Why aren’t you happy? The question plagued her constantly, perhaps not at the forefront of her mind but in the recesses she could feel it lurking throwing accusatory looks at her. Kalie Combe simply never addressed it allowing it to fester and suppurate within the folds of her brain. She convinced herself it was normal, everyone questioned their happiness at some point or another. And a lonely girl in a big city like DC was just more susceptible to the nagging inquiry. She turned the corner and shuffled into the nearest Starbucks still attempting to brush away the question.
She waved to the barista, a pretty Asian girl named Gwen, an art major who liked to express herself with her hair and pretty tattoos on her shoulders, sides, and wrists. Kalie had known Gwen for a while now, though they didn’t talk much on campus.
“One Hazelnut Macchiato with a pump of caramel on the way” She winks as soon as she notices Kalie at the door. That only happened when she caught Gwen at the end of her shift, which was most days if she hurried. Their relationship worked this way, Gwen supplied the coffee and Kalie supplied the books. Most of them were books the English Major was currently reading, but a few were snippets of books that only dared to spill their heart when they broke her out of her sleep in the middle of the night. Today was just that, another piece written in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.
Gwen was the only one who knew about these midnight writings. And as far as Kalie was concerned, the only one who would ever know.
The barista quickly finished making both of their coffees and hung up her green apron and visor and they grabbed their usual table in the back corner of the warmly lit café. With yellow light casting shadows down on the two girls, it almost felt secret. Gwen pushed up her sleeves letting the hummingbird which appeared practically painted on her arm rest on the table. The hummingbird is after the flower that stems from her wrist, a colorful little flora in pastels. All of Gwen’s tattoos were done in a style which seemed water colored onto her skin.
Her hair however was braided back and died an orange-y color. Last week it was blue, which could still be seen in the streak right behind her ear.
“We’re studying complimenting color and color theory” She comments when they’ve settled in their seats.
“Ah I see” Kalie grins a bit, and sets her notebook between the two of them. After that neither of them touch it. An unspoken rule, coffee first, reading last. They talk about trivial things like the weather and classes. With each subject Gwen grows more and more eager to get her hands on the leather bound bundle between them, her inked fingers twitch slightly and she increasingly grows more hyperactive, and it has nothing to do with the caffeine kicking into her system. Alright maybe a little. “I’m telling you it’s nothing special” Kalie rolls her eyes finally addressing her friend’s agitation.
“You say that every time.”
“And it still rings true.”
“Poppycock.” She chides with a wave of her hand snatching up the book.
“They’re getting worse.”
“Oh hush, sip your fancy coffee”
“What exactly makes mine fancy?”
“The caramel”
“…..the single pump of caramel you put in?”
“Yes of course. Can’t have a regular hazelnut macchiato, no must have the pump of caramel”
“It tastes better that way.”
“Whatever, enough about your coffee, you’re stalling.”
“You brought up my coffee” Kalie points out
“No I told you to drink it, now drink it” She retorts pulling the rubber band over the top of the notebook. “There’s an itch--”
“Please don’t read it out loud”
“Oho! Has my pure Kalie written something dare I say erotic?” She quirks an eyebrow. She’s only kidding of course, well aware of her friend’s asexuality.
“Oh come on, everytime?”
Gwen just giggles as she returns her eyes to the words on the page. Kalie knew exactly what they said and found herself mouthing the words.
An itch stems from the center of my back. Painful and irresistible. A place I can’t reach no matter how hard I would try, if I were to try. My fingers remain frozen in front of my eyes, a constant reminder that there is work to be done.
“Your stream of consciousness is amazing!” She giggles over the words.
“It’s four sentences, the pacing is terrible, and really vague.” Kalie sighs
“Ah I think you’ve got a story wanting to burst free”
“Well it can stay where it is, I have an internship to go to”
“Oh boo. Have fun. And seriously think about writing that story!” Gwen calls as Kalie dispenses her trash on the way out the door, a wave behind her to both dismiss the idea and signal her goodbye. This was routine for Gwen and Kalie.
