Chapter Text
Stella arrived at the cafe fifteen minutes early.
She told herself it was because she didn't want to be late.
That wasn't true.
She was just excited to see James.
She hadn't seen him in a while.
Between rehearsals, practice, and whatever else filled his schedule, it felt like she barely had time to see him anymore.
She chose a table near a window and sat down, drumming her fingers on the table before checking her phone.
4:48 PM.
She still had twelve minutes.
Plenty of time.
A few minutes passed.
Stella glanced at the entrance before checking the time again.
4:58 PM.
Well, James wasn't the type to come on time anyway.
Stella leaned back in her seat, glancing around the café.
It wasn't particularly busy.
A few people were scattered around, some were talking, someone near the counter was typing away on their laptop.
She picked up the menu again, even though she'd already looked through it twice.
Maybe she'd get something to eat.
She skipped lunch.
...technically.
A protein bar didn't count as lunch.
Well she ate something.
That had to count.
...
She wasn't that hungry anyway.
Her phone buzzed.
Stella looked down immediately.
Classmate 4: yo can you give me answers for the homework please?
Stella stared at the message for a second.
Seriously?
Stella: no. -_-
Classmate 4: ughh fineee
5:04 PM.
Stella glanced at the entrance.
Still nothing.
She unlocked her phone.
No messages.
She locked it again.
It's okay.
He problably got stuck in traffic.
That was normal.
Yep.
Totally normal.
With nothing else to do, Stella grabbed the menu again and decided to order something.
Maybe a drink.
James wouldn't mind.
She looked toward the entrance again.
He'd problably be here by the time it arrived.
Problably.
...
She ordered.
3 minutes later, the drink arrived.
James still wasn't here yet, but...
Thats okay.
Stella had patience.
She could wait.
She took a sip of her drink.
It was good.
Not too sweet.
Not too bitter.
Perfect.
Stella glanced at the entrance again.
Nothing.
She pulled out her phone and opened her messaging app.
James's contact was still at the top.
Stella clicked on it.
Their last converstation was still there.
James: see you at five
Stella smiled faintly.
She locked her phone.
He'd come.
He said he would.
5:17 PM.
Stella looked at the time again.
She took another sip.
The ice had started melting slightly.
Beads of condenstation rolling down the glass.
Maybe his practice had run late.
She checked her phone again.
Nothing.
Stella grabbed her pen from her bag and started to doodle in the corner of her receipt.
A star there.
Some flowers.
She tapped her pen twice against the table before continuing.
A few minutes passesd before nearly every empty space was filled with random little doodles.
5:27 PM.
Stella stopped drawing.
Phone silent.
She opened their messages again.
Stella: you okay? :)
She stared at the message.
Deleted that.
Retyped something else.
Stella: you still coming? :)
She pressed send.
Delivered.
No reply.
Stella set her phone face down.
"Okay," she whispered.
She could wait.
No one answers a message immediately anyway.
Stella looked around the café again.
The table beside her had emptied.
She hadn't noticed them leave.
She picked up her drink again, taking another sip.
The ice clinked softly against her glass.
She checked her phone.
Nothing.
Be patient...
She put it down.
A minute later, she picked it up again.
Nothing.
"Seriously..." she muttered.
She unlocked her phone anyways.
Eventually, 5:41 PM hit.
A notification.
Stella's heart nearly stopped.
She rushed to unlock her phone.
Classmate 4: you sure you cant send me answers?
Stella stared at the screen for a moment.
Then finally typed a response.
Stella: yes.
Classmate 4: PLEASEE
Stella: no.
Classmate 4: ur mean.
Stella: ik
Stella locked her phone again, setting it face down on the table.
She stared at the drink in front of her.
The ice had almost completely melted.
She took a sip anyway.
It wasn't cold anymore.
She frowned slightly.
"Great."
She picked up her phone again.
5:44 PM.
Still nothing from James.
Stella opened their messages again.
Stella: James?
She watched the message sit there.
No reply.
Not even read.
Stella's fingers hovered over the keyboard.
She could send more messages.
Ask him if he was okay.
Call him maybe.
...
That sounded too desperate.
She didn't want to bother him.
He was problably busy.
She locked her phone again.
5:47 PM.
Maybe just another ten minutes.
Just ten.
If he didnt come, she'd leave.
Problably.
Stella took another sip of her drink.
Watery now.
Another 10 minutes passed.
5:57 PM.
James was nowhere to be seen.
The drink had gone to room temperature.
Watery.
Stella glanced at the entrance one last time.
Nothing.
She looked down at her phone.
Still no reply.
...
"Okay."
Stella packed up everything she'd taken out and slipped her phone into her bag.
She stood, pushing her chair back into place.
Maybe another time.
She didn't know why she still thought there would be another time.
Stella left the café.
Back home, she got a message.
Not from James.
Expected honestly.
Yuha.
A friend.
Yuha: did he show up?
Stella: no
The message was seen almost immediately.
Yuha: …again?
Stella stared at the screen.
Stella: he probably got busy
Yuha: stella
Stella: what
Yuha: he said he cleared his schedule
Stella didn't reply.
Yuha: did he at least tell you he wasn't coming?
Stella: no
Yuha: did he text you at all?
Stella: no
A pause.
Yuha: idiot.
Stella frowned at the screen.
Stella: why are you calling me an idiot 😭
Yuha: because you're defending him
Stella: i'm not
Yuha: you literally just did
Stella: i said he probably got busy
Yuha: THAT IS DEFENDING HIM
...
Yuha: you okay tho?
Stella looked at the question for a while.
Stella: yeah :)
Yuha: liar
Stella's smile faded a little.
Stella: ...i'm fine
Yuha: sure
Yuha: eat something
Stella: i did
Yuha: a protein bar isn't food
Stella: it counts
Yuha: no it doesn't
Stella put her phone down after that.
Her stomach growled.
She looked towards the kitchen.
Maybe Yuha was right.
....
No way would she let Yuha know though.