This entry is part 2 of 6 in the series Something About a Coffee Shop

Get water.

He looked up and saw Trevor talking to the tall brunette with his cell phone in one hand, and his insurance in the other. A convenience store was situated across the street. Moments later, he returned with several bottles of Aquafina.

“Here…I’m sorry…my friend thought the light turned green,” Brian said as he handed her one of the water bottles.
“Thanks. Stuff happens right? You guys okay?” Lauren’s kindness matched the softness of her baby blue eyes and light cobalt blue V-neck. Her thin white long sleeve cardigan, Tresseme hair, and perfect makeup gave the impression that she was sophisticated, friendly, and incredibly popular. Brian was terrified.

“Yeah…a little shook up, but I think we’re good,” he said weakly, trying to remember what it was he was and wasn’t supposed to say after an accident, what he was and wasn’t supposed to say to girls, and thankful he’d remembered his deodorant that morning.
“I’m Lauren, by the way. I see you met Terra,“ she said with one hand dug into her designer jeans, and the other extended.
“Brian, uh, yeah.” He said as he shook her hand awkwardly. “I’m gonna go…give her…one of these.”
Breathe. He reminded himself as he stepped away from the conversation.

“Water?”
“Aww, you bought me a drink. How sweet.” Terra only looked at him long enough to take the gift before resuming her lost stare over the accident. Brian noticed she lacked color, and her knuckles were split with streaks of dried blood.
Did we do that?
“You’re welcome. Sorry we hit you guys.”
Terra sighed as her countenance fell. She softened.
“I’m sorry. This isn’t your fault. None of this is your fault,” she said as she put her forehead to her knees. “…And here you’re trying to be sweet, and I’m treating you like a jerk. Here, sit.” She raised her head, smiled forgivingly, and motioned for him to sit down next to her.

“Look, it’s really okay, you were in an accident. It’s fine.”
“No. It’s not. I appreciate your kindness, really, but today has been awful. My friend Lauren wanted me to apply for this stupid job so bad she forced me to swing by this place and fill out an application straight from the airport.”
Brian stared blankly like she had told a joke but he missed the punchline.
“…I was just on the red-eye from Venezuela, and this was my old employer before I left six weeks ago,” she said as she held up the application.
“..so you feel like you’re groveling for your old job?”
“Something like that. And on zero sleep.”

A police car with its light bar on came to a stop behind the collision. Two officers exited the squad car. One of them approached.

“Everyone okay? Any injuries?”
“No sir. Just a fender bender,” Brian told the officer.
“Were you driving?”
“No sir, both drivers are over there,” Brian motioned towards Trevor.
“Venezuela, wow. Vacation?”
Terra shifted uncomfortably.
“Um…no. Well, I mean it was pretty, it was just business. Boring meetings and stuff…So what about you? Sure seemed to be in a hurry.”
“Ha. Hardly, Trevor picked me up earlier to hit of Fiorito.”
“Fiorito…that’s that Argentine place by Leela’s right?” Terra brightened.
“Yeah, that’s the one. I’ve been on a Churrasco sandwich kick.”
Terra laughed. “There was this place in Caracas. Couldn’t tell you the name. Anyways, they had killer Pabellón. It’s…”
“Shredded beef and black beans right? It’s been awhile.”
“No way. You know what that is?” Terra shook her head in disbelief.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s sort of cheating when your mom is Argentine.”
“I dunno, that’s kinda cool. How’d um…”
“…we end up in Miami?” Brian could tell she was slightly embarrassed at the question.
“Yeah.”
“It’s okay. They met in college while my mom was working on her degree. He was a foreign exchange student from the States. Your parents live in Miami?”
“Oh no. Chicago.”
“You see them much?”
“Not really. I ran away from home when I was eighteen. It was stupid. I just got…restless.” Terra brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Her hands looked soft. He couldn’t believe she was talking to him. She seemed so…great.
“Like you weren’t sure where you were supposed to be or even what you were supposed to be, only that where, and what were supposed to look different than now.”
She stopped, her eyebrows ducked, and she smiled at him almost sideways. Brian’s mouth hung half open.
“Exactly.”
Brian had never felt like he had understood anyone so easily in all his life. He chuckled slightly and looked back over the accident. He could overhear Lauren and Trevor wrapping up their conversation with the officers.
“This…this was..it was really nice to meet you.” He smiled as sincerely as he knew how.
“Same.” She smiled back.
“Well, I hope you get your job, and…you have a great rest of your day.”
Suddenly the brightness that Brian had observed left like a dandelion blown away in the wind.
Was she sad?
“Thanks. I owe you one for the drink,” She said as she ran her fingers through her long blonde hair. She was beautiful, and Brian would have gladly wrecked a parking lot if it meant just a few more seconds with her. He got brave.
“Hey…do you think that maybe…,” he looked down. Her brightness returned.
But what if she got to know him?
“…never mind…um, nice to meet you.” He smiled.
Another dandelion.

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