Coffee Shop

Mel sat in the window of the coffee shop as the world passed by. In the back of her mind she heard the whoosh of the machines and the yells of the staff relaying the orders. 

She stared blankly, rubbing her thumb up and down the handle of her oversized mug. Today hadn’t been her best day. She had been shopping with her friend Sarah, who had spent the entire morning droning on about Mike, her new boyfriend. Mel was used to her droning on. It was the same with each new bloke; he was the one, only it was different to last time, ‘coz this time she just ...... well knew. 

Except it wasn’t any different to last time. And sooner or later the conversation would always turn to the new flame’s best mate, Pete, Harry, Steve, Tony or whoever. Mel knew the intention was not to help her out at all, although Sarah couldn’t see that. No, the intention was to keep the best mate occupied with a double date. And it always came across as just a little bit smug. The ever present undertone of ‘Well, as you can’t find someone yourself, I’d best give you a hand.’ 

Mel took a hefty swig of the gloopy hot chocolate, then carefully ran her tongue across her top lip to check for stray froth. 

There had been a slight change today, towards lunch time. Mel had managed to deftly sidestep the blind date this time, but that had just opened the door for a deeper swipe. 

‘Have you thought about internet dating?’ Mel had stopped in her tracks, her mouth agape with shock. Sarah looped her arm through Mel’s and started walking again. ‘I mean, there are loads of blokes out there, you just need to try harder, that’s all.’ 

Mel sighed heavily and started spinning her cup on the spot. When had she reached the point that she had stopped meeting eligible men? How had it ended up that she would now have to pay for what most people seemed to manage to do for free? So much for the best things in life. 

Absent-mindedly she checked her mobile. Nothing. It had become a habit to phone watch in her early twenties, but just lately no-one rang. Everyone was too busy these days. She lifted up the mug for another swig and peered at the empty screen over the china. 

‘Erm, I think you’ll find that’s my phone!’ Mel kept the mug where it was, worried about froth and flicked her eyes away from the phone to the man next to her. Quickly she dabbed at her lips with the tip of her tongue and bit them together as she lowered the cup. 

‘Sorry, you’ve got the same wallpaper!’ She handed the phone back to the man, her cheeks flushing. He smiled and a dimple appeared on one cheek. 

‘You’re as bad as me; I check my phone every five minutes too!’ He laughed softly and put the phone back on the shelf in front of him. ‘Are you actually waiting to hear from someone? I just do it out of habit.’ 

‘Yeah, me too.’ Mel sighed again. 

‘I’m just going to get another coffee, do you fancy joining me?’ He slipped off the stool and looked down at her. He seemed harmless enough, so Mel stayed. 

Three months later Mel met Sarah to go shopping. Sarah had just split from her boyfriend and was chatting away about looking forward to girly nights out on the pull. Mel let her carry on until lunch time, when they sat waiting for the food to arrive. 

‘So, Mel, where shall we go Friday? I haven’t been to that new club yet, have you?’ 

‘Actually, Sarah, I can’t make it Friday. Thing is, that day we met up last time, well, I met someone! He’s lovely, you’ll like him. We’re going to his parents this weekend; I’m going to meet them for the first time.’ 

Sarah blinked in disbelief. Just then their lunch arrived. Mel picked up her fork and tucked in to her food, thereby saving herself from the temptation to add, ‘So there!’

- THE END -