FOR RICHER, FOR POOR

CHAPTER THREE

As I walked down the street thinking why can’t everything just fall into place. I got an accomplishment yet while I was so focused on my life I completely forgot to check up on the people who actually were there for me. I decided to take the subway back to the apartment. As I entered into the subway station I heard my favorite song.

Shining so much brighter than I have ever seen, Life can be so mean, but when he goes I know he doesn’t leave… 

It was so sweet and I felt drawn to it and I came face to face with the guy who was playing the song. It was almost weird just like the song, he was playing in perfect harmony. As I joined the group and our eyes met, feeling drawn by those grey eyes, a smiling forming in his face as if to acknowledge me, I turned to look behind me then back at him and he chuckled, making me blush. Yet he kept playing, looking around I saw that I wasn’t the only one appreciating both his skill and voice. I just kept standing there until he finished playing and we applauded and the crowded dispersed, as I was leaving, “Hey?” said the guy who was playing. I paused on my tracks unsure if it was me he was referring to. Then I heard him chuckling again, “You don’t seem very sure about yourself. Are you always this unsure about everything or just me?” he asked now standing behind me.

I slowly turned around, “We’re in a subway station and there are a lot of people here. You should be more specific to whom you’re referring to,” I answered with a slight shrug.

“She speaks. I was starting to thing you’re dumb,” he responded with a smirk.

“Someone’s cocky,” I responded with a similar tone to his, “anyway I don’t really have time to chat I have somewhere else to be,” I concluded and was about to leave when he grabbed my hand, I involuntary flinched, making him take back his hand.

“I just wondered if you’d like to grab a coffee with me,” he asked politely.

With the night I’ve had I really need a distraction. But I wasn’t going to make it that easy for him, “Jeez dude we just met, at a subway station no less. Don’t you watch movies this is one of serial killers and stalkers hunting grounds,” I answered with my hands folded making him look at me confused, he had no idea what I was talking about. Way to make a first impression Kathleen, now he thinks you’re crazy and weird, I thought mentally face palming myself.

“Umm sorry coffee sounds great. How about we do it now?” I asked hoping after my embarrassing attempt of a joke hadn’t changed his mind.

“Now is fine by me,” he answered, “I know a perfect place.” He continued and offered to take my hand, I hesitantly gave him my hand and we walked towards the exit of the station. We hailed a taxi and he told the driver where to go which happened to be near where I work.

I wondered why I have never seen him around that neighborhood, I would have definitely remembered a face like that if I had seen him around. I should have been thinking deeply that it startled me when he placed his soft hand on mine, “A penny for your thoughts?” he said more like a statement than a question, I looked at him and smiled, “Just asking myself if I’ve ever seen you around,” I answered.

He smirked, “That’s highly doubtful,” he said in a whisper more to himself.

“Why is it doubtful?” I asked out of curiosity, he looked at he surprised that I heard that.

“Sorry don’t mind about that,” he dismissed my question. The taxi came to a stop and he took that opportunity to evade the topic completely. That’s a weird reaction to such a petty question I thought, but I dropped the topic all together and got out of the taxi.

We entered the café, it was almost empty with few people on the tables. “What would you like?” he asked, then I realized I don’t even know his name, “I’ll get a decaf coffee please,” I answered.

“Okay have a seat I’ll get it for you,” he answered and left to go to the counter.

As I sat there and looked at him I couldn’t help but assess him as he stood there. He was tall, with black rolled out of bed kind of hair that suited him perfectly, dressed in black sweat pants, a grey hoodie and black sneakers. His clothes told me he had this kind of carefree nature, when he turned to come with the coffee I looked at his face, the sharp jawline, the almost indistinguishable scar on his left eyebrow, the dimple on his right cheek that appears with the slightest movement of his lips, those lips that looked really kissable and what I loved most his grey eyes.

“See something you like?” he asked when he caught me peeking at him, I giggled making my cheek feel hot, “Not really. It just occurred to me that I haven’t gotten your name yet,” I evaded the question.

“Oh yeah, how rude of me. I’m Lorenzo Tu… Tucker,” he said with hesitation which rung bells in my head but I brushed off to over thinking.

“Nice to meet you Lorenzo Tucker. I’m Kathleen Hopkins.” I answered back.

“Kathleen. A pretty name for a pretty lady,” he said handing me my coffee, making me laugh.

“Didn’t make you out to be the type to use cheesy or cliché lines like that one,” I told him.

He held his chest as if I had just said something that hurt his feelings, “Ouch, the pretty lady doesn’t like my comment.” Making me chuckle, he continued, “Well Kathleen there’s a lot of things about me that you don’t know, but hopefully we’ll get to know each other better with time.”

Smiling at him I responded, “Hopefully.” Taking a sip of my coffee, I looked up and he was staring at me, “You have the most beautiful blue eyes,” he complimented making me choke on my coffee. I’ve never really known how to respond to compliments, I kept coughing and he handed me a tissue, asking if I was okay. “I’m fine, just wasn’t expecting what you just said,” I said.

“It’s true though. Anyway, tell me about you Kathleen. What does the beautiful lady do, what does he likes, hates and the likes,” he asked casually.

“There’s nothing interesting about me. I live in the downside of the town near Lexington Plaza, I work at a coffee shop just a couple of blocks from here, Sunnyside Coffee Shop,” I started.

“Wow really I love that shop, it is peaceful and by far one of the oldest shops around,” Lorenzo commented.

“Yes, I know I love it too. The sweet old couple just want to leave me to run the shop. I really don’t know if I’m ready to accept the offer, let alone run the place.” I said genuinely confused.

“I think if they want to leave you the shop you must be doing something right.” Lorenzo said, I don’t know why he seemed interested in what I choose, he barely knows me.

“I hear you, but if I were to run the place I’d like to make a few changes. I don’t want to make them feel as if I’m taking away the essence of the place,” I aired my thoughts. “Hey how about you come and work with me? You know help me make a few changes plus bonus you can play in the new place after we’ve made a few changes. It is the perfect plan, that’s if you accept my offer?” I told him all excited.

He seemed conflicted, “It’s okay if you don’t want to perform there or you don’t want to help me all together. It’s just a suggestion.” I quickly explained.

“No, it’s not that I don’t want to perform it’s just a lot to take in all at once,” he said, “how about I just help you out with the changes first and we’ll see how everything plays out? Is that okay with you?” he asked.

I let out a breath of relief, “Yes. I was afraid I was coming out too strong,” I said smiling. “Actually, you did but I’m not complaining,” Lorenzo said smirking.

I was glad to have that off my chest, too bad it had to be to a stranger than my best friend. I should really find a way to make it up to Nadia. Lorenzo and I talked for a couple of hours and I had to leave, I had to get ready to tell Mr. and Mrs. Johnson about my plans hopefully they will be okay with it.