We enter the café. We both sit in front of each other. A waitress with a short striped dress arrives by our table, as she slides on the wheels attached to her boots. "What can I get you two?" Her red painted lips say smiling. She's wearing a pair of black glasses. Her brown hair is short and curly. It lies loose under her hat. Her blue eyes are looking at us. "Well, I would take a burger. A cheese burger." He says as he close the menu. She looks at me. I open my menu. "A salad would be great." I say smiling. I am not really hungry. She smiles at us with a nod. She slides back to the counter with our orders. "So, are you planning on going anywhere at Christmas?" He asks. Christmas. I always loved that holiday. My favorite actually. Dad would take me and we would go and buy the tree together. Then all three of us would help in placing the lights and everything else. I would always get a jumper and a painting. I always loved my Christmas holiday. Now, I just stay home with my own boring tree along with wine bottles and books. I don't visit mom on Christmas. Not anymore. "No. I will just stay here." I say. "Oh okay." He says. "You?" I ask him. He would probably visit his parents house. Spend time with his family. "Mom, Dad and Vanilla will come by. They are flying here in three days." He says smiling. So his family will come to him. I think about asking mom to visit. But, I know that she would rather stay where she lost her husband. The waitress arrives with our food. Charlie thanks here and then she slides away. We start to eat. Cheese starts to escape his burger sandwich. His hand is full of cheese. "God, I am the cheese man, now." He says as he looks at his full of cheese hands. I laugh as I place the fork that contains salad into my mouth. "I will go to the bathroom." He says with a smile. I nod at him. I finish my salad plate. I wipe my mouth as he comes back from the bathroom, with paper towels wiping his wet clean hands. "Shall we go?" He asks as he gets out his wallet. I nod as I stand up. He takes out a couple of dollars and places them on the table. We walk back to the cold Miami.

We are walking with bare feet into the sand. We decided to walk back home through the ocean's road. I am holding my boots in my hand and we walk. The cold ocean's air brush against my face and hair. I can still feel my skin burn, where my tattoo lies. "I think the ocean is such a mystery, don't you?" I say as I look at the ocean. "Yeah. I also think that you're a mystery." He says as he looks back from the ocean to me. I roll my eyes trying to hide my embarrassment. I can feel his warm soft fingers push between mine. I just let him hold on my hand between his. We walk alongside the ocean, hand in hand.

We arrive back at the building. "I really enjoy it." I say as we hop out of the elevator into the same floor. "I did as well." He says with a smile. We just stand there for a moment. We are staring at each other, smiling to one another. "Are you back, Charlie?" We hear Miss John's sweet voice. He breaks the contact as he turns and looks at his grandmother. "Yeah, grandma. I am here." He says as he walks into the apartment. I walk to my apartment's door. He gives me a little wave as he enters the apartment. I wave back at him. I go into my apartment. I take off my full of sand boots. I hang my coat. I pull off my jeans. I pull on a pair of comfortable sweatpants instead. I lay in bed. I am again in a too good mood for writing anything about my day. I get a text. I check my phone.

* Charlie: War?

Coraline: No Peace. *

I hit send as I smile. I place the phone back on the nightstand. And again for the second time, I have a night full of sleep.

I wake up on my phone's annoying alarm sound. I have a quick shower. I pull on my jeans. I wear a V-line neck grey blouse. It shows a great part of my crow tattoo. I also took a glimpse at my new tattoo as I took my shower. I pull my hair in a bun. I apply some mascara. I paint my lips with a nude brown lipstick. I place a black scarf to keep my mostly visible neck warm. I grab my bag while placing my feet in my heels. I pull on my coat on my way out. I stand in front of the elevator. I hear the apartment's door open. Miss John's. "Okay, grandma." He says as he kisses her forehead goodbye. He stands next to me. "Good morning." He says smiling. "Good morning." I say smiling back. It looks like he got a shave. He smells like an aftershave cream or something, mixed up with his strong perfume. We walk into the elevator as soon as it opens up. Silence is again our guest. It is okay. I still like silence. We walk out of the elevator, and then out of the building. "Would you mind, if I come by to choose a book for Vanilla? It is a Christmas present?" He asks smiling. I smile back. So sweet of him to get his sister a book. "Yeah, it is fine." I say cause I am sure Mr Banes won't mind. We both walk separate ways. I walk to the metro station as always.

I arrive at the bookstore and into Mr Banes's office. "Hey, Mr Banes?" I ask before I go outside. "Yes, dear?" He answers. "A friend of mine will come by to grab a book, is that okay?" I ask smiling nervously. "Oh, yes. It is okay." He says smiling. I nod to him in gratitude. I walk back into the bookstore with a wide smile drawn across my lips.