bitter(sweet)

Her leg bounces nervously as she stares out the window, focused on the boy across the street. If someone else was watching her, they would think it was just a girl with a crush, debating on whether to wave at him, and stressing about the possible (or possibly improbable) line of dominoes that could fall afterward. Either that or she was embarrassed about her choice in clothing-hair tossed up in a messy bun and a casual, baggy attire.

But instead, it's me taking in the scene, and unlike anyone else in the cafe, I know the truth.

"Alexandria!"

Nodding my thanks to the barista, I grab my chai latte and nearly walk out the door, but a twinge of guilt stops me in my tracks. I held the key to unlock her from the cage she feels trapped in.

"Is this seat taken?" I point to the seat next to her.

She turns to me, and rather than utter shock, there is merely a slight eyebrow raise. "Guess doppelgangers are real."

"You've watched too many superhero shows." Not that's going to change anytime soon.

Her eyes narrow suspiciously, but she ultimately decides to let my playful jab slide. Instead, she waves to the empty seat, silently allowing me to sit beside her.

I offer a hand to her. "Alexandria."

She gives a tentative smile before giving me a gentle handshake. "Tori."

I chuckle, knowing very well she's lying to me, but I'm willing to play along. "Nice to meet you."

"Yeah."

Tori glances out the window and breathes a small sigh of relief. Looks like that boy left at some point.

"He won't be bothering you much longer."

She whips her head at me, and as I thought, she's pissed. "Who are you?"

"I think you know." I don't give much more, because she's smart, plus my knowledge of the rules in this situation is all based on many binges of those superhero shows and movies. Definitely not the most accurate source, but probably better safe and sorry, especially since I've already broken (and might break a few more) the most important of those so-called rules.

Tori shakes her head in disbelief. "That's impossible."

Obviously not.

"I could tell you everything about us, like how we don't drink coffee because of that time Dad let us taste his." I take a sip of my drink before continuing. "Or I could show you where my birthmark is," which is hidden under a jacket. "But you aren't going to believe that because right now, you are starting to become more suspicious of people, and unfortunately, it's trickling into your perceptions of those you are close to."

Tori clears her throat and turns away from me, trying to hide the emotion I know is painted all over her face.

"It's okay, you know, to not trust people so quickly."

"To avoid being hurt?"

I scoff. "I wish that was the case. People will always hurt other people, unintentionally or otherwise. It just hurts more when it someone you thought you knew."

"Does the pain ever go away?"

"Depends. Have you ever heard of phantom pain?"

Tori deeply sighs and leans her head against her hand to look at me; she knows where I'm going with this. "So yes and no."

I almost allow the flood of every pain she is going to experience over the next decade, wanting to spare her, or at least prepare her. If I did that though, there will be so many amazing things she'll miss out on trying to avoid any paths where pain must reside.

"Tori, what I'm about to tell you, I know you already know it. But most things don't last forever, be it good or bad."

"Well duh."

Ignoring her sassiness, I explain myself. "All I can tell you is there will be days the pain is so much you feel like there's isn't a light at the end of it. But there is."

"Kind of reminds me of coffee, I guess. Sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet, depending on how you brew it or what you put in it," she pensively remarks.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

We both look out the window, sitting with what Tori just said for a moment.

Tori breaks the silence first. "So since we already know my, yours, our," she scrunches her nose, "whatever, name, so you know why I introduced myself as Tori." She looks at me, probably hoping she'll read the answer on my face. "But why Alexandria?"

I give a mischievous grin behind my cup. "I guess you'll have to wait and see."