Coffee Shop (spontaneous updates)

Seven; mabel

        Flour covered the countertops like how the first snowfall of winter covered the streets. Egg shells littered the floor; the residual egg whites had the liberty to spread across the white tiles of Mabel’s kitchen.  

        “You said you were good at baking,” Chriselda said beseechingly looking at the probably inedible batch of cookies they created.

        “I said I was experimenting with it,” Mabel says defensively.

        “Yeah, like your coffee.”

        “Hey, hey, don’t hate on the coffee. I’m getting there.” Mabel pouts a little as she stares at the baking sheet in front of her.

        “Clearly,” Chriselda mutters. She starts to peel away the round substance stuck to the parchment. Once she gathered the 12 or so cookies onto a plate she broke one in two and handed a half to Mabel.

        “You ready?” She asks, raising an eyebrow. Mabel looks at her as if she just asked her to bungee jump off a cliff, or swim with piranhas blindfolded; then again to her this seemed to be a pretty reasonable equivalent. Hesitantly they both took a bite.  

        Both gravely regretting it.

        “Next time we’re using cookie dough from the grocery store,” Chris says spitting into the sink and rinsing her mouth straight from the tap.

        “It’s not even that bad,” Mabel chews slowly, and tries hard to keep the grimace off her face. But obviously it wasn’t working, there was no way she was going actually swallow it. She spit it into a napkin trying to avoid the smart ass smirk from Chriselda.  

        “Just admit baking isn’t for you, or coffee brewing. Or cooking actually, that spaghetti you made last week was kind of a train wreck,” Chriselda says to the hopeless girl in front of her. Though, she couldn’t keep the fondness in her voice, which was odd since all the qualities she listed were all that Mabel should definitely avoid. “Now writing, you should stick to writing.” She adds on, just to seem a little optimistic and not a bitch who crushes a potential aspiring chef’s dream.

        “Uh huh, thanks for the advice. I’ll make sure to mention you when I’m making millions off my recipes and you were just another hater trying to bring me down.” Mabel scoffs.

        “Not a hater, but a friend who looks out for you. You’ll be thanking me when you don’t have people knocking at your door trying to sue you for poisoning them, or giving them explosive diarrhea, or turning their shit purple.” Chriselda says throwing the cookies into the compost bin.

        “When I first befriended you I didn’t know you’d be such an asswipe,” Mabel says putting her hands on her hips.

        “I also come in extra-large packages for those nights where you just want to let loose,” she replies, adding a wink at the end for a good measure. Mabel laughs, and though they would bicker like an old married couple, they both enjoyed it nonetheless not that they’d ever admit it.

        Because Chriselda was an asswipe and Mabel was the idiot who couldn’t stay mad at her.

        Both were confused about what their relationship was exactly. Chriselda never clarified her sexuality which left Mabel utterly confused, though she never declined any intimacy from Mabel. Not that they’d really done anything other than cuddle but Mabel wondered if she only found it as a friendly gesture. Mabel certainly didn’t fantasize them being BFF’S and cuddling on the couch, mainly because you can’t have hot makeout sessions with your best friend or think very inappropriate thoughts about the other when it’s just a platonic friendship.   

        They had been hanging out for a while now and Mabel wanted nothing more than for things to… progress? Which would have been out of question only a few weeks ago but with Chriselda it seemed almost okay? She knew she wanted something with her, she was just trying to figure that something out.  

        The acceptance part of it was what she was dreading, because you can’t necessarily jump into a relationship while hating yourself. The whole concept seemed so foreign to her.

        A relationship with a… girl?

        She knew her relatively understanding family wouldn’t mind her swinging another way, her flamboyant cousin Sam never fazed them so certainly the case would be the same for her.

        She wasn’t quite sure what was stopping her.

        Maybe it was because she always had this image of her future. Her finding the perfect man, she wanted the comfort of knowing she was destined to be with a guy, the comfort of telling others you’re in a relationship with a boyfriend.

        A guy, the ideal, the idea she grew up with, something she was used to.

        Mabel couldn’t form it into words, but not only did she not want to accept who she really was; she didn’t want to be anything but a straight girl who drooled over Zac Efron’s abs or Channing Tatum’s ass in Magic Mike.

        Even if she wasn’t.

        “Hey Mabel you okay?” Chriselda says as Mabel’s eyes glaze over slightly.

        “Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” Mabel shrugs off.

        “Well, how about we make our way to the coffee shop and drink some nasty coffee and eat dry chocolate chip scones.” '

        “Maybe I should start working there…” Mabel says trailing off into thought, she fit the description for novice cook who sucks at everything having to do with food so she’d pretty much be perfect for the job.

        “Whoa there, the foods pretty bad but not lethal.” Mabel punches Chriselda’s arm lightly, she would have done it much harder had Chriselda not look so fragile. Mabel wasn’t really sure, but Chriselda always looked as if she could shatter into a million pieces. She wished she could be her crazy glue, or duct tape, even a Band-Aid just anything to help.  Her inner turmoil was kind of in the way, though she dreamed of the day when she was the reason for Chriselda’s genuine happiness.

        Mabel looked at Chriselda for a moment with a sad smile. She just wanted her to not look so breakable.  She moved a strand away from Chriselda’s eyes.

        “You’re beautiful,” she said quietly. Chris immediately looked down, and plastered an awkward looking smile on her face.

        “Not as beautiful as you,” She said with a shaky voice. “So how about some shitty coffee?”

        “No really, look at me.” Mabel says tilting her chin up so that their eyes met. “You really are.” Chriselda looked at her with sad eyes, the kind that was close to tears. Her lips quivered.  Mabel adds on quickly, “I didn’t mean to upset you. Did I say something wrong—“

        Mabel was cut off by the lips of Chriselda. No words could possibly describe what she was feeling.

        Shocked, surprised, happy, giddy, confused, upset, and scared.

        Scared.

        Mabel felt the pressure of her chapped lips, but stood there unresponsive. Getting the hint, Chriselda rapidly leaned back, it almost gave her whiplash.

        “I’m sorry, I just thought that we were… actually I wasn’t thinking at all I’m sorry. I should, I should go.” Chriselda says hurriedly.

        “No, I just. Just give me some time, I—" Mabel sputters out trying to pull herself together.

        “Don’t worry about it.” Chris says almost heartbroken, and slightly humiliated.

        And just like that Chriselda gathers her phone and coat, slips on her shoes in the speed of light and is out the door.

        Leaving Mabel to stand there and sob, and know deep down she made a big mistake.