HER Point of View
Saturday mornings were always my favourite no matter the weather. Pouring with rain or sun rays beaming down. No matter what, I always made the fourteen minute walk down Duncans Road to Watton Street where my favourite cafe sat.
Chatterbox cafe; a small and warm place that was filled with lively people and the atmosphere was something indescribable. As soon as you walked in it just felt like home. On the days where the weather was nice I would sit outside at one of their five tables. I would soak in the UV rays and write. On the days when it was cold and wet, I would hide in the back.
One particular Saturday it was wet. Cold and went. The raining was sprinkling from the sky at a steady pace and showed no sign of stopping. So with my coat pulled tightly around my waist and my yellow umbrella in my hand, I left my unit. As I stepped out onto the street I nodded a greeting at my neighbours and made my way out into Duncans Road.
The spring day was miserable. Rain seemed to affect everyone's mood; even the plants appeared sour. The trees with newly grown leaves were drooping close to the ground; their branches bending under the pressure of the rain. Certain bushes seemed to be curling back into themselves, trying to protect themselves from the water.
I past two people as I walked along the road. The first was an older man who clutched his jacket and scarf closely. He walked along with a small Jack Russell running along beside him. Who walked their dog in this type of weather? The second was a woman. Similar in age to me, or so she appeared to be. I couldn't see much through her scarf. She was carrying a cup of coffee and an umbrella over her head. Unlike the old man she nodded a quick greeting before rushing past.
I never understood why people rushed in the rain. It didn't matter how long it would take you to get somewhere, if it was raining you would still get wet. Doesn't matter if you walk or run. I always took my time. Why rush around when you didn't need to.
I past Soldiers Reserve. A ground that was used for football in the winter months and cricket in the summer. I would sometimes stop and watch the games before making my way to the cafe. But the football season had finished and cricket season wouldn't start for some weeks, so the field was empty. All for expect the crows that were picking at the ground.
I reached Watton Street and it was empty. Those few people who were out in the rain were either running for their cars, or hiding beneath shelter. The cars drove past drove slowly. Everyone was looking for a close car park.
I stepped under the shelter that the streets shops provided and put down my umbrella. I shook off the water as well as I could before walking into Chatterbox. Inside it was quiet. Not many people were up early enough of a Saturday for it to be busy. The smell of coffee engulfed my senses and I sighed in happiness. I couldn't wait for my first cup.
Stepping up to the counter I smiled at my normal barista Michael.
He smiled. "Morning."
"Good morning." I returned the smile.
"Usual?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Grab a seat. I'll bring it out when it's ready."
I walked through the cafe and found my normal table in the back. I pulled out my pen and notebook, placed them on the table, before removing my coat and scarf. Opening my phone I had a quick look through Facebook and read the morning paper from the news app. I followed my routine. Once I had my breakfast I would start my writing, and hope that something good would come out of it.
Michael arrived a minute or two later with my coffee. He placed it down and said, "A double shot skinny latte, as always."
"Thank you."
"Food should be out in a minute." He walked away.
I flicked through a few more news articles before my food arrived. Eggs Benedict. My favourite.
Every Saturday morning I would come to Chatterbox. I would order the same coffee and breakfast, and once I had finished that I would order a second coffee and begin to write. I would write down many different things. It depended on what inspired me or interested me. Being a young writer looking for inspiration I would often watch other customers and note their habits, and conversations. The way people walked and talked, they way they would hold themselves, always made characters seem more real. Also listening to people's conversations could be rather amusing. One sided conversations were even funnier. Imagining what the other person was saying, the possibilities were endless.
There weren't many people to watch as the current time so I had to rely on my own mind to inspire me. That was until others started to arrive.
HIS Point of View
I hated the rain. Almost as much as I hated coming to Werribee. If I wanted to be in a place like this then I would live in a place like this. Why couldn't my mother have just gone into the city? So much nicer than bloody Werribee.
Normally on a crappy Saturday morning like it was I wouldn't leave my apartment. I would spend the morning finishing off work or I would clean. Or sleeping in was always a great idea as well. But not this particular day. Instead of doing anything I would rather be doing I had been dragged to the Western Suburbs to have coffee with my mother. She wanted some mother-son time. And so here I was sitting outside her favourite coffee shop.
Chatterbox Cafe in Werribee looked like a crappy joint. The whole street looked like crap. But my mother swore that the coffee was worth coming to a place like this. She said that it had better coffee then cafes in the city. I had told her that if it was crap then we wouldn't be staying. A coffee snob, like myself, wasn't going to force down a crap cup.
I looked out my car window and saw that the rain had slowed. I decided to get out of the car now and go inside so I wouldn't get too wet. I didn't need to be in Werribee and soaked. Being in Werribee was bad enough.
Buttoning up my coat I climbed out of my car and jogged out of the rain. Standing outside the door I could see that the cafe had a rustic look to it. Wooden floors, wooden panelling running up the walls, large art work hung all over the walls, and the tables were small and wooden it metal seats. The lighting inside wasn't what you would call bright but the lights glowed enough that it gave off a very warm and comfortable vibe.
I stepped inside and the barista lifted his head, smiled and bid me a good morning. I returned his greeting and ordered a coffee. I may as well try the coffee while I waited for my mother. Taking a seat I pulled out my phone and sent my mother a text.
Am at the cafe. Just ordered a coffee. How long will you be?
When she didn't respond straight away I knew that she would be late. I grabbed the morning paper and flipped through it. There wasn't really anything exciting that jumped from the page.
A waiter brought over my coffee. "Double shot latte?"
I nodded.
He placed it down and I thanked him. Frowning at the coffee in front of me I really wanted to hate it. But the smell was making my taste-buds water. Taking a small sip I found that the coffee was wonderful. So I took another quick sip before placing it back down.
The sound of my phone chirping told me that my mother had responded.
So sorry dear. Your brother called me not long ago and he sounds like he is in all sorts of trouble. I need to go and help him with Amy and Noah. Apparently she is trying to kick him out. Will have to reschedule our breakfast date for another day. Love you.
I wanted to throw my phone across the room and act like a child, but I wasn't really up to embarrassing myself. I slipped my phone back in my pocket and took a sip of the surprisingly good coffee. My brother always needed mother's help, he couldn't do anything himself. He was always a mummy's boy and even as an adult it hadn't changed.
I finished my first coffee and instead of leaving decided to have breakfast anyway. I was already in the cafe, no point in driving somewhere else. I waved over a waiter and ordered another coffee and a muffin to go with it.
As I sat reading the paper and drinking my coffee I had the sound of a quiet chuckle. Looking up I noticed a young woman I hadn't seen when I walked in. She was sitting down in the back of the cafe, hidden in the dark shadows. She was looking at the phone in her hand and the smile on her face lit up her small round face. I couldn't tell what colour her eyes were from the distance but she had light blonde hair that flowed down to her shoulders, it was perfectly straight. She was certainly a sight to behold.
I was tempted to stand and approach her. Something I did often. Meeting women and convincing them to take me back to their house was something I enjoyed. It was a challenge because every woman was different. For some reason though I didn't go straight to her, I stayed where I was and watched her. I wasn't scared that she would catch me looking at her. It would give me an opening to go and talk to her. All I needed was her to look up but I would enjoy watching her for the moment.
HER Point of View
I think I was on my third cup of coffee by nine o'clock. I had spent about forty minutes writing in my notebook but nothing had really been inspiring me, and the cafe was still pretty empty except for two other customers.
One was an elderly lady who was sitting near the dog with her small dog. Didn't know what type of breed it was but it was cute, and very fluffy. Normally they wouldn't allow dogs inside but the lady was a regular and her dog never made a noise. She sat quietly reading her book while her dog slept at her feet.
The other was a young man. He was most likely the same age to me and he certainly was handsome. From the moment he walked in though he had a look of annoyance mixed with disgust on his face. It lowered his attractive level by a few points. He had sat down and read his paper, and only got angry when he received a text message. I knew he wasn't a regular because Michael, the barista, hadn't greeted him; and I had never seen him before.
I watched him carefully, making sure he didn't spot me staring. I didn't need him getting any ideas. I noted down the way his sat and how only one eyebrow seemed to go up and down as his expression changed. From the few notes I had I could create a couple of characters. Almost all of them would be womanising men or cheating husbands/boyfriends; that was my impression anyway.
I emptied my third cup and Michael walked over to me.
He smiled. "Want another or do you want to wait awhile?"
I thought about it, and said, "I'll wait for a bit. Can I have some table water though, please."
"Course you can."
As he walked away my phone buzzed. Looking over I had a message from my older sister. She was currently away on holidays with her boyfriend. They were in Queensland for three weeks. They were enjoying sunshine and the warmth, while I was spending my days in the cold and wet. I unlocked my phone and read the message.
How does the writing go? And what cup of coffee are you on? 6 or 7? LOL
I laughed and rolled my eyes. She knew me well but she couldn't judge me. Amelia had the same coffee addition I did.
I replied. Slow this morning. And I just finished my third.
She responded quickly. Only three. Wow! I'm on number five. Joe and I were up until 4 this morning. Need to caffeine to stay awake.
I don't want to know what you were doing awake at that time. I don't want any details. I wrote.
You sure? ;)
I continued to message my sister for awhile until I felt the hairs on my body stand up. Someone was staring at me. Looking up from my phone I noticed the man I had been watching earlier was staring right at me. As I locked eyes I watched as his mouth turned up into what I think was meant to be a charming grin. Without returning the smile I looked back down and finished my text, but he didn't stop staring.
I decided to try ignoring him. I kept my attention on my phone and my notebook. But it didn't last long.
HIS Point of View
She looked up at me but didn't seem very impressed at all. She showed no interest in me at all and looked away without even a smile. I couldn't help but think of her as more of a challenge. It just made me determined to get to know her.
I did the only thing I knew that would get her looking at me. I stood from my seat and walked over to her. I stopped beside her table and waited for her to look up but she didn't. I cleared my throat, and said, "Excuse me."
She sighed and looked up. "Yes?" She wasn't impressed that I had interrupted her.
"Could I buy you a coffee?" I dropped in my smile that made all the ladies blush.
She frowned. "Why?"
I wanted to laugh. Was it not clear that I was interested in her? "Because you are a beautiful woman sitting alone, and no woman should sit alone. So I thought I would introduce myself and buy you a coffee. Maybe get to know you."
She snorted. "Yet you haven't even bothered to introduce yourself."
She got me there. I hadn't. "Well, I apologise. My name is-"
"Look," she said, "I'm not interested. Goodbye." She waved her hand in a dismissive manner.
I stood there shocked for a minute before turning around and walking away. I had never had a woman dismiss me like that. I felt like a child being told by my mother to go to my room. It was embarrassing.
I paid for my coffee and left. I wasn't stay there any longer.
I sat in my car for thirty minutes before I saw her walk out. For some reason when I had left I didn't just drive away like I should have. I waited. Kind of creepy but this woman had made me angry. The rain had stopped but it was still cold. She was wrapped up in her coat, with her bag and umbrella hanging from her arm.
Starting my car I followed her as she walked around the corner. I tried to make it not obvious that I was following her but my car did kind of stand out in an area like Werribee. The red lights stopped me in my tracks, and all I could do was watch as she crossed the road and disappeared down the street. She was gone. And all I had gotten out of that encounter was a wounded pride.
I slammed my hands on the wheel. I fucking hated Werribee.
HER Point of View
I walked out of the cafe and made my way along the path. As I turned the corner I heard a car also come around the corner. It should have driven straight past me but it didn't. It drove slow behind me, like it was keeping pace with me. I looked over my shoulder and inside the car was the man from the cafe.
My stomach dropped. Had I somehow attracted a stalker? That wasn't good. I picked up the pace and was glad when I got to the lights. The red light stopped him and I was able to cross the road and move down Duncans road quickly.
I went around the corner and the car was no longer in my view. I stepped off the path and stepped out onto the road. I needed to get onto the other side and home as quickly as I could.
I reached the middle of the road when I heard the blaring beep of a car horn and the screeching of brakes. Looking left I saw a blur and then something hit me. But there was no pain, and suddenly I was flying. Then I was falling. I don't remember hitting the ground. I don't remember anything. It is just black.
ns 15.158.61.12da2
