Dark One: One for Sorrow... (The Khiara Banning Series Book 1) (8 page)

As I walk to the table, I get
that
feeling, the feeling that I’ve kind of grown accustomed to in the past couple of days. The feeling of being watched. I look around, but only see people chatting and eating with their friends, as per usual.

When I get there, Cara’s telling Cael
all
about my life. Right now, she’s launched into the epic story of my first non-training wheel bike ride. I fell and broke my wrist, and Cara had to get some random lady to call an ambulance for us, earning the “stranger danger” talk from both sets of our parents. I was also ten years old, which is what makes the story so good to tell for her, and embarrassing for me.

“Can you believe it? Ten years old and she still had training wheels on her bike? How pathetic is that?” Snorts Janie. Cara shoves her in the ribs, “Hey, I bet you still can’t ride a bike properly, so shut it, Janers.”

Cael just smiles shyly at me as I sit down across from him, in between Tristan and Cara. He says, “I think everybody learns at their own pace. Well, since Khiara’s back, I may as well go…” but Cara won’t have any of it.

Swatting him on the arm, she says, “Stay with us! Ki-ki needs a date for today. I’ve got Tristan here, and Janie’s got Chris. It’s not fair to Khiara if you leave, and we’d all love to have you. We’ve decided that we want to go to the movies, so why don’t you stay?”
I don’t recall having any say about this…

Tristan nods in agreement while Chris looks to Janie, who says in the voice she usually only reserves for me, “Yeah, why don’t you stay?”

Chris smiles an apology at Cael, who just nods his head.

“If that’s alright with you,” he says, looking at me with pleading eyes. All of a sudden, I remember that he’s probably never really had any friends around his age, or if he did they weren’t very close ones. This must be really important to him. Plus, I also realize, I really want him to come with us. He makes me feel… something.

Blushing, I reply, “Of course I want you to come with us. I’d be crazy not to.”

Cara claps her hands as Tristan drapes his arm around her. “It’s great to meet you, by the way.” He says to Cael, which makes me laugh and exclaim with laughter, “You’ve just met most of us too, you know.”

I think this earns me points or something, because he holds his hand up for a high five. I smile and give him the high five, as he says, “No wonder you’re her best friend. You keep everybody in check, don’t you, Khiara? I like you.” And somehow, I know in my heart that he means it. This guy is just so right for Cara.

Cara jumps at the opportunity to bring the conversation to the topic of her, “But not too much, right? That much like is reserved for me,” and kisses him on the cheek.

“Of course!” He beams at her.  

After a long walk around the mall (a couple of times over, since it’s just one short strip), we find ourselves at the movie theatre just next door. It’s hell trying to decide what to see even though there are only three movies playing, but we all finally decide on a romantic comedy. I don’t even remember the title, but it’s probably something cliché anyway.

As we walk in, I remember that I hardly have any money and sigh because I’m thirsty. I want something sweet like a coke, but the drinks here are
so
expensive because everything goes towards running this place. Sensing my thirst, Cara walks up to the concession counter – which is essentially an old desk with a popcorn machine, a fridge and a little candy stand behind it – and buys me a bottle of coke.

“Best friend telepathy,” she says, handing me the drink, smiling like an idiot. She’s so proud of herself that it’s kind of cute.

“Thanks,” I say, sipping thirstily and almost choking because I drank too fast.

After everybody has bought what they wanted, we head to theatre number two and get seats in the front row, which is the best view of the small projector screen that would rival any of the ones our teacher’s in school use. The seating arrangement is Tristan, Cara, Janie, Chris, me, and then Cael on the end.

As the previews start flashing, I turn my head to see Chris and Janie already going at it, happily making out like they’re the only ones in the theatre. If it weren’t for the rest of our group, they would be.

I look further down and see that Cara and Tristan are also blissfully kissing away, but not in Cara’s usual disgusting way, it’s more just pecks on the cheek, and whispered words in ears. Kind of cute. But still, what the hell? Did they expect me to turn to Cael and start doing the same, though? I practically just met the guy!

I turn to him and see that he’s watching me with a smirk on his face. He rolls his eyes and says, “Wanna get out of here? It’s getting a little…erm…”

“Hot in here?” I supply. He nods, gets up and offers me his hand, helping me up.

“Thanks,” I say. We walk quietly to the back row of the theatre and both in breathe a big sigh of relief.

“It was getting awkward there,” whispers Cael. I giggle and nod my head, “Yeah, it was.”

We sit in silence as the previews flash by, simply content to watch. Cael is cool like that, not making me feel compelled to converse. But after the first couple of previews, the movie begins. It starts off with a big fight between the female protagonist and her current boyfriend. They’re yelling, and throwing things at each other, making some big deal over nothing. I’m not even completely sure why they’re fighting in the first place, though I think it had something to do with roller skates- I don’t really care.

I feel Cael shift uncomfortably in his seat.

“Everything okay?”

He nods. “Yeah, I’m good. I just…well I guess I kind of don’t like the movie.”

Laughing quietly, I say, “The movie’s only just started and already you don’t like it? I mean neither do I, but I don’t like this kind of movie to begin with. What’s your reason?”

Cael sighs, “Well look at the female protagonist. She truly believes that he’s been cheating on her.”

“Well, maybe he did,” I say a little awkwardly.

Cael shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”

“We’ll just have to see,” I whisper ominously.

Halfway through the movie I realize that Cael was right. The movie sucks, and the boyfriend hadn’t cheated on her at all. I roll my eyes and turn to him, “Can we please leave? I’ll but you a victory coffee.”

Cael looks thoughtful, “Sure. Let’s get outta here. But would you be up to taking a walk somewhere with me? I’ll collect the victory coffee some other time.”

“Anywhere but here is fine with me.”

Ten minutes later, we’re standing in the most beautiful café I have ever seen. “This is your shop? As in, you
own
this place?”

“Yup, I own it. Well, mostly. It’s my business, but I don’t own the space, I rent it. I can’t own one room in this whole mall, after all. I saved up the money from my bookstore job and other odd jobs here and there. I’ve been emancipated for quite some time.”

There are two large bookcases lining the back walls, filled with so many books that you can’t possibly count the number comfortably. Tables line the front of the room, and in the middle of the room, there is a huge fridge partially surrounded by an island that holds about everything you could possibly want to add on top of your coffee or tea.

“In the fridge, I guess it’s all milk and stuff?” I ask, feeling a little dumb for asking such an obvious question. He leads me over to the fridge and opens the door. There’s every type of milk, including soy and non-lactose, and there is also every type of cream and creamer.

“This is amazing.”

Cael laughs, “And it’s about to get even better. Do you like cheesecake?”

Mock blanching I say, “Who doesn’t!”

He leads me over to the back of the room where the books are, and there are stairs that lead to a little ramp with comfortable chairs and couches are laid out with tables next to them and foot stools in front of them. We stop in-between the two bookcases, where there is a door that I hadn’t noticed before, and Cael looks at me, “Are you ready?”

I nod, and we step through to the kitchen. It is
huge!
“Oh my God!”

It’s a kitchen like that of a restaurant, which this space used to be as I recall. I thought they’d gotten rid of it, but I guess not.

“We make our own baked goods to ensure the quality of the food,” he explains. “This is strictly a pastry and baked goods only café. We don’t do sandwiches or soup. That’s why it’s called
The Sweet Treat Café.
”

Cael walks over to one of the many fridges lining the back of the room, “You have your pick, though I really recommend any type of cheesecake. It’s amazing; I think you’ll love it.”

“Cocky, aren’t we?” I joke, but he just laughs it off.

In the end, I settled for a carrot cake cheesecake mix. “This is an emotional experience!”

Cael chuckles, “Careful not to drool everywhere, the big unveiling is in three days.”

Through a mouthful of cake I say, “Really? Wow, I can’t wait for everybody to see this place! It’s going to be a huge hit, Cael.”

“I hope so,” he says as he runs his fingers through his hair. “I’ve worked really hard on the place, and it took me a while to round up the kitchen staff. I still need somebody to work the cash register for me, and I need somebody to deliver the cake to the tables.”

Seeing an amazing opportunity I say, “I can be a waitress, or work at the register on school days after class. I need a job, actually. I was fired from my last one…”

“What did you do before?”

“I worked at the town general store but I was accused of stealing one of my co-workers wallets, and even though it was proved that I didn’t, I kicked up enough of a storm for them to not like what they saw. All they did was say that they didn’t like my ‘attitude’ and that they were letting me go. My neighbour’s mom was my boss, fun fact. ”

Cael digests this a little until he finally says, “Bring in your resume and we’ll make it official. I’m still going to hire you, but I like to know who I’m working with, and it’s always good to know more about the person you’re going to trust the cash with.”

Astonished, I say, “Really? No interview or anything?”

“If you want we can conduct one right now,” he replies, a smirk on his face.

I take the last bite of my cake and nod. As I’m busy trying to make the cake last he asks, “What’s your favourite colour?”

I swallow the cake finally, having chewed way too long and say, “Blue. But how does this have anything to do with my experience?”

“It doesn’t, but I want to get to know you better.”

Oh…

“What’s your favourite animal?”

“All of them,” I reply. “But my dog, Pug, trumps every single animal out there, even other pugs.”

He looks at me strangely, “You named your pug, Pug?”

I blush. “Yeah, well, I did. Guilty of being weird and I like it that way.” He smiles, and my heart does crazy things.

“What’s your favourite food?” Cael asks next, his eyes dancing with laughter.

“Whatever batch of baked goods you’ve happened to whip up, because that cake was
fantastic
.”

All of a sudden, I remember his bookstore job, “Are you still going to be working at the bookstore?”

Laughing, he says, “Part time, now anyway. This shop used to be a project but now it’s kind of my baby. When I met you yesterday, I didn’t want to let on too much about the shop because it’s kind of a surprise for everybody in the mall. But now I’m really glad I met you today, and got to show you. It’s kind of like fate, huh?”

I’m glad too.
“Yeah,” I say, staring at his mouth.
I wonder what it would be like to kiss those lips. Not that I want to kiss them; well I do, but I hardly know him. Oh lord, what
would
it be like?

“I’m sorry, what?” He asks all of a sudden, brows raised in surprise.

Oh. My. God.

Did I say that out loud? “Uhh, I guess it depends…what did you hear me say?”

“Well, it depends whether or not you
wanted
me to hear it,” says Cael with a grin.

My face must be crimson by now because I am totally embarrassed. “Did
you
want to hear it?”

“Yeah,” he says, “I did. I really like you, Khiara, and I’d like to get to know you better. If that’s okay with you. I feel like we were, I don’t know- supposed to meet.”

“You’re my boss now,” I say, a little awkwardly. “Are you sure you want to mix business with pleasure?”

“There is no pleasure in boring business, now is there?”

“No,” I whisper, “I guess there isn’t.”