• He slumped back into the large armchair, reclining his head a little so that he could study the ceiling. Sighing Viktor closed his eyes. He wanted to leave everything he ever knew; to just disappear, but wasn’t so sure as to how he should go about doing so. Dakota, his current girlfriend, had begun acting strange; she often avoided his gaze and seemed to hardly notice his presence. Had he done something wrong? He sat up straight and admired the long queue of people over by the counter. It was the usual busy hour here; around 12pm. This was his most favourite coffee shop, just a few blocks away from his apartment near the train station. It was perfect. Taking a sip from his mocha, a small breeze from the door caught his hair and blew it about his face.

    “It’s so noisy.” A voice, quiet, but soothing, came from somewhere behind him. “It’s always noisy. Why are you so noisy?” Despite this seeming somewhat bitter the voice was calm.

    Viktor turned to see a small table behind him and a flicker of white but as he blinked it fleeted from his imagination and faded again. He blinked again and rubbed his eyes, to be greeted with an empty seat. Turning back to his own table he took his mocha, lifting it to his lips and taking another sip, before popping a marshmallow into his mouth. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing, once again deep in thought.

    The door swung open and a large gust of wind brought in a little rain, sending cold shivers down Viktors spine. A hooded figure shuffled up to the queue, the queue had certainly gone down a lot now, and now only a handful of people stood in front of the figure. Automatically Viktor recognised her; it was Dakota. Fidgeting impatiently she removed her hood and shivered a little, looking around her. Luckily she had not yet seemed to notice Viktor, leaving him with a peace and quiet for the time being. She ordered a latte and a strawberry cup cake, shuffling away from the counter with her lunch, she now surveyed the room to find a seat somewhere warm and quiet. Glancing upwards she noticed Viktor, a small smile passed her lips and she strode over to his table, slumping back into the chair opposite him.
    After she had placed her coffee, with cake, on the small table she folded her arms, pouting a little, staring right at Viktor.

    “You’re such a pain. Why’d you come without me?” She whined, batting her eyelashes.

    Turning to gaze out of the window to the streets he decided to remain silent; talking now would probably set her off. But why was she talking to him? She had been completely rejecting him for the past week and had been out more than usual. She was probably just after more of his money, and that he had little of right now.

    Now studying the rain somewhat intensely he traced a drop as it fell onto the glass and sidled down to the pavement. He closed his eyes and tried to picture himself somewhere else; somewhere quiet and cosy, where he could just relax and be himself but the sudden realisation that there were no such place for him forced him to open his eyes and turn back.

    He now took a larger gulp of the coffee and proceeded to eat the remainder of his cake, but just as he reached out to grab the plate a slender hand raced for it and scooped it up. Dakota held the plate in one hand and raised the first finger of her other hand to her lips. A smug look spread across her face and she winked at Viktor, teasing him.

    He wasn’t having any of it. He couldn’t get his head around her mood swings, and it certainly wasn’t that time of the month for her. Taking his unopened book and carefully placing it inside his bag. He zipped up his coat and left. He would find somewhere else to just sit and read.