The Night We Met

Midnight Coffee at the Corner

*******AUTHOR'S NOTE*******

I know I said I'd publish this chapter last week, but last week I was really ill and was basically sleeping all that time (oops), then this week I was catching up on a ton of homework. So sorryyyy and hope you enjoy the chapter :-)

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"Jason, but most people call me Jace," he held out his hand indicating for me to shake it.

Only now I noticed that he had a slight British accent to his voice. Never has anyone attempted to shake my hand. Maybe it was a British 'thing' like tea and crumpets. I took his hand and gave it a shake, letting a little chuckle escape me. Only a little one though, I hadn't laughed in a while. For a second I felt happy, but as soon after we touched everything came flooding back. The past hour came rushing through my head and I could see the whole of New York again. That feeling of leaning off the edge of the building ready to jump. It had all come back and my laughter turned into pain. My heart ached and I felt sick. I pulled my hand back in regret, I remembered that my family died today. They laid in hospital for hours try to fight for their lives. And maybe I didn't hide and if I had called the ambulance earlier, maybe they'd still be alive. At least one of them. We could've figured it out together. After this, I have no idea what to do. But right now I do have someplace to go. Where else could I go?

"So um, where's that coffee shop you were going on about?" it was very clear that he could see beyond the smile I had plastered on my face. Jace knew I was hurting, but he tried his best to avoid asking questions. I didn't feel like talking anyways.

Jace lead our walk to the coffee shop and he talked the WHOLE way. Literally the boy wouldn't shut up, but it was better than it being silent. We walked across the street to the corner where the coffee shop was. It was a small, French-styled corner shop; the inside was quiet but not empty. A bell jingled when we opened the door and the barista gave us a warm smile. At the back of the shop was a lady, alone. She sat with a book in her face and a coffee untouched beside her. I looked at her face and saw a lonely girl screaming with tears streaming down her face. Her eyes told a story behind the emotionless face she wore. Would this be me in years to come? Would I become the person with no family, hiding behind a book in the corner of the coffee shop?

'The best thing about hitting rock bottom, is that the only way is up,' one of my favourite Disney quotes. I'm pretty much at rock bottom, unless my life could get any worse. And right now, the only way is up so that's where I'm going, or at least try to.

We got our drinks and sat down. You could still see the steam rising from the coffee, into the light. I cupped the mug and took a few sips of my coffee. Jace stared at me. He stared straight into my eyes and for the first time I looked directly into his. His eyes were black, like the night sky without any stars. A painful story blocked by the smile he wore. A smile held by a thread pulling towards his ears.

"Why were you there?" his stare moved from my eyes to the table.

"Why was I where?"

He took a sip from his coffee. It was obvious as to where I was talking about.

"The top of the building of course. I told no one that I'd be there, so why were you there?"

There was a moment of silence, he took another sip of coffee before he began to speak.