She sighed and leaned against the counter of the shop, keeping a wary eye out for any customers, but doubting any would come. It was just that late in the day, and her shift was about to end. She looked at her phone screen with no disgrace. No-one was going to come and catch her. No one ever had before at that hour. She checked for messages from her boyfriend but there were none. He was always gone, these days, and it seemed like she was the only one holding up the ends of this loosely tied relationship. She sighed again and looked back out at the empty hall. The man in the sub-shop booth was busily putting food away so he could end his shift early. She wasn't allowed to do that till at least another half-hour. She decided to make herself a cup of coffee and hummed to herself as she steamed the milk.
"Hello?" A voice asked. She whirled around and saw a tall man with brown hair and eyes looking at her curiously. He was speckled with tiny freckles that looked like small galaxies on his cheeks. His skin was pale and seemed like it rarely saw sun, but his glasses and large hoodie seemed to scream he was some kind of inside gamer.
"Hi there!" She tried to sound cheery as she could, "how may I help you?"
"I would like a strawberry creamcheese cupcake, please, if you still have one. Oh! And a pumpkin one!" His voice went from incredibly shy to incredibly enthusiastic in two octaves.
"Right away, sir!" She said, hastily, setting the cupcakes in a designated tray and snapping on the lid with one had, ringing it up with the other.
"I hope she likes strawberry...." the man mumbled as he rifled through his wallet, pulling out a five-dollar-bill, not really looking at her.
"I'm sure she will. Our cupcakes are amazing..." she smelled something burning, but she couldn't possibly understand what could be. She was only selling cupcakes and...."OH SH-....NO!" She quickly turned, turning off the steaming milk that was almost evaporated and caking the bottom of the tin.
"You forgot about your steamed milk?" The man asked, watching her curiously. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, no...It was my stupid fault anyways. I'm not used to customers so late and I didn't even give you your change. I'm so sorry." She rushed back to pull out his change, holding it out for him.
He looked at her for a moment before taking the change. "Had a bad day?"
"Well, if you would believe it, relationship troubles. I swear it's not worth it anymore. Partners drive you crazy." She sighed and then blushed looking at him. "I am so sorry, you don't need to hear that. You just wanted cupcakes for you and your..."
"Fiance" He finished for her. She blinked and nodded quickly.
"R-Right....Fiance. I'm sorry. Ignore me. Have a wonderful evening." She said, feeling entirely too ashamed and embarrassed to even consider not curling into a corner and stop existing.
He kept standing there, though, looking at her. "It's fine. Honestly. Do you....Do you want to talk about it?" He asked her, cautiously.
She stared at him, now, dumbfounded. "Well....if you wouldn't mind...my shift ends in ten minutes...."
"I have time. I have to be home for dinner by 9, so I can wait." He said, smiling at her slightly.
"Thank you...erm..." She looked at him expectantly.
"Call me Milo." He said, holding out his hand. She took it and shook it, smiling back gratefully.
"I'm Callie" She answered quickly.
"It's very nice to meet you, Callie." He smiled at her. She nodded and turned, cleaning up her coffee mess and then making two cups of regular coffee while putting away food and dishes. When she was finally done, she nodded to herself and fixed her coffee before bringing the cups out to Milo, who was patiently waiting in one of the outside chairs. She sat down across from him and held out the coffee.
"An offering" She said, quietly.
He nodded and took it, smiling at her and sipped it lightly. Then choked slightly.
"Are you okay?!?" She asked about to stand up.
"It's hot." He coughed then grinned at her.
She sighed in relief and sat back down, narrowing her eyes at him. "Well, then....scare me like that..."
"What can I say? You seemed tense." He said, awkwardly sipping his coffee.
She sipped hers, blushing slightly, not sure what to say.
"So....relationship troubles...?" Milo prompted.
"Oh! Yes! So...My boyfriend and I seem very hopeful for a future together, but every time I mention living together, he backs out quickly. He says the city he lives in is too dangerous and he'd rather me stay here...where it's safe." She said, looking down at her cup.
"That sounds harsh. You seem like you could take care of yourself in any situation."
"I'd like to think so." She nodded back.
"He doesn't live here?" Milo asked.
"He lives in another country. It's long distance, but I don't mind that...I'd just like to know I'd have a true future with him, you know? I've saved up enough money...I could go be with him...if he'd allow me."
"Ah, but if you left, I'd miss out on an amazing barista with burnt-milk-charm!" Milo said, smirking.
"I'm so sorry about that. It was an accident but I really should have been paying atten-"
"Don't worry about it. I was only teasing." He said, sipping his coffee more. She sipped hers, watching him. He seemed so nervous talking to her, but also so laid back. Almost like they had been old friends from the start, finally reunited.
"So, anyways. The real question is to stay with him and make it work, or to break up with him and find someone.....maybe...if anyone could want me other than him...who could give me a real future to rely on."
"I understand wanting a future to rely on. I guess it depends on how much you love him. If you two were meant to be, don't worry about the little things. Keep moving forward. Maybe he's trying to surprise you by moving here."
"That's the thing. I honestly want to get outta here. To travel, and meet new people and see the world! I want to adventure, not stay in this hel- this town..." She coughed and took a couple more sips.
Milo nodded knowingly and sipped his coffee more. The he set it down and leaned forward, looking at her. "What's important is he makes you happy. Does he make you happy?" he looked into her eyes for the first time.
And for the first time, she felt like she was missing out on so much more. Everything seemed to melt away, and she could see a true future. One with a happy family and great adventure. One with a beach house and endless fun. One with a supporting partner who loved her and wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with them. It was so amazing, but he looked away, and it was gone. She stuttered out an incomprehensible answer and stared down at her coffee, trying not to blush.
"I suppose that's what you have to decide, then." Milo said, looking at his watch and then standing up. "I have to get back to my fiance. I hope you find what you're looking for." Milo said. Callie looked up and watched him leave, carrying the cupcakes and coffee, bewildered at what had just happened.
Years passed and Callie decided to get a secretary job up-country, making a lot more money than before and working for people with recognizable names and lots of money. She worked on her books and keep sending in transcripts to be published.
One day she was walking to the elevator to her floor, looking down at her newest transcript and drinking coffee when she suddenly bumped into someone. She fell back, but a strong arm caught her, her coffee spilling onto the floor instead of on her shirt. She looked up and saw a familiar face. It was like an old memory that had once meant the world to her.
"I am so, so, so sorry!" She said quickly, blushing slightly, she straightened up and the strong hands helped her steady.
"It's fine. I have a tendency to help you, don't I?" the man said, teasingly. She blinked and looked up at him longer.
"Milo?!?" She asked, bewildered.
"I didn't think I'd ever....no, you know what? I knew I would see you again. How is life with....what's his name? Or did you decide to move to greener pastures?" Milo asked her.
"I decided to move here...and he didn't want to come along. I suppose that made our positions very clear." She shrugged slightly.
"And here you are, in a big city, and thriving. Are you working on the 10th floor?" He asked.
"Yeah, actually. Secretary job. Where do you work?"
"The sixth floor. I work in designing for a local game developer." He said, shrugging slightly.
"I was right to peg you as a gamer." She smirked.
"Ah you wouldn't be the first. Especially at that time in my life." Milo answered, chuckling.
"How are you and the missus?" Callie asked politely.
"Oh, we never got married. I found out she had cheated on me several times...and honestly, I wanted a girl I could truly have a future with." He smirked down at her.
"Hey, that sounds familiar." Callie answered, smirking back.
"Well, are you seeing anyone new?" Milo asked, curiously.
"No, I've been too focused on my work." She said, blushing slightly.
"Perhaps you would like to get lunch with me, today? I could repay you for that coffee." He smiled at her.
"Oh! I would love to, but there's no need. It was for the terrible mess up I made in front of a paying customer." She said, waving her hand blushing.
"Well, I'd like to get you a cup, anyways...and perhaps some ramen." He said, smiling.
"That sounds extremely delightful." She answered.
Years passed....
"Otonashi if you don't come here right now you're going to miss out on your cookie! Eren, don't eat Yukari's cookie! Otonashi!" Callie called.
Suddenly, the door bursts open and Milo runs in, swinging a small boy in his arms towards Callie.
The children at her feet squeal and jump to run at their father.
"M-Milo!" Callie yelled in protest but the laughing father flew the boy right into Callie's arms.
She laughed and kissed his forehead as she squirmed to get free and get his cookie. She hugged him and let him go, watching as he got his cookie and stuffed it into his mouth as quick as he could.
Milo chuckled, watching him also. "That's my boy."
"That's your son." Callie said, voice teasingly stern. Milo looked at her and suddenly pulled her close to him, dipping her before she could protest and giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"EWWWW" The children chorused before starting a pillow fight with the couch pillows.
"That's our children." Milo said softly, pulling Callie up and watching them.
"Ours...because we are the best family anyone could ever dream of." Callie smiled at him. He chuckled and nodded, holding her close, his arm around her waist.
"We finally found our future we wanted." Callie continued, looking up at Milo.Milo caressed her cheek softly with his other hand, pulling her closer to him. Her eyes fluttered closed as he leaned in slowly, pressing his lips to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back,feeling warm in their tight embrace.
"EWWWW" The children chorused.