NIGHT OUT WITH THE GIRLS
"You left without saying goodbye Anne," Belle folded her arms under her chest, looking sternly at Anne.
Anne was slightly annoyed with Belle, "For God's sake, just say what you want to say Belle, and leave my room"
Anne wasn't comfortable with showing her skin to people, she has always been an introvert and not an exhibitionist, she hated when people banged into her room and saw her naked body.
"Fine, we were waiting for you Anne, after a long day at work, we waited patiently at the main entrance, we didn't want to come to your office post because of Mr. Richmond, we did not want to put you in trouble, for your information, Mr Richmond hates idle people"
"Mr Richmond, please! But it was our closing time, there is no way he would have been angry"
"He has sensitive ears, he hates noise especially the sound of people talking near his office"
Anne was beginning to doubt Belle's words, "Mr. Dawson and I were talking outside his office and he did not bother us"
Belle looked thoughtful, "Mr Dawson, the Human Resources guy?
Anne nodded her head in reply.
"Today was your first day at work and Dawson putting you through your duty would not have bothered him, but me coming to your post to call you would have irritated him, let's just say Mr. Richmond has his issues, and because of that issues, we waited for you at the main entrance, only for the security guard to tell us you had already left earlier, it was disappointing"
Anne was already getting defensive, "I did not know the way to your department, I didn't even know my way around, Mr. Dawson was the one that showed me to Mr. Ashvery's office, he gave me a tour around the company, and during the closing period, he escorted me to the parking lot"
"Mr Dawson did all that without complaining or murmuring? Belle asked in disbelief, not believing her ears.
Anne shrugged her shoulders casually, "Yes he did," she didn't understand why Belle was behaving as if someone told her that the sky had fallen.
"Wow! Mr Dawson hardly helps anybody, he is very uptight and looks down on everyone, but do you know the craziest thing about him? He loves the color black and wears it to work every day"
Mr. Dawson, she knew and the one Belle described were opposites, apart from the love of the color Black, Anne wondered, maybe he was just being nice to me because I am new, she concluded in her mind.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Someone was knocking on the door, "I want to go outside for some ice cream, do you guys care for some? Coco opened the door and stepped into the room.
"No dinner tonight Coco?" Belle asked.
"I am feeling lazy tonight, so I was thinking maybe we should eat out tonight," Coco said simply.
"Sounds like a good idea but I will miss your cooking," Belle agreed, clapping her hands together.
Anne nodded her head in agreement, went to her wardrobe, picked a black jacket, and wore it over her dress.
They left the housing unit, and walking down the tarred street, the houses on the street looked similar to Anne's, terraces were the style of house in vogue.
People returned home after a long day at work, fatigue written on their faces as they walked past them.
They walked down the street and entered a nearby ice cream shop,
The lighting is soft and muted, with low-hanging pendant lamps and individual wall sconces creating a warm, intimate glow.
The walls are adorned with colorful works of art, ranging from large murals to colored framed prints, all of which reflect the café's particular style and personality. Menus and special boards are also thoughtfully designed. The owner of this ice cream cafe was impressive, the cafe was appealing to the eyes of adults and children likewise.
Anne was surprised to see people eating ice cream in the evening, she thought Coco was just being weird wanting to eat ice cream in the evening but it seemed to be normal in this place, the cafe was filled with customers.
Luckily for them, They saw an empty table.
A lady walked up to their table, she wore a white gown with a light pink apron over her garment, her black hair was tied with a band, she had a mole at the side of her nose, and her dark eyes smiling at them friendly, "Coco and Belle, how are you guys today?"
Belle smiled and replied, "We are good Brittany, how is Prince Charming?
Her eyes looking at Anne curiously, "He is fine, I see a new face"
"She is our new housemate, her name is Anne," Coco replied.
"Good to see you, Anne, I hope Belle is not giving you headaches like she does to Coco?"
"What! I do not, Coco tell them the truth," Belle protested playfully.
Coco smiled without replying
Anne ordered vanilla flavor, Coco ordered chocolate flavor and Belle ordered strawberry flavor, Brittany wrote down their orders in a notepad and left.
A man dressed in black trousers, a white shirt, and an apron over his garment, who Anne assumed was a staff, was serving a customer.
"Good evening Issy" Belle greeted, enthusiastic.
The guy turned his head and smiled brightly when he saw Belle and walked up to their table.
"Coco and Belle, what a pleasure seeing you guys here"
Just then the waitress came with their orders, dropping the cups filled with ice cream on the table as she left with the tray to attend to other customers.
Anne immediately dug into her ice cream, it was cold on her tongue but melted smoothly, leaving behind a rush of vanilla on her tongue, it was delicious and yet, creamy.
"I am seeing this face for the first time," the guy said with an expectant smile on his face but Belle was too interested in her ice cream.
Coco shook her head, he was asking Belle but she decided to answer, "Where are my manners?"
"Israel, this is Anne our new housemate and Anne, this is Israel the owner of this ice cream cafe"
Israel did not stop smiling, he stretched out his hands to Anne and she took it, he placed his mouth gently on the back of her hand and kissed it, "she forgot to add, I give free ice cream to special people, since it is your first time here, consider it my treat to you," he tilted his head to the ice cream.
He was staring at her eyes deeply almost as if he wanted to see her soul.