It always ends

Sixteen

Harper

I haven't seen him in five days.

I should be feeling sad that he hasn't come to see me but I wasn't. I asked for space, he gave it to me.

Which meant, he wasn't that boy all over again. Three years later, he learned something and he's become a better version of himself. Like I had done.

I was glad that he didn't have to see me everyday, all the time, to be all right and vice versa. I was happy for the people we've grown into.

Life went on, I had my own things happening, he had his.

I was expecting myself to give him a call later. I wanted to get dinner with him tonight.

There was a really good food truck not too far from here, and he had to try it. I was going to force him.

Insert evil laugh.

"Next!" I called.

Today, business was doing exceptionally well. Customer after customer entered the store. Long lines formed. Trays were going in and out of the oven. Multiple batches of this and that were made. Everything was getting sold out fairly quickly.

I smiled back at Henry as he stood behind the counter

"Good afternoon, Harper." He was always very formal.

Not like how Ace was. Ace was formal but extremely rude. Clipped responses, coldness laced in his voice. Though, that was towards everyone else. To me, he was different.

Henry, on the other hand, was just naturally formal. Polite. It was sweet.

"Good afternoon, what can I get you today? The usual?"

"Actually, I'll try your famous iced coffee and a scone, please."

I nodded and Sarah, one of my other staff, prepared his order.

"That'll be six dollars and ninety five cents." he tapped his card on the machine and I handed him the receipt.

He stepped aside, letting the next person go on. While I took their orders, Sarah gave him his beverage and pastry. But he remained stationary.

I smiled and frowned, a little confused. In response, he smiled but said nothing.

I brushed it off, "That'll be four dollars," I said to them. This routine went on for another fifteen minutes and he was still standing there.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked, wiping my hands on my apron.

"No, exactly. I took the day off," I nodded slowly, waiting for him to elaborate, "I wanted to ask you something."

Uh oh.

A small alarm went off in my head.

I could be taking this the wrong way but usually, when someone—a man, told you that he wanted to ask you something, nine times out of ten it was not a very good thing. Most of the time, it was a date. Well, to me it wasn't a good thing. I wasn't interested in whatever he wanted.

I haven't been in three years. I felt like since I got to experience the realest thing ever, true love and heartbreak. It was holding me back from ever trying again.

Deep down, I was still hoping we'd get our second chance. After everything I've put into our relationship, I didn't want that flame to go out.

He wasn't just something, someone to me. He was everything to me.

"What's up?" I leaned against the counter.

My chest tightened as I watched him rub the back of his neck nervously.