Breaking the Grid

Caught off guard

The smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries wraps around me as I push open the glass door of the small coffee shop. The bell above the entrance chimes softly, blending into the low hum of conversations and the distant whir of the espresso machine. It's a familiar sound, one I hadn't heard in a long time in this place.

I hesitate for a second, my fingers flexing slightly in my pockets. This used to be our place. The one spot where we always ended up, whether it was to celebrate something, vent, or just sit in silence. My chest tightens for a second, but I push it away, forcing my shoulders to relax as I step inside.

The lady behind the counter catches sight of me first. Her smile is warm, familiar. "Blair! It's been a while."

I return the smile, nodding. "Yeah, too long."

She's already reaching for a cup. "Still the same?"

I glance toward Leah before answering, "Yeah, same."

My eyes land on her as I make my way to the corner of the shop. She's already there, sitting at our usual table, one hand wrapped around a mug while the other scrolls through her phone. She looks the same—yet different. More composed maybe, or just more closed off.

I stop next to the table, clearing my throat slightly. "Hey."

Leah looks up, her eyes flicking to me for a second before she sets her phone down. "Hey," she replies, voice neutral.

I pull out the chair opposite her, the legs scraping softly against the floor as I sit down. There's a brief pause, not exactly awkward, but charged. Like we both know there are words hanging between us, but neither of us is ready to grab them just yet.

"Didn't think you'd come," Leah finally says, lifting the mug to her lips.

I shrug, leaning back in my chair. "Why wouldn't I?"

She raises an eyebrow, giving me a look like I just said the dumbest thing in the world. "Really?"

I exhale through my nose, shaking my head slightly. "I'm here, aren't I?"

She doesn't argue, just watches me for a second before glancing toward the window. "It's weird being here again," she mutters, almost to herself.

I glance around. "Yeah."

A beat of silence.

"So..." She start, leaning her forearms on the table. "Why did you want to meet?"

She tilts her head slightly, watching me with an unreadable expression. I exhale, running a hand through my hair before finally saying, "I just think it's dumb to stop talking completely." My voice is softer than I intended, like I'm admitting something I shouldn't.

Her fingers tighten slightly around her mug, and for a moment, she doesn't respond. Then, she turns her head just a little, her gaze flickering toward me. "So you think my feelings are stupid?" Her voice is sharp, defensive.

I sigh, pressing my lips together. I should have seen that coming. "Leah," I say, shaking my head, "you know I don't mean it like that."

She crosses her arms, leaning back in her chair, and I instinctively do the same, mirroring her posture. There's a tension in the air now, something fragile but charged.

"You just said it's dumb," she points out, arching an eyebrow at me.

I close my eyes for half a second, already feeling the start of a headache. "I meant this—" I gesture vaguely between us, "—not talking. Pretending like we don't know each other. Like we weren't—" I stop myself, biting the inside of my cheek.