, and placed them on the counter. Bellamy took out a twenty dollar bill, and took it from his grasp; their fingers touching briefly. She grabbed the change from the bench behind her and dropped it in his open palm.

“Have a good night, Clarke” he said.