Duo

                                    

                                          
Christmas Market
(Xavier Serrano as Oscar Fletcher)
==============
"Sometimes good things fall apart
so better things can fall together."
~ Marilyn Monroe
==============
Duo
Effie sighed as she brushed her hair back with her free hand. She had decided on buying her mother one of the blankets in a deep lilac colour since it was her mother's favourite colour, and she had also managed to find Issy a present- a lovely scented candle and also a pair of knee high cream knitted socks with a faux fur lining inside to keep her feet warm (something which she had been wanting for a very long time)- and had also found her dad a nice checkered scarf that suited his hazel eyes and dark brown hair.
Rushing through the crowds, her eyes scanned the stalls in search of something for her younger sister, Carol (who was turning thirteen in a few month's time), and her quick pace hesitated as her eyes landed on a small coffee shop on the corner of an alleyway.
The large glass windows were all fogged up, but through the haziness, she could make out a waterfall of fairy lights hanging from the ceiling in the windows, and when the glass double doors opened as customers entered or exited, she could just about see large comfy seats surrounding small marble tables inside.
I could really do with a coffee round about now... Effie thought, a growing craving in her stomach, after all, Christmas shopping is tiring so I think I deserve this.
Finally making up her mind, Effie pivoted on her heels and made quick strides towards the cafe, her feet splashing in the puddles as she determinedly made her way to the coffee shop, every now and then reluctantly stopping when a person walked past in front of her. She lugged her heavy bag with her and finally made it to the entrance where the alluring smell of coffee wafted through the air as she opened up the door. A sigh was released from her lips as the warmth immediately heated up her body, her stiff muscles loosening finally.
Effie passed the multiple tables and made her way over to the counter where two other people were waiting to order.
She briefly watched the two bartenders rushing around behind the counter as they got food ready, before her green and brown orbs lined with a thin delicate black eyeliner looked down at the delectable looking cakes that sat behind the glass counter. Coffee cake, brownies, chocolate cookies, victoria sponge... it was all there. Effie's cheeks dusted a light pink as she brought her hand up to the corner of her mouth, just in case she was dribbling, but relief flooded her when she felt nothing but her soft cold skin.
Turning her attention back to the cakes, she admired all the other choices before casting her eyes up at the black chalkboard where all the coffees were listed in white chalk. She smiled at the small coffee beans someone had drawn down in the corner.
Her eyes scanned the list: gingerbread latte, honeycomb latte, salted caramel latte, hazelnut latte, pumpkin spice latte, roasted hazelnut latte, fudge hot chocolate, mint hot chocolate, plain hot chocolate, milk hot chocolate, cappuccino, espresso, black coffee, white coffee... She was spoilt for choices!
Biting on the dry skin of her lip, she finally made her decision and waited patiently for her turn to order. After a couple of minutes, the two women in front of her had finished their orders, and it was her turn. Walking up to the till, she sent a smile to the bartender, but was suddenly caught off guard.