A/N: As I said in Chapter 1, I've edited and revised this with some changes. Please read over again if you've already read it once.

2. Coffee Break

The man's eyes narrowed as he sat in the café. It was a busy little place; small and somehow refreshing, full of soft chatter as couples, friends, and just outsiders came to relax. It was also where all the older veterans of Sheltered Shrubs gathered. The man's eyes turned to the door as a small chime of the bell sounded. The woman that entered was of no particular interest to him so he turned his attention back to his business.

Darren Patterson set the folded paper down on the table and stared at the familiar handwriting. Not even bothering to look at the steaming foam cup beside him, the handsome man, now twenty, let it cool. He was sitting in a less lively area of the room, tapping his finger on the table, staring down at the simple sheet. The table was round and fitted two other seats, which at the moment, were empty.

He glanced to glass windows that gave view the outside street and sidewalk. Mixed with anxiety and silent wonder, he turned back to the paper. He picked it up again, read it, set it down, and finally took a long sip of his coffee.

"Why now Ginger?" he muttered to himself just as the entrance sounded. Darren looked up to find a pretty young woman standing at the table.

"Dodie, you're here." Darren smiled awkwardly as the other sat down.

"Sorry I'm late. Chet couldn't find his shirt," Dodie blushed and waved to a long, lengthy male who nodded and walked off, the bell crying goodbye behind him. If Darren remembered right, Chet once used to be slightly chunky and big-boned in junior high. Years do change people, he reminded himself. Placing her purse just under her feet, the blonde pulled the steel chair closer to the table. Dodie Bishop's smile bore into Darren with quiet awe as she rested her chin on her hands. Her hair was longer and premed; her blue eyes sparkled with the apparent grin that her life was going well.

"It's been a long time Darren, when I got your call, I had to admit, I was surprised," Dodie spoke in her familiar loud voice. Unlike junior and high school however, over the years she learned to control it, until it was sweet and not at all annoying to the listener's ears.

"It has been a long time. So, you're dating Chet now?" Dodie sat up and looked about.

"Yeah, never would admit it until now, but I kinda had a thing for him in High School." Dodie looked to Darren's coffee and licked her lips. "What about you, how are you and Simone?" The woman spoke with dull venom that even to this day, seeped into Darren's blood slowly with the sting of his betrayal.

"Oh, well…I broke up with her," Dodie's eyes widened and she even squealed. She tried to take back her abrupt excitement, but she regained her composure.

"Really," Darren concluded Bishop was pleased. "Oh, hey, before we continue this, I need coffee,"

"Okay, I'll wait." As Dodie got up, Darren's mind raced. "Hey, Dodie, is Macie coming?"

"That's what I was going to say! Her Psychology class ended some time ago, but she's stuck in traffic. She still takes the bus." Dodie rushed off to the ordering counter, her voice carrying as she ordered.

Darren sat there alone once more. He didn't know how to bring it up to Dodie and Macie. He sighed and slowly grabbed the paper on the table. Sliding it towards him, he calmly put it in his pocket just as the blonde returned.

"So Darren," the Bishop woman started, "Why did you break up with Simone?"

Still as nosy as ever I see. Darren smiled sadly, not daring to look her in the eye. "She cheated on me," was the flat, monotone reply.

"Huh." Dodie silently sipped her coffee at this answer but Darren knew what she was thinking. Serves you right, he thought. You deserve it. And the thing about it, well, he couldn't disagree. Besides, he couldn't tell her the other reason. He couldn't tell her about the letter. An awkward silence engulfed the two figures, with only the sound of people around them. Darren was about to speak when the entrance cried out in alarm. Dodie got to her feet as a small, short woman entered, with shoulder length hair and large, glasses-magnified eyes.

"Macie," Dodie hugged the other tightly, nodding and grinning with joy. "It's been so long."

"I was afraid you'd left already, considering I was so late, my apologies," Darren's mouth was a gap as he heard Macie's voice. Her nostrils were clear, her voice was steady, and she no longer seemed conscious of her breathing. Macie's voice was perfect.

"Your voice, Macie," Dodie was obviously equally astonished, but she gripped Macie's tiny shoulders and gasped. "Macie how, you have to tell me!" Hurriedly Dodie rushed Macie Lightfoot to the other empty seat, and all three sat around the table.

"I hate hospitals, but I couldn't stand myself any more, so I worked up the courage, asked my parents, and got surgery. It's done wonders for my self-esteem." Macie chuckled. "If I'm going to be a Psychiatrist, I can't have the patients running away from me."

"I always knew you'd be a Psychiatrist," Dodie stated this matter-of-factly and Darren nodded. He was sure everyone figured it.

"Family tradition I'm afraid," Macie's eyes looked to Darren. "Long time no see," she said with cliché.

"Hi Macie," Darren smiled. "You want coffee?" he asked.

"Oh no, messes with my stomach," Macie's mouth twitched as she thought of something else. "Did you guys get a letter from Ginger? Mine came a couple days ago; she should be here in a few days."

"I did. Oh I'm so excited! How long has it been? You think she's changed?"

"Well, she is still dating Orion, I don't think she could have changed much, but things always change." Macie said dully. "I still see him every once in awhile on the street."

"Still trying to start that band?" Dodie's tone was of disgust. "No one can expect to start a band in Sheltered Shrubs, you'd have to leave to get anywhere in this world." Dodie said this like an old grandma with years of experience, but then gasped. "That reminds me! Guess who else is coming to visit soon?"

"Courtney Gripling?" Macie answered with no interest.

"Macie don't sound so negative. Yes, Courtney Gripling. She's even having her big get together."

"She always comes back for the summer and has a big 'get together', it's not big news." Macie said, a look of boredom on her face.

"You wouldn't say that if you were invited! I hope I'm invited," Dodie said almost dreamily. In some ways she was still the over-enthused, grossly obsessed-with-popularity, often mislead, junior high student from years past. After Courtney's father was arrested, the family moved, and while Courtney still went to Lucky High, somehow, that instant of family tragedy and shame made her more popular. So, while she still held a bond with Dodie and Macie, since Ginger's absence and her rocket into fashion and money, Courtney had pretty much forgotten 'Ginger's friends'.

Macie, not at all interested in talking of Courtney and her new fashion designer job, looked to Darren and studied him a moment. Darren couldn't help but look away.

"Did you get a letter from Ginger, Darren?" she inquired almost knowingly.

"Huh? Oh, no. I haven't talked to Ginger since the last time…" Darren paused and took a peek at Lightfoot. Once again, a silence fell on the group; as always, Dodie was first to speak.

"Macie, Ginger wouldn't send him a letter." Bishop seemed appalled at the question. That stung, and Darren flinched with slight anger at the hurtful remark. Dodie continued, not at all aware of Darren's reaction. "He broke up with Simone Macie," she practically said with glee, masked behind the quiet utter. Darren rubbed the back of his neck as Macie slowly turned to look at her taller friend.

"Did he?"

"She cheated on him."

"Oh really,"

"Hey you guys! I'm right here!" Darren heatedly got up and leaned on the table with his hands.

"Darren?" Dodie of all people seemed surprised.

"I'm tired of being treated like this! What happened between Ginger and I was years ago, why can't you guys drop it if you're going to take the time to come see me!"

"Oh Darren—

Darren Patterson stomped out of the café with deep frustration in his expression, leaving the other two 'old friends' behind with confused looks. It was years ago, he told himself. It was years ago. He felt the paper in his pocket and his face softened.

But then why did he have these sudden feelings? He hadn't really done anything with his life, and he didn't even bother to take that football scholarship, much to the displeasure of Simone. Darren sighed, walking down towards his familiar street. Why did it seem that in high school he knew just what he wanted? Or he thought he did? Now, he looked back, regretting every action, plan, and word said or done. He was a mess. Everyone around him was doing so well, and he was a scattered mess of emotions and confusion.

Darren stopped and looked into his neighbor's yard. He saw Ginger's old room with the window long closed. He noted the vines more numerous on the lattice he once climbed. The blinds to the small house were closed and no life seemed to be inside. The man suddenly found himself thinking back, and reaching into his pocket for the treasured letter, he exhaled. He started his way towards the one room he had come to take for granted in his earlier years.

Why Ginger? Why now?