Stranger in a Coffee Shop

Alexithymia

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Alexithymia (n.) - Inability to describe emotions verbally.

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The next day Richard came in fifteen minutes earlier than Victoria's usual precise timing of 2:30. He just ordered a regular coffee with two creams and three packets of sugar before sitting down at her table and pulling out his book.

Victoria made her presence clear *not that she truly had to, Richard was looking up from his paperback every ten seconds* by slamming her bag on the wooden table. Despite knowing what was coming, Richard still flinched and cursed quietly. Victoria grinned and sat down. "You're a little jumpy today."

"You would be too if someone didn't have the need to throw things on nice mahogany tables." Richard fiddled with the rolled cuffs of his shirt.

"Ah, sorry about that. I'm a little angry today." Victoria sat down and pulled out her laptop gingerly, inspecting it with careful eyes before setting it down. Richard frowned. "Victoria," her name slid off his tongue so easily and it sounded right to him, "is everything okay?"

"I'm just dealing with some things... personal stuff, it's no big deal. Don't worry about it Richard. Say, does anyone call you Dick?" She opened her laptop and typed quickly.

Richard laughed, a blush forming on his cheeks. "No, well my dad went by that so I don't ever go by that nickname." He admitted to her, playing with the watch on his wrist. He remembered that he was trying to get her to talk and asked again, "is everything okay?"

Victoria stared him down, eyes brighter than usual. He blamed the sun, but then again he didn't blame the sun, her eyes were nice to look at even though her stare made him uncomfortable. Finally she looked away, sighing. "No offense to you, but I really don't want to talk about my life and feelings to someone I barely know."

He nodded, understanding. "Alright."

"What are you reading?" She circled the conversation back to him, leaning on her hand and reading something off her laptop. "The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, it's a long read but I quite enjoy it so far." Richard bookmarked his page before handing it over for Victoria to see. "I've read two other books of hers, she's one of my favorites."

"I don't meet a lot of people who have heard of her, she's brilliant. She also made me fear classics majors." Victoria grinned at their private joke. And Richard smiled back, knowing exactly what she referred to. She handed him the book back and pulled out a notebook. "Do you mind if I study for a little while, I have an exam later this week."

"Go ahead." Richard leaned back in his chair and pulled his book back to himself. Victoria pulled out a small textbook and started reading, humming to herself. A barista came over with their drinks, pulling them away from their little voids they created around themselves. Richard watched Victoria pull her mug to herself and grinned. "How complex do you make your order?"

"If I'm feeling it, I'll ask for an iced coffee with extra ice, 3 pumps hazelnut, 2 pumps classic, and an inch of non-fat milk. But that's only if I'm feeling up for torturing the baristas. I usually don't want to give them a hard time, it's coffee not a four course meal." Victoria simply stated, setting her cup down. Richard nodded, smiling. "How nice of you. Usually I just ask for a dark roast with something simple, just because a lot of the drinks get sugary or fattening."

"Oh, you're one of those people." Victoria rolled her eyes and Richard felt his face heat up, he couldn't tell if she was joking or being serious. "Are you some sort of fitness nut, the ones who like always manage their calories on a daily basis, who make going out for food a living hell, who work out for three hours at a gym-"

"Ouch." Richard, rubbed the back of his neck. Victoria was definitely not joking. "I'm not extreme... I like to manage what I eat so I can keep my body fit." He defended. Victoria shrugged, realizing she had hit a nerve but not wanting to apologize. "Alright. So, anything else particularly annoying about you?" She smiled, joking.

"You have to tell me one annoying thing about you first though." Richard countered. Victoria stared up in thought. "Hmm... I have a nasty habit of being really rude when it comes to people's feelings."

"That's terrible." Richard smiled. Victoria nodded and rubbed her thumb against the top of her mug. "I know, I'm just not really empathic? I guess? I picked it up from my mother." She shrugged it off.

"What about with uh, partners? Do you care then?" Richard tried getting her to open up by asking small questions, if he was ever going to understand her he knew he had to start chipping away somewhere.

"No see, I care, Richard. I just don't feel empathy for them. I can't feel it, therefore I don't show it." Victoria tried explaining it. Richard noticed she was having a difficult time. "My past partners never really understood it and I never tried explaining so they left me quite quickly. My-" she faltered, "yeah."

Richard nodded, understanding-- to an extent-- what she was trying to voice. "Someone understood once?"

"No, they still understand. Look, I have to study. I don't want to talk about this any longer." Victoria quickly shut back down on him, setting her mug down and picking up the textbook. Richard looked down at his own mug, now nearly empty. "Of course."

Victoria left an hour earlier than her usual time that she told him, claiming she had somewhere to be soon. Richard, while not believing it at all, did not bother to question her like she was some child. He let her go quietly and while he picked up his things after he thought she left, Victoria came back over and thanked him.

"For what?" Richard shouldered his bag and looked down at her. Victoria rubbed her bare arm. "You're a patient person. Not many people are. Thank you for being that way." She looked away and turned so she could quickly escape. Richard chuckled. "We all have little things we don't like to talk about. Too many bad thoughts come with them."

"I know." She nodded her head and walked to the door, Richard close behind. "Uhm," she started as she opened the door slowly, "same time tomorrow yes?"

"I'll be here." Richard grinned. Victoria smirked at his optimistic and happy tone. "Great. Have a good day, Richard."

"You too, Victoria." He stood outside and watched her run to her bike before heading off in the opposite direction. 

A/N: Uh so small, probably horribly written piece for this little short story I have going because these two are basically my children and I like writing their exchanges whenever I think of things. Enjoy