Coffee's For Closers

My fingers were shaking as I held the cigarette to my lips, taking a deep drag. January couldn't decide what kind of weather it wanted to have. Yesterday it was warm enough for just a light jacket, and today I was dressed in a thick coat, a scarf, and hat. Exhaling the smoke, I jerked my body lightly with tiny hopes that it would create enough body heat for me to regain feeling. The streets around my shivering body were almost bare, which seemed natural since it was only seven forty-five in the morning.

Holding my arms closer to my body, I glanced towards the coffee shop. The top of the brick building had neon letters in bright yellow and pink, spelling out the words Java Hut Rythem. At least the name was catchy. I inhaled anothe breath off the cigarette, moving close enough to the glass to press my body against it. It came as an ice-cold shock at first, but slowly turned into a comfortable heat.

"You barely work as it is!"

"Oh, come on, Aspin. You and I both know I'm finically stable enough to not have to work for years. I'm here for two reasons. One, I get bored without human contact. Two, I'm making you enough money to keep this place running."

"But this place is not your playground, Alexander! Take your job seriously!"

"I quiet like the way I'm doing my job, but if you want to fire me, do it now. Any other place on this street would die to have me."

"I never said I was going to fire you, but-"
"Hi," I gave Aspin, our manager, a soft smile. "My shift doesn't start until eight. I was just-"
"You have no shift today, Chairity!"

"But I thought.."

"There's a meeting no one informed me of," Aspin shot Alex a glare. "And I can't leave this place in the hands of a slacker and a trainee. We're closed today. Go home."

I watched with a blank expression as Aspin pulled his jacket closer to his body and began walking down the street. I lived halfway across town, and the walk alone with no heat would take too much out of me. That, and I just didn't wnat to go home. I came to Baltimore with the intentions of starting fresh. I had no one to call, no one to keep me company on this cold day.

"Shit!" I winced in pain, dropping the cigarette to the sidewalk. I'd forgotten I had it. "I guess it's heat, huh?"

"You know," Alex laughed lightly, stomping the cherry out. "Smoking is a nasty habit."

"So is quitting." I spoke without thinking. I instantly regretted the words as they left my lips. "I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't meant to."

"I take it you were a fan."

"Yeah," I shrugged. His expression remained blank. "Your words saved me. It's a shame you gave up."

"Do you wanna go get breakfast or something? I've got nothing better to do."

"I'd love to, only, I'm broke. My survival kind of depends on this job and the hours I get in."

"No worries. I'll pay."

"Alex, I can't ask you to do that."

"I'm not asking, I'm telling. Your nose is so pink I fear it might fall off. If we don't get you to heat soon, there won't be anything left of you."

That offer was too good to pass up. I gave him a light laugh and a nod, letting him lead the way. I hadn't learned my way around yet, and after we took three corners, I was shown a side of town that I had failed to see. It held more life than the street the coffee shop was on. Even at this hour people were windown shopping and crossing streets. I blinked a few times, mezmorized. Alex had to grab me by my scarf and pull me all the way to the gray-bricked building. As soon as he opened the door, a warm air slapped me in the face, and the sweet scent of coffee danced around my nose.

"I used to come here with the guys," Alex flashed a flirty grin to the cooks. "I haven't been here in months."

"Because you don't talk to them anymore."

"What do you want?" He asked, ignoring me once again. He slid a menu my way. "Everything here is good."

"I don't need a menu. I'll just be getting coffee and pancakes."

"That's it? No wonder you're so skinny."

"I'm a vegetarian," I stated clearly. "I may be small, but I'm healthy."

"I never said it was a bad thing," he flashed a toothy grin. "Then out of respect for your vegetarian ways, I'll have the same."

"That's really sweet, Alex, but you don't have to."

"I don't have to do anything. I don't have to be in Baltimore. I don't have to be buying a pretty girl breakfast, but I am. You know why? 'Cause I want to."

I was both flattered and shocked. I gave him a gentle smile and spoke softly. "Most meat eaters are repulsed when I tell them I don't eat anything with a face."

"Most meat eaters are stupid."

"And what makes you so different?"

"I respect other people. Especially females."

Without intending to, I gave a small cough. It was a failed attempt to cover my laugh. I didn't know Alex. I had only just met him, but I also met two girls who directly told me not to trust him. He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat with a grunt.

"You've been talking to the terrible two-some, then?"

"Bri and Lucy? Yeah. They seem nice."

"Looks can be decieving, my dear, and it's not fair of you to judge me before you've heard my side."

"And what, may I ask, is your side?"

Our conversation was put on a short pause so Alex could order our meals. The waitress had a flirty look in her eyes, and from the way she chewed on her pen and stared deeply into his eyes, I could tell they knew each other. Perhaps in the same way Alex knew Bri and Lucy. I bit my lip, shaking the thought that Alex had slept with every female he's ever come in contact with.

"Anyways, where were we? Oh, yeah, there's not much to say. I actually liked Bri at first. For starters, she's tall enough to kiss me without breaking my toes trying to reach my lips, and she was an awesome girl at first. I wined and dined her, but after a few dates, she got.. weird. I took her to this really nice place and she ordered more drinks than all the poor bastards at the bar. She was all over our server, too. It disgusted me. I took her home and she threw herself at me that night. I can't say no to that- I'm a dude."

"Okay," I nodded, soaking up the information. "But that doesn't explain Lucy."

"And there's the twist," he smirked. "The server that Bri was all over just so happened to be Lucy's ex. The kind of ex that you never really get over. When I told her what happened, her little heart broke. So she used me to get back at Bri. I'll admit, I found Lucy attractive. But girlfriend worthy? Not at all. But we were both pissed at Bri, so I let her blow me in the bathroom at the shop."

"Wow, descriptive," I shuddered. "So you're not like, a whore?"

"Oh no, don't let me fool you," he grinned. "I've gotten around. You know, when I was in a band, and girls threw themselves at me constantly. Am I still running around the block with a boner? No."

"I guess I shouldn't trust everything I hear, then."

"When it comes to me, believe most things, but when it comes to how I could effect you- believe me."