Coffee Shop - A Newsies Fanfic (SPRACEE)

4

Sean "Spot" Conlon

I leave my helmet in the construction offices, and head towards the gate. I'm going back to the coffee shop. I need coffee and I might need to figure out who that guy was.

"Ey, Sean! Come on... join us fo' lunch."

I turn to see John, my "work friend" with his buddies. I've only gone with them a few times, and overall, it was a pretty unpleasant experience. They all go to the pub down the street, whistle at some of the ladies, get food all over themselves, and walk back to the site with their hands covered in grease. Gross. The second time I joined them, Harry got real close to a girl who was maybe nineteen and he started his groping thing. She slapped him. He got mad. John and I had to pull him off of her.

So... yeah, they're basically just huge toddlers but with sexual urges.

"I'm okay... you guys have fun though!" I say.

"Sean... why don't you join us today..?" Harry says, his voice rough. He totally has a hangover.

"I'm just in the mood for coffee." I say, turning to leave.

"Meeting anyone?" Harry teases, "A pretty girl?"

"Nope."

"Ughh. If Sean can't get a girl, how's we s'pposed ta do it?" Harry practically whines.

"Let's just go." John says, "Our break is already too short."

The guys grunt in agreement and make their exits. I begin walking again. One block down, two blocks north, right turn, pass two buildings and there's the shop. I open the door and step inside. "The guy" is at the cash register now, taking orders. I step in line, but look at the floor to keep from... blushing. He's kinda cute. I can only see the side of his face though.

Once I am at the cash register, I look up at "tHe GuY" and suddenly, it clicks.

"Race." I say, my voice embarrassingly breathy.

"Sean." He says. Shit. He's upset with me. I should have known he would be. I mean, I'm pretty upset with myself too. I did something really stupid and it probably hurt him a lot. I stand there, frozen, until he says,

"What would you like to order?"

My mind goes blank.

"Uhh... I... would like... A coffee. And a... scone. Please."

"What kind of scone?" He says, looking unimpressed.

I am very aware that I am blushing. A lot. I turn to the bakery window and try to pick one quickly.

"Cheese and bacon." I say, reaching in my pocket for some change.

"That'll be... 3 dollars."

I hand him the money. He counts it.

"I'm sorry-" I say, but it comes out almost like a whisper.

His face softens for a moment, but he looks up and says, "Next."

I step backwards accidentally, running into the man behind me.

"Sorry." I say, walking away. I'm panicking. Why am I panicking?

I take a breath and grab my coffee and scone from the other counter.

I will not cry.

I will not cry.

I will not cry.

I head to the furthest table and sit down. I zone out, watching Race taking orders. Then I realize he's walking towards me. He looks pissed.

"What are you doing here?"

I don't know how to answer.

"I'm... getting coffee..?" I say.

He gives an annoyed sigh and begins to turn away. "Nevermind."

I grab his arm to stop him "Wait- I'm sorry." I gesture to the chair across the table. "Do you want to talk?"

"Fine." He sits slowly, like he's unsure.

"It's... It's been a while. I missed you... so much." I start saying.

Race sets his jaw. "Then why didn't you visit? Or... send a letter?"

"I... uh..." I don't know what to say.

"Do you know how long I spent, living in our old apartment, waiting for you to come back?"

"I'm sorry-"

"I waited six years, Spot. Six!"

"I know-"

Race cuts me off.

"I put my whole life on pause for you. I trusted you. And what did you do? You lied to me."

"Would you just let me talk? Look, I'm sorry. I get that you're angry. You have every reason to be angry. What I did was shitty, and I regret it."

Race turns away in his chair. I watch him wipe his eyes. I swallow as he turns back to face me.

"Why would you do it then?" He asks, his voice rough.

I open my mouth to answer. Close it. I don't really know why I did it.

"I... I guess I was... scared?"

Race scoffs.

"Scared?" He leans back in his seat. "Of what, Spot? What was so scary that you had to leave me for almost eight years? Oh, and lie about where you went? Enlighten me."

"I just- I didn't want you to worry about me."

"Wow. Your plan really worked out, huh? Where did you even go?"

"They... uh... They sent me to prison."

Race's mouth opens a little. He's surprised, I guess.

"Why?" Race asks.

"Someone found out we were," I lean in a little and my voice goes quiet "you know..."

"Oh my god." Race's voice is quiet and breathy.

"I didn't want you to think it was your fault. It wasn't your fault. And-" I blurt out.

"Wait- So you- You thought that I needed to be lied to, and- and treated like a child? That was your best option??"

Shit.

"Looking back on it, I should never-"

"'Looking back on it' bullshit. You can't apologise and expect everything to be okay. You hurt me. Those are years I'll never get back. Regretting what you did isn't enough."

We sit in silence for a few minutes.

Race speaks first. "My break is over. I have to get back to work."

He stands and turns away from me. "Enjoy your coffee, Sean."

I grab him by his elbow to stop him.

"I'm so sorry, Race. I really am."

He pauses for a moment, like he's considering, then shakes his arm out of my grip.

"Don't fucking touch me." I watch as he walks back to the counter.

I sit in shock. I really screwed this up. Maybe this is for the better. Race deserves to be able to trust people.

I grab my coffee and the scone and throw them out. My hands are shaking and I feel nauseated. What do I do?