The Devil's

The ice cream shop is full of toddlers,mothers and nannies, Soila can make out a few dads and young couples out on a date. Zen ice cream shop is her favourite place in this new town. The smell of hundreds of flavours, the giggles of happy toddlers and the love sick looks in the young couples who frequent the place for some sweetness. She does not like Ice cream that much but she enjoys the serenity and a few scoops of vanilla. The huge clock on the wall shaped like an molten ice cream reads five o'clock. Leon is late again. He is always late. She has been waiting for him for thirty two minutes to be precise. She dials his number and calls. He picks up immediately. " Am here hun, a minute away," he pants in false pretense. She doesn't say a word as she ends the call and puts her phone on the table. That way he will think she is mad for keeping her waiting. His late coming always give her time to admire the families and the couples enjoying their sweet treats and she likes the feelings she gets. She builds fantasies in her mind, like the cars they drive,what they banter about at home, the kind of mornings they have in their homes. It's always a good thirty minutes in her head. A couple walks in; a dreadlocked tiny girl and a tall handsome man. She is stressing over her handbag strap as the man looks around for a vacant table all the while holding a free hand which is not so free because she is holding a big novel. Soila is engrossed with the couple she doesn't notice Leon slide next to her. She smells him then. " What is the story now?" He asks with a deep laugh " What?!" He nods towards the couple who are now sitted. " Mmmh, happy. And you are so late Leon" she answers him as her attention shifts back to him now. He is dressed in a loose fitting tshirt and white khaki shorts. He leans over and kisses her cheek apologetically. " A bottle of wine for my apology?" He offers. Soila laughs. He knows her so well. Anything for wine. " Okay. Next time wine wont do." " I know hun, but when has it never worked?" Leon has been her best friend for six years now. They had met in campus, he had been on his fourth year when she was a freshman. They had met at a wine store where he had been working part time. Their shared love for good wine had pulled them closer, and as they began knowing each other more they had realised they had so many things in common. Movies, fashion, art, adrenaline adventures and football. And the weird way they knew each others thoughts. After campus he had officially started playing for the hometown soccer team and after a year he had worked his way to the national football team. And now he was playing for an international football club and he had moved out of the country. He had always dedicated his holidays for her and his family. But luckily for them, with Leon's help Soila had bagged a job in his new country. She had been at Toles town for two months now she hated the weather and most of the food there. But for all its limitations Toles town made it up with its rich history and its football craze. " So tomorrow night we are having a end year party at the club house." " You better have an invitation for me," she joked. " Yes. You are invited, the boys dread seeing you again." They laugh as they remember the first time she had visited the club house. He had taken her there during the training sessions,she had practically participated in the training making fun of everyone on the pitch. And after training she had followed them back to the locker room and pretended to ogle at their toned bodies. "I am one of you now, boys" she had said as they changed into clean clothes. " Its a boys party and then after we are going to Lix Club for the cocktail party. Get your sexy gown ready" The waiter comes by to their table to clear Soila's utensils. Leon had ordered a glass of lemonade because he was on a strict diet he couldn't eat any ice cream. " So who will be at this party?" " The players, their dates,our manager, the coach and the sponsor of the Toles Club." " Who is your sponsor now?" " It was Signore Gallo. But since his admission he pulled out. We have a new sponsor now, we are all meeting him today." Leon's phone rings as they are talking, he excuses himself and goes outside to pick his call. Soila looks at him through the glasses, his forehead is wrinkled in concentration as he listens to his caller. Her attention shifts back to the shop, the families traffic has gone down to a few people scattered in the tables. The families have all left. She looks at her phone clock, it is seven o'clock. Time always flies when they are together. Leon comes back, his dark face beaming. He beckons for her so they could leave. " We are leaving." She collects her bag as Leon pays for their treats and walks outside. " So I have to pick someone for the party. I will pick you at your place in an hour" he informs her as he catches up with her. " What's with the teeth and the smiling?" She teases. " Lots of happy news. I will share tonight." He hails a cab for her, always the gentleman he opens the door for her. She reaches up and kisses his chin and gets to the car. " See you tonight."