A Day at the Coffee Shop

I turn on the engine of my car
And a loud roar emits.
I adjust the rear-view mirror and glance to the outside.
The sky is lit with faded stars and drizzled with gray clouds.
Small drops of rain begin to tap slightly.

A small knock sounds on the side door.
I turn my head to see him waiting for me to open the door.
"Hey, so where to?" he asks as he enters the car.
He smells of the outside from soccer practice.
"Let's hit up Bennu Coffee!" I reply with a beam.

As I pull up to the driveway of the coffee shop,
I already see the small venue stuffed,
College students and professors fill almost every seat.
Laptop plugs connect to the outlets hung from above.
A blend of sweet pastries and coffee sifts through the air once we enter.

Luckily, an open table presents itself as a group rises to leave after its session.
I sit down and adjust my laptop on the oak wooden table,
Situating myself comfortably.
Across, he does likewise,
A calm expression spread across his face.

I plug in my headphones,
Jamming to an old Foo Fighters album.
The music appeases my stress,
Thoughts begin to settle and focus returns under my control.
Hell week has just begun.

I glance at the paintings hanged on every wall.
New pieces are placed every so often.
To the left of us, two people have a heated discussion,
Debating about the logistics of the current healthcare reform.
To the right of us, a hipster playfully handles her lover's scarf,
Arms wrapped around each other.

I return my attention to my laptop,
Tuning my focus to readily prepare for next week's final.

An hour laps by
Two hours,
Then three.

I stand up to take a break,
Taking a side glance at him.
He's wearing an old hoody and denim jeans.
The usual wear.
His concentration is not disrupted by me as I head toward the front to order coffee.

I return and progress to sit down and resume my studies.
My eyes quickly look up and meet his.
Words unspoken are expressed.
I reply with a smile and ease back to my studies,
A cup of coffee on one side.