She hated coffee shops, the smell of the coffee just made her feel queasy, and the tea was always undrinkable. Hells, she was only in there because she had arranged to meet a friend, the weather was too bad to be window shopping, and the sofa by the window had come free.
Settling down with a mug of chocolate flavoured tar, she took a book from her bag and opened it up at the marker. She had at least 20 minutes to wait before her friend actually put in an appearance, if at all. Sammy was notorious for not turning up to arranged meetings, and even less likely to arrive on time. Settling down on the sofa, she spread out and turned sideways, taking up the whole thing so no-one else would crowd her out.
Glancing up at the rain hammering against the shop window, she watched idly as the street cleared of the few brave shoppers, then returned to her book. She shivered slightly as the door opened near by, sending a gust of icy air across her, then it closed again and the heating soon fought away the draft. Turning the page, she slouched down in the corner of the sofa and sighed. Glancing at her watch, she watched the seconds tick by.
The door swung open again and Sam breezed in, her bright orange hair at odds with the black clothes she habitually wore. Closing the book, she slipped it back into her bag and sat up a little straighter.
"Oh I am so glad you are here," Sam declared to the coffee shop as she sat down in a flurry of long coat and oversized handbag. "I've got the most atrocious tooth ache. Just been to the dentist. I swear he was drilling for Australia. I can't feel half of my face."
"Then should you really be here?" she asked in exasperation. "If you've had injections and stuff maybe you should go home and sleep."
"Crap," Sam declared loudly. "I just need a good strong coffee."
Watching Sam head for the counter, she sighed and prepared herself for what was to come. This was going to be a classic Sam Encounter.
"So what's happening with you on the love front?" Sam asked as she sat down, a large coffee in one hand and a piece of chocolate cake in the other.
"Precisely nothing," she stated flatly. "Just as I told you last night on the phone."
"So you did," Sam replied vaguely as she sorted herself out on the sofa and the little coffee table. Setting down the cake, she stared out of the rain drenched window as she drank the coffee. Watching it dribble over Sam's chin and all down her front, she smiled slightly and waited. "Jesus feckin christ!" Sam yelled after a few moments.
"Hot?" She asked mildly as she handed over her napkins. "I assume he gave you a lot of local anaesthetic?"
"Shit!" Sam declared as she threw down the sodden napkins and looked down at her soaked top and trousers. "I'm going to have to head home. Sorry Kit."
"No problem," She said with a shrug. "These things happen."
"On a regular occasion to me," Sam grumbled as she pulled on her coat, wrapped the cake in several napkins and slipped it into her bag. "I'll call you later."
"Take care," Kit called after her as she swung through the shop door, head down against the rain and ran. "Doofus," she said without rancour and picked up her book again.
Turning the page, she paused and looked up at the man next to her.
"Is that seat taken?" he asked, indicating the seat on the sofa next to her and then at the full coffee shop.
"No, not at all," Kit said as she grabbed her bag off the seat and sat up. "Help yourself."
"Thanks." Sidling past, he set down his coffee on the table, then shrugged off his jacket and sat down. Smiling shyly, he took a sip of the hot coffee and reached into his backpack. Taking out a book, he leaned back and got comfortable.
Glancing at the book he held, Kit smiled and buried her head back in the text she was reading. She'd read that six months ago. Not the most edifying of reads, but interesting to someone with her interests anyway.
Registering her interest, he glanced across and smiled quizzically. "You know the book?" he asked softly.
"Read it a while back," Kit answered. Setting her own book down over her thigh, she leaned her elbow on the back of the sofa and her chin in her hand. Yes, his accent was definitely London, but only just. He had obviously spent enough time away from there to lose its strength.
"What did you think?" he asked as he glanced at the cover.
"Rather dry, but interesting if you are into it," she said with a shrug. "You?"
"Utter drivel," he said with a sigh. "Too many niggling inaccuracies."
"Really? Not that deep into it to know," she said with a lazy smile. He was rather cute, but not in a way she usually went for. For a start she wasn't usually into interracial relationships; she'd seen friends try and it had always been too complicated for a start. But she was finding herself attracted to this quietly spoken Asian.
"But that's just me," he said with a self deprecating chuckle. "So you enjoying your book?"
"Not really," Kit admitted. "It's for my degree course."
"Ah yes, been there, done that," he commiserated. "So you are what? About 20?"
"More like 28," Kit giggled. "Always get mistaken for a kid."
"Then you are lucky," he said with a grimace. "I look my age."