MARCH 16,2024
4.00 P.M
Evan had not yet had the chance to meet this Barty, despite asking every boy who entered the coffee shop what their names were.
None of them were Barty and none of them knew him, by now even he was starting to think that those two girls had just made him up to play a prank on him.
At least today at work with him there was Remus who, although laughing in his face after hearing what had happened, was still looking for this mysterious figure among the customers.
It wasn't a matter of life or death, but Evan had always been too curious and now was no different.
"Hey Evan, how are you doing?Is Remus in the back?"
A soft voice forced him to look up from the counter he was cleaning.
When he looked up the first thing he saw was a thick head of red hair and two eyes as green as a sea stone
"Hey Lily, I'm good, what about you?
Yes,Remus is in the back.
The supplier arrived today and it's up to him to check that everything has arrived.
He should finish soon, but if you want, I can help you for now "
Lily smiled before looking into the bag she was holding with a thoughtful look
"Well, if you don't mind, it would be great.
You know, Mary and I met here, it seemed like a nice place to celebrate our 4th anniversary"
Evan nodded, Remus had told him the whole story when he tried to explain to him why he needed that table free on that particular day
Stepping away from the counter, he approached Lily to take the bag from her hands, struggling a little at the sudden addition of weight
"It's a beautiful idea! What can i help you with?"
Lily smiled before starting to tell him what to do: while she arranged the table with flowers and candles, he was supposed to put the string of fairy lights and the Polaroids nearby.
They started working undisturbed, Lily stopped every now and then to reorganise everything and Evan laughed, seeing her so confused and agitated.
He had met Lily and Mary when they had just become a couple but that didn't stop them from seeming so close that Evan had believed they had been together for years
Remus had destroyed that idea shortly after the two had returned home, saying that he hadn't had the chance to get to know Mary yet, but was glad that Lily was getting along so well with her.
As Evan turned to ask Lily which of the two photos he was holding she preferred to be placed first, Remus came out of the back room with clipboard in hand and a concentrated look
"Ev, the supplier brought everything and there is nothing damaged, I'll mark it on the calendar on the fridge-
Oh hey Lils,when did you arrive?"
Lily she ran to him and hugged him tightly forcing him to drop the clipboard so he wouldn't hurt her
"Hi !! I have arrived not so long ago but I needed to start organising immediately and,since you were busy, I asked Evan for help"
Remus nodded before looking at the decorations Lily and Evan had placed around the table
"Well, everything here looks great and,Ev, if you want my opinion put the polaroid of the trip to the lake first, then the one with mary and lils at karaoke, so at least they are in chronological order "
Evan looked at Lily ,who nodded in agreement, before placing the photos in the order suggested by Remus
"It's 4:30 pm, I didn't even notice.
Lily, when is Mary arriving?"
Lily took her phone and reread Mary's last message, then answered his question.
"She should be here any minute now...
Evan I know I've been bothering you a lot today, but would you do me a favor and welcome Mary at the door?
I need Remus here for moral support."
Evan nodded and,before he could even start to speak,he saw Mary park the car from the window of the coffee shop
He ran to the door and signaled Lily to hide
"Hello and welcome to the Oblivion Bar !!
I'm Evan and I'll be your server today,what would you like to get?"
Mary looked at him strangely before laughing a bit
"Hi Evan, I'm pretty sure we know each other already, but just in case you lost your memory, I'm Mary , Lily's girlfriend.
You know, Lily?
The same girl who called and told me to come here because you needed help ?"
Evan held back his laughter at the mocking tone in Mary's voice, before grabbing her by the arm and without explanation dragging her to the table he and Lily had decorated
Even though he had participated in the furnishing of that table, once he stopped in front of it he could not help but notice its beauty and be surprised by it.
Mary on the other hand seemed much more surprised than he was: her eyes were shiny and she held her hands over her mouth which was wide open
She seemed to be shaking a little too and maybe that was what made Lily speak first.
"Hi baby, happy anniversary!!
I know that this is a bit corny, but I guess love makes all of us a bit corny
We met here just over 4 years ago and shortly after, on March 16th we had our first date here
At first I chose this place because Remus was there and it made me feel safer, but after less than an hour I remember suggesting that we leave the coffee shop because I've never felt so comfortable with anyone before you
I wanted to remind you of that day, because you changed my life and for this I am infinitely grateful to you, I love you Mary."
Mary was already in tears halfway through her speech and had to lean on Evan to keep from falling to her knees on the floor.
Evan and Remus were almost as moved as she was, Evan had even thought that Lily would ask her hand in marriage right there in front of everyone, given the beauty and emotion of the speech
When she managed to steady her shaking knees, Mary ran to Lily and, taking her face in her hands, kissed her with all the love she could express.
When they broke apart to breathe, they looked into each other's eyes, and if Evan hadn't been close enough, he would never have been able to hear Mary's whispers of I love you over and over again.
At that moment Evan knew it was time to walk away and leave give him their space: he looked at Remus and ,with a nod, they both went back behind the counter
Remus was the first one to break the peaceful silence
"I feel single, do you feel single? Because I do, I feel very single , single and alone"
Evan laughed before shaking is head softly
"If you had the balls to actually talk to Sirius, then maybe there would be only one of us who could complain about being single.
And don't look at me like that, I don't understand why you still try to convince me that Sirius isn't in love with you as much as you are with him: every creature with two eyes can see how much he drools over you "
Remus's expression was very reminiscent of a child who had just dropped ice cream on the ground but, before he could argue, a customer entered the coffee shop, making them both sigh: it was time to get back to work