he watched her watching other people over her cup of steaming coffee. the slivers of steam stroked her face and turned her eyes a vague shade of misty brown.

and suddenly she smiled, completely to herself, and he was overcome with a need to know what she was thinking about.

"is this seat taken?"

"maybe."

he sat down anyway.

her lips widened into a smile again and she leaned over, elbows on table top and chin on layered fingers. "you know what? i hate coffee." she suddenly informed him.

"er. so what's that?" he gestured towards her warm cup.

"this? i love the smell of it. honestly though, i can't stand to drink the stuff."

she burst into laughter and as the sound tumbled from her lips, her shoulders shaking and her hair falling against her back he couldn't help but ask

"do you have a boyfriend?"

"maybe."

he went to her apartment and stayed for the night anyway.