Triangle of Love

We need to stop meeting like this

A small café stands on one of the corners in town named Ville Café. Entering the café a middle aged woman with warm welcoming smile stands behind the counter.

"Welcome to Ville Café."

"Hi, I will have a croissant sandwich and fries please."

"take a seat and I'll bring it over."

I take the table by the window and place my bag under the table on the floor next to my foot and pull out my phone. I search and scroll random things on YouTube, I end up watching funny clips while waiting.

“Toasted ham and cheese croissant and fries.” she’s smiles as she places it in front of me “if you need anything else just let me know. I’m Sharon by the way.” Giving me a little wink before making her way to the back where the kitchen is.

Quietly eating and enjoying my croissant sandwich and fries while watching a video on YouTube.

Suddenly a tall pale skinned muscly man takes the seat opposite me. Staring at him with a questioningly look. He's handsome but something doesn't feel right about him.

“Sorry can I help you?”

“I saw a pretty lady sitting alone so I thought I’d keep her company” confidently sitting in the chair across from me and staring at me with his beady flirty eyes.

“Ummm yeah I’m fine thanks. I would really like to eat the rest of my lunch alone.” I try to quickly eat the rest of sandwich. Great I was enjoying that and savoring every bite but now I have to scoff it down quickly.

“The name is Dane Peters... Can I take you out sometime?”

"So sorry but I'm not interested." everything in my body was screaming to leave and to avoid this guy at all costs.

"Oh come on. Good looking guy like me and a pretty little thing like you, together we are fire." the confidence of this guy is through the roof. He licks his lips and the way he’s gawking at me is making me uncomfortable.

“Ok Dane... But sorry I’m busy now. Bye.”

"Oof baby! The way you say my name... I would love to hear you scream it for hours." and just like that, I'm done with my lunch, disgusted with him.

I pick up my bag and my plate and make my way to the counter and I can feel his eyes watching me from behind. Sharon comes from the back to the counter smiling at me. Handing my plate over the counter still with a little bit of food on it I give her an apologetic look and let her know I enjoyed the meal but suddenly lost my appetite, she looks over my shoulder and frowns looking at Dean. I pay for my meal and thank her and make my way towards the door.

Half way to the door and Dean gets from where he is sitting and slowly walks in the same direction of the exit then proceeds to follow me out of the café. Trying to quickly walk off I can hear him speeding up his steps and is now walking beside me.

“I forgot what you said your name is?” looking at me with a smirk on his face.

“I didn’t.” I retort unamused and try to pick up the pace.

“Look how about we exchange-”

I stop to face him and cut him off and looking annoyed at him.

“Sorry but I’m not interested and I would really appreciate it if you could leave me alone.” I snap at him.

He doesn’t say anything but has this annoying smirk on his face. He looks down and gawks at my legs before bringing them back up to meet mine. I feel disgusted at this point and turn to continue walking. I can here him chuckle before speaking again, it’s then I feel a cold shiver go up my spine making me feel uncomfortable.

“See you around Kali. I’ll try and make use of my library account.”

I snap my head back in his direction but he’s already walking in the opposite direction and whistling a tune. I feel creeped out and have an uneasy feeling, this guy pretended to not know my name, he knows where I work and I hope he doesn’t know where I live. Taking a deep breath in I try to compose myself and shake the uneasy feeling and continue to make my way to the local supermarket.

Arrived at the supermarket I pick up shopping basket. Looking at my short shopping list I walk down the aisles looking for what I need. Almost finished collecting all the items on my list my phone vibrates and I know who it will be considering the only contacts I have other than my boss and the local pizza shop is Penny and Nikki but Penny never texts me so that would only leave Nikki. I take out my phone to read his text,

Nikki: Reminder girl! Don’t forget tonight! Wear something nice to dance in!

Kali: is it too late to back out?

Nikki: *sad face emoji*

Kali: okay okay I’ll be there.

Nikki: *smile emoji*

I chuckle looking at the text. Feeling hopeful and deep in thought hoping that I have made a friend and don’t stuff this one up. Not paying attention to my surroundings I walk into someone and almost drop my phone and shopping basket from the shock. Thank goodness I was walking slowly or it would have been a mess in this aisle. Worried I look up and see Penny standing there with her shopping basket in her arm looking calm as always.

“Sorry.” I guiltily say looking down.

“Kali. My goodness pay attention to your surroundings or you will hurt yourself or someone else.” Says Penny looking rather fine with no look of anger or annoyance. “You almost finished your shopping?”

“Uh ummm I just need to grab one more thing and then I’m done.” I respond.

“Ok. You heading home after this?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m going to checkout now and I’ll wait for you outside.”

I open mouth to respond and she puts her free hand up to stop me from talking and heads towards the checkout.

Quickly, I make my way down another aisle in search for coffee passing a few people before I reach the shelf with the different coffees. I find the one I want and drop it into the basket. The hairs on the back of my neck stand, feeling like I can feel a pair of eyes on me I look to my left and right and see no one around me. Shaking the feeling of being watched I look down at my shopping basket, satisfied with my listed shopping I make my way to the checkout.

I smile at the teenage girl serving me as I lay my shopping on the checkout conveyor belt for her to scan while I wait to pay. While waiting for the teenage girl to scan the last few items I hear a familiar voice and go stiff.

“We need to stop meeting like this Kali, I’m starting to think that fate has a plan for you and I.” says Dane. I don’t need to look at him I can just tell he has that stupid smirk on his face. I ignore him and focus on the cashier. “Ok I get it. I’ll stop.”He snickers but goes quiet and leaves me alone.

I quickly pay and collect my shopping, trying to fit some of it into my back pack while I carry the rest in a shopping bag.

Making my way out of the supermarket I almost forget about Penny and find her sitting on a bench outside the store busy talking on the phone.

Keeping a certain distance I wait for her to finish her phone call. Looking at the automatic doors to the supermarket, Penny taps me on my shoulder making me jump a little, I don’t know how long I was staring that way but it was longer than I intended.

“Kid you alright? You look a bit shaken up.” Asking me with a worried look.

“Yeah… thanks I’m ok.” I respond and quickly change the subject. “Thanks for waiting for me, you to be heading home now? Can I catch a ride?”

“Sure, of course silly.” She says with a warm smile.

Penny leads us to her car parked not too far away. She has a really nice car, a red Honda CR-V, we both put our shopping in the back seat and climb into the front. We drive off into the direction of our homes, we don’t live far. Sitting quietly Penny starts a conversation to break the silence.

“Anything interesting happen today?”

I think about what I’ve done today and explain the timeline of my events for the day, I specifically leave out the voice I heard earlier and the grey blur I saw disappearing behind the trees not wanting her to think I’m crazy. I tell her about meeting Nikki and our plans for tonight, I start to stress a little realizing I don’t know what I’m going to wear and I don’t have much options in my wardrobe either which makes Penny laugh.

“Relax kid, you can rummage through my wardrobe you might find something you like. But I wouldn’t get all dolled up, it’s just the local pub. So dress nice but comfortable also.” She’s says while her eyes are focused on the road, I nod in reply.

Continuing where I left off with my day story and remembering my interactions with Dane, I frown at the memory and how he made me feel at the café and the supermarket, deciding it’s best to tell her about that and explain in full what he said and how he acted and the way he made me feel.

“Ugh” she’s scoffs “Dane is a wannabe dickhead. This town have some of the nicest people and can do without the likes of Dane and his little gang of wannabe mutts.” She’s looking displeased and gripping the steering wheel. Getting the picture that Dane is definitely bad news in town if he can get a reaction out of Penny who is always calm.

Penny turns into the driveway and parks the car. Both getting out of our seats and getting our shopping in the back seat I notice fur on the seat, it was quite a lot, I didn't even notice it when I put my shopping in.

"You have a dog?" picking up the furs and showing her.

"Friends." collecting her shopping not phased by my question.

Dropping the topic I grab my bags and close the car door behind me and making my way to the house.

After putting my shopping away and check the time on my phone, two p.m, so I have a few more hours to kill.

I make a cup of coffee for Penny and grab myself a bag of potato chips and joining Penny on the front veranda placing her coffee on the bistro table while I take the other chair and nibble on my chips.

We sit for a little while and just chat about Seaville, who is who, and who owns which shop, our favourite foods and hobbies, then I realise this is the first time since moving in with Penny I have actually sat down and had a proper conversation to get to know her better, I guess our chat in the car opened up something and we are feeling a bit more connected. Conversing with her just flows freely.

“Can you come out with me tonight? I think I would feel better knowing I know someone there.” I ask her and give her my best puppy eyes and pout.

“Oh don’t even try with those eyes” as she rolls her eyes at me but I don’t give up and continue acting “Fine. But I’m not dancing… and put those damn lips back in you look like a duck gone wrong.” sounding defeated while I squeal in excitement.

“Yay! Thank you! I owe you!” I say grinning from ear to ear.

“Well actually now that you have mentioned it…” Now with a smirk on her face “since I have to come with you tonight, you have to come workout with me. You could do with a little muscle.” Penny purses her lips holding back a light laugh.

“ok... Sounds fun.” I say in a sarcastic tone.

We sat outside chatting for a good two hours. Some of the neighbours that were out for a walk would stop by and say hi and introduce themselves or some would just walk on by and just wave, some of the kids were out riding their bikes making use of the daylight. Penny suggests I have a little nap and that she will wake me up in time to get ready, I take her advice and head to my room.

Flopping on my bed as if my body has lost all it’s energy however I was feeling quite the opposite. Laying there just staring at the ceiling thinking about nothing, my mind is absolutely clear of any thoughts and memory and I’m enjoying a peaceful mind closing my eyes as if I’m meditating,

Cold breeze accompanied by a whisper of whistles

Velvet melodious song echoing a heartbeat

Soft steps, each stepping gracefully like a dance

“Kali. Kali. Wake up, time to get ready.”

Opening my eyes I see Penny standing by the bed looking down at me with a worried face then quickly holding up a top in front of her face. Sitting up and looking at the floor a bit confused, I didn’t hear her come in and I can’t believe I fell asleep however I felt like I didn’t fall asleep but drifted off somewhere else, it felt so real.

“What time is it?” I ask as she lays the top out on the bed next to me.

“almost six o’clock” talking as she makes her way out of my room “I made some fettuccine if you want to eat before we leave.”

“Thanks!” calling out to her.

Confused and shocked that I was out for almost two hours and the dream felt like it was only a few minutes. Seeing the clothes on the bed reminds me I have get ready and forces me to get up from where I’m seated on the bed and start getting ready. First a shower.

An hour later I’m checking myself in the mirror. Denim skinny jeans, halter neck top baring my mid stomach, light make up, straightened hair and light accessories to complete my look. I grab my purse and put my head through the strap so that the strap is across me like a seatbelt. Putting in my purse, is my phone, my lip stick and a few other little items. Picking up my heels and making my way to the kitchen I quickly scoop me a small bowl of fettuccine, seating myself on the stool by the island bench and eating.

Penny finally comes out looking like she just shaved off a few years, literally looks my age. Wearing black stylish leather pants and white fitted sleeveless top that bares her back, she too has opted for light make and accessories and heels. I whistle in approval making her roll her eyes.

“If you’re ready we’ll head out now.”

I nod finishing off my fettuccine then placing my bowl in the sink and follow Penny out locking the door behind.

"Woo here we come Seaville!"