Chapter Text
Glossy streets shine in the early morning light; drops from prior rains caressing the leaves and petals of the city, and cried softly from the whispers of morning wind, tumbling gently into puddles on the pavement. Despite the early hour, many are walking these streets; bustling and crowded, colourful and bright. There are people everywhere. The waves of busy citizens push and shove their way down-stream, uncaring for others because of their rush.
‘I have to open the store on time. ‘
‘It’s almost time for school.’
‘I’m going to miss my bus!’
One person, a tall one with curly white hair, is not pushing and shoving her way around the city. She is walking, leisurely, toward a quaint coffee shop in the near distance.
She is in high spirits. This is her favourite part of the day after all: grabbing a coffee in the morning to energise her for the action-packed day lying ahead of her.
The doorbell chimes faintly, and Suzy walks through the doorway, hair bouncing in anticipation. Warm air burst against her face with a twinkle, welcoming her, next, the smooth aroma of coffee wafted through the open door. There's music playing, but the chatter of customers makes it hard to distinguish the song. The chairs are old, worn down over time. They have squishy mauve seats and chipped wooden frames, to go along with the large matching tables. There are plates and cups hanging on the wall; Pedro constantly reminds her that “it’s cool and matches his aesthetic.” Almost every table is packed - it is the best coffee in town, after all.
Suzy goes to take a step, but something stops her. Someone.
It’s none other than Rebecca Lepus. Thoughts swirl in Suzy’s head. It couldn’t be her, could it? I haven’t seen her since...
Suzy, deciding to pretend she hadn’t seen her, approaches the counter.
“Hey Pedro.” She greets the abnormally tall owner of the cafe in her high-pitched voice, “can I have the usual?”
“One black arbuckle's an a 'am an cheese croissant comin' raahyt uhp.” He announced unnecessarily, I know my own order, I do come here everyday. “How’s thuh wife?
”You know I don’t have a wife!” Suzy grumbles softly, concerned for his health. “Where’d you get that idea from, doofus?”
He nods discreetly in Rebecca’s direction. “Ya close-fisted ya’ not with this charmin’ young lass, ‘ere? thuh one ‘oo came ‘ere lookin’ for ya?”
“She what?” Suzy stumbles, lowering her voice; it broke on the last syllable.
“Yeah, thuh gal came, askin' roun' for ya, says 'er nuh-ames Rebecca, or sumthin’” He drawls conspiritally, like the teenage girl Suzy appears to be, gossiping about how much weight she had heard Trinity gained recently.
Suzy turns, slowly, like she has all the time in the world, to face her - Rebecca Lepus. Despite it having been years since Suzy had last seen her, the girl had hardly grown, her forehead only just able to align with Suzy’s shoulder. However, unlike her height, the girl seems different, more dangerous. She couldn’t quite place where the feeling was originating from; if it was the black denim jeans and jacket, or the skull shirt, it could have even been the mysterious look in her eyes. All Suzy knows is that she is one scary bugger. Rebecca’s hair has been tied up, the pale golden strands separated into two pigtails on top of her head. Combined with her short, non-threatening stature, she reminds Suzy of a rabbit. A mysterious, scary, rabbit.
Suzy feels like laughing. Why would Rebecca be here of all places!? And why now!? Clearly, her sanity is slipping. She jumps back to continue gossiping with Pedro, he does know everything about everyone, after all. “Did she say why she wanted to see me?”
“Nah, the girl ask'd where you were and walked into that right there corner, waitint for you I think.” He says it seriously, but soon cracks into a grin and winks, “Ah'd tay-uk her uhp awn that offer ifin' ah were ya, pahrdner.”
The force behind Suzy’s glare would’ve cowed many stronger men, but Pedro, having grown up with her, thought better than to fear it. Just as the girl prepared to leap up and hit Pedro who will be dead in a few seconds over the head, a chime went off. “That must be yo-wr croissant! i’ll be raahyt back with yo-wr order. “
And with that, the bastard sauntered away through the door into the kitchen.
The cafe was usually busy in the early hours of the morning; most people needed their caffeine to function. But today is different. The shop borders empty, leaving Suzy and Rebecca alone in their awkward silence. Suzy thinks the universe is up against her. If you had told her yesterday that she’d have to spend the morning with Rebecca of all people - on opposite sides of a coffee shop at that - she would’ve laughed in your face.
To Suzy’s surprise, Rebecca regards her with an expectant stare. Suzy is confused. She has been for three years - the amount of time Rebecca has been gone for. She left so suddenly, and without explanation.
They were good friends once, Suzy and Rebecca. They had been since they were kids. But something changed when they turned fourteen. For Suzy, it was like the lens shifted, and she saw Rebecca in a way she never had before, or never realised she always had. She couldn’t pinpoint what it was; she had never felt it before. But then, before she could explore this feeling, Rebecca left. They hadn’t spoken to each other since. Suzy thinks it had something to do with Peppa...
Out of nowhere, Rebecca speaks from the other side of the room, stepping closer so as to be heard, “Long time no see, huh?”
She sounds the same, Suzy notes, high-pitched and soft, with an underlying note of danger.
“That’s the understatement of the year.” She decides to respond.
“It’s February.” Rebecca is smiling. Suzy hasn’t seen that smile in years - the effect it has on her is still one and the same.
“You’d be surprised at the amount of things that can happen in a few months.” Suzy points out, returning her smile. “I hear you wanted to talk with me?”
“Damn that Pedro, he just can’t keep his mouth shut, can he?”
“No, 'e cain't.” Pedro confirms as he strolls through the door from the kitchen, Suzy’s order in hand.
“Would you like to take a seat?” Suzy inquires gently, unused to taking the lead. “It’ll be easier to talk while sitting down.”