Chapter 4: He was scary, almost ominous, but that was Velvet’s type… as of last night
It was daybreak when Velvet dragged herself from the depths of bed, feeling the effects of the single beer from the night before.
She grimaced as she looked in the bathroom mirror, there was no amount of makeup that could save her today, she was a mess.
She showered and got dressed in her usual activewear, stumbling down the stairs to the deli as the clock hit 5 am.
This was her routine, one of the only things she looked forward to in life was her morning coffee. Black, two shots, piping hot in a small cup. She sat slumped in an armchair off to the side of the deli counter and watched the road outside as the day grew brighter with every passing second.
Nambour was at its best during the early morning.
The streets were clean, the birds were singing, there wasn't a soul in sight, nor a single industrial sound to be heard.
Velvet sat, not thinking or moving, until 6 am when a noisy golden Commodore chugged down the street, newspapers flying out the passenger window.
There was movement outside now, as the mall opposite woke up and locals started their daily walks; elderly women sporting miniature dogs with matching purple dyed hair, members from the nearby 24/7 gym running laps for boot camp like it would help them lose weight.
The newspaper thrust from the Commodore hit the deli's window with a crack, time slowed as Velvet recognised the image spread across the front page.
She scrambled from her chair and slid the door open.
Nambour's pride and joy, Petrie Park, which spanned the entire length of the town with untouched green space and waterways, was blown up large a thick red stamp across the top read FOR SALE.
'Council announces plans to sell public land to highest bidder for future development,' the article read, 'many foreign companies are vying for the chance to double Nambour's residencies and help shape the future of a town in need'.
Velvet blinked back tears.
Before she could think, her phone was out as she took a picture of the page.
'The first death toll for Nambour as we know it rings. We must stand together to bring an end to this!'
She threw the newspaper to the ground and hit post, uploading the image to her Facebook page. The wind blew the pages as Velvet walked back into the deli for her second coffee, resting on a large image of a potential investor for the development, grinning widely next to Councillor Smith.
Today was Saturday, Velvet had the weekend off work, but chose to wait in the deli for her staff to arrive at 7.
At 6:45 young Jasper bounced through the back door, blonde hair swishing in her high ponytail. She carried her backpack and a jar of juice, grinning from ear to ear.
"Morning!" she exclaimed, waving to Velvet before disappearing into the storeroom to drop her bag.
"Hello!" Velvet leaned on the counter in the kitchen, almost expecting to see songbirds flitting about Jasper as she moved about the space like it were a magic garden.
Jasper stopped, eyes wide.
"What happened to your face?" her voice grew shrill.
"Oh," Velvet touched a gash on her chin, "saving some rats."
Jasper rolled her eyes.
"Uh-huh… okay."
"Did you hear about the park?" Velvet jabbed her thumb over her shoulder, motioning to the mall opposite, tall trees of Petrie Park barely visible over the ugly wall.
"Mm, yes," Jasper nodded, "my mum is already protesting at the entrance with her friends."
"Oh, I should go join them then!" Velvet stood up, clapping her hands together in excitement.
Cars were now streaming past the shop front as the town opened for business. In another half an hour Lacey would arrive to start her shift. She and Jasper had covered for Velvet every Saturday and Sunday for a year, cooking up meatless burgers, hotdogs, and tacos for the line up of hungry shoppers.
A customer walked up to the door and reefed on the handle, banging on the glass.
Velvet sighed, walking over to unlock it.
"Hello?" she said.
"Are you open?" barked the cross customer.
Velvet looked around at the darkened deli, and down to the opening hours on the door right in front of the woman before her.
"Sorry, we don't open until 7:30." Velvet smiled.
"What time is it now?" the woman scowled.
"It's 7."
"I just wanted a coffee!" she stomped her foot.
Jasper in the kitchen behind smiled to herself as she pulled out vegetables to prep.
Velvet let out a long sigh.
"Okay, come in! What can I make for you?"
The woman pushed ahead of Velvet and walked to the counter.
"I'll have a decaf skinny caramel mocha half strength on the coffee and the chocolate but double the caramel."
Velvet walked around the counter, shooting a look at Jasper with wide eyes.
"So we're completely dairy free in the deli," Velvet slid to a stop at the register opposite the woman, "you have the choice of almond, soy, coconut or macadamia."
"Just normal." the woman snapped.
Velvet smiled sweetly.
"So we're completely dairy free in the deli, your choices are almond, soy, coconut or macadamia."
The woman stared at Velvet open-mouthed.
"Just cows milk," she said, fists clenched.
Velvet's smile grew wider.
"We are a completely vegan deli," she tried to control the pitch of her voice as her frustration grew, "we do not sell any animal products, we do not have any cows milk."
The woman blinked.
"I don't really believe that!" she shouted.
Jasper and Velvet stared at the woman as she stormed out.
"You're welcome!" Velvet shouted after her, "please never come back!"
Velvet slid the door shut and locked it again, looking out onto the road.
Her smile faded as she caught a glimpse of a familiar face out the corner of her eye.
Over by the mutli-coloured wall, next to the stick figure drawn in mud, stood Volta. All in black, hands in pockets, staring directly at Velvet.
Last night, he was smart casual. Today he was all street.
She slid the door back open and stepped out onto the sidewalk, but he was gone.
"Humph." she breathed and went back inside.
It wasn't unusual for someone to be staring at her, but Velvet's heart didn't usually jump at the prospect.
He was scary, almost ominous, but that was Velvet's type… as of last night.
She continued to ponder over who he was and what he was doing as she drifted back through the deli, grabbing a bunch of bananas for breakfast and disappearing up the stairs to her apartment in a daze.
Velvet stood at her sink eating a banana, breaking off a piece for each of her rescued rats that continued to stare at her with big beady eyes from their makeshift enclosure. She looked out at the bamboo swaying against the clear blue sky.
Why did it feel as if she knew him?
She thought back to the moment time slowed and their eyes first met across the crowded room.
Did he come for her?
She shook her head; he was probably looking at someone else.
She shoved half a banana into her mouth and pushed the thoughts from her mind.
Her phone buzzed on the countertop.
"Hllw?" she said through a full mouth.
"V, it's Dan, I can't talk long."
"Mmhmmmm." Velvet chewed slowly.
"There's someone who said they saw you here last night, a guy, and he wants to see you again."
Velvet gulped, lodging the banana halfway down her throat.
"A-a-what? A guy?" she choked.
"Yeah, I know it's weird. Anyway, he said to meet him back here at 3 pm."
Velvet chugged water to wash the banana down.
"Velvet?"
"Yeah?"
"It's a date."
"What?" she exclaimed.
Dan hung up.
"What?!" she yelled at the rats, eyes wide.
It was him, the man in black, asking her out on a date.
Her eyes rolled around in her head as her brain went into overdrive.
No one had asked her out on a date before.
She had never been on a date.
What do people do on dates?
What do people wear on a date?
She circled around her apartment frantically, collapsing onto her bed and throwing herself around in excitement.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone