<div style="text-align: justify;">It was barely June, and yet the heat was making the air ripple and causing people to either flee inside or to the parks. The harbor was also a popular place to cool down, especially for the people who had their own boats. But since the red brick building where Alannah worked was neither by a park, the harbor, or had very good air conditioning, it was left mostly empty on this clear Wednesday afternoon. The café currently contained about 6 people, and in a few seconds, another would join them.<br/><br/>Alannah looked up from the espresso machine - a monstrous, brass colored contraption, fondly named Bess by the employees - just in time to see a young man turn his back to her and sit by a table against the wall. She raised her eyebrows at her co-worker, Daniel, in a very expressive gesture. He was one of those mysterious people who could make even the blue-and-buff uniform they had to wear look flattering. Alannah had always wondered how. Daniel threw a glance at her over his glasses before giving a toss of the head at the new customer. <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #FFFFBF">Go,</span></span> he mouthed, and Alannah went, swishing her hips. She went past the look-how-in-love-we-are-couple, who were sharing a slice of pie in that particular way only people with no boundaries concerning public displays of affection can. Somehow, Alannah didn't vomit. She placed the cup of black coffee she was carrying in front of old man Howard. She had no idea how many he had consumed in the past 3 hours, but by the looks of it, he had been fighting with his daughter again. Alannah gave him a quick pat on the shoulder as she went by. Somebody had to cheer him up. Passing an apparently busy red-head with her hair in a tight bun, she finally made it to the small round table where the handsome blue shirt was sitting. Alannah fished a notepad out of an apron pocket and a pen out of her hair, and gave him her best and brightest smile.<br/><br/><span style="color: #4080FF">"And what can I get ya todee? Coffee, tea, slice of pie, grindah?"</span> Her voice sounded clear above the low atmospheric music and occasional whirr of the air conditioner. She couldn't help but be slightly curious. He looked like a college kid, which wasn't strange at all, considering the relatively close proximity to MIT, Harvard and UMass - but it was a bit too far to walk for just lunch, and what kind of college student wore hiking boots? In the middle of the Hub? In May? She threw a quick look over her shoulder back at Daniel, who was stacking cups and pretending to not be interested at all. Alannah tucked a lock of black hair behind her ear and turned her head back towards the man. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Wicked hot out todee, isn't it?"</span></div>