Mon Chéri

Chapter One : The Arrival

Mornings are probably one of my favorite things. I hear the birds chirping and feel the cool breeze coming in from the window, bringing the ocean smell in with it; nothing's better than that.
I wipe the slumber from my still tired eyes, placing my feet on the cool, hardwood floor that always creaks with the first couple steps you take. I slowly stumbled to the kitchen to make myself my usual cup of tea and set out for my balcony; my favorite place in my little apartment.
As I sit down in one of the chairs, I hear shuffling and clicking on the hardwood floor and that's when I know Bailey is up. She's my best friend, well my English Shepherd best friend, and has been since day one. When I moved out here to Malibu I knew I needed her right here with me; my little Bean. My grandpa calls her Beetle Bailey just like his old race car I helped him fix up one summer. I smile as I clutch onto the necklace around my neck and put my feet up on the metal rail of the balcony.
As I take in the first rays of sunshine I get interrupted by the phone ringing from inside. The only person who ever calls me on my house phone instead of my cell phone is my human best friend, Bella. I place my cup of tea on the worn wooden table besides me and climb back in through the window to pick up the phone.
"Hey B what's up? Why are you up this early?" I tease her, "You feeling alright?" I chuckle.
"Oh please Ray, don't play with me right now," she actually sounds serious and that startles me.
"Guess what today is Rhys?!" The serious tone in her voice has now turned to excitement. That didn't last long.
I stand there over my bowl of grapes plucking one off the vine. "What is today B..." I know exactly what today is,
"Today I get to launch my new clothing line!" I can practically see her jumping up and down in her room right now.
"How could I ever forget B," I laugh, "you wouldn't let me."
"That's right! I'll be by tonight to celebrate! Brining the best bottle of champagne I can find!" She exclaims.
"Sounds like it's going to be a long night,"
"Best kind of nights Ray! Alright I'd love to stay and talk but I really got to go meet Matt, talk to you later?"
"Of course! Drive save love."
"I will!"
"Okay," I laugh, "Bye-bye."
I think that's the shortest call Bella and I have ever had.
I look down at Bailey who is waiting patiently at my feet for her breakfast. As I place the bowl down, it reminds me that I need some breakfast too. I go back into my room, tripping on the clothes I threw on the floor last night, and making my way to my closet. I grab my favorite Rolling Stones tee-shirt, my red, corduroy pants and rummage through the bottom of my closet to find my black sneakers. I then move to my dresser to grab my black golfers hat and some jewelry and with one look in the mirror I nod my head, walking back out to the living room.

As I grabbed my bag, guitar, and keys I see Bailey laying in front of the door,
"You want to come with me Bean?" I say in my high pitched voice that I always use around babies and animals.
Her tail starts to wag and she gets up, ready to go. I was going to take my bike to the cafe this morning but since I have Bailey I'll just walk.
When we get out and start our walk I feel a rush of warmth. I love feeling the morning sun and I can tell Bailey does too as the sun rises higher in the sky, and the street signs cast their shadows on the sidewalk. It's always so nice to walk the streets of Malibu while it feels like everyone else is still asleep. Plus, I don't have to worry about the fact I didn't put on any makeup this morning.
As I turn the corner I see the bright blue door against the brown stone and instantly smile. The Beachwood Café. As I open the door and the bell chimes from above I hear my favorite voice,
"Ray! Good morning my love!" Rosie exclaims, throwing her arms up in the air.
Rosie's Dad owns the place but since he's gotten too sick to come in, Rosie and her older brother Finn have since taken over the place. They are doing a pretty good job, and I know their Dad would be very proud of them.
"Good morning Rosie," I give her a big smile, " I'll have my usual please,"
"Alrighty, a bagel, toasted, with cream cheese and your black coffee coming right up!" she writes it down on her little notepad she just pulled from her apron pocket.
"Thank you," I pretend to curtsy.
"And you say I'm extra?" She laughs and shakes her head.
"I'm not extra, I'm polite," I laugh as I walk over to my usual seat in the cozy corner with the book cases. As I lean my guitar against the wall, Bailey lays at my feet until she jolts up when seeing Finn make his way over. He always comes over with a bowl full of water for her.
Finn is one of the cooks so he is mainly in the kitchen but sometimes he wonders out to serve but as he puts it, "only if he likes who he sees". He has dark brown hair, some would say maybe even black, broad shoulders but gets smaller down towards his hips, Bella always says he looks like an upside down pear. Which is mean I know, but I can't help but grin everytime I see him as that courses through my mind.
"How's the one and only Rhys Anne Ambros doing this fine morning?" he mumbles from his crouched position beside the table, level with Bailey.
"First of all, my middle name isn't Anne," I say with sass, "It's Anna," I smirk, "After my great-grandmother," his smile drops and I break my serious tone, "I'm kidding Finn! My morning has actually been very nice so far, how's yours?" I place my elbow on the table and my head in my hand.
"Well, now that you're here," he stands up while locking eyes with me, "it's going better." Finn loves to flirt with me; it happens every single time I come into the Beachwood. Rosie and Bella bust him for it because they know Finn isn't my type of guy; he doesn't have the same passions as me. He views the world differently; negatively. I can just see too many conflicts down the road with him and I. But, he is still very charming and handsome.
"Well," I say, raising my eyebrows with a smirk to tease him, "I'm glad I can be of assistance." I pretend to bow, making him laugh as he shakes his head.
"So umm..." he pulls a chair from the table next to me, sitting right across from me. No one has sat there in a long time. I swallow hard.
"What are your plans tonight? Is the infamous Rhys Ambros finally free to go out with me?" His eyes are hopeful.
I shake my head, "Oh, damn Finnely, you know tonight I actually have to go home and pack with Bella. We are going to London, remember?" Before he could answer Rosie is walking over with my food,
"To go expand her horizons!" she places the plate and cup on the wooden table, "and a Harry Styles concert." She chuckles and walks back to the counter.
"Harry Styles?" Finn looks confused. " I- I thought you didn't like Harry Styles?"
"Finn, we probably would only go because we'll be in London when he is," I take a mouth full of bagel once again, "but Bella and I might not have time for that."
"I thought you said you didn't like his music?"
I swallow my food, "I just said I don't listen to his music, never said I didn't like it."
"Well look Ray," he stands up and pushes the chair in, "whenever you get back and you're free you know where to find me okay?" His voice fades as he continues to walk back towards the kitchen.
I feel bad that everytime he asks me to go out, but this time I genuinely can't. I hope he doesn't think that I just lie to get out of it.
Once I'm finished my breakfast and see that Bailey is napping, I leave the cash and a tip on the table, grabbing my guitar,
"Is it all set for me to play Rosie?" I call to her as I walk up to the stool placed on the back wall.
"Sure is love!" She calls back smiling. She grabs the microphone from behind the counter and turns it on. "Alright everyone, today I would like to introduce your favorite local singer and songwriter, Ray Ambros!" She announces me like a game show host as she does every time.
I laugh and look out to the few tables that had bodies in them. The first couple was Don and Besty, they are the cutest old couple ever; I see them here every morning. Then I see Dean and Katie who are also here every day, sometimes bringing their friends too. There's a few other familiar faces I see sitting by the door which then swings open causing the bell to ring.
"Come on in!" She waves to the two guys dressed in hoodies with hoods up and heads down, "Our friend Ray here was just about to put on a show!"
I feel my face turn red as the people start to clap and the two men sit almost directly in front of me. "Thank you Rosie for that wonderful introduction," I laugh, as does the crowd as I take the mic from her hands, "Today I'm going to sing a song that I wrote a couple years back, it's um, it's quite special to me so I uh, I hope you guys enjoy." As the people begin to clap again I place the microphone on the stand and strum my guitar a few times to make sure it's in tune.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I start to pluck the strings and try to picture myself out on my balcony as I always do when I perform here,