--She stopped outside the cafe and turned to look in the windows. Shifting her water bottle to her elbow, she crossed her arms against the chilly night breeze. He hadn't seen her yet; he was rather preoccupied with spicing his drink. His fingers danced a few inches above each shaker as he sought the one that would taste the best in his white chocolate mocha. Her mouth curved a little as she brought the burning cigarette to her lips. Blowing smoke, she kept her eyes on him alone; content to simply watch. He finally chose the vanilla container and shook a little of the white powder onto the top of his foamy drink before replacing the lid. Turning to go, he saw her watching him and his goateed face smiled. She almost laughed, and took a step away from the window to greet him as he came out the door. They walked down the sidewalk together then, she dropping her burnt cigarette to the ground while he pulled a new one from behind his ear.
--They sat together at the table in the corner. He sat sideways as his girth would not allow him to face her. She didn't appear to mind. They never talked; in fact, they rarely even looked at each other. Both simply sat, quietly cradling their warm drinks in their hands. The man glanced longingly at the velvet green seats across the room. How much more comfortable he would be if he sat there! The girls currently occupying the chairs were, however, oblivious to his longing, and they continued to sit in the coveted chairs. He tried to drink his coffee slower than they were, in hopes that they would leave before he did. This was a futile attempt though, as the girls were preoccupied with their textbooks and weren't paying much attention to their drinks at all. He, on the other hand, had only his drink to occupy his mind. Glancing at the woman across from him, he could not even manage a smile as their eyes met. Time passed slowly as they downed their drinks and eventually the woman stood, indicating her own longing to leave. Looking at the chairs almost mournfully, as if he'd never have another chance to sit in a comfortable chair again, he sighed and stood to follow her.
--She peered distrustfully into the oddly green drink. She'd had green tea before, in fact, she loved it. This however, was definitely not the color green tea was supposed to be. It was also neither the smell nor, as she cautiously sipped, the taste of normal green tea. Could it be because it was a latte? Grimacing, she regretted the five dollars she'd paid for it. Setting it down, she reached for her friend's cup. The mocha should cleanse the horrid taste from her mouth. After realizing she couldn't simply just drink all of her friend's coffee, she returned to her own cup. She had never believed in wasting and, no matter how bad it tasted, she was determined to finish it. As they talked and sipped, she gradually noticed that it didn't taste so bad anymore. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad drink after all, even if it wasn't related by anything but name to green tea.
--The EMS men walked in with a business-like air of authority. Their uniforms proclaimed their status to all in the cafe. They needed the caffeine as they started their night shift and hell, why not get the best caffeinated drink there is? Both had shaved heads and one was married, or at least his left hand proclaimed marriage. This one waited at the pick up counter while playing with the paper bag encasing some bakery delight. The other stood at the spicing counter, presumable stirring in some tasty powder. He turned to say hello to a young boy in a blazing yellow shirt. Obviously not dressed to sit and chat, they took their orders and left, carrying out with them the air of something undecipherable that they themselves had brought in.
--He had fifteen minutes of break and the choice of any drink he wanted. He didn't even have to make it himself. Stepping up to the pick up counter, he plucked his double chocolate chip frappachino from his co-worker's hand and took a step towards the door. He had no one waiting for him outside, no visible person to hang with as he counted down the minutes of his break. He stepped into the darkness and vanished. Life went on withouth him and when he appeared again in the doorway exactly fourteen minutes and forty-three seconds later, hardly anyone noticed. Except maybe a cafe wallflower. He slid back behind the counter and slipped the drive-through headphones over his head, instantly taking orders as if he had never left.
--The man spread the newspaper out across the table. His friend had brought a book and didn't really need that much table space. He'd only ordered water and was glancing at the warm drink his friend had bought. The friend who was currently in the washroom. Reaching for the tempting drink, he kept his eyes on the far away bathroom door. Taking a small sip, he quickly set the cup back. Oh, what the hell, why not one more? He didn't think his friend would notice that little bit gone. This friend was either taking an unusually long time or his own nervous imagination was playing tricks on him. After stealing another gulp, he becames worried that he wad swallowed too much. He swiftly poured a little of his water into the steaming cup. Attempting not to appear guilty, he reuturned to the newspaper before him.
--She waltzed into the cafe, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. He looked up and, upon seeing her, smiled. This was who he'd been waiting the last hour for. The one whom, as he awaited her call, had distracted him from his newspaper. They said hello as if strangers but moved without hesitation into a long hug, whispering into each other's ears as they embraced. She stood on tiptoe, even though she was wearing heels. Their hug was long, almost consolatory and they slowly untangled their clinging arms. She slipped out of her sheos as she sat down, curling in her chair with her back against the wall. He offered her the remnants of his drink and quickly moved his books from in front of her. No, he assured, he hadn't waited long.
Did anyone notice me? Did anyone see as I closed my journal and pocketed my pen, that I had recorded a few minutes of their life? When I move to leave, all that is noticed is that the velvet green chair is now empty, and it is quickly filled. I was never here. There isn't proof. I am a wallflower.
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