AS WE MEET AGAIN.

It had been two weeks since Avery got discharged from the hospital. She's okay now, thank God. We'd given thanks when we went to church the following Sunday. It'd been so close according to the doctor. I sighed.

I shifted my thoughts to the table I was wiping. I'd gotten a summer job at Ronnie's where Mick works. It was a good idea to start earning my pocket money for college and besides I get to spend time with Mick.

It was only morning so there weren't a lot of customers. It was just some dude who keeps having loud phone calls, I chuckled and shook my head. Probably some telemarketer.

I smiled when I saw Mick come in. We had the same shifts today and we'd agreed to hang out right after work. He walked towards me, "Hey!" he kissed my forehead. "Hi." I smiled.

"You look beautiful." He said staring at me. I smiled then he leaned in and I closed my eyes. "You missed a spot." He whispered, "What!" I got startled in disbelief. I stared at the table, then I sighed.

"What did you think I was gonna do?" he laughed all the way to the kitchen. The table was clean, it was just Mick being Mick.

Today's shift was a little bit dare I say, boring. I giggled at the conversation I was having with myself. I loved working here, it was always upbeat, you know. I guess people aren't that hungry today.

I chuckled. No way. Just then a familiar red head walked in. "Beth!" She yelled grabbing the customers' attention. "Keep it down! Red riding hood." I said sternly. "What's up?" she asked all perky.

"Look at you all excited. What is it?" I asked her, "Nothing really. It's just been great at home, you know. No sounds of crying or screams. It's been tranquillity." She smiled.

"That's good!" I said, "God is good my friend." She smiled and made her way to our favourite booth at the back corner of the restaurant. I shook my head and smiled at her. "Order up!" she mouthed raising her hands.

I went to the kitchen and gave Todd, the cook Ave's order. As I walked out of the kitchen a customer came in so I rushed to welcome them. It was a guy. A very familiar guy.

I welcomed him and showed him to a table. "Welcome to Ronnie's! Can I take your order?" I asked. "Sure." He smiled at me and at that point I paused. There was a little gap between his front teeth. Small but noticeable.

"Miss? Miss?" he called. "Sorry! What?" I snapped out of it. "I'll have iced tea for now." He said then I nodded not really facing him. "Are you okay?" he asked but I was in oblivion.

"Miss?" he called and Mick showed up outta nowhere, "Beth!" he whispered in my ear. "Sorry!" he apologized. "Right away sir." I said and left. Mick just stared at me confused.

Avery caught me when I delivered her smoothie, "What's wrong? Early morning jitters still there." She said. I shook my head rapidly then I sighed. "It's him." "Who?" she asked smiling.

"Matthew, from the coffee shop." I told her, "Ooooh." She said. "Well good! Cause I gotta thank him." She said. "No!" I yelled and she jumped. "What!" she said, "And why are you so jumpy. Are you scared? Wait, why are you scared?" she asked.

"I'm not. I mean I am. If he recognizes me which he will. I haven't told Mick about our encounter so it's gonna sound weird." I told her. "Why didn't you tell him? Beth, he's your boyfriend." She said.

"I don't know. I didn't think it was important besides it didn't matter if I wasn't gonna meet him again." I told her. "You my friend have no idea how small this world is." I teased.

"Would you hold the humour for just five seconds." I said, "Alright. Look, just go tell him. I'll stall Matthew." She said, "Okay. Wait, why do you need to stall Matthew?" I asked.

"No reason, I'm just curious. Maybe he doesn't remember you." She said. I sighed and went to the kitchen.

I found Mick doing the dishes. We sometimes help Todd with them if we're not too busy. "Can I talk to you?" I asked and he washed and dried his hands and we moved just outside the kitchen.

"About time. What was that earlier?" he asked, "Should I be worried?" "Well, you see I know that guy." I started. "So?" he asked, "When Avery was sick. At a coffee shop, he looked really stressed out and his stuff was flying everywhere and he was really sweaty and..." he cut me off.

"Why are you telling me all this?" he asked. "Well, I didn't want you to find out from him or anyone else. No secrets, remember." I told him. "Beth." He kissed my forehead. "I know that's not the only reason so let me tell you that it's okay. Don't worry about it." He said.

"You helped him two weeks ago and now he's here so you feel like you've seen a ghost." He said. "No, that's not it. I was just afraid you'd find out that I knew him and I didn't even tell you." I said. "You told me now. Okay, so just calm down. I don't want you thinking about this anymore, okay?" he said and I nodded. "Just talk to me next time." He said and I smiled.

As I was leaving the kitchen Avery approached me with a blank expression on her face. "What is it?" I asked her, "Oh, nothing." She said and I kept on staring at her.

"What?" she asked, "Well?" "Does he remember me or not?" I asked. "Oh yeah. He asked about your mental health." She said. "What?!" I said, "Like, he's concerned about the way you acted." She said.

"Did you tell him anything?" I asked, "He knows we're friends but that's all." She said. I sighed. "What's up with you?" I asked. "Peter called." She said. "Oh." I said.

"He wants to talk." She frowned. "It'll be fine. I'm sure he just wants to know how you're doing." I said. "The last time I saw him he told me he has feelings for me. How am I suppose to face him again." She said.

"Avery, it'll be fine I promise." I gave her a hug then she finished her smoothie and left. I approached Matthew and sat in front of him. "Your friend brought the iced tea." He smiled and I sighed. I totally forgot.

"Sorry about that." I said, "Are you okay?" "Bethel." He said staring at me. "I'm fine. I wasn't expecting to see you here. What are you doing here anyway?" I asked him. "Um, I live nearby." He said.

"Ah!" I said staring out the window. "I normally eat here, it's one of my favourite places." He told me. "Really? It's Avery and I's too. We come here often too but I don't recall you ever being here." I told him.

"Well I have. It's just one of those situations where you've never seen someone and then you see them and you just keep noticing them for there." He said.

I nodded in response. "So you work here?" he asked, "Well, obviously." I chuckled. "Right! Sorry." He said. "I wanted to thank you again for the other day." I said, "I should be thanking you." He said.

"Okay. Um, nice seeing you again. Enjoy your time." I told him and he smiled at me in response.

It was nearly seven p.m. when my shift was finally done and so was Mick's. I removed my check out card and grabbed my overcoat and stepped outside. I shivered beneath my breath. It was a bit chilled tonight. I put on my coat while I waited for Mick. I walked a across the street from the restaurant and sat on a bench. I've been standing all day so this feels heavenly.

I later saw Matthew come out of the restaurant. Wait, he didn't leave since morning. I sighed and watched as the colourless fog coming out my mouth. He saw me and crossed the street to where I was.

"Hey!" he sat next to me, "Hi." I shivered. "Oh, you're cold." "Here." He gave me his coat. I couldn't take it because my hands were cold too so I was holding them together. He wrapped the coat around me.

"Thanks!" I said. "Um, what are you doing here in the cold anyways?" he asked. "I could give you a ride if you want." He said. "Thanks! But I'm waiting for my boyfriend." I told him.

"You have a...." he cleared his throat, "Okay, um very well." He said. I saw Mick coming. The vision was blurry because the cold was getting to me. I was getting a bit dizzy.

"Is that him?" he asked and I nodded. "Beth? Are you alright?" Mick asked as he got there and I smiled in the behaviour of a high person. "Hey, you're here." I said.

"Um, she's really cold." Matthew said, "Thanks, for staying here with her." Mick said and Matthew took back his coat and nodded. "It's okay."

He carried me in his arms. "Hold on, Beth. You'll be okay." He said. "Goodbye." He told Matthew. "I love you, you know that right?" I said disoriented. "Yeah, come on now." He told me.