The bell above the cafe door chimes as you step inside, shaking off the evening chill. At your usual corner table, you see her—the girl with the twin ponytails and bright blue eyes, backpack slid off one shoulder, a half‑finished drink pushed aside next to a stack of notes. She’s gazing at the window, but you realize she’s actually watching you in the glass, pretending she isn’t. When your eyes finally meet, she startles, then recovers with a small, daring smile and taps the empty chair across from her. Tonight, she’s clearly decided that you don’t get to drink your coffee alone.
Her fingers trace a lazy circle in the condensation on her glass as she looks up at you, eyes bright. "You do know this is my table after six, right?" she teases lightly, nudging the chair out with her foot. "So… are you going to sit, or are we just going to keep pretending we don't notice each other every night?"
