All of the seats were flipped over the tables, and the music cuts off. You can hear the waiters and the busboys talking about what they were going to do once the shift was over, but besides that you can hear a pin drop. As the counters get wiped down at the bar, the barman excuses himself as he wipes around a solitary woman sitting on a stool. The clock chimed on the hour and the woman got up. Before leaving, she asks the bartender. 

“Can I get a drink to go?

She exited the cafe with her whiskey shot in a styrofoam cup, taking a sip. She pulled out her phone and started looking for an Uber or Lyft to bring her home. Just then, a car drove to the closest parking meter. A man walks out with his arms outstretched for a hug. 

“Hey baby! It’s so good to see you.”

He hugs her, she doesn’t hug back. “Man, I had one hell of a day.”

“Yeah?” She replies back.

“Yeah… Yeah we sold close to a million units this month.”

“Really? That’s crazy. Wow. Good for you.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate it…

There’s a shuffle between the two, and it was almost as if you could hear a sigh from the biting wind. He adjusts his scarf and picks at a mole at the back of his hand. She goes back to her phone looking for a ride. 

“Lilly, I just have to say, you look beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean… The night’s still young! Want to go for a drive?”

“We can, yeah.”

“Well, we don’t _have _to. We could always do something else.”

“A ride’s fine.”

He starts to walk her over to the car, but she stops herself. 

“Actually, you know what? I’m beat. Let’s just call it for tonight, huh?”

His jaw is slack and he blinks as if she slapped him in the face.

“I’m sorry, I thought we were meeting up for a date tonight? Is that- is that no what’s 

Happening?”

“I’m just tired, James. Let’s call it for tonight. We can do another time.”

James slapped his pockets and sighs, then starts laughing, patting Lilly on the shoulder.

“You’re joking! That’s what you’re doing. You’re joking, aren’t you?”

“No, I just don’t want to be out anymore. It’s cold and it’s been a long day, we can go 

another time.”

Just then some of the cafe employees walk out. One of them shouted out 

“You can’t park out here overnight, it’s loitering. You have to park somewhere else.”

James and Lilly exchange a look, Lilly started walking the other direction. James ran around in front of her and put his hand out to stop her. She looked at him, he looked back. 

“What is the problem, Lilly?”

“You heard him, you can’t park there.”

“Well I am for right now.”

There’s a lethal pause. James starts up again.

“What is wrong with you?”

“You mean you don’t know?”

James shakes his head, running his fingers through his hair. He starts to think of why she might be mad at him. The restaurant employee shouts again.

“I’m serious! The owner- if he sees your car, he’ll have it towed.”

“Thanks, man, I appreciate it.” James huffs back. Lilly laughs. 

“What’s so funny?”

“You left me alone in that cafe for 3 fucking hours and you didn’t even know what you did 

Wrong. That is crazy. You look at me like I’m crazy but Jim? That shit is really crazy.”

“Oh my god, that’s what this is about? It was a mistake, I thought-”

“A mistake? A mistake would have been 15 minutes late. The restaurant is closed. I 

don’t know how you could have been any later!”

“I- I just read the text wrong!”

“Your reading comprehension is not my problem. You want to take that up with someone 

who cares, call your third grade teacher. “

“Lilly, I-”

“I’m done.”

Lilly pivoted off of her heels and turned around, walking the opposite direction. She turned her phone screen off and started walking. James was shouting nonsense in the background, but the rustling of the tree leaves above her were enough to drown him out. She looked down at her hand and realized she still had some drink left and swallowed it down in one gulp. She didn’t know how long she would have to walk to make it back to her apartment, but she was going to walk the whole damn way.