Snippet #1334041

Charlie heard the light sound of footsteps behind her and turned around, only to see a tiny orange leaf blowing past her in the wind. Deep in her mind she kind of hoped someone had gotten the same idea as she did and wandered astray from the flock. She sniffled a little, then remembered that it was a bad idea to suck the blood back in. A little crimson drop tricked across her lips and plopped onto her shirt. Drat… well at least it kind of blended in with the red polka-dots, but she had to go and find a bathroom fast for some tissue. She continued walking until the familiar smell of vanilla and coffee found her again. The same faint hum of music filled the air. Across from the park, there was a quaint café, with a balcony stretched out over the entrance of it and some cute little circular tables and chairs set up underneath the awning. She waited for a few cars to pass, and then quickly jogged across the street to its entranceway. When she opened the door, a tiny bell over it chimed merrily.

“Hello,” the barista behind the espresso and pastry counter greeted her with a warm smile, as he reached into the glass case and pulled out a large and chunky chocolate-chip cookie, put it on a napkin, and handed it to one of his customers. “What would you like from 'Henry’s Astral Café' little miss?”

“Astral Café?” Charlie repeated, a little duped by the name.

He grinned. “My pastries and coffee are good for the soul and mind. Nothing better to recharge you for a day than some sugary goodness!”

“Amen to that,” Charlie agreed, after pondering for a moment. She always thought the same thing… “But sorry, I’m only here to ask if you have a bathroom… or a tissue maybe?”

“Oh heavens!” He gasped and put a hand to his mouth, finally noticing her bloody nose. “Of course I do.” He reached beside the display case and grabbed a napkin like the one he had wrapped the cookie in. With a worried face, he handed it to Charlie, who took it graciously.

“Thank you,” she muttered, as she rubbed it over her upper lip, then held it in place. “Sorry again…”

“No problem!” He told her, a smile slowly replacing his frown. “Hope to see you again miss…”

“Charlie.”

“Miss Charlie. And hope you actually buy something next time. You won’t regret it.”

“Okay…” she said a little awkward and nasally, as she started to walk away. “I will…”

The bell chimed again as she walked back out into the chilly fall air, hand still pressed to her nose. The park was right across from her and she wondered if she wanted to go there or just go back to the apartment complex. As she was thinking about that, she heard a quiet beep and some muttering. Through the grate of the balcony floor, she could see somebody above her talking into an earpiece. It was probably a student, an older one she could tell. It seemed like there was some housing above the bistro as well. Lucky him, he got the room with the view. The boy walked over to the railing and leaned against it, glancing up and down the street. Charlie couldn’t make out quite what he was saying, but as she noticed the tour group rounding the corner (probably finishing with the laboratories and visiting the bistro itself, the bookstore that was next to it, the park, and the other leisurely places for students to spend their time) he started to speak a little faster. Feeling a little uneasy with her ease dropping, Charlie shifted restlessly on her feet. He must have heard her, cause as she did it he looked downwards, their eyes meeting through the spiraling metal for a moment. He said something else to the person through the earphone, and then headed back inside the bistro’s apartment. That was a little weird. She thought. Maybe I could go ask Henr… Suddenly two students raced past her, almost knocking her off of her feet, towards the tour group. She didn’t recognize either of them, but they looked similar, like they were related. After watching them run off, Charlie sighed. Never mind, she was just being her usual ridiculous and paranoid self. Lots of people had Bluetooths and she was sure the older students were curious about the new arrivals. They were the future of Thesis, after all.