Cafe Break

If I am going to get any food at this time of day and make it back in time for the rest of my workday, it is sadly going to have to be "Chow Now". Ugh. Oh don't get me wrong, it's not a bad store just more one of those excessively 'trendy' places that sprung up. It wasn't about good food or service but it was more looking like you ate well and looked hip. The best thing about their service is actually the speed of which they got orders out. Almost to the point you'd think their 'made fresh' is actually pre-cooked but, beggars can't be choosers I suppose.

It's a quick walk away from the office, and I told others where I was going before leaving so I would get a call if something desperately needed my attention. Chow Now is a small tannish-brown store with a door that is somehow old style with a ‘new age’ handle. Some people have way too much fun designing things I thought as I enter the café.

Sure enough, the store had a collection of..., let me be nice and say "Alternative crowd". 'Yuppie' might be the proper term but they were the plaid wearing, coffee drinking, playwright/artist munchie break type of people you think of when you hear the words 'trendy cafe'. One can almost smell the pretentiousness. Still, it isn't all entirely bad. Some of the girls looked cute and there are a couple of people in tight workout clothes standing around. I think some new gym has opened up down the street so there is probably going to be an addition of gym nuts added to the mix here. Not that I'm complaining. Yoga pants look good on anyone. Well.... most anyone as I noted a few people that…. did need to hit the gym. Hell, I could use a membership as of late anyway. The walking machine at home only did so much.

I stand in line and look around, gauging some of the other people here. Food was a given, simple toasted sandwich and an iced coffee to go with it, but I'm always wondering if there is anything 'else' to 'eat out'. And with the memory from before, it isn't hard to take in both genders at the cafe. There are a few people that piqued my interest, one of which is right before me.

She is a young Latina girl in sweat pants and matching jacket, moving out of the way after placing her own order. Local by the look of it, and she's bouncing away (in more ways than one) to some tune coming from her earbuds. I think I've seen her around from time to time. Pretty sure she's the owner or employee of a record store nearby. Oh, the things I would do to ‘jam’ with her for an evening.

I'm up next, though the cafe made you wait a moment or two before waving you forward. Something about finishing processing the order. If I recall the chain had had problems with some sort of tech issue so they didn't let people crowd near the cashiers anymore. Eventually, I'm waved to come up. This let me move to the order counter and face to face with, a young blonde…., person? They're lanky and thin, with long hair but lacked the curves of a woman but also other features of a guy of their age. Androgynous was the word as I mentally slapped my forehead and went to put my order in. Their voice didn’t give anything away either as they confirmed what I said and quickly handed me a ticket back.

I move out of the way and watch a few others move up to place their own orders. And there is one that stood out. A woman about my age with short red hair and a very fit body. That of a runner. And a certain mark on her shoulder visible thanks to her sports bra showing off her muscular back. Could that really be... her? I had just fantasized about my time with her, could it really be... Emma? No, it couldn't be but.... her voice, sounds oddly familiar. I mean, it could just be my mind playing tricks on me, but is this fate giving me a second chance? Or a complete and total mistake?