Sunshine In Atlanta

I.

The gentle crisp of the leaves crunched under her feet and the fresh wind filled the air, swiftly brazing against her skin as she enters the one place she felt most at home: the coffeeshop. In Manhattan, the grumbling of car sounds and pedestrian footsteps all went away once she opened the door to a warmer, calmer environment.  That was the same for Atlanta in a way. There were less cars, she will admit that. However, the chaos just seemed too much for her. She stopped right as she walked in, and she let out a huge sigh. The guy behind the counter smiled the way he always did when she did that.  

"Another rough day, Jack?" he would say when she came in. She never replied, however, and he wasn't bothered by that. She just ordered the same medium chai tea latte and sat in her usual spot next to the window with her laptop. There was a soft voice from the counter that mumbled, "She must be in a good mood today" followed by a chuckle. She opened up the screen and clicked onto a new document. Today was Monday.

'Dear Eric,

I've been missing you a lot lately. Manhattan was so crowded and filled with tons of cars and piled up traffic. I remember when we promised each other that we try to make it big there. Mom and dad would complain about how it is so expensive, and how we would make snarking comments to each other because we both know we could all afford it. Georgia is so much softer and calmer for me, though. Oh, I miss our talks. I think I got cut off the family's gold card because I couldn't get coffee yesterday. That probably means I only have a little bit before they cut me off my visa. Wish me luck!

            -Jackie'

She closed her laptop and sipped her cup, shutting her eyes gently. Everything seemed easier to her when she was younger. She never felt uncomfortable or awkward in public spaces. Now it was extremely hard to choose a coffee from the menu without getting anxious. Jackie took another sip and gazed her attention out the window some more. 

A sudden slam of the entrance and a few thuds against the floor brought Jackie out of her daze. A tall, curly-haired boy rushed in with his electric guitar and over to the barista. The tanish barista smiled back at him.

"Kaleb! Long time no see!" The barista exclaimed,  hopping over the counter to embrace him. "When did you get back?"

"Just this morning; I was planning on staying for the summer to get some great recognition. Do you think I could book a gig here one night?"

"Of course! We are available Wednesday night, sounds good?"

"Cool! Awe, you're the best, Brad!" Kaleb smiled and ordered a cup of coffee at the counter. "What's the newest story around town?" 

Jackie started to pay less attention to the guys talking about some local lady dancing her money away in vegas the past summer. Jackie opened her laptop again and started typing away in an empty document page.  Suddenly, she felt the cushion next to her lower in pressure of another large body. She glanced over at the brunette who seemed to make his way over to her.

"I haven't seen you around here before" he exclaimed, setting his coffee down. "You know, you're actually in my seat."

"This has been my seat since I moved here" Jackie hissed back at him, "I haven't seen your name written anywhere, have I?" She leaned her body in different directions, her eyes scanning the seat for any handwritten scripture of some sort like a hidden message that could tell her that this seat was already claimed.

"Wow, aggressive" he smiles at her. standing back up. "I guess I should sit at the kid's table, huh?" he giggled to himself and looked back at the barista. "Brad, fix me up an apple juice, will ya?" Kaleb laughed some more and headed back to the counter. Jackie gave a smirk and continued to jot down some thoughts.

The street lights were coming on now as the coffeeshop was coming to a close this evening. Brad locked the doors and walked over to Kaleb's car. 

"We have to hang out sometime this summer, I haven't had plans since I bought this shop." Kaleb nodded is head and hopped into his truck. 

"Man, I know. I haven't been able to get any free time since I moved to California. I wasn't doing so well over there anyway. Maybe getting recognition in big places is not what I'm put up for right now."

"Don't say that; you're an excellent performer. Maybe start back up after the summer ends. That way you can get as much as you can to go back out there. Plus the city here is very populous anyway. You can always find good tips there."

"You're right, I really need to-" Kaleb looked over at the street and noticed Jackie at the bus stop. Brad looked back and smirked.

"She's a hard shell to crack. I've tried everything to get her to nudge open some information about her. All I got was her name is Jackie." Brad looks back at Kaleb, "you can try but there isn't much you can do." Kaleb started his car and closed the door. 

"Thanks, I'm probably going to head out anyway." Brad just waved goodbye and started to get into his car. Kaleb started to drive down the road when he passed Jackie. Her hands were folded in her lap and her eyes were focused on the sky as if she was praying from above. Kaleb slowed down and stopped his car in front of her. Her eyes met his.

"Do you need a ride home? I'm heading in that direction." He asked, his lips perking up in a kidish smile.

"How do you know it's in the same direction?" her voice was bold and agitated.

"I just know."

"Well, I don't get rides from strangers."

"I'm not a stranger. You can ask any local around here. They know who I am."

"I don't need a stranger to brag about his popularity. This isn't high school." Kaleb just shook his head and looked at his wheel.

"The bus isn't coming again until nine a.m tomorrow morning. It's going to rain soon and you will be stuck here if you don't get into my car now. " He was firm now, but would not make eye contact with Jackie. Jackie followed up on those odds and finally gave in. 

"Fine,  but I'm definitely not going to enjoy it" she mumbled to herself, but based on Kaleb's following chuckle, she knew she didn't say it as softly as she wanted to. She got into the passenger seat and buckled up.

"2120 Albany Drive." They were then on their way. 

"Thank you for your cooperation." 

For the majority of the ride, they were quiet. Not even a sneeze would break the ice. Kaleb then drove out of the city and towards the trees where the neighborhoods were located. 

"You live in the same neighborhood as my grandpa Evan's. Did you know that?"

"Obviously not." she stared out the window. 

"Well, you do." He smiled, but it disappeared after hearing a soft sigh from the other side of the car. The palms of his hands were sweaty on the steering wheel now. The air was thin and there was a sudden lack of things to ask her. He never had this problem with people. They stopped in front of her house and he looked at her in a way a person did at on a Monday morning. She just stepped out of the car and faced him.

"Thanks, I guess. Have a great night." she turned and walked into her small home, the door closing right behind her. He let out a loud brief of relief and wiped off his hands on his pants. He turned his keys again and finally headed home for the night.