Wide Awake

October

Lindy walked down the buzzing streets of New York City, wrapping her soft brown scarf a bit tighter around her neck. It was October, and it was chilly out.

Though it was quarter to one, the city was alive and just as awake as she was. It was like this every night; she was like this every night.

Lindy knew the path to the coffee shop just as well as she knew her phone number. It was engraved in her memory. The shop itself was a safe haven to Lindy; a place she could go to hide from the restless hours she knew that awaited her if she stayed in her apartment and tried to sleep.

Her breath came out in little clouds in front of her, reminding her just how cold it was getting outside. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and mentally scolded herself for forgetting gloves. She was thankful that she had remembered her favorite knit headband, though, so her ears were protected from the brisk air.

Lindy turned down the familiar alley. To most people, it would be terrifying. The alley was dark and filled with junk, and some nights, it even scared Lindy. But tonight, she was so eager to get to the shop, and almost ran down the deserted passage without a second thought.

It was with great luck that Lindy stumbled upon the coffee shop last May. She had been roaming around, unable to sleep as usual, when she decided in a spur of the moment decision, that she would take the alley. It lead her to a quiet street; one that was on the more run down side and probably wasn't the safest area for her to be in at night. But the moment she stepped into the coffee shop, she was in love.

With its paneled wood walls and stained brown carpet, the shop could be defined as a dump. In all honesty, it was a dump, but it had a certain charm with its chipped porcelain coffee cups and vintage pictures scattered all over the walls.

There was one thing Lindy loved about the coffee shop, though, that had actually nothing to do with the shop itself at all. It was, in fact, a person. A beautifully quiet person, who read Stephen King and drank his coffee black just like her. A person who never slept, just like her.

The thought of him made her smile. A large, unstoppable grin. The familiar feeling that appeared whenever she thought of him filled her entire body; a feeling that made Lindy want to laugh and cry at the same time.

He started going to the coffee shop towards the end of August. The first night, she was there before him. It was a hot, stuffy night. A terrible night for coffee, really. Lindy had hated whenever anyone else came into the coffee shop, but when the door opened quietly at 3:37 am, and he walked in, Lindy realized that she didn't mind someone else being in the shop with her. As long as it was him.

He always sat at the table next to the back wall, just a few spots away from Lindy's window booth. Sometimes she wished they would sit together, but sometimes she wished he would continue to leave her alone. Her conflicting thoughts confused her.

Now, Lindy pressed her lips in a tight line, concealing her smile as the shop came into view. She took a deep breath when she reached the door, and pulled it open as quietly as possible.

It wasn't until she was settled in her booth that she spared a quick glance in his table's direction. Her stomach dropped.

He wasn't here.

For a second, Lindy felt nothing, and just stared at his empty table. Then, like a ton of bricks, the feeling of betrayal hit her.

She knew she shouldn't feel this way. She had never even talked to him. She didn't even know his name! But she couldn't help but feel that they were in this together; two insomniacs just trying to get through each night with a bit of coffee.

For a second, Lindy considered leaving. But then she thought about how she really had nowhere else to go, and Anya, the older lady who owned the shop, was already bringing out her coffee. Anya knew she never ordered anything different.

When Anya reached the booth, there was the all to familiar look of pity in her eyes, except tonight, it was intensified. Lindy was pretty sure she knew why.

Anya gave her a small smile before turning and heading back to the kitchen. Lindy watched her maneuver through the old wooden tables.

Lindy sighed and shrugged off her coat. She slipped her bag off of her shoulder and removed her headband. The shop was nice and warm, and it gave Lindy a tiny bit of comfort.

She reached into her bag and pulled out her book, wanting nothing more than to let the words take her someplace else. Someplace where it wasn't night, someplace where she could be happy.

Lindy was just reading the first word when the door opened and closed behind her. She wanted so badly to turn around and peek, the hope that it was him so painful inside her, but she kept her head down and tried to keep reading.

I, she read.

Footsteps came closer.

I carry, she read. Her heart thundered in her chest.

I carry, she read again.

He slid into her booth.

He smiled at her.

-----

He sat with his latest Stephen King book in his hands. His coffee cup sat right next to hers. The steam from both cups swirled into the air, twisting together.

Lindy peeked at him over the top of her own book. She decided she liked him sitting with her, because she could see things she never had before, like the faint freckles across his nose and the small scar above his right eyebrow. She also learned that his eyes weren't just blue, they were light, and could probably be considered a strange shade of gray. She liked these little things.

She loved these little things.

The sudden thought made her panic. Her palms began to sweat, and her heart sped, if possible, even faster. Lindy found herself blurting out, "You're late."

He looked up from his book, and his eyes were apologetic. Lindy found it quite endearing. She looked a little closer and saw they also held something else; a look that could only be described as affection.

"I'm Elijah," he said softly, his mouth curving into a crooked smile. It made him look younger. "But yes, I was also late."

His voice was low and husky. It sent pleasant shivers down her spine.

"Elijah," Lindy mumbled. She liked it. She liked it a lot. "I'm Lindy."

Elijah's smile grew. "Lindy," he repeated.

They both stared at each other for a few seconds, stupid grins resting on their faces, before Lindy let out a little laugh. She placed a hand over her mouth, but another laugh escaped. It didn't take long for Elijah to join in, and soon the deserted coffee shop was filled with their laughter.

It was crazy.

Lindy decided she liked crazy.