All Of Your Flaws

Part Three

Two years prior, the Bowen's cafe had been one of those dingy dive bars that only catered to their regulars and lost tourists that clearly didn't know any better. After nearly a year of hardly any trade, it became apparent that in their small town the main beverage was coffee and not beer. The bar's owner, who happened to be Lisa's mom, Karen had the place renovated into a coffee house. They hadn't gotten rid of the grease filled burgers, which were the greatest hangover cures Addison had ever had and she could happily spend the rest of her life eating them.

Brigid's main reason for going, apart from the coffee, though was because of the barista, Brett. Brigid had been nursing a crush on him for months since he started working in their favourite coffee shop. Addison had been forced to witness the pair of them dancing around one another in a weird form of flirting wherein neither Brigid nor Brett would actually admit that they liked one another and all their conversations revolved around coffee.

"There you go Addison." Brett said handing Addison the two mugs with a friendly smile. "One black coffee with cinnamon and one hazelnut latte with an extra shot of vanilla." He said and Addison smirked at hearing the extra shot Brett had put in Brigid's drink.

"Thanks." Addison said taking the drinks back to the table where Brigid was sat with several of her textbooks littering the table. "Extra shot of vanilla from your cappuccino Casanova" Addison said placing Brigid's drink in front of her. Brigid looked up and when Addison nodded over to the counter where Brett was stood, Brigid blushed furiously as she glanced over. Brett gave her a small smile before going back to stacking mugs or whatever it was he did when he wasn't making coffee or heart eyes at Brigid. Brigid's head dipped down and she became incredibly focused on pulling a stray thread from her thick green cardigan. "Are you thinking about maybe starting a conversation between the poor guy before he goes insane?"

"What? Brett? Don't be stupid...he's just being friendly." Brigid said.

"Yeah, because he just hands out the free shots of syrup to everyone." Addison said. Brigid shook her head at Addison's sarcasm but she could see her smiling to herself as she sipped on her coffee. "You could just talk to him." Addison prodded. Watching the dance between Brigid and Brett had been slowly driving her insane for the past few months.

"About what exactly?" Brigid asked.

"He's a guy who likes art and works in a coffee shop, Brigid. I think you could easily find one subject to talk about." She said. "Lisa agrees with me you know, she thinks you should say something to him."

"Don't say that Lisa agrees with you when she's not here to back herself up." Brigid shot back frowning slightly. "And I don't like the idea of the two of you gossiping behind my back."

"Who said she wasn't?" Addison asked when she spotted the small blonde head of one Lisa Bowen. "And we weren't gossiping, Lisa just happened to mention Brett. That was all."

"Hey Lisa." Brett called as Lisa came waltzing into the coffee house. She gave Addison and Brigid a quick wave before hurrying behind the counter and grabbing an apron. "Was detention the same ol' barrel of laughs?" Brett asked.

"Oh yeah, it's always a real joy to be there." Lisa said derisively. "If my mom asks, I've been here since classes finished." Lisa said glancing around the coffee shop as if looking for her formidable mother.

"I already signed you in; as far as she knows you've been working for two hours already." Brett said.

"Does that mean I get my break now?" Lisa asked smirking. Brett rolled his eyes and walked off towards the kitchen.

"Don't push it Lisa Mary Bowen." Brett called as he went. As soon as Brett was out of view Lisa skipped around the counter and sat down by Addison and Brigid. Brigid gave Lisa a quick smile as Lisa reached over to take a sip of Brigid's coffee.