#elliotxoc

The woman sat on a table for two. There was one bottle of Merlot in the table, and one glass filled with the velvety elixir. She enjoyed the pleasant night as she sat in the patio of Bella Vita’s. Bella Vita was an Italian restaurant. Bo had been expecting him to show, after all this was a nice place. You had to have a name and a reservation to even have the chance of having one foot through the door. The table was decorated with a small rose and a dim lit candle. Molto romantico, as the Italians would say. Her attention was briefly caught by an older man who was arguing with the poor hostess in the entrance. She debated whether she was better off leaving and giving the table to the elderly couple. Bo: Where are you? Bo: Are you on your way? Bo: Hello? Bo: If you don’t answer in five minutes I’m leaving. It had been almost half an hour since the last text message. She had finished a basket of breadsticks stuffed with a mixture of Italian herbs and cream cheese. The wine had gone down smoothly as she numbed her emotions.

 It was then that he showed up. She almost choked on her wine as it went down the wrong side. He stood next to her in the patio that faced New York’s busy street. “W-What are you doing here?” She coughed as she patted her chest. “What a coincidence,” said the man who was not Hobart Bax. Hiz tone made it seem as if it was not a coincidence. Holding his weekend groceries he grinned at her and leant over the fence that divided them. “May I sit?” He said with a charming grin. “No. You may not. Now leave me be and scatter along before I call the cops on you.” She said sternly. Her lips drawn unto a serious, stretched thin line. Before her stood Nik Kuznet, an old acquaintance.     “You best leave me alone. If not I will get a restraining order against you,” she threatened with a fearful expression. He simply leant forward. A charming grin on his face. His grey eyes narrowed. Curly brown locks tasseled over his forehead. “You wouldn’t- you’re too nice.”

She looked around the patio uncomfortably before downing whatever wine was remaining in the glass in her hand. “Sorry I’m late.” A third voice suddenly said. Both turned shocked to see a figure take the opposite seat. “Finally you’re here!” she announced before turning to face the man.

It was not Hobart Bax. Her eyes became wide. She poured herself whatever was remaining of the bottle of wine. After all, she would be paying for it. Her eyes finally met Elliot’s large bug like ones. She wanted to cringe. Here she sat wearing a dress that had costs at least two zeroes. The earrings her grandmother had gifted her for her graduation from NYU and a Cartier watch. He wore the black hoodie she had always seen him wearing. She brought a hand to the bridge between her nose and anxiously rubbed it. “Nik, this is-“ She had forgotten his name. She snapped her finger in an attempt to guess his name. “-is… my date.” She raised both of his eyebrows hoping that he would play along. “I am.” He simply nodded. Nik sucked the inside of his cheek and nodded his head, “Huh.” He said in acknowledgment. “Well nice meeting you fella! Nik Kuznet.” He stretched out his hand. Bo actually looked it at guessing if he man before her would shake it. “Elliot,” he simply stated not breaking eye contact. The hand remained unshaken. “Right.” Bo said almost to eagerly. She took another long fat sip of her wine. “Well it was nice seeing you Nik. Buh-bye.” She waved her hand childishly. Nik pursued his lips and nodded his head at both before excusing himself. Bo let out a sigh she didn’t realize she had been holding. She exhaled a deep breath and down the rest of the wine finishing the bottle by herself. She hadn’t realized that Elliot had been observing her. Her frustration, her anxiety creeping on her. He was curious to see how she handled this, specially under the influence of alcohol. “Thank you,” she suddenly breathed. Both of her eyes remained half lidded. Her head was slipping to the side. He remained focused. She was so intoxicated she hadn’t even realized that his appearance hadn’t been a coincidence. It had been a piece of cake for Elliot to hack into Hobart’s phone. He read the text message that read: Hobart: I can’t see you ever again. He had blocked her afterwards. He simply texted her he wanted to talk with her over dinner. Somehow, she had agreed. Then after, he hacked the restaurant and made a reservation for two. Sadly, he had to take some random man’s name. “You see- that was my ex.” She said as she stuffed a piece of breath into her mouth in a very unladylike matter. “My ex-boyfriend. Nik. We broke up a month ago, but he keeps coming back, and back, and back, and back-“ she went on, and on, and on, redundantly. ‘Another woman that had poor taste in men.’ Elliot thought to himself. The only difference between his friend, Angela, and Bo was that Angela’s appeared to be easy to control. There was something about Nik that made him feel perturbed. “Looks like an asshole,” he offered in consolation. “He is.” She bobbed her head agreeing. “Waiter-“ she stuck her index finger up. “Another?” She waved he bottle up in the air in a matter that would make her grandmother spin in her grave. “Want anything?” She offered suddenly facing him. This had not gone down as he had expected. He was regretting arranging this in the first place. What was it with him making this string of bad decisions that seemed to trial after him? “Umm- no… You should go home.” He attempted. “What are you talking about Elliot? We are just getting started!” She grinned. As the waiter bowed before them both placing a brand new bottle in their table.

1. Outside the Window It was a rare instance when something outside of his computer screen caught Elliot Alderson’s attention. However, today was different. Perhaps it was the shouting that caught his attention. Maybe it was the loud rain that coated New York City during the spring days. “Stop following me! No is no!” A woman shouted in an irked tone. She stomped towards the coffee shop as a male followed after her. “Babe come on! Cara Mia!” He said in a petty attempt to imitate Gomes Adams when reaching for her hand. Elliot’s large eyes remained focused on the scene outside the window from the inside of the warm, dry coffee shop. “Enough!” She snapped tugging her arm back to her body. The rain continued pouring around the couple. “Please!” she pleaded. “Just leave me alone…” Elliot couldn’t see her face, as her back remained facing him. But he could see the expression of defeat in the man’s face as he turned away and left. She entered the shop closing her baby blue umbrella. Her head lowered and her lips drawn upon a serious line. Her hair was a pretty orange color, and it frizzed at the ends due to the terrible weather. With her shoulder’s hunched and head lowered she didn’t catch the attention of many inside of the small business place. Her face remained invisible to him. She approached the counter and sucked in a deep breath. “Hi! Good afternoon!” She chirped in a joyful tone as her emotions rapidly shifting. “How are you today-“ she rolled her weight forward leaning over the counter reading the baristas name “-Mallory.” She said with a bright smile. Mallory simply returned the greeting with a more than annoyed expression. The dark bags under her eyes became more prominent with her foul mood. The stranger seemed immune to the bored glare and remained eager for her- “Chai Latte, please.” “Coming right up.” She retorted in a draining sigh. The barista charged her. “Wait-! You forgot my name, my name is Bo.” She offered kindly. “Good for you.” The other retorted rolling her eyes. Elliot looked at her this is when she gave up, it had to be. Nobody could remain that optimistic after facing Mallory the barista’s menacing death glare. To his surprise she pulled out a five from her purse and tipped it in her jar. He brought his knuckles to his lips. Now he was intrigued.