Mainstream

“Katy, your break’s almost over. Might want to finish that.”

I just nod dismissively and keep stirring at the black coffee in front of me absentmindedly. It has been about two weeks since I ran out of gas on the side of the ride in the middle of buttfuck nowhere. Avery, the girl who runs this place, found me stupidly walking further away from home, and she’s taken me in. She doesn’t ask any questions, and I’ve a feeling she doesn't need to. For some reason, it’s like she already knows all the stupid things I’m going through. In exchange for a spot on her couch and three meals a day, I’ve been wiping down counters and sweeping floors for her. Lucky coincidence the person who finds me runs a coffee shop of her own, I guess. I sulk for a few more minutes before I get up, pour my untouched drink down the sink, and get to work.

Hours pass. Business picks up and soon it’s after school rush hour. A group of college students is working on a project, several young couples sit at tables for two and laugh at seemingly nothing and everything all at the same time, an interview takes place in one of the booths by the window, a few solo people take up space at the counter, and other people rushing in and out.

Avery has me on register duty, which I can apparently be trusted with now. It’s a bit tiring at this hour with the constant flow of customers, but I put on my biggest smile and greet each person warmly. As the next customer approaches the register, I recognize her as an elderly lady who comes in quite often. She sits at the table by the window and people watches, kind of like me.

“What can I get started for you today?”

“Just a green tea please.”

“Alright, that will be $3.25.”

As she rummages through her purse looking for her wallet she comments, “You know, you have a certain kind of look to you, deary.”

“I beg your pardon?”

She glances up at me and smiles. “You know, that look that doesn't catch most people's attention. The look that shows you're wearing a mask, but if you look close enough or watch long enough, you can tell that the masked person is sad under all those layers of a happy façade.”

My smile falls for a second but I manage to maintain it as she hands me exact change. I avoid eye contact with her until I hand her her receipt. “Your order will be ready soon. Have a nice day!”

She grabs my hand gently. “Don’t worry, honey. All things get better in time. Just keep looking forward and stop avoiding the inevitable.”

I’m not really sure how she was able to get all that from just the look on my face, but to be honest, I really did need to hear some words of encouragement. I whisper a near silent thank you as she walks away. Nobody else is in line after her so I grab the magazine closest to me and begin to read. Normally, I would go sit at my favorite booth, three from the door in front of a window with a view of the outside town. I don’t know if Harry ever realized but any time we ever got coffee we’d sit at that exact booth placement. It didn’t matter what shop it was; that was always our unspoken thing. Anyway, someone is already sitting at that booth, so I stick behind the counter.

Oh, gosh. The magazine I picked up is about—shocker—One Direction. Apparently Harry has been missing for just as long as I have, but all the supposed sightings aren’t near here. Part of me is relieved to hear that, but another part of me who recalls what that elderly lady just told me feels disappointed. I huff and throw the magazine down, feeling conflicted. I don’t even know why I’m still here at this point. Maybe I should just call Lina and go home…

The bell on the door rings and I look up in time to see that man who was sitting in my booth leave the store. He holds his hand up to look out into the rain as if he’s contemplating where to go next and it makes me snort a little that he thinks holding his arm up like that is going to keep him from getting wet. With him leaving, I pick up the dish bucket to collect some cups strewn around the cafe. As I get to that third booth I see an oddly familiar billfold but my focus immediately turns to getting the wallet back to that man who was sitting here.

Without grabbing a jacket or anything for protection I run out the door. “Hey!” I shout after the man, but he’s already almost all the way down the block and can’t hear me over the rain. I continue to shout as I run and try not to slip on the wet pavement. “Hey, Mister!” I shout again as he gets about halfway across a crosswalk. He suddenly stops and starts to turn around. “Hey, you forgot your…” Wait. I stop at the edge of the sidewalk. Are my eyes playing tricks on me? It can’t be and yet—my heart flutters. That’s definitely him. My mouth drops open a little as he stares right into my eyes with his gorgeous green eyes. They were kind of dull though, like a favorite sweater that’s been put through the wash too many times and—oh, God, what do I do? Do I run again? Do I just stay here? Do I confront him? Perhaps I can just freeze this moment and stare into his eyes forever? That wouldn’t be so bad.

My thoughts stop as my heart speaks for me, willing my feet forward until, four steps to go… Three and I keep moving; there’s no going back now. Two and oh, boy, my heart is pounding now. One—he’s right in front of me. Any closer and we’d definitely be touching. I can feel his cool, unsteady breath on my face.

My voice gets smaller as I say, “Hey, Mister—” I’m staring right into his eyes as he stares right back at me but with mere inches between them now— “you forgot your wallet.”

Notes

Short chapter because iceskatez left a long outline of literally just this and I just hope I did it justice because her outline was pretty cute ngl (even if it was confusing because it was mostly run on sentences that kept looping chronology in a weird way).

posted 06.17.18