Notes Between Seasons

Anya's shift started right after her lectures. She was still a bit drowsy, the weight of sleeplessness lingering beneath her eyelids, but the lively buzz of the restaurant and the warm chatter of her colleagues began to pull her into the present. The familiar scents of sizzling food and freshly brewed coffee mixed with the soft clatter of plates and murmured conversations, creating a comforting backdrop to her routine.

She quickly slipped into the staff room, the cool fluorescent lights flickering slightly overhead. With practiced efficiency, she changed out of her peach dress and into the crisp black trousers and t-shirt that made up the restaurant uniform. The green apron felt like a protective layer, a uniform she wore not just for work but almost like armor that helped her navigate the busy environment. As she tied her hair back into a neat ponytail, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror the soft tiredness still lingering, but determination shining through.

Just then, Elias stepped into the office area. His presence was impossible to miss. Dressed in a tailored dark suit that emphasized his tall frame, his ice-blue eyes scanned the room before briefly locking onto hers. The sharp cut of his jacket, the polished shoes, and the understated silver watch on his wrist all spoke of someone used to control and precision.

For a fleeting moment, the clamor of the restaurant dimmed around them. Anya noticed a quiet authority in the way he moved an elegance that set him apart from both the staff and the typical guests. There was something unspoken in his glance, a recognition that went beyond the casual. She could tell immediately that Elias wasn't just another visitor; he belonged to a different world, one far removed from the tables and menus she juggled daily.

Their eyes met again, and a subtle exchange passed between them a flicker of curiosity, a hint of surprise, and something unspoken that pulled at Anya's chest. Yet before the moment could deepen, a sudden burst of laughter from a nearby table jolted them both back to reality. Elias gave a small, polite nod and moved further inside, leaving Anya with a strange mix of excitement and unease fluttering beneath her calm exterior.

Later, during a brief lull in the evening rush, Kristina pulled Anya aside with a knowing look. "That guy you bumped into?" she whispered, glancing over her shoulder. "He's from senior management at HQ. Big deal. They don't usually come down here unless it's for something serious." Her voice dropped even lower, a mix of surprise and admiration threading through her words. "I saw him talking to the manager earlier heard they've got some important meetings lined up."

Anya nodded slowly, the information settling uneasily in her chest. A strange flutter stirred within her part curiosity, part something she couldn't quite name. She tried to push the feeling aside, focusing instead on the steady rhythm of the night's orders and the steady clatter of plates. Yet, despite her best efforts, her eyes kept drifting back to the office door, where Elias had vanished moments before.

Each time she caught herself staring, she quickly looked away, cheeks warming with an unexpected awareness. The night stretched on, the usual buzz of the restaurant masking the quiet tension that now hummed just beneath the surface of her thoughts.

When the shift ended close to 9 PM, Anya gathered her things, preparing to leave. To her surprise, Elias was already waiting near the exit. His calm presence made her heart beat a little faster.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice low but warm. "Need a lift?"

Anya hesitated, smoothing her apron nervously. "Oh, thank you, but I'll take the train," she replied politely.

He smiled but didn't push. "How do you get to the station from here?"

She glanced down, almost shy. "I walk... it takes about thirty minutes."

His eyebrows lifted, eyes wide with concern. "Thirty minutes? At night?"

She nodded softly, avoiding his gaze. "Yeah... I'm used to it."

He stepped closer, voice gentle but firm. "Then how about I drive you there?"

Anya bit her lip but knew she couldn't refuse him. "Okay," she whispered, barely audible.

They walked together to the car park, their steps echoing softly against the cool concrete. Elias instinctively reached out, opening the driver's door for her with a quiet politeness that caught her off guard. As she slid into the seat, the subtle yet familiar scent of his cologne enveloped her, grounding her nerves with a calm she hadn't expected. Taking a deep breath, she settled in, watching as Elias adjusted the GPS, setting the route toward the train station.

The car pulled away smoothly, city lights blurring into streaks as they cruised through the evening streets. The hum of the engine filled the comfortable silence between them. After a few moments, Elias glanced over, his ice-blue eyes meeting her dark, thoughtful ones in the rearview mirror.

"So," he began softly, breaking the quiet, "how are you planning to take care of the babies now?" His tone held a teasing lilt, and she blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, a flush creeping up her cheeks. "I…That just slipped out. No babies," she added quickly, laughing nervously. "I didn't want to have trouble with the guests."

He chuckled warmly, the sound easing the tension between them. "Why'd you say that then?"

"It just popped into my head," he said with a grin. "I figured you don't need extra trouble with guests at work."

She laughed, the tension easing between them.

The rest of the drive passed with a lightness neither expected, their conversation weaving effortlessly between laughter and comfortable silences as the train station drew nearer.

The city streets blurred by as they neared the station. When Elias parked and they stepped out, the night was crisp spring air, but still chilly enough to make them pull their jackets tighter.

"Are you sure the trains are still running?" Elias asked, looking up at the station lights.

Anya nodded confidently. "Yeah, last one's around 10:05 PM. It's only 9:20 now."

They walked inside together. Elias checked the departure boards and saw the times clearly displayed.

"That's cutting it close," he said, looking at her with a half-smile.

"Exactly why I was going to walk," she said quietly. "I didn't want to wait."

He could hardly suppress his laughter at her stubbornness. "You can wait, you know. I can just drop you here and go."

"It's fine," she said quickly. "I'm used to it."

He studied her for a moment, then pulled out his phone to check the map.

"Where exactly do you live?" he asked.

She pointed vaguely in the direction she usually took.

He frowned thoughtfully. "That's about 20 minutes by car. But if you waited for the train and then got home from the station, it'd be closer to 45 minutes total."

She was speechless.

"Well?" he prompted, a playful glint in his eye.

She sighed, then smiled weakly. "Guess I'm getting a ride."

Back in the car, Elias started the engine. The quiet between them felt comfortable this time. He glanced over.

"So... how long have you worked here?"

"Almost five months now," she said, fiddling with her sleeve.

"And you never told me?"

She shrugged, cheeks coloring. "I guess I didn't want to."

He chuckled softly. "Maybe I should ask more questions."

Anya laughed more than once, feeling her earlier fatigue dissolve.

When they finally pulled up near her apartment, she reached out and opened the door before he could do it for her.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of gratitude and something unspoken.

Elias lingered for a moment, then asked, "So... when are you free next?"