May 7th, 2014 - The Coffee Shop Down the Street

AUTHOR: givemelibertea

May 7th, 2014 - The Coffee Shop Down the Street

It was bizarre how their life felt complete once they visited the coffee shop down the street. Arthur was the book-smart type and he liked to read and study whilst Alfred was the opposite, liking to play sports and party. On one sunny day, they both went to the shop in the hopes of getting some quality time out. Neither of them knew it at the time, but they were both lonely in a way that only they could understand, and from the first moment on, when Alfred looked at Arthur in front of him in the line, he knew that they'd be good friends. However, when they both went to pick up their drinks at the counter, Alfred was captivated by his eyes, and he was lost in the endless expanses of green until he was snapped out by outraged cries.

"Watch what you're doing!" the blond yelled angrily, and Alfred noted how his English accent was so charming.

"I'm sorry, I guess I was distracted," Alfred chuckled sheepishly and extended his hand. "Let me make it up to you. My name's Alfred."

"Well then, Alfred, I'm Arthur, and you've ruined my shirt, so I'm going home," Arthur slapped his hand away and made his way out the door. Alfred watched him go with a strange fascination and from then on, Arthur Kirkland had his complete attention.

The second time they met, they were both there to study for exams, along with everyone else trying to cram. So after touring the café three whole times, Arthur realized he had no place to sit, and decided to call it quits. He went for the door but right before he left, his name was called and he let out a breath of frustration because he recognized that voice, although he gladly would've forgotten it if it was his choice.

"Hey Arthur! Come say hello," Alfred grinned when he looked over, and before he knew it, he was striding to his side. "I hope you remember me."

"How could I forget?" Arthur rolled his eyes. "You're the one who just gave me more laundry."

"I hope you're not still mad about it," Alfred laughed, and before he could reply, he kicked the chair facing him. "Sit!"

Arthur wanted to decline, but Alfred's eyes held a sort of reverent shine in them, and he couldn't imagine him without it.

Neither of them studied that day, but after that it was needless to say that they both became reluctant friends, and evolved that way until the end.

On the ninth meet in the coffee shop down the street, Alfred had found an eccentric way to greet Arthur when he came in. He waved him over, and when Arthur took a seat, he presented to him a bouquet of roses that each looked unique. Arthur shakily took them and his gaze silently questioned Alfred's motives. Alfred's eyes offered no reason but his words of love sounded like treason.

"I know we didn't get off to a good start, but I'm saying this with all my heart. I kind of love you, so will you say that you'll be mine and never leave?"

And Arthur thought he should say no, return the flowers, get up and go, because he didn't expect this on the very first day where he ended up befriending Alfred despite the mess he'd made. And what a mess he'd made now, unearthing emotions that had been buried down for so long that Arthur even forgot how good it felt to be loved unconditionally.

And so he said; "You're so silly," and he clutched the bouquet of roses near and out the window went all of his fear when he leaned over the table and kissed him. "Don't you tell the entire world, but I'm yours to keep and you've dug yourself deep, so don't you think that you can slip away with a broken promise, because from now on, I'm here to stay."

And Alfred laughed and kissed him until his cheeks turned pink and Arthur couldn't think of anywhere else he'd rather be than the coffee shop down the street.

The twenty-seventh time they met at the coffee shop down the street, the happenings were rather bittersweet. Arthur would come to know it as the end of an era, but Alfred would from then on persevere to move forward. It was an accident, happened so fast, not quite unlike their accidents in the past, the first spilled tea and the few kissing sprees, making love on the beach and loving to simply be.

But on the twenty-seventh time they visited their sanctuary, it rained badly and the vision got blurry and the driver didn't see Arthur until the crosswalk was reached and Arthur didn't realize he was hurt until he heard Alfred screech. It was his name he cried up to the skies and Arthur had always been terrified of goodbyes, so he reached up a bloody hand for comfort, wanting to appease both of their hurt. Alfred called the authorities, the police cars and the emergency, and he never let go of his love, all while looking at the skies above and praying for the first time in his life for some god out there not to let Arthur die.

And as the ambulance turned down the corner, Arthur called his lover's name in horror, face pale and eyes in tears, and it was torture to Alfred's ears. So he held him in his lap and kissed his cheek, hummed a broken tune to his heartbeat, choked on sorrow when he told Arthur to sleep while he cradled him in front of the coffee shop down the street.

BONUS: Arthur got better through a cold December, watching the snow fall through his window, smiling through the stitches and the cast he had to show. When he left, Alfred took him home, and their life together began again in a brand new tome. They changed in subtle ways, exchanging a more loving gaze, loosing themselves in a blissful haze and leaving behind the sadder days. They grew close and understood the other in a manner they'd never understood before, and lost themselves in the throes of passion that emerged from their very core. They went on dates, the occasional restaurant or bar, the long nights that ended with sex in their car, the hours spent in the library to read and laugh and drink coffee, and the evenings by the fireplace sipping tea, falling asleep in front of a movie, the walks in a weather too chilly, and all in all, days where they'd declare their love to the other and forget, smooch and giggle as if they'd only just met. It was grand, it was all they wanted when they held hands and remembered that they were still together, despite the accident that had threatened their promised forever.

And their life was complete and their life was so sweet when they woke up and had no one but one another to greet. The change had been discreet, but the results had been worth it, for moving on would be all they'd ever need. They moved on through the summers of stifling heat and the winters spent cuddling under the sheets, and through all that time, never again did they meet at the fateful coffee shop down the street.