It all starts in to local coffee shop. Many people use coffee shops to get to know a person and see if there is a chance for a relationship. That is the traditional way to look at things. Well, this was a first time grabbing coffee to share how a relationship was not going to happen.

“I just asked you to go there because I thought you would enjoy it. There was not alternative motive.”

“The way you were talking about it and plans made it come off that you were planning it for just us and had planned for it to mean more.”

“Yeah I thought it would be something that we could do, but I was the one asking.”

“Yeah I know you asked.”

“Right. I am the girl. Me asking, not you. If you had asked it would have been different. There would have been a thought process of maybe this is more than just friends, but it was me.”

“I know, but you made it sound like you wanted more to come out of it.”

“How?” I shift in my car in a slight confusion trying to remember the conversation we had of me asking him to go. I talked it up in excitement because I have good memories of the place and honestly thought he would have really enjoyed going to it.

“You just kept saying how I would enjoy it and didn’t seem like you wanted anyone else to go.” He just sits there seeming so uncomfortable and awkward.

“Honestly that is just how I am. I like getting to know people and building relationships with them so I spend time one on one time with them. In a group you can’t do that. There are just others and distractions, it just makes it hard. I don’t really know what you want me to say. You don’t really know who I am or much about me so you just assumed these were my attentions.”

“Well . . . you would joke about us dating.”

“I also told you it would never work out for us to date.”

“I know.”

“So apparently me thinking we would never date and telling you it wouldn’t work out clearly means that I want to date you.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“I am just trying to understand.” I am trying to hold back my defensive tone but he isn’t being rational. His responses are coming off so quiet and as though he is uncomfortable and doesn’t believe what he says. “If you are making accusations about me liking you and wanting more you should be able to back up your thinking.”

“I just . . . I got, I just got this feeling so I stopped it before it went further.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah so anyway how’s your coffee?” Seriously? This guy really has no back bone.

“It’s good. Listen I am getting kind of tired and I cam here to talk to settle things but you don’t seem interested in doing that.” I begin to move off the seat and he still is just staring at me. Is he really this dumb?

“I thought we did.”

“Do you not talk things out to make them better?”

“I never have before no.”

“Seriously?”

“No. I haven’t.” He just stares and me and shrugs his soldiers like I’m the crazy one/”

“Wow. That is ridiculous. Have you not had a friend you’ve wanted to talk things out with, or even a girl you liked or liked you?”

“I don’t. I just don’t talk about it or to them really and then we just start talking again.”

“Wow that’s really immature. Sorry but it’s true.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, umm, when you want to talk, then reach out, but for now I am not going to waste my time just pushing something under the rug that you brought up. It may seem like I am making a big deal about this, but I can’t believe you brought this up and didn’t expect to talk about it.”

“I just don’t.”

“Just don’t what?”

“Talk about things. I get over it and that’s it.”

“Yeah, well when you have an issue with a person you need to say something to them.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” I have no idea what to say or think in this situation. Am I being defensive or a typical girl and over thinking things? He’s making me feel like the crazy one. I break my muffin in half contemplating this. He sits there tapping on his drink with his fingers. Just tapping, making no noise but just a distraction in the silence of awkward that has just transpired. 

I shift to cross my legs the opposite way leaning back to pull the wrapper off the bottom half of my muffin. Chocolate chip muffins from dunking are always softer than a bakery or bagel shop makes them. It is harder to break and harder to eat. Why did I even get a muffin? The donuts are good enough and I wouldn’t mind having a Boston creme. Ahh my thoughts are all over the place.

Rachel get your head straight. “So how’s that muffin working out?”

“It’s working. I don’t know about the good or bad. Kinda making me think why I didn’t just get a donut.”

“You can still get one.”

“I’m good.”

“Okay, well if your not happy with something you can change it.” Oh the irony.

Monica is walking into the office with more questions going through her head then she thought possible. She goes to the desk to get checked in expecting Tony to be able to bounce these ideas off of but it’s a new person. “Good Morning.”

“Oh hi. Morning I mean, sorry where is Tony?”

“He no longer works here.”

“What do you mean?” The new attendant behind the counter is unsure of what to say.

“He was asked to leave. Something about talking about God in the office.”

“Are you kidding me?!”

“No, I’m sorry miss.”

“Is there anyway I could contact him?”

“I have is number I can give you. It’s such a shame he was the most helpful here. He knew I have been struggling to pay for school and I know he has a big family to pay for but he would offer me hours.” Monica is in awe of thinking she thought this man was simply mean and would pass her by. While she has been the ignorant on and probably is the cause to him losing his job. Monica’s day is a blur. She has no clue what to work on, who to contact, and almost never answered her phone. Mike stopped by to apologize for the previous night and she almost broke down.

“Need to go for a walk?”

“I should do work but I know I wont do any.”

“Come on. I know I don’t seem like a good person to talk to but I am sure I can help.”

“Okay. You’ve gotten a man fired about telling you about God?”

“Just come one. Isn’t there chairs or a park near by?”

“Yeah just out the back entrance.”

“Okay that is where we will wait to talk.” They stay silent through the office, reach the elevators and still silent. Once they reach the air Monica feels more relaxed. “I have not gotten anyone fired from sharing God, however that is why I left my previous job. I have been a Christian my whole life. I never knew what it truly meant till my twenties when I truly needed God in my life.”

“Your a Christian?”

“Yep. Born and raised”

“Then your really blessed to have parents that raised you that way.”

“What about yours?”

“I believe my parents where christians, but they passes away before I could question religion or really come to an age where I knew what God would mean to me and my life.” Monica and Mike continue to sit and take in their surroundings not saying a thing. They get lost in a conversation and Monica asking questions about God and what he means to Mike. Going around debating, not sure what it all means, to before they know it, the sun is setting. Still more that Monica wants to know so they go to dinner together.

Desiree walks up the steps to her house and hears people talking inside. She knows the voices but is so used to hearing them yelling at each other she doesn’t recognize then when they’re just talking with one another. She sees her mother and father hugging. Most people would be happy to see them hugging but she remember what her father has done to her mother. “What an idiot.” She runs down her steps to Zola’s house.

Halfway there she sees someone climbing up the side of her house. “What in the hell?” Instead of saying something she just watches them climb up into her mothers room.

“Girl what are you doing?”

Desiree looks up to see Zola looking at her from her porch. “I just saw someone. I’m not really sure what I am exactly doing. Zola I need your help.”

“Well girl don’t just stand there come on over here and talk. I just made myself some tea, like some?”

“Yes please.” Desiree makes her way to Zola’s house but she can’t help thinking she reconized the guy climbing through her mothers window and what on earth her mother and father are doing together.

Now both in the kitchen sitting at the table Zola looks at Desiree seeing the young lady that she has grown into. “Now what do you need to talk to Zola about?”

“Is it weird for a child to not want her parents back together?”

“Yes I would say it is weird. However this child saw what her parents went through and does not want to see that happening again.”

“I’m being serious. I just saw my parents actually talking together and hugging and it made my stomach hurt. That can’t be normal.”

“Desiree listen.” Zola puts her hands on top of Desiree and looks her in the eyes. “You ma’am and papa have a lot of baggage. Dear Lord do they have a lot. I have known Andre since he was young. I have seen him chase after other women but he’s always loved your mama.”

“Then why chase the other women.”

“Because he thought he wasn’t worth having you mama.” Zola looks at Desiree seeing the pain in her eyes.

BOY YOU BEST BE GOING! Both Desiree and Zola jump hearing a man screaming.

“Now what on earth could that be.” They make their way to Zola’s porch. Desiree sees who she saw climbing into her mothers window now half naked on her front lawn.

“Who do you think you are?! You left her!”

“Boy watch yourself and just get goin’!”

“I love her! Taisha I know you love me too. Your just-”

“I don’t think you want to finish that sentence.” Zola says it calmly but with a lot behind her words. She just stares at him and he gathers up his closes and starts heading down the street. “You know I wont stop fighting for you.” He makes his way down the street and all eyes are now on Taisha who just turn calmly and walks back to the kitchen. Zola goes back inside her house. All that is left outside is Desiree and Andre staring at each other. Andre doesn’t know what to say so just turns and goes to the kitchen.

“I know I’ve seen him from somewhere. But where?” Desiree runs down Zola’s porch to catch up with him. She’s so close when he turns sensing someone is following him.

“What you want?”

“I know you.”

“And?”

“How do I know you? Why do I know you. I know we don’t go to school, but I feel like I know you.” He scuffs and bends to pick up his shirt and then it hits her. Tattoo on his back. Desiree lost her virginity to him at a party. If that’s what it should be called. More like she wanted to see what leading a guy on would be like then got too caught up and could turn back. All she wants to do is hit him but she’s frozen.

“I ain’t gunna answer that. Maybe you seen me going out your mama’s room. We been seeing each other. But guess that’s over. Daddy now decided to come home.” Not sure if it’s the way he said, the facial expression he said, or just everything building up so much in her but she snaps and karate kicks him, then drop kicks him and just starts pounding on this guy.

“Don’t fuck with my family.” Desiree then fix her hair, shirt, turns and just smiles.