Staring out of the window, Beth watches the random army of people all bustling about, totally oblivious of one another, busily playing out their hectic lives. She wonders how many of them are truly happy with the life that they are now leading, how many of them actually stop to think about it?
She feels invisible, like a voyeur. She loves to "people watch," but at the same time it makes her feel isolated and alone. Why can't she just accept the life that fate has dealt her? Why can't she make the most of it and allow her life to play out its course? She knows the answer to this question. Her inner passion is burning a hole through her very core. She's yearning for her spirit to feel free to explore life's many wonders. She wants to find a man whose passion could invigorate her, whose mind could inspire and stimulate her.
She's lost in her thoughts. Her brown eyes gaze at the unseeing world. She doesn't notice him watching her.
Her alluring beauty has him transfixed. His eyes bore into her soul, trying to understand why this beautiful woman looks so sad.
Taking a sip of her tea, she allows herself time to survey the room. The small cafe is almost deserted. The waitress by the counter is attempting to appear busy. The elderly couple in the corner are bitching and bickering over their toasted sandwiches. Then she notices him, her cheeks flushing pink as she realizes she is being watched.
Her eyes lock onto his as she smiles demurely, a smile that has him captivated, her eyes so full of passion and a wicked mischievousness. He has to know more about this mysterious woman. Taking her smile as an invitation, Jake takes a deep breath and walks over to the corner where Beth is sitting. "Is this seat taken?" he asks, immediately embarrassed by the corny line he has just uttered.
Beth looks up and smiles radiantly "no not at all" she says. She is intrigued by this stranger.
Jake sits down and they begin chatting about everything and nothing, the conversation interrupted every now and then by Beth's uncontrollable giggles. Engaged in each other completely, they don't notice the hours slipping by. Suddenly Beth breaks the conversation "I'm starving." She giggles again.
"Ok," says Jake. "What do you fancy?"
A wicked smile whips across Beth's face "What are my choices?" she jokes, raising an eyebrow and grinning.
"Well we could go out and get something to eat...or I have some steaks at home..."
Beth's grin answers his question and they set off for Jake's apartment, stopping on the way to pick up some wine. The apartment was neat but that wasn't the first thing that Beth noticed about it. At the opposite end of the lounge was a pair of French doors that opened onto a balcony high above the city streets, the view stretching far and wide. "Wow" says Beth "that's quite a view!"