Chapter 10 – 99 Café

The school day was over. It was already the first week of November and Halloween had come and gone. Ford asked me if I had wanted to come along to someone's Halloween party but still mad – unbeknownst to her – for what she did…I decided not to go. I instead spent the night handing out candy with April and Beth at home which, in retrospect, is probably the lamest thing I could have done. If you ask Ape and Beth, though, they'd probably tell you I drove away all the trick-or-treaters with my moping and brooding.

It had been a while since I sent that text to Greer asking if we could talk – and no answer. I walked around school hoping to run into her but she was probably avoiding me like the plague. And who could blame her? I really messed up and frankly, I deserved the cold shoulder.

We hadn't met for our club last week because the soup kitchen was fighting off a cockroach infestation and I'm sure Greer was happy about that. I mean, not about the cockroaches but she was probably happy she didn't have to see me.

BUT…we had another session today. Today's wasn't like the others because we didn't actually have a project planned. Instead, we had a meeting with Ms. Gregorian to report back on how the club was going, how our projects had fared, and to discuss funding moving forward. Boring administrative stuff, obviously. As with any other club meeting with the headmistress, the executive board has to be in attendance. Thanks to our club census of two…we'd both have to be in attendance.

This was my chance...

"So…coffee?" said Ford, coming up to my locker.

"Uh, I got that club meeting with Ms. Gregorian, right now," I said, brushing her off.

"Oh, with that spoiled little rich girl, right?" she asked obnoxiously.

I rolled my eyes at Ford and said, "Ford…you don't even know her."

"Please, I know all about her and all those other stupid popular kids," said Ford.

"No," I began, slamming my locker. "You really don't."

"What is your problem?!" asked Ford. "You've been blowing me off ever since that double date!"

"I really shouldn't have to tell you why, Ford," I said. "And besides…I don't have time for this."

"Whatever," scoffed Ford as she stormed off. Yeah, I definitely did not have the patience to deal with Ford's drama on top of my own. I had other things to worry about.

Glancing at my watch I saw it was almost time for the meeting and maybe if I headed over earlier, I could try to talk to Greer? Eh, it was worth a shot.

Getting to Ms. Gregorian's office, though, I began to realize that Greer probably wasn't going to show up until the last possible minute before this meeting. That way, she wouldn't have to talk to me at all.

Even though I'm early, I might as well step in to Ms. Gregorian's office and at least chat with her. I knocked on the door and when I heard a 'Come in!', I entered.

"Hi, Brenna," she said somewhat cheerfully. "How are things going?"

"Uh, not bad, Ms. Gregorian," I answered. "I've actually been liking it a lot. I feel like we've actually been helping people."

"That's good, Brenna!" she said excitedly, seeming to notice how genuine my tone was. And it was true. I have actually been feeling like we've made a difference in people's lives. Honestly, though, I have Greer to thank for that – if only she would talk to me.

In a minute or two, while me and Ms. Gregorian were making small talk, the office door slowly swung open and Greer entered. I looked back over my shoulder at her – hoping I could at least give her a smile but she refused to even look at me. Sighing, I turned back to Ms. Gregorian and waited for her to start this meeting.

"So, girls," Ms. Gregorian began as Greer sat down. "Tell me how it's been."

"Pretty good," said Greer, almost robotically. "Brenna's been pretty helpful and we're definitely making a difference. I think we could use more funding though, because I have a plan in the works to travel for community service projects outside of Boston at some point in the future. And Brenna's doing a good enough job that I think we can shorten her service requirement."

But…I didn't want to stop volunteering. Was she doing this just to avoid me?

"Uhhh, I don't think we have to do that," I cut in. "I really don't mind volunteering, Ms. Gregorian."

"I don't mind being on my own, Ms. Gregorian," said Greer almost immediately, turning toward the headmistress.

Looking back and forth between us and realizing she served as mediator in an argument she wanted nothing to do with, Ms. Gregorian resigned to say, "I think…Brenna should keep volunteering…if she wants to…?"

After a long pause, Greer finally said, "Yeah, that's fine." There was that robotic tone again.

"Good," said the headmistress, probably still wondering if we were going to kill each other as soon as we left her office. "We'll talk about the funding on another day but Greer, when you know the dates you're thinking of for the projects, let me know."

"Sounds good and thanks," Greer said, standing up, grabbing her things and heading out the door rather hastily.

As I watched Greer bolt, I picked up my backpack and quickly said, "Sorry about that, Ms. G. I'll go talk to her."

Running out the door after Greer, I looked around to see she had somehow already escaped the hallways. Was she really that fast a walker? Geez! Wait…she was probably heading back to the parking lot. I could cut her off if I dashed to the courtyard!

Racing to the courtyard I saw a certain BMW making the curve around the driveway. Alright, she was going to talk to me whether she wanted to or not. I had to fix this. Standing in the middle of the road, I knew Greer had to slow down. She had to talk to me. Or…at least I hoped she wouldn't run me over…

She did stop in front of me.

I walked up to the driver's side window as she asked, "Are you crazy? Do you want me to run you over?"

"Well, I was kinda hoping you wouldn't," I began.

"What do you want, Brenna?" she asked tiredly.

"I just want to talk, Greer," I said calmly. "Please? You never answered my text and I just need to explain what happened."

"It seemed pretty clear to me, Brenna," Greer rebuffed. "I don't think you need to explain."

"Greer, please," I begged desperately. "Please just hear me out."

She stared at me for a good thirty seconds before saying, "Fine."

"99 Café? 8 tonight?" I asked, hoping she would agree.

"Fine," she said, speeding off.

This was my chance.

I got to the coffee shop around 7:45PM because I wanted to make sure I got my usual spot. Our usual spot. The minutes couldn't tick by fast enough as I anxiously waited for Greer to get there. 7:55PM – still not here. 8:00PM – still not here. By 8:10PM, the barista came by for the third time to refill my coffee. I must've looked pathetic sitting alone at the ledge by the window. 8:30PM – still not here. I think I had waited long enough and it was time to give up.

Grabbing my purse and leaving a tip on the table, I started to put on my coat to leave. That's when I saw it – a glimpse of blonde hair. That's when I saw her – coming in the front door. She showed up!

I sat back down in a daze as she walked over – not knowing where to begin. Say something, Brenna.

"Thanks for meeting me," I said, smiling at her as she sat down next to me on the ledge.

"Sure," she said somewhat coldly.

Oh God, Brenna. Say something else. Anything else…There were a thousand words floating around my head and my mouth made no movement to say even one. Maybe she'll say something if I stall long enough…

"I was really hurt, Brenna," Greer said, her voice wavering and full of sadness. Nevermind…I would've rather she didn't say anything. My heart ached when my eyes met hers. Just apologize, Brenna. Start there.

"I'm really sorry, Greer," I said nervously but full of remorse. I could hear my own voice trembling, could feel my hands shaking. "For everything. For letting Ford say those things to you. For lying to you. For not sticking up for you. For ditching you. For not running after you when you left, crying."

I paused my rambling to see if I could gauge any sort of response from her. Her head was down as she stared at her hands in her lap. I didn't know what to do so I sat in silence – waiting for a sign to continue talking or to just drop this conversation altogether. And then I saw it. A single tear shone with light as it slid off her eyelashes, falling onto her hands below.

"Greer…" I started. "Please don't cry." Okay…I think I made things worse. Jumping up to grab a box of tissues at the counter, I sat back down next to her handing her one. Should I hold her hand? Pat her on the shoulder? What do I even do? What would even make this better?

"Brenna, you don't understand why I'm crying," Greer said shakily.

"So tell me, Greer," I said honestly, looking in her tear-filled, reddened eyes. "Tell me why so I can fix it. I wanna fix it."

"Brenna, I asked you if you were free that Saturday night because…" she started, but pausing with hesitation as if she was unsure of whether she wanted to say what she was trying to say. I really hoped she was going to say what I wanted her to say – if that's even what she was trying to say…

I nodded slowly waiting for her to continue – hoping…still hoping.

"I asked you about that night because…" she began again, "…because I wanted to spend time with you."

That's not quite what I was hoping to hear…

"Okay…" I said, unsure of where to go from here. "Um—"

"I wanted to spend time with you because..." she continued.

This is so drawn-out it's killing me. I simply stared – mustering as much patience as I could bear. Drinking all that coffee was probably the least helpful thing I had done today because I could barely sit still...and I also had to pee.

"Well, what I mean to say is…" she corrected herself. "...I saw you on that date with that guy at the theatre and…"

"Greer, I tried to tell you—," I began again, sounding impatient though that wasn't my intention.

"But I saw you with him and his arm was around your shoulder…, "she responded. "...and then Ford said all those things. And she was probably right. Why would we even be friends? We have nothing in common. We're completely different people. We better just—"

"No," I said cutting her off, stopping her from saying what I think she was about to say.

Because, no. I was not going to sit here and listen to her tell me we shouldn't be friends. I wasn't going to just watch while she threw away a great friendship. Relationship? Whatever this was!

I had to say it. It was now or never.

"Greer, I like you," I blurted out.

There it was. I had made the confession I could no longer take back. And I didn't want to take it back. I said it. It was out of my hands. I had said how I felt and now it was up to her to—

I was jolted from my thoughts when I saw Greer hurriedly get up, grab her things, and run out the entrance to the coffee shop.

Oh no. What have I done? I ran out of the shop after her because, damn it, she was not going to get away this time.

"Greer!" I called as I stepped outside the front door, looking around for her. "Gre—" I called out again but stopped as I saw her leaning against the brick wall of the coffee shop. She was looking down at her feet solemnly.

"Greer, what's wrong?" I asked sincerely. "I just told you I like you and you ran out of there like it was the worst thing in the world…"

Greer remained silent, staring at her feet – soon burying her face in her hands. If I knew telling her the truth would make her this miserable, I definitely wouldn't have said anything. I'd rather live with my intolerable, unrequited crush unspoken of for years than put her through this kind of misery.

Walking over to her, I brought her hands down from her face and held them in front of me. "Greer…", I began. "Why are you upset?"

"I'm not," she said, lifting her head wearing a small smile amid the tears. "I'm not upset at all."

Before I could say anything, she brought her hands to my face – her thumbs gently stroking my cheeks and her eyes gazing into mine as she debated her next move.

Enough hesitation, already.

I brought her hands down, intertwining our fingers, as she leaned forward to kiss me. From the moment our lips touched, I felt the electricity. I had imagined this moment but nothing I dreamed of came close to this kiss.

As she pulled away with our fingers still locked together, my eyes fluttered open to see her smiling.

There was that dimpled smile.

She freed her hands from mine to wrap me in a hug and in response, I wrapped my arms around her waist as I rest my head on her shoulder.

The butterflies returned and my heart beat faster in my chest.

This time, though, I wasn't letting go.

I just want to thank y'all for reading, reviewing, favorite-ing, following or whatever combo of those things! I hope I'm sticking close to the character's personalities so far and your comments are appreciated! ENJOY! =D