Jennifer Pennington stares at her computer screen, trying to concentrate on the work she has yet to complete. She glances down at the time. 10:28PM it reads. She yawns and stands up after deciding that what she needs is a good cup of coffee. She grabs her sweatshirt and keys and heads for the front door.
“I’ll be back in ten minutes. Going for coffee, want anything?” She asks.
“Sure, a pumpkin spice latte sounds good,” her roommate, Tessa, replies from where she sits on the couch.
Jennifer emerges from the apartment building. She hears laughter coming from the college campus a few blocks away. She sighs and walks away from the campus. She loves her classes and is getting top grades, but she is still the freaky nerd that she was in high school and middle school. She tried not to let it get to her, how she had a hard time fitting in. This is just who she is and she didn’t want to change for anyone. Tessa respects that. She always has, ever since they met when they were both ten.
Her brown hair is blowing in the chilly autumn breeze and her hazel eyes sparkle in the street lights. She pulls her sweatshirt tighter around her. The moon is barely visible through the wispy, dark clouds that cover the night sky. She walks a few blocks. Some of the houses are decorated for Halloween, which is in two days. Most of the decorations are cheesy and cliché. Jennifer never cared much for the holiday but she does enjoy carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds.
At the end of the sixth block, she turns right and walks a couple blocks until she reaches the local cafe on Espresso Drive that she goes to almost on a daily basis.
Espresso Drive Café a sign in the window reads. As Jennifer opens the door, the familiar tinkle of a bell rings, announcing her arrival. The café is completely dead; there is not even anyone at the counter. She walks over to the counter and waits a few moments for someone to come; no one does. A bell is on the counter and she hits it once. The noise is louder than she is expecting but it does manage to get someone’s attention.
“Ah, Jennifer! Sorry to keep ya waitin’,” says a short, plump woman in her upper sixties. “‘As been dead most of the night. ‘Cept for one man, very strange man indeed. Didn’t buy anythin’, he didn’t, just walked in, had a quick look ‘round, and left. Strange, ain’t it?”
“Yeah, strange.” Jennifer says.
“So what would ya like, dear?”
“One large cappuccino and a large pumpkin spice latte, please.”
“Comin’ right up.”
“Kathy, are you here alone tonight?” Jennifer asks.
The woman, Kathy, who is making the coffees, replies, “Yes, Mary went home sick a couple hours ago, no big deal.”
“Was she here when that man came in?”
“No, I was alone. Thought I was gettin’ robbed, I did.”
“Glad you didn’t.”
They both remain silent until Kathy finishes making the drinks.
“Here ya go! Be careful on the way home. I never like seein’ ya out this late.” Kathy says as Jennifer hands her the money she owes.
“Thanks Kathy, you be careful too, here all alone.”
“Don’t ya go worryin’ ‘bout me, I’ll be fine. G’night, dear.”
Jennifer waves farewell and walks out onto the chilly street; leaving behind the warmth of the cozy café. She starts walking back toward her apartment, being careful not to spill the drinks. Jennifer’s heart stops as she hears footsteps behind her. They fall in sync with hers. Did she imagine them? Was she just being paranoid due to what Kathy had told her about the strange man? There’s no need to be paranoid, he’d be long gone. Right? She thinks, picking up her pace. There they are again, the same footsteps, crunching on the fallen leaves. Just keep going. She tells herself.
