Thunder & Lightning
As the booming sound of thunder echoed through the city streets, Londoners couldn't help but wonder what was causing this strange phenomenon. With no accompanying storm in sight, the mystery only deepened, leaving even the experts in meteorology scratching their heads. As rumours and theories swirled around the city, one thing was sure: something unusual was happening in London.
The woman released a deep breath while gazing up at the clear sky with her sea-green eyes as the thunder rumbled on. Despite her best efforts to calm down, the atmosphere seemed to intensify her emotions, causing an almost unbearable surge of feelings. Her strained smile failed to ease her younger sister's anxieties, and every time the little girl's hand squeezed hers, she was consumed by an overwhelming sense of remorse. And the distant rumble of thunder would grow louder, bringing dark storm clouds menacingly over the sky, casting an ominous shadow upon them. Despite being the older sibling, the unfairness of the situation weighed heavily on her, and she could not help but feel guilty for burdening her young sister with her life beyond the mist. It had taken everything away from them. She squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth, yearning for the safety and comfort of home. She could conceal her emotions there, and the sky wouldn't constantly give away her moods. But that place no longer existed for them.
"Percy?" Her little sister's voice called up the stairs. "Don't we need to go? The teacher said the school starts at nine."
Percy took in another deep breath, her sea-green eyes meeting her reflection, she noticed her eyes looked duller than they used to, but she fixed on a fake smile and shouted back, "I'm coming!" dragging her eyes away from her reflection and quickly makes her way down the stairs to see her little sister all dressed in her new school uniform, her sparkly purple backpack on ready to go, and her little foot tapping impatiently making the school shoes flash blue lights. "Don't you just look adorable", Percy gushed.
"Percy!" her little sister whined.
"Estelle!" Percy whined back mockingly, picking up her car keys. "C'mon, slowpoke, we're going to be late" Percy snickered at her little sister's expression as she quickly ran by to get out the front door first.
Estelle released an exasperated shout, "And whose fault is that!" throwing her hands up in the air before quickly running after her.
***
As the parents and children bustled past, the siblings sat in the car, staring at the old brick building in front of them. Both of them felt a sense of unease and nervousness; the anxiety of separation was already beginning to set in. Percy was terrified, as this was the first time she would be leaving Estelle since they had arrived two weeks ago. Her sea-green eyes remained fixated on the building, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt foolish for being so worried. After all, it was just a school, and Estelle would be perfectly fine. There were no monsters in this world that could harm her.
"Percy, what if I mess up?" Estelle confessed, fiddling with her hands. Percy watched as her little sister stared at her with scared moss-green eyes. "See! I've already messed up. I've been calling you Percy all day!"
"Hey! There's no need to worry about that." Percy grabbed hold of her little sister's hands. "No one will care if you call me Percy or Nyx. They won't even second guess it as nicknames between siblings are normal." Percy squeezed her hands. "And today is a high emotional day! You've called me Nyx all week, but today you are scared and nervous, and I have done nothing to help. So it's fine you've been calling me Percy. It tells me that you're upset with me." Percy bumped their foreheads together. "I promise I'll do better, and hey, I start at the cafe today, so that will hopefully keep my brain from hyperfixing on what-ifs."
"I'm not upset with you", Estelle muttered before pulling her head back and peering up. "The strawberry cafe?"
Percy nodded, smiling. "The strawberry cafe with the amazing strawberry tarts you have nearly had every day. Yep, that one." Percy's smile grew more mischievous. "So make a fantastic friend today, and your reward shall be a strawberry tart!"
"That's bribery!"
Percy grinned and agreed, "A tasty bribe." She leaned back in her car seat and placed her hand on her chest, speaking in a playful but serious tone. "If you're not up for the quest, little star. I'd be happy to take your place."
Estelle vehemently shook her head, her black ponytail swaying wildly. "I am willing to accept the quest!" she declared.
"And the quest is..?"
"To make a fantastic friend!"
"With the quest accepted, shall we head on in?" Percy's hand reached out for the door handle as she watched; her younger sister gave a determined nod, her face reflecting her unwavering resolve.
"We shall!"
***
As Percy made her way down the street through the relentless downpour, flashes of lightning intermittently lit up the dark, ominous sky. Her fingers were tightly clasped around the sleeves of her jacket as she chewed anxiously down on her lip, sea-green eyes scanning for the familiar strawberry welcome sign. Percy couldn't help but groan as the thunder roared above her; imagining Estelle's disapproving gaze when she picked her up from school made Percy's heart sink. She understood that Estelle's reaction would be justified, given that this was the first time Percy had caused such a severe storm since arriving. But she felt worse as she had just promised Estelle she would do better.
Quickly pushing through the white glossy door, the welcoming twinkle of a chime rang, announcing Percy's arrival at 'The Cozy Berry Nook.' The cosy little nook had become a haven for Percy and Estelle, discovered during one of their little adventures out of the safety of their home. This cafe is also the place that sparked Estelle's love (obsession) for strawberry tarts. According to Estelle, no tart has yet surpassed the deliciousness of Nooks' "Sweet Strawberry Dream" tart. The owner seemed pleased and smirked upon hearing the compliments from Percy's younger sister, even going so far as to give them a complimentary tart, thus confirming the sister's belief that this cafe will be the cafe they always go to.
"Nyx, Sweetie." the owner's wife's gentle warm voice pulled Percy out of her thoughts. "Let's get you warmed up and dry. I've already placed your uniform in the changing room." Percy locked eyes with the warm honey-brown gaze of the woman, dressed like strawberry shortcake "I hope you'll be pleased with it." Percy smiled widely. "And yes, it's trousers", the owner's wife cut her off before she could say anything and rolled her eyes jokingly at her.
"Thanks, Mrs Huckleberry", Percy exclaimed as she made her way through to the cafe floor.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Suzie, Nyx?" Mrs Huckleberry's Voice rang after her.
"Always one more time, Mrs Huckleberry", Percy called other her shoulder grinning at the older woman as she huffed
"Just call her Mrs Berry," a gruff voice announced, causing Percy to jump and turn towards the kitchen doorway. She saw a smirk appear behind the salt and pepper beard and noticed the man's dark blue eyes crinkle in amusement. "If you keep carrying on with Huckleberry, she might ban you from the tarts," he added.
Percy's sea-green eyes widen in horror. "She wouldn't, right? Cause Estelle might actually kill me if she did," Making the man burst out laughing.
Percy watched as he shook his head and opened the door to the back room, instructing Percy to get changed. "The Mrs is eager to see you in the new uniform. She's been working on it all week," he said.
Percy nodded eagerly before turning back to the owner. "She won't actually ban me, will she?" she asked anxiously.
The owner's gruff voice reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll make sure Estelle still gets her tarts."
"Thanks, Mr Berry!" Percy beamed as she walked through the door, happy at the snort he let out. She made her way to the changing room, where she found her uniform laid out. The outfit consisted of tan baggy trousers paired with a cropped white shirt adorned with a Peter-pan collar with blueberry embroidery. The ensemble was completed with a light blue retro apron with white trimming and blueberries embroidered on the two front pockets, all matching her blue Converse, which Mrs Berry slyly asked about the week before. Percy smiled gently at the outfit, seeing that Mrs Berry had already picked up her love for blue and had already assigned her a berry which she was told could take time. Abby, a teen she would be working with, had raspberry and told Percy it took three weeks for Mrs Berry to pick it. This led Mr Berry to pop his head out of the kitchen with his pink strawberry chef's hat and mock whisper that raspberry symbolises fragility - All the plates and cups Abby had dropped and broken. Causing the young girl to blush; she was as red as the colour assigned to her.
Percy promptly returned to the cafe floor in her uniform with her gifted celestial bronze glasses on and observed that a few more customers had arrived during her absence. She approached Mrs Berry, who handed her a blueberry notebook and a glittery blue gel pen and instructed her to start taking orders while she manned the till.
***
As soon as Percy's lunch break arrived, she couldn't resist letting out a moan of pleasure as she savoured the delicious blueberry muffin. She washed it down with a cup of black tea, finally indulging in the desert she had been eyeing since her shift began. "Blueberry Bliss is defiantly the right name", she mumbled to herself.
"You and your sister are going to make my husband's ego huge with how you both react to his treats." Mrs Berry raised a light eyebrow, her honey-brown eyes twinkling in delight. "come on, sweetie, back on the floor; it's time for Megan's break. That girl's belly has been rumbling since she got here." she rolled her eyes at Percy. "I always tell her to eat breakfast, but she never does."
Percy stepped out of the break room, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she indulged in Mrs Berry's chatty musings. With a courteous nod, Percy notified Megan that she was free to take her break. Without delay, Megan scurried by, clutching a salad sandwich and a frosty milkshake in hand. Mubbling that Abby was a bumbling baby giraffe next to Mr tall-dark and handsome. Which drew Percy's Sea-green eyes to the fumbling teen in red, whose ears looked like they would be steaming if they could as she wrote down the man's order on her raspberry notepad.
"Go and help her, Sweetie." Percy jumped at Mrs Berry's voice behind her. "The young man has come in a little bit early than usual. We generally try to keep Abby away as she has spilt his coffee on him a few times. That's why he looks so weary." Mrs Berry pushed Percy forward, making her move towards the cafe counter. Quickly getting behind, she watches Abby see her and hurriedly runs over.
"Nyx!" Abby exclaims in relief. "Can you please take over that customer's order for me" she rushes out, her face bright red as Percy stares at her in amusement, her lip pulling upwards.
"Of course, Abby. Mrs Berry has already told me what has happened before," Percy told her softly.
"Oh God", Abby squeaked as Percy watched her bump her head on the counter. Percy couldn't help but snicker. "It's his eyes!" Abby shouts, causing the customers close by to look at them, making Abby blush harder than she already was. "It's his eyes..." she whispered to Percy. "They're so vivid green I get lost in them, miss everything he has said, and become a fumbling idiot." she groans before looking at Percy with a serious face, "He's the reason I got raspberry as my berry. Look how close Mrs berry has gotten the red shade to my blush!" she holds up her apron to her face. Roaring laughter makes both girls jump, turning to see Mr Berry leaning through the pass-through, his dark blue eyes filled with tears of laughter. He waves them on and places the food order down, snickering as he turns away. Percy turns to the teen, her smile full of teeth as she watches Abby die of embarrassment. "I'll just go take this..." she mumbles, quickly taking the sandwich.
"Abby?" Percy called out to the embraced girl, her smile still fixed in place as Abby looked back at her questioningly. "What's his order?" Abby's face returns to bright red, muttering a black coffee and quickly escaping as Percy's laughter pearls out.
Quickly making the black coffee, Percy pushes her head through the kitchen whole. "Hey, Boss?" She watches as the pink strawberry chef's hat turns towards her "What would his complimentary treat be?"
"A treacle Tart" his gruff voice sounded amused. "It'll come out of your pay?" he told her.
"That's fine. The whole cafe has just heard how his green eyes turn Abby to goo." Percy grinned as the older man snickered as he heated a treacle tart up.
"Who knows, they might turn you into goo, too," He laughs. "I haven't seen them, but I sure am jealous by how my Mrs gushes about them!" Mr Berry's dark blue eyes lock on to Percy's sea-green one. "So be prepared, though I think yours will give a run for his money." He says, making Percy smirk.
"I know mine are dreamy." Percy brings her hand to her forehead and fakes a swoon. "Lost within the depths of my ocean eyes, you will find yourself drowning in a sea of love and desire." Percy peaks one of her sea-green eyes to see the owner gaping at her. "Too much?" she scratches the back of her head.
"No", He shakes his head."Just doesn't feel like something you would come up with."
"Because I didn't", Percy grinned. "It was a chat-up line from a random guy that had me mocked by my friends for months. One of my favourites they came up with was "Are you a mermaid? Because your ocean eyes have me hooked, and I'm all tangled up in your net of love." The older man snorted.
"You know you've just set yourself up for that again?" his dark blue eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Be prepared for the rest of the staff to fire them at you," Percy shrugged.
"We could make a competition out of it," suggested Percy with a smile. Her boss gave a thumbs up in agreement.
"I'll sort the blackboard out!" He had a mischievous smile on his face. "We can even get the customers in on it... prize... free treats for a week?" Upon hearing the distinct ping, Percy watched as Mr Berry promptly rose to retrieve the treacle tart from within the microwave. With utmost care, a generous scoop of smooth and creamy ice cream was placed atop the warm, golden crust. He then effortlessly slid the treat through the convenient kitchen hole, ready for Percy to deliver. "Your first day at work, and you've already got the blackboard out, your going to fit in perfectly." Percy was met with a gentle smile from Mr Berry. "Now get. The poor man has been waiting for his coffee."
Making her way through the cosy cafe, Percy's attention was captured by the dark-haired man she was waiting on. His eyes, reflected by the window glass, were melancholy and fixed on the storm raging outside the window. The man's gaze held a certain pensiveness as if lost in a sea of thoughts, his mind adrift in its own storm. The dim lighting of the cafe cast shadows upon his face, emphasizing the lines of weariness etched upon his features. As raindrops trickled down the windowpane, blurring the world beyond, the man's eyes remained fixated, almost as if he sought solace in the tempestuous scene. It was as though the chaos outside resonated with the storm brewing within his own heart. Percy couldn't help but wonder what memories, regrets, or dreams were concealed behind those eyes that could resonate so harmoniously with her storm.
"Black coffee?" Percy inquires gently, causing the man to be pulled away from his reverie. He turns his head towards her, and their eyes meet. At that moment, time seems to come to a standstill as Percy's curious sea-green eyes embody tempestuous and dolefulness while the man's vivid emerald eyes reflect a touch of melancholy and introspection.
"Yes, thank you," the man mutters serenely, a touch of huskiness in his voice, disrupting the silence that had enveloped them. As Percy proceeds to place his order down, sliding the treacle tart towards him, the magnetic pull between them persists, almost as if their souls intertwined in a way that transcended time and space, as if they were two celestial bodies drawn together by an invisible force. It was as if they had known each other for aeons, as if their connection was written in the stars themselves.
Percy was terrified. Her heart raced her mind a whirlwind of panic. She wanted nothing more than to escape. Forcing herself to maintain a semblance of composure, Percy murmured, "Enjoy your coffee." Her voice quivered slightly, betraying the fear that coursed through her. She hurriedly stepped back, putting some distance between them, desperately needing to gather her thoughts and steady her trembling hands. "If you need anything, just shout." she tried to get her voice to sound strong but it whisped off at the end.
"I will do," he replied, his deep husky voice sending an involuntary shiver through her body. Giving him a curt nod, Percy quickly turned and made her escape. As she retreated to the refuge of the coffee counter, she attempted to ground herself amidst the chaos of her emotions. The fear still lingered, casting a shadow over her every thought. Percy knew she couldn't ignore what had just happened. But she had Estelle to think about. She had just upped their whole life to a new world -thanks to the fates - she couldn't just throw them back into a world beyond the mist. They were meant to be living a truly normal mundane human life. Percy was told there were no monsters in this world, but whatever happened there, was definitely not mundane.
Percy clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white with determination. Her fear was not just for herself but also for the safety of her little sister. A fierce protectiveness fueled her resolve to avoid the man with intense, vivid green eyes at all costs. But deep down, she knew it would be daunting, considering the intensity with which he watched her.
The back of Percy's mind whispered warnings of the challenge that lay ahead. How could she shield her sister from the enigmatic presence that always seemed to find her? The thought of exposing her baby sister to any potential danger again made her heart pound unease.
Percy's concerns magnified with each stolen glance in the man's direction. His penetrating gaze, though captivating, held an air of mystery and unpredictability. The thought of her sister being caught in the gravitational pull of his intensity only intensified her fear. She couldn't let this new world take her sister. Their world had already taken their mum and Estelle's father away from them.
With a heavy sigh, Percy's thoughts reaffirmed her commitment to safeguarding her baby sister. She resolved to keep her distance from the man with the captivating green eyes, however difficult it might prove to be. Her sister's well-being remained paramount, and she couldn't afford to take any unnecessary risks.
As she glanced at the man one final time, a flicker of trepidation mixed with curiosity danced in Percy's sea-green eyes. She knew that the path ahead would require caution and unwavering determination. Protecting her sister would guide her choices, but the allure of the unknown still lingered, leaving her torn between her responsibilities and her quest for understanding.
***