Phan - Short Fics Collection

☆ (×) Coffee & Cigarettes

It's Wednesday, 1:30pm, middle of autumn, I jog across the dew-damp grass round to the back of the olden, breaking school, turning a sharp corner to get to the back wall, leaning against it, short of breath. Droplets of rain still falling from the small bit of roof jutting out over the wall. I push a hand through my curling brown fringe, pushing it out of my eyes and reach into the pocket of my damp leather jacket, pulling out my escape. I take a cigarette from the packet and curl my hand around the lighter in attempt to stop the wind from extinguishing the small flicker of the flame. After many attempts the cigarette finally lights, leaving me to take a huge drag, as I lean my head against the wall and blow out, watching the soft smoke rise into the air.

Relief washes over me, I feel calmer and more collected. This is how I deal with everything, I light my cigarettes and smoke my cares away, in the tiny hope that the next day will be the day where everything feels okay.

I hear a small cough from beside where I am, turning my head I'm met with a darker haired boy, his hair damp and falling infront of his head, which is leant forward over a cigarette and lighter. Right foot kicked up on the wall, leaning against it. Beside his leg, a small silicone cup and a black backpack. Slim, pale hands working at the lighter. I don't realise that I'm staring until he looks up and meets my eyes, sharp blue to dull brown, all while he takes a long drag, slowly exhaling it out.

He kicks his foot off the wall, fixing his raven fringe and walking over to me, cigarette in one hand, coffee cup in the other, picking up his school bag and shrugging it onto his shoulder. He obviously goes to this school and looks no older than me, but I've never seen him around. He stops beside me, looking right into my eyes but not saying anything. He throws the coffee cup into the bin beside us, leans his shoulder against the bricked wall and inhales a drag of smoke, blowing it out into the musky air. He studies me further before looking into my eyes, giving me a lopsided smile which alone could make my knees weak.

"So you're out here, head messed up with school stress, loneliness. Your only escape is cigarettes, it's your way of feeling something. I'm here with you simply because it's cold outside and you're feeling kind of lonely." He takes another deep breath, blowing it out slowly, leaving me starstruck. "How did y-" "Do you want to go get some coffee? Assuming you have nothing to do." He gives me a chuckle. "And why would you assume that?" I snap back. He gives a loud laugh, blue eyes trailing to the floor underneath then back up to me. "Because you're lonely. I know that look." He says seriously. His eyes are so vibrant, you can't look away and his smell, intoxicating. "What makes you think I'd want to get coffee with some stranger I met while smoking behind a school?" I said, flushing slightly, a faint smile ghosting my face. He flashes me a small grin. "Because I know that look too." Then he starts walking across the shimmery green grass to the school gates, knowing I'll follow.

"Then why did you follow me?" He muses as I catch upto him. "You're lonely too, I can tell." I reply. He looks at me with soft eyes before looking away quickly. He throws his cigarette onto the pavement and crushes it into the floor with his foot, to make sure the flame is extinguished. I do the same as he walks on, looking back and then stopping to wait for me. I feel a blush creep onto my cheeks as I jog upto him, then he strides on.

We walk in silence until he announces into the thick air, "We're here." His soft voice says as he pulls me by the wrist into the dimly lit coffee shop, the sour smell of pumpkin lattes, gingerbread cookies and black coffee surging through the room.

"Hello, how can I help you?" A female behind the counter chirps, she looks around 20, her peroxide hair pulled into a tight ponytail. Her shirt neck too low and her small name tag reading 'Jenna'. "Can I get two coffees please?" The boy tells her. "Sure thing, sit in?" "Yeah." "Can I just get your na-" I zone out of the conversation only to be brought back into reality by the loud ping of a cash register.