At first the coffee cup just slightly tipped and it almost looked as if it were going to fall back into place. But it was then that the man's arm reached out as he tried to settle the cup when he accidentally sent the whole tray flipping out of his hand.

Then suddenly, with no time to even blink, the coffee came falling downward. It hit my shirt just enough to send the top flying off and allowing the contents of the cup to spill out on to the front of my white sweater.

By the time the cup actually hit the pavement, I had a nice, big, brown, fresh stain that smelled of coffee up and down my entire front.

Did I happen to mention, I hate coffee.

"I am so sorry!" Yelled an all to familiar voice.

I looked away from the horrors of my shirt, to find the face of the culprit.

I observed the same pale faced and defined features I had seen just the day before. It was Mason, except this time his cool composure I remember from yesterday was replaced with a frantic, hectic boy with cheeks a vibrant red. He looked so much more real now. Take away his charismatic aura and the business background and it was like I was seeing a stranger.

"Gabby! I can't- I didn't mean to."

"No, it's okay. It's fine. It was my fault."

"I can't believe I dropped it, it just happened. I am so, so sorry!"

Then it was as if the surprise of the moment had faded away, and Mason was falling back into his character. Before I knew it I was being escorted inside, and sat down at a back table away from other customers.

"I can't begin to say how sorry I am. Here," He pulled off his black jacket in one motion. "Wear this, it'll cover the spillage."

"No, it's fine." I tried to wave away the jacket, but I didn't do much because suddenly it was being draped over my shoulders.

"I'll buy you a new shirt. There's a nice store up the street we can go to."

"You don't have to buy me anything, really. I didn't look where I was going."

This really took a turn, didn't it? I don't think I've worn another boy's jacket since my senior prom with Mr. Gullible.

"No, I'm buying you a new shirt and that's the end of that."

Yes, this definitely was the Mason I knew from yesterday. He's considerate and kind, but also direct and unwavering in his ways.

We sat there in an uncomfortable silence before he finally excused himself to use the bathroom. So I was alone again, sitting in the booth of a coffee shop, on a date, with the guy who just spilled his drink all over me.

The smell of coffee beans hung in the air and the whole place was far to warm. Or maybe it was just the strange sensation of my coffee-soaked sweater rubbing against my bare skin. Either way, I already wanted to go back home.

What did I really expect? A fairy tale coffee date with prince charming? I must've forgotten a few important details waking up this morning. That for one, I met Mason yesterday, and two, this is the REAL world. Even this close to Christmas reality still sucks. I'm such an idiot.

It's fine. I'll just suffer through this and get back home. Then, I'll send the mysterious card board box back to it's owner and return to the way everything was before the terrible holiday season came and took my life for a spin. Just a few more never ending weeks to get through, and everything will be back to normal.

Mason walked up then, returning to his side of the two person booth. When he sat down, a forced smile played on his lips, and I did my best to replicate the gesture.

Mason started, "Listen, I'm really sorry."

"No," I interrupted him, "Let's pretend it never happened."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course!" I was also sure I wanted to go home, but I didn't say that.

Mason smiled again, this time it was a bit more natural and easy going. "Okay then. I had it all planned out, how I was going to welcome you, all the way to buying you a coffee, but that kind of went out the door when I thought you were a no-show." He ended his sentence in a breathy chuckle as he reminisced in self-pity.

The poor guy. I'm horrible. I'm a horrible person who makes guys reminisce in self-pity!

Now it was my turn to drown him in apologies. "I'm sorry about that. I lost track of time when I was picking what shoes to wear, and then it all went to shit, very fast."

He laughed, and it was like the whole mood lightened up again. "Wow, so you were really debating over a pair of shoes, enough so to make you a half hour late?"

"Maybe." My hands found the hem of his jacket as I started folding the cloth mindlessly between my fingers.

"I'll admit, that makes me feel a bit better about myself."

"Don't get to cocky, I haven't been on a date in a long time so I had no idea what I was in for."

Oh no. Did I really just say that? My eyes found his just in time for his next statement.

"A date?" Mason spoke the words steadily, so much so as to make it impossible for me to even pretend like I hadn't heard what he'd said.

But, I pretended anyway.

"What?"

He repeated himself, "This is a date?"

I bit the inside of my mouth, debating how to play this. Should I step back, and finally get my life back under control again? Or should I play it risky, and go for it?

"I-I uh... I don't know. You tell me." That was real smooth, Gabby. Real smooth.

Mason smiled over the table. Just then, a waitress walked up. "Can I get your girl friend anything, sir?"

The lady stood there so convincingly, I thought for a moment it was true. Her apron was tied tighter than my bun, and she stood with her notepad out ready for anything.

"Oh, we're not dating. I mean, unless you want to be... Since this is a date." Mason now looked over at me with a stare so fierce I felt pressure as I searched my mind for words.

"What?" My mind went blank again.

"Ma'am, what would you like to drink? I have other customers waiting."

I scrambled my mind for an answer. "Coca Cola, please. No ice."

The waitress gave me a look, before scribbling down my order and walking away.

I cautiously brought my gaze back to Mason, who was also watching me quite intently. Mason continued, almost as if nothing strange had ever happened. "When was the last time you went on a date?"

I didn't really want to answer honestly, but the words escaped before I had much time to evaluate them. "Six years."

"Woah, that's a... that's a while." Mason's mouth fell open.

"Yeah, it has. But this isn't a date if you don't want it to be." I tried to clear the air.

"Yes, of course. This isn't a date." Mason responded with a tone of authority.

I couldn't help it, that made my heart squeeze just a little bit. I didn't say anything, because there was nothing to say. Six years is a long time, but it's all in good reason. I'm going to become the CEO of a company, where I'll get a beautiful pay check at the end of every month, and no boy will distract me.

"This isn't a date, because I'm going to take you on a real one."

The waitress came back with my Coke, just in time to hear Mason's declaration. One of her eyebrows raised in curiosity before she turned her back to continue on her way.

"You're gonna what?" I think I've been using the word, what, a little to excessively today.

"You said you haven't been on a date in six years, and I'm going to break the streak. This," Mason gestured to the coffee shop. "is not it. I'm going to do it right."

"Mason, don't do this just to make me feel better about myself. If I'm going on a date with anyone it's got to be real. Not to make up for my six years of abstinence."

"This is real! I like you, Gabby. Even if this has been a day long friendship, I'm okay with that. Yeah, it's a bit in an attempt to make up for the coffee I spilled all over you fifteen minutes ago, but it's also because I think you're nice... and hopefully you think I'm not bad either."

I looked at him, pondering the idea. One date. That's all this will be. It'll actually give me something to talk about next Christmas when my mom hounds me about my love life.

"Fine, just tell me when and where and I'll try not to be thirty minutes late."