AN: Enjoy!
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You're wondering why he's called you to go to the old coffee shop once more. It's been over a year since everything; why now?
Autumn has finally arrived. The leaves are twirling down from the now barren trees, littering the ground in their shades of golden and crimson. There's a chill signaling the upcoming winter, and you breathe fresh air and let a small smile travel over your expression. Man, you wish this season would never end.
But all good things eventually reach their end, and you keep this thought in mind as you pull open the door, hearing a chime echo at your arrival. The barista, a girl with bright red hair, eyes you down as you walk up to her.
"You fit his description." She says, glancing briefly at your attire. "Judging by how you look and the way he's staring…"
You simply nod, confirming her suspicions. "Ah. Well, good luck to you, then." Her startling violet eyes gleam for a moment and you turn back around, ready to finish this.
You can see the raw emotion in his eyes and you pretend not to notice. Unbuttoning your coat, you set it over the chair and sit down.
"Thanks for coming," he says. There's an untouched cup of coffee on the table. The ring is visible on his napkin. "Didn't think you would actually come."
You give him a sharp look. Once upon a time you would've appreciated the snarky remark, but you aren't having any of it today.
"Why now?" Your question is short and to the point. No more sleepless nights, no more tears shed. It hasn't been for a while now and you intend to keep it that way.
He blinks, startled. "Oh…I didn't expect you to start off this way. No hello?"
"There wasn't a proper goodbye. There's no point." You reply, settling back in your chair. You're giving him no mercy today. The time for that has long past.
He opens his mouth and then closes it again. "…I'm sorry."
You laugh, making him look shocked once more. "Please don't give me false promises. I didn't come here for that."
"But then why did you come here?" He demands, eyes narrowing. "To make me feel even worse? To call me out on my mistakes?"
"And why would I do that? Thought I didn't matter anymore enough to hurt you." You take a glance at the menu on the board. That does look pretty good…
Leaving the other to struggle to find an answer, you get up and head back to the bright red barista. She raises an eyebrow at you. You give her a quick smile and give her your order, paying her with a twenty. "Keep the rest. I'm in a pretty good mood today."
She grins back at you. "Let me guess the rest of the situation, if I may?"
You incline your head and nod. "Give it a shot."
"He dumps you, then while later realizes he made a huge mistake and wants you back and you ain't having any of that, are you?" She smirks.
"Absolutely correct. You're a wonderful barista." You laugh, shaking her hand. She jerks her head at him, eyeing him down.
"Give 'em hell, okay?"
Your smile is big and genuine. "It's the least he deserves."
You head back with your drink, plopping down into your chair. "Where were we?"
"Can't you see that I want you back?" He whispers, eyes wide. "I miss you. I made a horrible mistake and I want to fix it."
"Funny, I distinctly remembering you saying something about not loving me anymore." You say dryly. "I was bad for you."
"No, you weren't!" He exclaims. "I was being an idiot, and–"
"Yeah, you were." You cut him off. In another time maybe, just maybe, you would've accepted his apology but no, it's far too late and you already cut him out of your life like he did to you.
"Look, my life was improving again. My friends and I are doing great things, okay? You're the one who did this to yourself. You think I wanted to break up? Nah, I didn't. But that's your fault. I'm happy again." You shrug, taking a sip out of your cup. That girl knew how to make a damn good drink.
He's staring at you. "You're…you're saying no?"
"What, you thought I would come running back to you like that?" You snort, setting the drink down. "Let me tell you what you did to me in the form of poetry. You were once my galaxy. I was the moon. You loved my moonlight, how pretty it was and how it turned things silver. But then you grew bored and tired and wanted something else, something better, so you fell out of love with me and moved on to hopefully find a better star."
He's trembling now, not able to pick up his coffee cup. You continue, feeling the words flow out of you. "I lit the darkest parts of you and tried to make you happy. It worked for a while but then you just cut me out. Do you have any idea how that feels? No, you don't, because you did it to me, not the other way around."
"If I hadn't have done that…" he whispers, letting his gaze drop to the oak table. You look at him, taking in the way he's hunched over, eyes brimming with tears, trembling with shock.
You feel sorry for him. "If you hadn't done that, then this conversation would be a date and I'd probably be laughing at the jokes you'd be saying. Then we'd probably walk down the street and wander around the park because of the weather and finish it off with a kiss at the fountain in the center. But that didn't happen, and now we're here."
He's crying now, and you shove your napkin towards him. "I think you need this more than I do."
"I love you," he blurts out. "I love you Mitch. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
It's the first time he's used your name the whole time you've been here. You used to love the way he said it, like honey, but now it feels like poison and you slightly shudder.
You decide that you'll finally end all of this. He gave you up so long ago, and it took you months to get over him. Once you did, you found that you'd live and you had continued to live your life since.
Why bring all that back now? You were happy. He was happy when you were gone, why was he sad now? It made no sense, and you didn't feel like opening the part of your life that was full of tears and sadness and questions. You were pretty much done with it and wanted to never open it again.
To you, this is the worst and best way you could do it.
"Jerome, I love you the way I love coffee." You finally say, tipping your cup at him.
Tears are dripping down his cheeks as he stares at your beverage.
You take another sip of your hot chocolate. "I don't."
He doesn't say a word, staring with empty eyes. You know he'll get over you again. That's fine. It didn't concern you anymore. Yes, it might have been harsh, but there's a scar on your heart for what he did.
It was the least he deserved.
You get up from your seat and pick up your coat. "I think I'll be taking my leave now. I hope you have a good life Jerome. You deserve one."
He puts his hand to his mouth, eyes wide and blank and shuddering. You put a hand on his cold one; he immediately grasps on, begging for warmth, for you to come back.
You've already had the final say. You don't have time for someone who once told you that they didn't love you. You quietly pull your hand away, and it occurs that he did the same to you. He gave you warmth on the coldest of days and then snatched it away, and now you're doing kind of the same thing.
You button up your coat, glancing once more at him. You aren't aware that he's speaking until he's staring at you too. "Find someone who will treat you better, okay? Find someone who will love you so much more. I'm sorry for all the hurt I've put you through."
You pause for a second. "You know, all of this has made me a better person. Don't beat yourself up over this. You're the one who said you didn't love me, so it's fine. I stopped loving you too. You'll find someone else as well, alright? Have a wonderful life for me."
He doesn't say a word as you grab your drink and walk off, smiling at the barista. She waves back at you.
You push open the door and walk out, breathing in the cold. With a cup in your hand and a lighter heart, you smile at the sky and stroll down the sidewalk, admiring the scenery in front of you.
For once, and you're thankful for this, you don't look back.
X
AN: Makes you think how some things are temporary, doesn't it?
It gets better. It definitely will. Have a great day everyone!