She was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago. I gaze at the hot chocolate I ordered, watching the light brown swirls inside. I'm not thirsty, I just felt like the workers were condemning me for not ordering anything.Plus it gives me something to look at other than...
I glance at the boy in the seat in front of me, then quickly look back down. I check my phone again.
2:18. One new message.
"Sorry willow, fox got caught up in something. We might be a bit late (he got stuck in the storm drain again) :[ Have fun with azzy tho! Mwah"
I shuffle in the booth uncomfortably, closer to the window. Anything to avoid the prolonged gaze coming from the other side. I reread the texts. With a quiet sigh, I lean against the cafe's window. I know Fox can climb out on his own. Did she do this on purpose? Set up a situation where I'm alone with... him?
I start writing a response.
"you can't--" too accusatory. Delete.
"you know i can't--" too pathetic. Delete.
"pls hurry" Good enough. I send it and turn off my phone, watching the blank screen as if something was going to jump out of it at any moment. Instead, all I see was my own reflection judging me. I quickly turn the screen back on to get rid of it.
2:22.
"What is it that you have in your lap?" says a voice from in front of me.
I look at Azrael, who stares back. Smiling his eternal smile. What is he really feeling behind that false visage? Anger? Disgust?
"You are looking at something, aren't you?" he continues.
I put my phone on the table in response. "It's just my phone," I say plainly, "Lily has one too."
"What's so interesting about it, I wonder? I do quite like rectangles... especially ingots. But what's the use of such paperweights in this establishment?"
What? Oh... I guess he's still learning.
"No, it's um.. you can turn it on. Like this. And you can do stuff on it, like read books, or talk to your friends."
The boy reaches out, his thin long fingers grasping for my phone. He almost looks like an animal that just recently gained a human body and still wasn't used to it yet. My eyes widen and I snatch my phone off the table and return it to the pocket of my jacket. His hand stops in mid-grab, his eyes locking onto mine. Shit, that freaky smile...
I feel the need to say something, but I don't know what. We just stare at each other for a moment. I can tell I look upset, so I break our mutual gaze and focus on the window. The sky is overcast.
Again, he breaks the silence. "Can I have some?"
I turn my head and see he's pointing to my drink. It's just a paper cup filled with an unappetizing brown liquid.
"I thought you didn't have to eat," I respond.
"I don't. But I can."
I let out a long sigh. "Go ahead, then. It's just hot chocolate."
"Hot chocolate? I have never had it before."
Azrael carefully pulls the cup towards him. His hand wraps around the circumference, thumb nearly meeting his middle finger. He peers into it, as if he's trying to count coins at the bottom of a well. Then he lifts it to his mouth. It's impossible to gauge his reaction to it.
"Hot chocolate... that is what you said?"
"Y-yeah."
"Where's the 'hot'?"
"Huh? Oh, it wasn't very hot when they gave it to me. Plus it's been out for a while... It's not really a big--"
Without warning, he stands up from the booth and begins walking to the counter, taking the drink with him.
"What are you doing? Azrael!" I call out to stop him, but it's too late. He's standing at the counter talking to the staff. I don't know what he's saying, but when he points at me and the worker's eyes follow, I try to hide myself inside the booth as much as possible. Please, stop, I really don't care about it, just leave it alone, it's fine... I shrink lower in the seat, burying myself in my jacket.
After a minute, Azrael returns to the table and places the cup back in front of me. I look up as he sits down on the other side. I don't say anything, I just peer at him through the steam emanating from my cup-- hold on, steam?
"Why are you surprised, Willow? Its purpose is to be hot, yes?"
I peek into the cup. Small marshmallows float on the surface of the drink. Those weren't there before.
"What did you do?" I ask.
"Well, I told them what you said. The nice lady said she was very sorry and gave you a new cup, and added those little white things. She said not to worry about the extra cost, and that it was on the house. I tried to tell her that it was actually in front of her, and no where near any roofs, but she was already talking to someone else."
I put my head down on the table in anguish. He bothered the poor workers... now if I didn't drink it, they would hate me. So might Azrael, since he's gone through all this effort.
I lift my head, wiping the tears forming in my eyes. I always hated how easy it is to make me cry, but I can't help it. I feel like I'm in a nightmare. Where is Lily? I pick up the drink, disturbing the liquid's surface. She should've been here by now. The paper cup touches my lips. I'm too anxious to be thirsty right now. I tip it and drink a little. I feel-- Wait.
That was actually not bad.
I take another sip, letting in a marshmallow or two. The sweetness, the newfound warmth flowing through me... it felt really nice.
"It's better now, is it not?" says Azrael, his hands laying across each other on the table.
"Mhm," I say through the cup. Unfortunately, the joy in my voice came out before I had the chance to properly sweep it under the rug.
I put the cup down, staring at my lap. That's right, he did this for me. For... me? I fiddle with my hair nervously before sliding the cup over to Azrael.
"Here, um, you should try some too."
I wait until he picks it up, turning his large eyes away from me before saying my next words.
"Thank you, Azr-- Azzy. Azrael." Thank you for standing up for me. Even if your smile is fake, your actions aren't. I can tell you really care. So, thank you. I don't think I knew how much I liked marshmallows.