There was nothing special about today. It was a normal day with the sun playing peek-a-boo behind the menacing dark clouds that threatened to spill their waterworks. A harsh, light wind danced in the atmosphere playfully slapping the cheeks of bystanders and then howling into ears. Soft snowflakes covering everything that could possibly be covered creating a serene, clear landscape before being trod on my children chattering their teeth, hugging their jackets closer and laughing.

"Clara!" A sharp voice had pulled her out of the whirlpool of her thoughts and allowed her to adjust to her surroundings and the person who was calling her name. Snapping her head away from the window she switched her attention to the person standing in front of her.

A customer.

She often got so into the outside world that she forgot to register the reality around her meaning that often forgot what she was suppose to be doing which was taking orders for beverages from customers. The cafe often did get busy around this time of the year and was filled with much Christmas festivity and clusters of people wondering in talking in high spirits and elevated moods.

But today wasn’t one of those days, there was a handful amount of people present all engaged with each other or devices strung out in front of them that obviously didn’t need any assistance from her which led to her mind wondering and a dreamy face glazed upon her face.

Snapping her eyes back to the customer, she immediately recognized him. He was a couple of years older then her and taller too, he always wore the same tired expression on his face as he would always come in at the same time everyday, Clara would often watch him be deep into his phone or a book and then every minute or so he would survey his surroundings sigh and then return back to whatever realm he had taken a break from.

He was hastily tapping away at his phone and obviously hadn’t noticed her manager scolding her, clearing , he quickly looked up and placed his phone in a pocket before looking past her at the menu. Although there was no need, he would order the same thing every time.

"Tea with no sugar please" quickly giving him a smile, she turned around and proceeded to make the tea; the water was already boiling hot so it took less then a couple of minutes for her to quickly brew the tea.

"Here you are sir" she replied back politely giving him another smile which he returned by ever so slightly pulling the corner of lips up before returning them back to their neutral position, he grabbed his coffee and took his usual place in the corner giving Clara a clear view of him.

She didn’t know how long she spent just watching him; he didn’t have a book with him this time just his phone, she watched his fingers fly across the keyboard almost angrily but then again he always typed like that but she couldn’t help but sense that this time, it was something more then that. His jaw would clench every now and then as if he was trying hard not to scream, like an animal was contained with him and he was doing his best not to give into it. 

Finally the typing came to a stop and he almost threw his phone down onto the table, he had barely drank his sugarless tea as usual sometimes Clara wondered why he ordered it if he never took one sip of it, he held his head in his hands and grabbed fistfuls of hair, there was hardly anyone in the cafe now, her manager had long gone home trusting her to close down safely and the only people present now were her, the boy and a man who had dozed off that Clara had decided would wake up when it was nearer to closing time.

Without registering her actions, Clara had slipped out from behind the bar and had plopped her self down, he was running his hand through his hair and froze when he saw that she had sat opposite him. He had creamy milky skin and light bags accompanied his tired eyes, he was strangely beautiful to look at, she guessed that’s why she had stared at him for so long, she found him interesting.

"Are you okay?" the words flew out of before she could stop herself.

Slowly putting his arm back down on the table, she realized that his posture had become rigid as he hugged his black jacket closer and fiddled with a silver ring that rested on his middle finger.

"Fine" he gave her very simple reply obviously thinking that she would have gotten up and back to behind the bar but something made Clara stay rooted in her seat, realizing that she wasn’t going anywhere he sighed and swiftly looked away before looking back "I don’t want to keep you from your job, please go away" there was a harsh tone in his tone but she ignored it all the same.

"I have nothing to do, you look like you could use somebody to talk so no, I won’t go away" she replied intensely staring at him as he did the opposite, doing everything to dismiss her gaze.

"Fine" he repeated the second time as he quickly stood up lumbering over her "I’ll go" before Clara had anything to stop and make him stay, he had grabbed his phone and rushed out of the door leaving her alone at the table with the change for the tea and the smell of his husky scent.

But he would be back, he always was.