*Phoenix's POV* 

I entered Calibra Cafe in my ordinary  clothes, a purple T-Shirt that read "Too Cool For You", that i only wore as irony because of my name, and a pair of jeans that had tears in the knees.  

I ran my hand through my long, dark brown hair which made it fall into my eyes.  No matter how many times the organization told me to cut it,  i refused to cut it any shorter than to my shoulders. Instead,  whenever I am sent on a mission i simply pulled it into a tight ponytail. 

As i walked up to an empty table i noticed a guy sitting in the corner of the store,  reading a book i had read thousands of times before called Life Before You. Instead  of sitting down at the table I walked over to him. 

"Can I help you?" He asked,  not looking up from his book.  He had short, neatly cut bright red hair and the prettiest eyes I had ever seen.  They were green with blotches of blue and lines of gold running through them.  He wore a black shirt which i could not see what was written on it.  

"May I sit with you? I noticed you are reading Life Before You,  which is a fine novel. I was hopeing to have a chance to talk with someone who has such a good taste in literature. " I said formally, smiling softly. 

"Good lord,  who are you? A damn prince? Don't speak to me so formally,  it makes me uncomfortable. " He said,  scowling at me.  

"Sorry," I said sitting down even though he hadn't replied that i could or not.  "I'm just used to talking formally I guess. It was just how i was taught." 

"Oh ok. You're parents were good people to teach you to be polite... " He said, as a waiter brought him his coffee he had no doubt ordered before i showed up.  I gave him a quick order,  informing him to charge us separately, and turned back to him as he walked away. 

"My parents weren't the ones to teach me. I was in foster care for most of my childhood. My parents died when I was only about Eight years old." I explained, shaking my head. "I actually was in foster care with my little brother until I turned eighteen two years ago..." 

"Oh... I'm so sorry... At least you were able to get him out of foster care after you turned eighteen, right?" He asked, smiling at me. "How old is he now?" 

I shook my head.  "I can't get him out of foster care until i have a permanent job and good living environment. I was actually accepted here for a job starting next week,  and I'm going apartment hunting later on today.  The only problem is i can't afford a good enough apartment myself.  I'll have to search for an roommate some other time. " 

"I'm looking for a way to get out of my parents house now that im eighteen. I've had the same job since i was about sixteen.  Maybe we could be roommates. I'd love to meet your brother, if he's any bit as charming as you." He said laughing.  

"Sure, that sounds like a good solution! I'm sure Roman would love to meet you, he'd probably find you the coolest person ever.  I'm Phoenix, by the way. " I said, holding out my hand for a handshake. 

"I'm Alik." he said simply,  grabbing my hand and giving it a firm shake.  My coffee arrived at that moment.  

"I didn't know dates involved handshakes. " the waiter remarked  with a sly smirk. 

I felt my cheeks start to burn as i shook my head.  I was about to correct him when Alik spoke up. "Then you must be going on dates with the wrong type of people. " he shot the waiter a look that frightened the waiter so much he ran away. 

"So.  Am I going to join you for apartment  hunting?" Alik asked me,  smiling.

I nodded. "Yeah,  just give me your number and we'll go later." He stood up, placing two twenties on the table and held out his hand.  It was that moment i was able to read his shirt,  which made me burst out laughing.