Chapter 5: Coffee and conversation
1213 Words
POV: May
***
Zap coffee has been my favourite place to go since Kat first took me.
The owner is Susan, a lovely old women who works with her son. He's on holiday at the moment but due back next week. I make a mental note to swing by and say hello.
Inside is a mish-mash of different styles. Soft velvets armchairs, modern coffee tables and bar stools near the counter.
2 of the walls are pale yellow, 1 is a deep blue and the other has some type of floral wallpaper. The carpet is threadbare, but covered in so many plush rugs, you would never know.
The lively sound of talking fills the space, blocking the radio that only plays the same band on repeat. It's hideous and gaudy and I absolutely love it.
I take great pride in watching Kiara's face go through a dozen different options when we enter. She looks at me bewildered, one eyebrow c****d.
"This is the place? Are you sure we haven't walked into a...showroom? Or an auction?"
I laugh, directing us to my favourite seats. I take a burned orange armchair while she sits in the green one opposite, separated by a chunky wooden table stained with coffee.
"I know it looks a bit odd but I promise, it's really good."
I pass Kiara a menu. She scans it quickly, doubt written on her face.
"Do they have just plain coffee? I don't think I even know what half of this is."
"Yeah, we can get that. I know what I want so I'll order now. Sugar and milk?"
Kiara looks up at me. "I can get my own, you don't need to do that."
"Susan owes me a drink, anyway. So, sugar?"
"1 sugar, lots of milk. Thank you."
Her smile is soft and genuine. I want to see it again.
I head up to the counter, grinning when I spot Susan chopping salad, swearing under her breath at a lettuce that doesn't cooperate.
I've known Susan forever, since I was a little girl. Ryan and I went to school together and my parents often dropped me off at this cafe for play dates. We'd climb over antique furniture whilst Susan shouted at us, elbow-deep in washing up.
The memories are fond, but tinted with the sadness that followed as Ryan grew more distant.
I know Susan gets lonely and make an effort to come in regularly.
She's a small woman, her voice worn from years of shouting across the cafe. Her grey hair is kept in a bun while she works, with a messy apron tied over her knit cardigan. She always has a long skirt on, to stay cool.
"What you working on there?"
I lean over the counter, pretending like I'm a curious customer. Susan nearly jumps with shock, absorbed in her job. She scowls at me.
"May! Don't you know you'll give me a heart attack?"
"I thought that was only for older people." I say cheekily.
"While I'm 62-years young, I still don't like people sneaking up on me, you rascal. What do you want?"
Despite her harsh words, I know she's glad to see me.
"Class just finished. I don't think I took most of it in though, this hangover's killing me. So I thought I'd-"
"You shouldn't be drinking on a school night." She grumbles but I ignore it.
"So, I thought I'd come and see you. You still owe me a drink for going over that contract for you."
Susan looks past me, towards Kiran. "And I'm sure this surprise visit has nothing to do with your new friend?"
I hate how easily she can read me. I feel constantly on the back foot.
"She's just a classmate. She's new, from out of town. You know, I'm just trying to be friendly."
Susan hums, unconvinced. "Well, what can I get you both? On the house today."
"The usual for me and just regular coffee, 1 sugar, lots of milk. Thank you."
As she is busiest herself with making the drinks, I turn to look back at Kiara. She's flipping through the pages on an old magazine left behind.
The sun lights up her hair like gold. She's soft but I can see a hidden strength in the way she sits, comfortable in her own skin.
I don't notice Susan placing 2 mugs next to me until she pokes me in the side. I let out an undignified squeak.
"Take these to your friend and actually talk to her instead of staring like a creep."
Embarrassed to be caught, I pull her into a one-armed hug then take the drinks over.
Kiara looks up at my approach. Our fingers graze when I hand her the mug and my heart thumps loudly.
"Regular coffee, as promised. I hope it lives up to your expectations."
Kiara takes a sip while I mix the foam on top of my hot chocolate.
"Wow, you weren't kidding. That is really good."
Something warm settles in my chest.
"So, Kiara. I've got to ask. What exactly brings you somewhere like this? You're from the country, right?"
Kiara nods. "Yeah, I only moved up a couple of weeks ago. Something just...drew me to the area."
There's a strange defensiveness in her tone. Maybe I'm touching a sore topic.
"Well, what about law? How come you picked it?"
"Same as you, surely. Don't you want to make the world a better place, May?"
I can't tell if she's being sarcastic so I let out a small chuckle. "I mean, yeah. But it's more that there's so much unfairness and injustice, and I want to be a part of changing that."
"So, nothing to do with those 6-figure salaries? Just trying to do good."
I flinch at the sharpness of the words. I'm probably misreading her, we've barely met, but I feel like she's mocking me.
"Well, some of us care about our morals more than money, I guess."
"That's a first, from city-folk lawyers."
It clicks with that - why she's on edge talking about university. It's been all over the news lately.
Some of the larger farms are in vicious lawsuits over labour laws. Quite a few have been fined or even shut down. Even though she's here, it's people like us, like me, who are putting strain on her family.
What can I even say to that?
Instead, I change the conversation completely.
"What do you do, then? In your free time?"
"You mean, other than farming? I guess I enjoy cooking? And baking, too. Just being in the kitchen, working with my hands."
That's something I can relate to. "I like that too, not cooking, but being busy. I take dance classes, and yoga. The skills cross over quite a bit. I like gaming too, but my friend Kat isn't the biggest fan."
"Well, maybe we can play sometime."
I can feel the blush rising. Before I can answer, my phone trills in my pockets.
Kat. Oh no.
I shoot to my feet.
"I'm so sorry, I'm not trying to run out on you-"
"Hey, I get it. And you got me coffee so I can't be too mad."
"I'll catch you in class?"
Kiara raises her mug. "It's a deal."
- Writer
