It's been a while since I've been early for anything, so long infact I'm starting to feel unsettled by it. I look at my watch again, 17:48. Twenty seconds since I last looked at it. The sky's starting to get dark, the winter nights are starting to return.
The lights in the shop are turned off, she must be in the back organising the paperwork or something. Unless she forgot we were going out and went home. No, I would have seen her as I was walking up, wouldn't I? Maybe. I don't know.
Every time I try and peer into the shop my face is reflected faintly in the glass. I can't make anything out through my translucent skin. I cup my hands over my eyes to try and shield out some of the light. Angling my head forwards only results in fogging the glass with my breathe.
Will she be leaving through the front or the back? What was it she said this morning? I can't recall her ever mentioning it, why didn't I think of asking? Maybe she got confused and thought we were meeting the cinema? What if I got confused and thought we were meeting here? No, I wouldn't have. I've been obsessing over this all day.
The back door must be somewhere down this side street. If I stand at the corner here I should be able to see her leaving from either exit. Maybe she was joking. What if all of this is part of a big joke she's pulling at my expense? All this time I thought she was caring and compassionate and all she was trying to do was hurt me. It's doubtful. I look at my watch again, it's not even six o'clock yet.
Standing on my own like this always makes be feel vulnerable. Everyone seems wary of me, standing here on my own. They stare are me as they walk by with cold, unfriendly eyes. Like on news, when they show a photo of a man arrested for killing a stranger in the street. A completely unprovoked attack, the victim was merely standing there, minding his own business.
It occurred to me that if something important came up, April would have had no way of contacting me. We didn't exchange phone numbers and not because I hadn't thought of it. Offering her my number would have risked breaking the cool, calm demeanour I was projecting. Say something had happened that required April's urgent attention, how long should I wait before leaving. Fifteen minutes? A couple of hours?
Having had limited contact with female company, television has been my greatest source of information. I've been led to believe that as a general rule, women are always late. I also understand that they are purposely late when they are eager to impress someone. I'm not saying that April feels the need to impress me, but it wouldn't work in my favour if she did and I wasn't here.
How late was 'Fashionabley Late'? All those years of education and they still missed out so much vital information. If I was a teacher, things would be different. No more algebra, no more chemistry. Instead children would learn why the weatherman should never be trusted, why other road users are always in the wrong and that vampires exist in today's society in the form of tax-men.
I exhale a long sigh of relief as I see April emerging from the shop's front door. I walk over to her and we exchange greetings.
“Sorry, had a problem with the till. It's always coming up with new ways of tormenting me. Been waiting long?”
“No, not really. Only just got here. Shall I call us a taxi?”
With Aprils affirmation I phone the number of a local taxi company. After giving them my name and location they inform me that one's on its way now. I stand next to April while we wait for the taxi to arrive. We both seem a little nervous so conversation is kept to a minimal. After a couple of minutes the taxi arrives.