Chapter 3: Venting to my coffee

Emma rushed to the front of the coffee shop, the bell violently shook as she slammed open the door. "Ren! I'm here!" She called out, she looked around, expecting to see Ren waving her over unexcitedly from a table. All she received were inquisitive stares from the people who'd already ordered. Who were minding their own business, before being interrupted by a girl running in and shouting.

After a few moments, someone behind her cleared their throat gently to signal that she was blocking their way into the coffee shop. Emma immediately reddened and apologised, before quickly going to a table close to one of the windows.

Emma thought it was her lucky break, she thought that she hadn't made Renée wait as Ren seemed to be running late too. Emma began to wait whilst turning to look out the window. She took to observing the people passing the coffee shop as a means to pass the time, she pondered on what they might be up to.

For example, that man who was rushing and carrying a briefcase, definitely just robbed a bank. Emma nodded to herself. Why else would he be walking at such a fast pace, whilst constantly looking over his shoulders as if someone was chasing him?

After a few minutes, Emma began to feel uneasy, Ren wasn't one to be late. She worried something might've happened to her, or maybe she forgot the meeting or couldn't come?

Emma decided to send her a text to see if everything was alright, she reached into her pockets to grab her phone. Just to realise she had no pockets and no phone. She began to panic wondering where she left her phone, she couldn't afford to lose it as she hadn't backed it up for a long time.

She sighed heavily as the memory struck her, she left it on her bedside table in her rush to get here. How silly of her. She got up to order a drink since it seemed as though Ren wasn't coming. If she didn't have someone to help her through her problems, she might as well make use of her time here.

As she walked up to the counter a cheerful voice spoke out to her, "Hello my lovely lady, what would you like to have?" Emma examined the cakes and other snacks closely before replying. "Hey Chris, can I have a slice of cheesecake and…" she trailed off trying to think of what drink she'd like. "If you're not sure, how about I surprise you?" Emma looked up from the cake display to the barista's face, Chris' smile was infectious and soon Emma was smiling too. "That sounds fun."

Emma watched as Chris began her work making her coffee. Emma couldn't help admiring how beautiful she was, Chris was warm like the sun. She had golden blonde hair, bright chestnut eyes and she never seemed to stop smiling.

To be honest, Emma's straight but had the biggest girl crush on Chris, she couldn't help feeling both admiration and jealousy for her. However, Emma cherished her and wasn't envious or bitter about petty things, like how Chris wasn't nearly as clumsy as Emma herself was.

Emma couldn't help wanting to be more like her, to have a strong sense of responsibility and passion like Chris did. Emma had first met Chris when she'd taken over her father's coffee shop after he'd fallen ill and could no longer work. Even though Chris had her dreams of pursuing art, she chose to give it up to take care of her family and their business.

Emma was a regular at the coffee shop and when they met she'd instantly taken a liking to Chris, and they quickly became friends. They became even closer till it wasn't a stretch to say they felt like sisters.

The sound of a cup being placed on the counter brought Emma out of her thoughts, she looked at Chris. Chris looked back at her. She looked at the stuff on the counter and then back at Chris. Fuck, she hadn't brought her phone. She had no pockets. Meaning she didn't have any cash. As well as no way to pay digitally. Her face fell instantly and she began pulling lightly at her hair.

Chris looked at Emma's face and instantly knew, she sighed and smiled helplessly. "I've got you, but remember. You're treating me to a meal next time." Emma laughed apologetically, "You've got it, boss!"

Emma carefully picked up the ceramic cup and saucer, along with the slice of cheesecake and walked slowly back over to her table, so as to not trip.

When she got to her table and placed the things down she looked into her cup. Goddamn, Chris was good at this. Emma couldn't help admiring the latte art Chris had done, it looked exactly like her. This made Emma feel like maybe this wasn't such a bad place for Chris to spend her time, where else would she be allowed to doodle and paint the walls?

It's a shame though, at first glance anyone would think the art covering the walls was professionally done. No one would believe it if you told there they were hand-drawn, but that just goes to show how amazing Chris is.

After Emma had finished admiring and praising Chris and her handiwork she began to think of why she came here. Emma thought about the events which transpired yesterday. She couldn't help but feel even the slightest bit bitter. Even though she expected the outcome she received, it still hurt.

After a while of thinking of these negative thoughts, she started eating her cheesecake. Sweets always made people feel better when they were stressed or upset, and Emma was no different. She downed the cheesecake like a starving beast. If it was being timed she'd probably have won a world record, she practically inhaled it.

After thoroughly enjoying her cheesecake she sipped her coffee, "Ah, it's a caffè mocha." She breathed out deeply, it was probably the best tasting coffee she'd ever had.

Emma set her cup back down and once again recalled her rejection. She pouted and started murmuring over her coffee, "Why did he say he might go out with those girls but outright reject me? Why did he walk away straight away… does he really not care about me at all?" She continued to voice her frustration.

To anyone watching it might look as if Emma was chanting some kind of spell onto her coffee. No one had ever told her, but this habit of hers was terribly weird, though it did lead to a few laughs for anyone watching.

When Emma finally stopped venting to take a breath she placed her head gently on the table and sighed. She always felt better after letting everything out. Even knowing others gave her weird looks when they saw she was speaking to herself whilst looking into her coffee, she didn't pay them any mind and did whatever she needed to make herself feel better.

After she'd finished she let go of her burdens and adopted a happy smile, she finished up her coffee and decided to head back home. After all, what else could she do with no money and no phone?