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 wakes up the next morning feeling so confused. Look at her clock and sees it’s noon. “When did it become noon and how did I get home?”

“It was a struggle but I somehow managed.” Mike is walking into the room just wearing his boxes.” Monica cannot hide the shock on her face. “Don’t worry we didn’t do anything I slept on the couch, and I can’t exactly be wearing my clothes because someone decided it would be a wonderful idea to fall spilling their drink all over me. so wearing a crusty alcohol soaked suit was not happening.”

“I am so embarrassed. I am so sorry!”

Mike put his hand up to stop her. “Don’t worry. You had a lot of questions and kept shocking you that you went with the easy escape.”

“At least I only get drunk once a year or this would be really embarrassing.”

“What was really embarrassing was your friend Andrew coming over and finding me in my boxers in your kitchen.”

“Haha! Oh I will have to call Andrew and explain.”

“He has a key to your place?”

“Yep. He comes here about three times a week in the morning with coffee and we head to work together.”

“That’s cool.”

“Yeah, he’s such an amazing friend, been there for me since I came here.”

“You didn’t grow up in San Fran?”

“Nope came here solo after my parents passed away.”

“Wow.”

“That’s what happens when you nineteen and your parents pass away. But it’s life.”

“Listen I get the no parents thing, they may have been there but they weren’t. Physically there but everything else, no. My dad has no clue about me even leaving New York. I’m not sure he even cares I’m in California. My mom isn’t much better. But it is what it is.”

“I’m sorry. I know doesn’t mean anything but mine were taken and didn’t have a choice while yours do. I know not helping but I couldn’t image in that.” Monica seemed to get lost in a world simply playing with the sheets. Mike take this cue and makes his way next to her just holding her. They stayed like that for the rest of the afternoon. Each getting lost in their own world but not wanting to loss the other person.

The world seemed to pass them by for the day letting them get take out and eating on the floor in her living room to watch a movie, vegged out, and got lost in conversation. Places they wish to travel to, places they’ve been, and making a destination place that they promise they will only go together to. Life they have lived. The life they saw themselves living, or at least that they were meant to have. Things they would have done differently and things they want to do differently now. Mike wants to make a difference for the local teens to have out reaches to feel safe at. While Monica wants to see what the city has to offer. She has lived in San Fransico for about four years and has yet to see all of it if it is not friend or work related she has not ventured over there.

Before either of them realize it they are face to face leaning on the couch with knees almost touching as they lay with blankets around them. Looking at each other unsure of what is come next. They realize it is now dark but neither of them seem to care. The moment has taken them over and all they can do is look into each others eyes wishing this will never end.

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.

This is the last post for this story! Hope you've enjoyed!

Taisha begins driving like a mad women. She left Desiree with Zola saying she had to do something for work and would be right back. Desiree didn’t even mind she was so distracted but Zola gave her a good long lecture of being careful knowing all too well she was not going to do something for work. Zola heard the gossip about Zola and Andre, then Zola and a younger man named Jeremy. Now that Desiree was pregnant and the fathers name was Jeremy.

Taisha reached Jeremy apartment in record time. She goes storming up to his apartment and doesn’t even bother banging on the door. She uses her key and barges right in. “Jeremy, what the hell!”

Jeremy comes out of the bathroom in just a towel brushing his teeth. “Excuse me.” He looks absolutely dumb founded. Goes back in spits out the tooth paste and rinses his mouth. 

“Okay sleeping with me is one thing. But my daughter?! She is a minor!”

“Whoaahh wait a minute. I never slept with your daughter. The only time I meet her was when I was naked in you bathroom and she came to chase me and ask what I was doing. I never slept with your daughter.”

“Then how is she pregnant and saying your the father?”

“Jeremy is a common name. Sure you got the right one? Are you sure she’s even pregnant because I remember you saying she had a lot of issues and always wanted attention.”

“Jeremy she wouldn’t make up being pregnant!”

“Well did you just share big news with her?”

Taisha looks at the floor shying away from the truth Jeremy is saying. “Yes.”

“Maybe you should go back home because she knows where you are and she might do something.”

“What?”

“Trust me. She knows where you are and she’s probably freaking out right now and will do something.” Without thinking Taisha gets in her car and drives home. Pulling down her road there are all these fire trucks, police. She throws her car in park and begins running down the street to see Zola’s house on fire. Zola’s on a stretcher being put in an ambulance but Desiree is no where to be found.

“Where’s my baby.” Taisha just crumbles. Screaming over and over, “Where’s my baby!” The fire fighter comes a long and picks up and and carries her away.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

The next morning Andre comes to Taisha bed room and just holds her. “Zola is doing better today they said by the end of the week she should be out of the hospital.” Taisha moves a little to just see the disaster left behind from the fire. Knowing not everything can be saved. “Taisha we need to go. The service starts soon.” Taisha can barely get up to move. But refuses to wear black. Instead she wears a white dress, sun hat, and dark sun glasses. “Are you sure you want to do this.”

“It’s about time I did some changing.” With that she headed out to the limo with a her daighter following in a casket and a limo saying ‘Just Married’.