The red neon sign board in front of the shop read "Coffee With Estelle 24*7". Samantha opened the door and I followed her inside. The bell chimed drawing the attention of the blonde girl standing near the counter. She scowled and stood up from her seat. She walked towards the drawers on the side of the counter and took the menu cards. She walked back to us and her face brightened as she saw the guys behind us.

"Hey Mike, what are you doing here at 3 in the morning?" A smile crept onto her lips.

"Hey Lisa, just checking you out." He winked and moved his hand through his hair.

"Ooh really?" She lifted her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes.

"You got me. I'm just here with some friends." He looked in our direction, smiling."Daniel take them to our regular table. I'll join you in a minute."

Daniel nodded and walked us to a four-seated retro style table at the corner of the shop. I took my seat across him, while Sam sat beside me. She drummed her fingers on the table and jerked her body. She kept her eyes on Michael who was laughing with the waitress. Nobody spoke and an awkward silence filled the table. Michael walked up with the menu cards in his hands and sat next to Daniel.

"So what would you guys like to have?" He turned the pages of the menu card, glancing all the options.

"I would love a plate of your heart ripped apart with blood." Samantha smirked.

"Aww sweetheart, as much as you want it, they don't serve it here. Mind trying chocolate milkshake with chocolate sauce and ice cream? Might not be as tasty as my heart but that would be the next best thing." He chuckled.

"It's not funny. Now tell me why were you breaking in my house in the middle of the night?" She grabbed the menu away from him.

"It's actually a funny story. I wanted to surprise you, but turned out to be surprised your midnight ninja." He grinned at me.

"Waking me up in the morning with a cup of choco latte would have been a surprise. Not disturbing my beauty sleep with action sequences at midnight." She scowled.

" I came to drop Dan and figured out that you were already home. So it seemed like a better idea." He winked and smiled.

"I don't understand", Sam blinked. "Why would you drop Daniel at my home?"

"Oh shit, I forgot. Daniel is the paying guest I told you about." He nudged Daniel.

"What?" I shouted, louder than I intented.

"Ooh look who is finally talking!" he said in a mocking tone.

"Are you serious? Is he going to be living with us?" The thought gave me shivers. I cannot stay at home with another guy.

"That seems like a great offer." he chuckled. "But he is just staying for rent." What does he even mean by that?

"No! This cannot be happening!" I let out a whisper, biting my nails. My body began shaking and sweat dripped all over my body even in the cold room.

"Why?" Daniel talked for the first time. He leaned forward with expecting eyes. I opened my mouth to answer but couldn't.

"You wanna know why? Because she doesn't want to stay with a potential killer who almost choked her to death!" Samantha smirked with raised eyebrows.

"Watch your tongue missy or the potential killer might actually turn into one." Daniel clenched his fist and dropped his head down. His eyes grew red.

"Oh yeah, you should be alive first to do that." She got back at him.

The silent cafe now became vibrant with their noise. The argument kept continuing. Sam gritted her teeth and Daniel banged the table making it shake.

I glanced at Michael, hoping he would make them stop. But he shrugged and slouched back on his seat with his arms behind his head. A slight smile crept on his lips and his eyes went back and forth on both of them.

"Please, both of you stop!" I finally managed to say. Daniel glared at me for a second. He let out a heavy sigh and crept back to his position with crossed arms.

"Ok come on Sammy, we will order something." Michael got up and pulled her close to him. "You guys want some coffee?"

Daniel and I nodded. They both walked to the counter with Sam leaning on Michael. My body didn't stop sweating. It was much worse now to be off guard without Sam. Breathing deeply seemed to help but my racing heart didn't slow down. After a minute or so, the blond waitress brought two cups of coffee and placed them on the table. I tilted my head and saw Sam and Michael talking near the counter. Maybe they need some privacy.

I lifted the coffee cup and brought it to my lips. The strong aroma of the warm coffee hit my nose. I've had coffee many times before. But this particular scent pulled me back to a memory. A memory I wish that hadn't happened or just stayed that way. I couldn't decide which I wished more.

********"When is my brother coming? You said he would be here by now." I glanced at my watch. The digital numbers displayed 5.14.

"Actually, he isn't coming." His eyes fixed on the table.

"What? Then I'm leaving, it's getting late. Bye." I picked my bag and stood up.

"Wait. I need to talk to you about something, alone." He rubbed his neck, eyes fixed on the table. I sat back and waited for him to talk. He shifted and set his gaze on the vase.

"Do you like me?" He asked in a faint voice.

"Of course. Everybody at home likes you very much." I smiled with no idea where he was taking the conversation to.

"No. Not like that. I mean more than like. In a special kind of way." He picked up the flower and plucked the red petals one by one.

"I don't understand what you mean. I think I should leave. My brother will kill me if he finds out I'm not home." My voice broke a little as I realised what he really meant. He pulled my hands together in his and held it tight. My body stiffened and eyes widened.

"What are you doing? Leave me, I have to go." I shook my hands, trying to lose his grip but it was too tight. He finally locked his eyes into mine.

"I don't know how else to do this. My heart aches when I'm not around you and it aches even more when I'm with you. To not be able to hold you when you are standing in front of you; kiss you when you smile; and hug you when you are sad. It's hurts even more to think that you are not yet mine. And I don't want to lose you." His voice broke at the last sentence. He let out a weak smile with tears in his eyes. I opened my mouth to speak but he hushed me.

"Please I need to let this out. I need you to know how much you mean to me. And that I... I.. I love you."

***************The memory still stung my heart. Did he really love me or was it all just an act? A tear escaped my eye against my will.

"Are you okay?" A voice brought me back to the present. It was Daniel.

"I'm fine." I wiped the tear and straightened myself.

"I'm really happy to see you, Emma", Daniel smiled.

"It's Catherine and nice to see you too." I faked a smile back at him and gulped my coffee.

Daniel cleared his throat. "You don't hate me do you?" I turned towards him and blinked.

"Ooh", I shook my head. "No. I'm sorry. It's not you. I just am not comfortable with the idea of staying with men." I tried to sound as calm as possible.

The place became silent again and made me doubt if the rhythm of my heart beats could be heard out. I didn't want to continue talking. I glanced at Sam. She was hugging Mike and his hand moved up and down her back. Is he trying to consoling her? What for? Has she told him why we came here ? I bit my nails. I need to know!

"Hello, we're still here", shouted Daniel at them. They pulled away and walked towards our table with a tray of brownies. "Do you want me to book a room for you guys or something?" He smirked. Sam slammed the tray on the table and narrowed her eyes at him.

I stared at Michael for some time. He smiled like before and ate most of the chocolate chip brownies from tray, fighting with Sam. I couldn't find any difference in the way he acted. My eyes met his when he turned towards me. A shiver went down my spine. I turned away but every couple of seconds my eyes turned towards him. The feel of his eyes on me penetrated me. Gazing out seemed a better idea.

"I need to use the rest room. Cath you coming?" Sam stood up.

I opened my mouth to speak but Michael cut me off. "Still need a babysitter?" He chuckled.

"Not everyone is like you Mike!" She beat him in his arm and walked away before I could answer. Daniel's phone beeped. He saw it for a second and excused himself.

Michael didn't move his eyes away from me. I concentrated on peeling my finger nails, making sure not to make eye contact with him again.

"Catherine" He leaned forward and whispered. I jumped on my seat and let out a heavy breathe.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. But I need to ask you something." He smiled. I nodded my head.

"Do you have something to tell me?" He hesitated. "Something like a secret..." My eyes widened and my body trembled.

"So it's true huh? It's ok you don't need to tell me about it. I know a lot of girls who have had experienced that. They all got over it. And trust me you can too." He smiled and left the table. What the hell did Sam tell him?