The cafe` was dark, unlike it was when Sofie was here earlier with her friends. Some time had passed since she arrived in the small building minutes ago, waiting for so-called "Duncan" to come. I bet he's a jerk. Sofie told herself. I bet he's not coming. He's just going to look at the clock and think, "Oh. I had a date with that tired-looking girl her sister set up. Eh, she's probably ugly and boring. I blow it off. We won't see each other again, anyway." At that moment the door burst open and Sofie's head shot to the direction of the sound. A boy her age came in, wearing punkish clothing and was covered in perspiration. Sofie stared at him oddly, as if something was familiar about him. He was hunched forward, coughing and breathing deeply. He slowly walked over to the table she sat at and gripped the back of one of the chairs in front of her.
"Are you.. S-Sofie..?" He asked, wheezing and gasping for air.
"Yes. Are you Duncan?"
He nodded.
"I'm not late, am I?"
"No."
"How long have you been waiting?"
"About 6 minutes."
"We had a date tonight, correct?"
"Well, I'm not thinking of it as a date. Just coffee. With a friend." She said.
"So I'm your friend, am I?" He smiled deviously. She frowned slightly and commented,
"Why are you all sweaty?" He looked at her, then down at his shirt.
"I rode my bike here."
"What happened to your car?"
"It.. caught on fire."
Sofie's eyes went wide, but she chuckled.
"Why did your car catch on fire?"
"Well, I was driving it here, it made some weird noises, I got out, and it caught on fire." Duncan told her, taking a seat beside her.
"Ha, Okay." Sofie giggled. "So, you called for help, and thats why your late?"
"No." He said. "I quickly took my bike from the trunk, and then rode here."
"You left your car on fire on the side of the rode!?" Sofie gasped. His eyes wondered around the room.
"I'm sure someone found it.."
Sofie laughed again. Soon Sumer came over, holding a small tray with a cup of coffee on it, and a younger girl beside her. Sofie took the cup from the tray, tipped Sumer, then glanced at the girl.
"Who is this, Sumer?" She asked. Sumer looked down dominately at the girl. She stared back up at her, with honest eyes, but no smile. She brushed long brown hair off her shoulder but still said nothing.
"This is Ava." Sumer finally spoke, not moving her eyes from the girl's. "She's our train-ee. We're teaching her to wait tables."
Ava nodded. She looked about 12 or 13. When Sumer looked away from Ava she noticed Duncan, who was silently stroking his mohawk with his fingers.
"Who's is this, Sofie?" Sumer mimicked.
"Duncan." Sofie replied, taking a sip of her coffee. Sumer scanned her eyes over him, then turned away, taking Ava's hand and briskly striding across the room as usual. Sofie continued to look at her disappearing figure as Sumer leaned down to Ava's ear, and whispered something that Sofie thought was "He was cute", and giggiled again.
"Where do you work?" Duncan said, breaking the quiet. Sofie turned back to face him, and pondered his question.
"A butique." She answered.
"Fancy!" He smirked.
"Ha ha, you could say that."
"What part of the store?"
"Watch Counter."
"Nice.." Briefly he put his hand on top of her's and grinned some more. "I'll have to visit you, sometime."
Sofie's heart began to beat steadily.
"Duncan.. I have a boyfriend." Sofie choked out. He took his hand off and laid it in his lap.
"I know. Your sister told me." He said, glancing off to the side.
"His name is Henry." Sofie added, triumphently.
"Cute." He laughed. Sofie regretfully looked down at her watch and sighed.
"I have to get home." She picked up her coat and began to walk out the door.
"Why so soon?" Duncan asked, almost getting out of his seat to go after her.
"I have a date with Henry." She said, not looking into his sorrowful eyes.
"Right.. your boyfriend."
"Correct." She smiled, and continued to walk away.