5 years later* Ruby

I wake up to leave for my job. I take a quick shower and head into my room. Blade my cat is sitting on my bed. He jumps as I throw my pants on the bed. I clasp my black bra and start to button up my shirt. I pull on my black pants. I pull my hair into a ponytail. I notice the music note necklace on my neck. I apply little makeup and walk to the door. I grab my bag on my way to the door. I wear my black heels. Blade starts to rub his head to my legs. "I have to go, bud." I say as I pet his head before pulling on my coat and going out. I get into my mustang. All my friends back at work thinks it is so cool to own a mustang while being a doctor. I check my watch to find that I have some time before my shift starts. I park the car in front of a coffee shop in my way to the hospital. I found this job one year ago right after my graduation. Louisa started studying but she traveled aboard. Back to Canada. Ash is now working in Paris. He's getting married in a month. As for Albert, he's already married one year ago. He works with me in the same hospital. He lives a few blocks away from me. I enter the coffee shop. It is warm in here. I walk up to the register. "Welcome to Woods's! What can I-" he stops as he meets my face. Our eyes meet. He's grown. He's wearing a light blue shirt. A black tie is laying there around his neck and down his chest. He just stares at me. I stare back. I missed him. Five years? "Ma'am?" I hear a woman say from behind me. "Are you going to order or what?" She says. I clear my throat as he does the same. I check my watch. Shit. I am running late. I excuse myself leaving him behind. Not actually wanting to.

I can't take him off my mind. "You okay?" Albert says as he hands me my coffee mug. "Yeah." I lie as I take a sip from my mug. "Good luck with tomorrow's surgery." He says. Shit. I totally forgot. I have a heart surgery tomorrow to perform so I get my promotion. I will then move to another big hospital. I still haven't stopped dreaming about being either a writer or a music maker. But, my job now doesn't suck, at least. "Yeah." I say as he leaves me alone in the stuff room. I sight as I finish my coffee.

"Try having a good night of sleep." Albert says as I pull on my black coat. Yeah, I might try this. But, I don't think it might work. "See you tomorrow, Al." I say as I give him a little wave, leaving to my car. I get into the car. I sight as I drive to back to that coffee shop. Luckily, he's just closing. I park the car and get out fast to catch up with him before he leaves. "Tobias." I call after him. He turns to me with eyes both filled with shock.
                   
                                ~~~~~~~~~~

Tobias

I grumble in bed as I hear Elite's hard knock on my door. I get up and walk to my tiny bathroom. I have been using this bathroom for the last five years. I take a shower. I get out into the room. I pull on my usual shop's uniform. I button up the blue shirt. I brush my hair as I take a one last look at myself in the mirror. I walk outside to meet Elite in the kitchen. She's dressed in her usual work suit. She's a lawyer in a big office. "You want coffee?" She asks as I take a seat. I shake my head. She places a plate of eggs and sausage in front of me. She places a kiss on my lips as she walk back to get her mug from the counter. We have been dating for almost two years now. It happened in her third year of college. I just realized that she was always there for me no matter what and she told me that she's been in love with me since we were kids. I like her. I just don't love her like she loves me. "I have a very tough case coming up." She says as she takes a sip from her coffee. "Good luck." I say as I check my watch. "I have to go, honey. I will see you tonight." I say as I get up to leave. She pecks my lips softly before I leave the apartment. I walk to my shop like everyday. It is not far from our apartment. I arrive to find Natalie standing there already. Natalie Goldsmith is a nineteen years old girl who attends college here. She goes to art college. She's studying painting. "Good morning, Mr Woods." She says as I open up the shop. "Good morning, Nat." I say as we enter the shop. We both hand our jackets in the basement. She starts to sweep the floor as I clean the tables. We start having customers who are picking up coffee and maybe a treat for the morning. I stand by the cashier as she prepares the coffee with some help from me when it is all crowded. "See you soon." I say to a customer who leaves. The line before him starts to move again. "Welcome to Woods's! What can I-" Words stop in my mouth as I look up at the customer. Her red hair is still the same. She is wearing it in a bun. She's grown. But, she's still as beautiful as I remember. I just stare at her as she does the same. The old lady behind her mutters something to her. She leaves. My eyes follow her as she exists the shop and goes into my mustang. I can't believe she still has it. I take a deep breath as I turn to next customer.

Natalie is pulling on her jacket. "I will take the night shift tomorrow, sir." She says. I nod as I understand she has classes next morning. I wave at her as she leaves the shop. It's almost nighttime. She gets into a car with a guy. Maybe her boyfriend. I feel my phone ringing in my back pocket. I take it out to see Elite's name their. "Hey." I say as I place the phone against my ear. "Hi. How are you?" She says. "I am good. You?" I say. "I am okay. I will be late. I am so sorry. But, you can order dinner, okay?" She says. I sight. As if I didn't do that last night. She always stays late. Being a lawyer isn't as easy as it seems. "Babe, say something." She says. "It is okay." I say. "Okay, bye. Love you." She says as she hangs up before I can say bye. I sight as I close the cashier. I grab my jacket and pull it on, on my way out of the shop. I close the shop. "Tobias." I hear her voice calling my name. I almost forgot how it sounded coming from her mouth. I turn to her with eyes full of shock.