Hot Caramel Mocha on a Cold Day in Autumn

 Her lips were slightly parted as she gasped for a bit of air, shivering while she took careful steps across the sidewalk.  Her body was just a bit hunched over, back bent forward as she tried to keep warm. The only thing she could do was hold onto the hot caramel mocha that helped to warm her fingertips. Other than that, only the freezing air blew around her, urging her onward while she passed a few parking meters. She didn't make it far before she was suddenly stopped, a stranger calling out to her from the side. Dread suddenly flooded her emotions as she wanted nothing more than to make it into the next building for warmth.

 

But that changed the moment she saw the charming smile of the handsome stranger before her.

 

"Can I help you?" she asked, tone soft as her eyes widened slightly, staring up at the boy who loomed over her due to his height, obviously a foot or so taller.

 

"I was wondering...where can I get change for the parking meters? I don't have any, but I don't want to leave my car here alone and get a ticket." The girl nodded in understanding, wishing she could help. Her desire to continue to her destination faded a bit as she couldn't help but to become drawn to the stranger.

 

"Actually...I'm a little unsure as to where it would be... But I have some change and I could help that way," she held out her coffee to the boy, giving a sincere smile, "Here, hold this."

 

The boy's fingers were long and slender, his skin pale in contrast to his raven-black hair. The girl took a moment to admire him through her coffee-brown eyes, pulling herself away from her distraction as she remembered to dig into her backpack for some change. Her cheeks suddenly flared up, feeling hot - much like the coffee that the boy held then. She cleared her throat moments later as she pushed the coins into the slots of the parking meter, much to the protest of the stranger.

 

"Y-you don't have to do that..."

 

"It's alright. I want to help," she smiled sweetly, finding it easy to do so despite how the cold wind had made her lips feel numb and her nose feel runny. She proceeded to zip up her backpack and stand up straight once more, holding out her small child-like hand for her coffee. The boy handed it back carefully, afterwards fishing a few dollar bills out of his wallet, handing them to her.

 

"I can't let you pay for me. You are so nice... Take this," he said, offering it to her. She shook her head and refused the money but ultimately gave in once she saw his determination.

 

"Okay... It's really no problem though. I don't mind helping this way." A few kind words as well as smiles were exchanged after she stuffed the dollar bills into the depths of her coat pocket. It wasn't long before the two exchanged numbers with shaky fingers - much to the girl's content, her heart skipping a beat. Her coffee felt as though it had lost its heat by then but she could care less, bidding the boy who was no longer a stranger - Benson - goodbye.

 

As she turned and took a few shaky steps in the opposite direction, her lips tugged into a pretty grin. She brought her coffee up to her lips and took a careful sip, allowing the sweet liquid to pour down her throat smoothly. Delicious. It was still a bit warm.

 

Of course, nothing had warmed her more than the encounter with the boy who would soon become something more than just a stranger at a parking meter.