Chapter 1

1001 Words
It’s a rainy Sunday afternoon when Julia walks home after spending a hellish weekend at her mom’s place. She should go home to her dad, make up some story about the weekend so he wouldn’t get suspicious and get on with her day. Unfortunately, this time it’s different, she needs a little time alone, just a story won’t cut it this time. It’s time to come up with something better. She sees a café down the street. It looks like the perfect place to collect her thoughts and a cup of tea. As she walks in, she feels the warmth of the room embrace her.   As Julia looks around for a free table, she sees some people looking at her questionably, Julia finds a table in a corner by the window. As she sits down a waiter comes to greet her. ‘Hello gorgeous, what can I do for you today?’ The good-looking waiter asks, while he gives her a sexy smile. ‘Can I get a tea, please?’ ‘Coming right up, sweet cheeks.’ Julia blushes as the waiter walks away. This gives Julia the chance to check out his back. She can see his muscles flex in his tight shirt. As if the waiter feels Julia looking at him, he turns around. He winks at her. Oops! Julia looks down as she feels her face heat up even more.   The waiter comes back with Julia’ tea. ‘There you go.’ ‘Thank you.’ The waiter turns around to walk away, but in the last second, he turns back to Julia. ‘Can I ask you a question?’ Julia looks up. ‘Uh… yeah. Sure?’ It comes out more like a question. ‘Why are you wearing sunglasses? You’re inside and it’s raining out.’ Julia looks down. ‘No reason.’ ‘I think you have a reason, otherwise you wouldn’t wear it,’ the waiter says carefully as he takes the sunglasses of Julia’ nose. He is met with the black eye that Julia tried so hard to hide. She sees the shock on his face. He doesn’t say anything and walks away. Julia looks at him walking away, not sure of what just happened. Julia focusses on her tea. Suddenly the waiter comes back. He hands her an icepack to help the swelling of her black eye. Julia takes it and smiles at the waiter. ‘Thanks for that.’ ‘No problem,’ the waiter says, as he takes a seat across from Julia. He keeps staring at her. Julia looks back at him, she doesn’t know what to say. After some time, she looks down. ‘What happened?’ Julia looks back up in the bright green and blue eyes of the waiter. For a moment she is quiet. ‘Uhm… I walked into a kitchen cabinet.’ ‘Into a kitchen cabinet?’ Julia can sense that he doesn’t believe her, but the truth is harder to tell. Even though she doesn’t know the guy, she doesn’t feel comfortable telling the truth. ‘I’m Niels, by the way.’ He holds out his hand for Julia to shake. ‘Julia,’ she says while taking his hand. ‘Nice to meet you.’ ‘Likewise.’ Niels still isn’t going anywhere. Julia looks around the room with a questionable expression. ‘Shouldn’t you be working, instead of sitting here with me?’ ‘I rather sit here talking to you…’ ‘Oh.’ Julia feels a blush creeping up her cheeks. ‘And I own the place, so I can do what I want,’ Niels chuckles.   Julia is looking outside. It has finally stopped raining. She is so up in her thoughts that she doesn’t know Niels had shown up behind her. He taps on her shoulder. Julia gets startled and jerks away from his touch. She shrieks, when she sees him. He holds up his hands in mock surrender. ‘Whoa, easy beautiful. It’s just me!’ Julia sighs in relief. ‘I’m sorry, you just scared me.’ ‘I’m sorry cupcake. I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to tell you that we’re closing, it’s time for you to go home honey.’ Julia looks at het watch. It’s already 8 p.m. She jumps out of her chair. ‘Sh*t! I should’ve been home three hours ago.’ Niels laughs at het panicky state. Julia gets out her wallet, but Niels refuses to accept her money. ‘But…’ ‘No baby, it’s OK. It’s on the house.’ ‘But you don’t even know me,’ Julia throws back. ‘I don’t need to and I think your day was rough enough judging by your black eye.’ ‘Thank you so much for your help today.’ ‘No problem.’ Niels writes something on a piece of paper and hands it to Julia. ‘What is this?’ ‘My phone number,’ Niels smiles. ‘What for?’ Julia questions. ‘Use it for whatever you want. I like talking to you.’ ‘Thank you,’ Julia says as she walks out, but at the door she stops and looks at Niels. ‘Niels?’ ‘Hmm?’ ‘I like talking to you too.’ Niels smiles at her. ‘Good to know, and be careful,’ Niels winks.   Julia runs home as fast as her legs can carry her. As she comes home, she bursts through the front door and tries to catch her breath. ‘JULIA!’
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