A/N: Here's a short oneshot that I wrote while I was addicted to Taylor Swift's song, "Mine" - it totally inspired me. Her music video is amazing. I'd definitely recommend it!
Disclaimer: Lyrics are the property of Taylor Swift, from her song, "Mine".
Hot Chocolate and Hugs of Solace
by Cheryl White
Strangers aren't strange to me. Unknown environments are all I've ever known. I thought I'd be used to this, but I'm always scared.
You were in college, working part-time, waiting tables
Left a small town and never looked back
I was a flight risk, afraid of fallin'
Wondering why we bother with love, if it never lasts
My school books weighing on my arm, I stepped casually into the café, and found myself a small table. It's a Monday afternoon in a new town, after a new day of school, and I'm killing time in a new café.
"Good afternoon," you greeted me, starting our acquaintance with two cheery words. I gave you a small smile out of politeness. "What would you like to order?"
"Uhm, just a cup of hot chocolate, thanks," I said simply.
As you wrote it down, you asked, "Not much of a coffee person, huh?"
"Nope," I said, grinning a bit at your amiableness.
"Don't you want cake or something?"
I shook my head.
"Alright," you said, wrapping up. "I'll be back in a while." You winked at me before leaving.
I took out my books and started struggling with the lessons. I sighed. This happens every time I move, but I haven't gotten used to this at all. In fact, it's getting really tiring. But at least, once I enter college (which is only a few months from now), I can dorm. The thing is, I don't know where I'll be taken until then. Liberation – so close, yet so far.
I was just starting to comprehend Physics when a cup of hot chocolate landed on my table.
"Oh!" I exclaimed, shocked.
You laughed at me. "Sorry 'bout that. Trying to concentrate?"
"Yeah, pretty much," I said, picking up the small spoon that was resting on the saucer, next to the cup.
"Have fun then," you teased before going off to the other table.
That was the first time we met. It wasn't anything special.
"Hot chocolate?" you asked me when I sat down at my usual table a week or so later.
"Mhmm," I said, taking out my books again.
"I've been wondering – how come you're never with anybody?" you asked.
"There's no one to be with," I answered.
"Friends?"
I shook my head. Their families like them home early…
I guess you took the hint because you just said, "Alrighty. Be back in a while."
It was that day that I so happened to notice that your shift ends at five, for I caught your eye right before you left the café in casual clothes. You winked at me as you passed through the café door.
"Hot chocolate?"
I nodded, flipping the pages of my notebook.
"Come to think of it, I've never really seen you around here until a few weeks ago," you said.
"Trying to figure me out?" I raised an eyebrow.
You laughed. "I guess you can say that. You're pretty weird, you know."
"Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically.
You smiled at me. "So, care to satisfy my curiosity before I go get your hot chocolate?"
I looked at you for a second before answering, "I just moved here a few weeks ago."
"Aaahh, as expected," you said and winked before you turned around.
"You come here a lot," you observed as soon as I sat down at my usual table almost a month after I first came here.
"Mhmm," I murmured. "Does it bother you?"
"Not at all," you mused. "One cup of hot chocolate, coming right up." You winked at me before leaving.
It was then that I realized: I didn't have to take my order.
"Do you always go home this late?" you asked me in the café.
"You exchanged shifts?"
He laughed. "Yeah. I did my friend a favor. He wanted to take his girlfriend out."
"Does that mean you don't have one?"
"Does it bother you?"
"Not really," I said casually, closing my textbook.
"Don't you ever stop studying?" you asked me.
I shrugged. "It passes time."
You raised an eyebrow. "What kind of teenager would study 'to pass time'?!"
I laughed. "Me."
You smiled at me before repeating, "Do you always go home this late? It's almost closing time, you know. And… you're the only one left."
I checked my watch before looking around the café. "Hm. There are usually more people."
"Yeah?"
I nodded. "I have four minutes to fix up then." I started packing my books.
For the third time, you asked, "Do you always go home this late?"
"Does it bother you?"
You blinked.
"Why aren't you in your uniform?" I asked, just noticing.
"I changed a while ago."
"Wouldn't your shift today end at closing time?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Psh. You're the only one left here anyway. Besides, the boys are going to fix this place up. I thought I'd offer to bring you home."
"That won't be necessary."
"It'd be better."
I just zipped up my bag and was about to pick it up when you swiftly snatched it away from me. "Hey!"
"Let's not be difficult," you told me.
I rolled my eyes and followed you outside the café. You stopped.
"Uh…"
"Exactly," I said. "Now give me the bag." I reached out for it, but you carried it even further from my reach. I put my hands on my hips.
"C'mon. It's not like I'm going to stalk you. Just tell me where you live."
"That doesn't sound very convincing," I laughed. "Go left."
You smiled the widest I've ever seen you.
We walked in silence when you realized something. "OH!"
"Hm?"
"You're really good with the evasive tactics."
"What?"
"Aren't you going to answer my question?"
"You asked a lot of questions."
You sighed in exasperation. "Do you always go home this late? It's almost dark."
"Are you worried?" I said teasingly.
"Does it bother you?"
I shrugged.
"AH! There you go again! Just answer the question!"
"What question?" I ask innocently.
You gave me a look. "Do I really have to ask it again?"
I paused. "Is that your question?"
I laughed at the expression on your face – it was practically blank but with a 'I don't know what to do with you' vibe.
"Okay," I said. "Gimme my bag."
"Wha – "
I pointed towards my house with my thumb. You didn't realize we were here. "I'll ask you again!" you threatened smugly.
"Yeah yeah," I said, walking towards the door. You stayed on the sidewalk as I unlocked the door. "Thank you!" I called before entering my house.
As soon as the door closed behind me, I felt the cold loneliness of my house creep into me.
"Today again?" I said the next day in the café when you approached me right before closing time.
"Mhmm," you said, casually snatching my bag away again and heading outside. I crossed my arms, not moving an inch. "Better get used to it," you added, looking behind at me. "I exchanged shifts for this whole week."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help feeling happy, even just a bit. "Wait!" I called, breaking into a half-run. "Hey! Geeeezzz!"
"It's 'coz you were just standing there!" you scolded me teasingly.
"Well – " I started but realized that I didn't have anything to say to counter that.
You just laughed at me, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Okay, so," you started but stopped. "Come to think of it, I don't even know your name."
And as High School Musical as it sounds, I think this marked the start of something new.
By that Friday, I pretty much knew the basics about you. You're eighteen years old – only a year older than I am. You grew up in a small village where your family owns a humble little restaurant. You moved into this city as soon as you were granted a scholarship, and now you're a freshman in college, taking up engineering. You also work in a café to earn some extra pocket money and save up. You currently live in a dorm, and you have a little sister who calls you up almost every day while your parents are busy managing the restaurant.
"You know, all we've been talking about is you," I pointed out matter-of-factly. It's not that I don't like it, but…
"Mhmm," you said, casually folding your arms behind your head and resting it on your hands while walking. "I just thought that… maybe you'd tell me more about yourself freely if you knew more about me." I could sense the subtle nervousness in your voice, and I felt it when you tried to glance at me subtly.
I smiled. "You are a very patient guy."
You raised both of your eyebrows, considering it. "I suppose so…"
By that time, we've reached my house again. I think it's the first time you noticed how abandoned it looks, for you seemed reluctant to leave.
"Well," he said, releasing a shaky breath. "Next week I'm returning to my regular shift, and I hope that you aren't so nerdy as to refuse my generous and patient request to take you out at exactly five o' clock pm?"
I laughed lightly. "I'd be honored, sir." I curtsied, and we parted in laughter.
Do you remember we were sittin' there, by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine
That Monday, you brought me out as soon as your shift ended, and before I knew it, we were by the beach.
"What the – ?"
"You're new here, and so I thought I'd be the one to show you," you said. "This city isn't very far from the beach." You walked to the shore, so close that the waves would lightly touch your feet. You were looking at the sky, and there was something in your eyes that I have never seen before. "It's not that different from the small town I grew up in."
"Yeah?" I said softly, walking next to you and feeling the waves lick my feet.
You put your arm around me as the sun slowly hid away. It was warm, comfortable silence – the kind of solace I haven't had in… a very long time.
And sure, it was getting dark and everything, but I felt that you pulled away too soon.
"Let's go?" You offered me your hand.
I gave you a small smile, which didn't last, for I bowed my head slightly and admitted, "I never liked going 'home'." I tried to make the quotations subtle in my tone, but I guess the unspoken grief was a bit too much.
You pulled me into your arms, and we just stayed there for a while.
Just a little while longer.
Flash forward, and we're takin' on the world together
"People marvel at how long we've been together," you told me one day.
"Hm… how long has it been, seven years?"
"Yeah…" you trailed off, your thoughts taking you away for a while. "But it feels like… time never matters when it comes to you."
You learn my secrets and figure out why I'm guarded
You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes
It was when I suddenly stopped seeing you for a while that I realized how much you really cared.
There were a lot of thoughts going around in my mind – so many things that burdened my heart, and weighed it down like an anchor.
It was during times like these that I liked the peace and quiet. I enjoyed places where there weren't many people. I appreciated the simplicity of things – how beautiful they are when they don't go wrong.
I stayed in the park most of the time. It was a peaceful place where not many kids frequented because of school or work. But of course, it wasn't a place of my own, and soon enough, a group of siblings (I assumed) came to play in the park with their parents. I watched as they happily ate – I think that's what you'd call a picnic. I watched as they happily played with a disk – I think that's what you'd call Frisbee. I watched as every move they made projected… happiness – I think that's what you'd call love.
I stayed on the bench until it started getting dark, and the family packed up and left.
In came a very familiar voice that set my heart on overdrive. "Do you always go home this late?"
I turned around to see you, sweating and panting. "Hey," I greeted you weakly. "You know, I thought you'd never ask. How long has it been? Seven years?"
Next thing I knew, I was captured in your arms, hardly able to breathe. I didn't realize there were dry tears on my face until the wind blew, and for some reason, your embrace made my eyes well up with tears again, until they overflew.
"What happened?" you asked gently, sitting down next to me properly on the bench with your arm around me and my head resting against your chest.
I swallowed down the lump that was in my throat as you rubbed soothing circles on my arm. "My parents… finally decided to divorce. After all those years of constant fighting…" My voice was barely above a whisper, but I knew you heard it, for you pulled me closer and rested your head on mine. "I… never really had a home…" I sobbed, barely unable to get out the next few words. "I've always been so scared… that I'm not wanted…"
"I'm sure they love you," you whispered to me softly. "Or you wouldn't even be here, and I'd be all alone." You paused before adding, "And… we won't ever make their mistakes."
I say, "Can you believe it?"
As we're lyin' on the couch
The moment, I can see it
Yes, yes, I can see it now
"It's amazing how I never get tired of you," you said as we were lying on the couch.
"It's amazing how you never get fed up with me," I admitted. "At this point, I can see our married life already." I laughed. "Can you believe it?"
Do you remember all the city lights on the water?
You saw me start to believe for the first time
"It took me seven years to completely understand you, with all your complications, imperfections and weaknesses. And despite everything, I fell more and more in love with you." You took out a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"
Without any thought, without any hesitations and without any doubts, I voiced out the happiest decision of my life. "Yes."
And I remember that fight, two-thirty AM
You said everything was slipping right out of our hands
I ran out, crying, and you followed me out into the street
"You're always like this! You have to trust me more!" you shouted at me in the middle of our argument.
"It's not that easy!" I yelled back, the back of my eyes burning. "This – I – There's just so much pressure – "
"You only feel that way because – "
"Don't you dare say it! I trust you, I really do! Why do you keep doubting – "
"You – "
"You're not listening to me!" I screamed just as the tears began to fall, and I dashed outside.
Braced myself for the goodbye, cause that's all I've ever known
Then, you took me by surprise
You said, "I'll never leave you alone."
Everything started crashing down. Everything – my whole life before I met you – came rushing back at me, hitting me with full force, as if mocking me: this is reality.
I heard the door open and close again, and I just knew that you followed me. I knew what was going to happen next – it'll be just like how it was with my father and mother and all of my friends from all of my other schools. It'll be just like how it always is.
You took my arm and made me face you. I broke down in tears, scared once again that I'll soon be all alone, but then you said, "I'm sorry. Don't – " You took my face in your hands and wiped my tears with your thumbs. " – cry. I don't want you to feel sad. I'm sorry. I'll never leave you alone."
You said, "I remember how we felt, sitting by the water.
And every time I look at you, it's like the first time.
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter.
She is the best thing that's ever been mine."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed that!
...Review? :D