"Did you see that?" Shelly looked back at Teresa in a daze, half paying attention, half in another world. “See what?” "Meet Joe Black, you know, the movie I've just been talking about for the past five minutes, the one with Brad Pitt." Shelly could only reply with a sigh, “Um, I think so.” Teresa threw her hands up and shrugged her shoulders. “You think so?! How can you not know so? What is wrong with you Shell? Ever since you broke up with Will, you’ve been a space cadet. First it was the crying and sobbing and now this. Get over him will yah.” Shelly just gave Teresa the “you don’t know how I feel” look and turned back to her coffee. The mint chocolate mocha was a new choice for her, and she liked it, but it couldn’t change how she felt inside. She knew she should like the jazz the cafe was playing, but for some reason it just wasn’t helping this time. The coffee shop wasn’t crowded, but the regular cosmopolitan characters lingered. The shop itself was your typical downtown cafe, complete with Starbucks wannabe aspirations. Shelly and Teresa came often, usually after class. It beat being stuffed in their two-bedroom apartment. “Well anyways, I love the part when Claire Forlani basically falls in love with Brad Pitt when she first meets him in the coffee shop. It was sort of in a place like this.” She looks around dreamily, “Could you imagine if a guy like Brad Pitt just sat down right next to us and started talking to us?” Teresa looked at Shelly with all inquisitive seriousness. Shelly played along a little; it got her mind off things. “That would be something else,” Shelly quipped in. “Me and Brad Pitt...” “Hey, I didn’t say you and Brad Pitt, I just said he would sit and talk to us both. I’d have as much a chance with him as you.” Teresa was always playing second-best with Shelly though. Shelly was the “pretty one”, the Homecoming queen and all. She always attracted the guys with her gifted looks. Teresa had tried to match wits with looks, but realized guys usually are drawn to one thing. She gave up competing with Shelly when Bobby Henton decided to ask Shelly to the Valentine’s Day Dance instead of her in the seventh grade. She still doesn’t think she’s got over that one. But she’s accepted things as they are, and Shelly isn’t a bihtc about it. “Scratch that. Your blouse would win over both of us I think,” referring to Shelly’s v-neck blouse that exhibited a wealth of cleavage. Teresa snapped back into her fantasy mode. “I mean what would you say?” “To Brad Pitt, or to a guy that looked like Brad Pitt?” answered Shelly. “To a guy that looked like Brad Pitt. Come on Shell, I’m not that far in fantasy world.” They laughed. The smile died down quick with Shelly though. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to think about guys anymore.” “Don’t start that again. Get over it.” Teresa’s words didn’t’ seem to help. “What you need is some sex. How long has it been by the way?” “Hello,” an unfamiliar voice from behind broke the question. Teresa and Shelly both turned to see a guy standing behind them. He was their age, and his backpack gave him away as a student also. The girls managed an awkward “hi” back. He wasn’t particularly tall or handsome and no one physical feature dominated another. He was just a plain looking guy. And the two girls wondered what his business with them was. Teresa was no prom queen, but this guy was even out of his league with her. “My name is Steve,” he paused for a few seconds. Teresa and Shelly looked at him like, “and?” “Well I was just sitting over there for a while,” he pointed to the back tables, “and I couldn’t help but notice you two. You’re both very beautiful.” At this point, Teresa and Shelly had turned back away from the guy so he couldn’t hear them. They couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is this guy for real?,” was Shelly’s remark. “It’s only 11 in the morning and he’s trying to hit on us.” Steve could hear what they said, although a bit muffled. It was the ultimate indirect form of rejection. He didn’t seem to mind their chatter though. He patiently waited for a response like he had all the chance in the world with one of them. They turned back around, composing themselves. Teresa, despite her uncontrollable grin managed a “Thank you.” There was another pause. Steve began to grow impatient. “Do you two have names?” They were a bit taken back by the aggressive comment, even though he didn’t say it maliciously at all. It would be normal courtesy for anyone to reply with you name. He was just expecting the normal. “My name is Teresa and this is my friend Shelly.” Shelly didn’t even make eye contact with Steve, blowing him off basically. “I know you Shelly; you were in my Economics class last semester.” She was surprised a little but made eye contact. She responded, “That’s cool.” But she really wanted to give a satirical “great” followed with a “you don’t know me and don’t try to act as if you do” followed by a "you have no chance with me" finished with a “now get away from me”. This guy was obviously not reading the meter. Both Teresa’s and Shelly’s attention were hanging on a thread with him. “I couldn’t stand that teacher though; I was one of the people that got falsely accused on cheating on that take-home test. That zero sucked and they still haven’t changed the grades.” Shelly was also accused of cheating. Even though the falsely accused cheaters were later absolved, she had to go through a lot of heat. Without even thinking she burst out, “Me too!” She surprised even herself that she seemed so zealous about any response to this guy, but it came out somehow. He smiled at the knowledge he had something in common with her. Teresa looked at Shelly quizzically, wondering why she’d encourage this guy with anything to stay longer. Then their worst fears were realized as Steve grabbed a chair to sit next to them. Teresa uttered under her breath that he wouldn’t try it. When he settled next to them, Teresa looked at Shelly. “I have to use the bathroom?.” She used a head motion towards the back of the store. Shelly knew full well she meant to walk out the back entrance and leave this guy high and dry. Shelly then turned to Steve, “Can you excuse us?” “Sure.” Teresa picked up her purse and the two girls got up to leave. “I’m sorry about your breakup.” Steve looked Shelly in the eye as she turned around totally surprised. The surprise turned to slight anger. “How do you know about that?” Her voice was vociferous. “Your old boyfriend lives in the apartment next to mine. That’s where I remember seeing you from.” “How the hell did you know we broke up?” At this point Shelly was back close to Steve. Teresa was behind her, impatient they were still talking to this dorky guy. Steve paused for a moment. Shelly’s eyes on him were like the Grand Inquisition. “He’s got a girl over there a lot.” “I knew it! That cheating batstard!” Fire raged in her eyes. Teresa tried to calm her. The other patrons in the store around them looked at her with unknowing eyes. She looked around and felt embarrassed. “He is,” Steve said. “He is what?” “A bastard.” “How would you know?” “The guy doesn’t care about anyone or anything else but himself. He’s a grade-A a-hole. He treats girls like trash and he treats my roommates and I like trash too. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women and that every other guy is a prick. You’re not the first girl he used.” Teresa is appalled at the statement. “How dare you say that to her!” She’s just trying to stick up for her friend that seems apathetic now. Teresa waits for Shelly to join in on bashing Steve for his audacious comments, but Shelly doesn't.. “He’s right. It’s true, and I knew it all while dating him too.” Teresa turns to hug and comfort Shelly even though it doesn’t seem as if she needs much comforting. Steve begins to feel bad. “I’m sorry Shelly. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just...” He doesn’t finish. Shelly looks at Steve, waiting for him to finish. She almost looks compassionately at him, like she now wants to hear what he has to say. “You deserve better than that guy.” Shelly and Steve make an odd sort of eye contact. “And I’m sure you know what that is. Unbelievable,” Teresa answers mockingly to Steve. She’s obviously still upset as his comments. “Shelly come on, I really need to use the bathroom.” She’s totally lying of course. Steve seems unfazed that they’re about to leave again. The girls begin to walk away. “I know you’re not coming back. It’s fine.” The two girls look ashamed. “I just would regret not saying hi. Can’t blame a guy for trying can ya? Wait, hold on a second.” Steve fumbles with his backpack taking out a piece of paper. He rips it in two and begins scribbling on the pages. They wait impatiently as he hands them each a small piece of paper. “If ever you wanna talk.” “Ok, talk to you later Steve-o.” Teresa satirically mocks Steve’s suggestion as they walk out the back. They make it out the back in the street and Teresa lets out a howling laugh. “What a total loser! Can you believe that guy!?” Shelly laughs with her. Teresa continues, “He ranks in my top ten worst losers of all time list. I can’t believe you actually started talking to him.” “Well we talk to random guys at bars all the time,” responds Shelly. “Yeah, but at least those guys are hot. That guy was a reject.” Teresa composes herself and they begin walking down the street. It’s almost noontime and everyone is walking around for lunch. It’s a beautiful spring day. “I can’t believe he actually gave us his number,” Teresa giggles a little more. She looks at the piece of paper in her hand, crumples it up and tosses it in the trashcan. Shelly looks at her copy for a second. Then she puts it back in her pocket. “You’re not actually gonna keep it? That guy was a freak.” Shelly looks at Teresa not surprised at the comment. “You think I’m crazy. Hell no.” Shelly pulls the paper back out, crumples it up, and tosses it in the trashcan. “I would hope so. You don’t even keep the numbers that guys at bars give you,” finished Teresa. “Oh yeah, Shell can I borrow those brown dress shoes of yours tonight? I have that banquet thing.” “Sure.” The two continue walking down the street. As they walk, they window shop at all the little cute "mom and pop" stores lined up next to each other pointing at things like dresses, pottery, and Woodlawn furniture. Teresa comments on how good a particular picture frame would look in their apartment. As they walk along, Shelly looks behind a few times, back towards the coffee shop. She fumbles in her pocket once or twice. Teresa doesn’t realize it was just a blank napkin that Shelly tossed in the trashcan. |
| Meet Steve a short story by: Keith Wojciech |