She had been distraught all day, she told him. She didn't know whom else to turn to, all along apologizing for bothering him at this hour. He was gracious. Letting her know his phone and door was open to her at any hour. She walked into his darkened apartment, it was the wee hours of the morning, and she smelt like she had just chain-smoked a pack of cigarettes and tried to cover the smell with an inexpensive perfume. They sat on his sofa; she sat at one end while he sat at the other still in his boxer briefs and a white tee.
She let him know the root of her anguish, which was being passed over for an internship that she had been looking forward to since the previous year. The interviewer made it sound like her acceptance would be a sure thing. As it turned out, she was qualified, but there just weren't enough openings to get her in this go-round. He watched her with caring tired eyes, as she continued to tell him how set her mind was. It's hard to say what goes on in one's heart and soul daily, but it was 3:33 am, and he had to be at work that morning, yet he found it within himself to hear her out.
They had dated in the past. This young woman at his doorstep, soon calling it off the feeling she had met her soul mate Estaban, a transplant from Peru with a sexy accent, and was ready to move in together and marry him after only 5 months. The reality of her lousy decision eventually hit hard, and everything blew up in her face as she caught Estaban cheating in their bed with their downstairs neighbor. Even at that time, whom did she seek out to console her aching heart, it was he. He also listened then, biting his tongue not to curse her out, knowing she had a deceptive way of turning it around on him, making it his fault.
He continued to listen. Still, with visions of his early morning visitor nude, she shed her black leather biker jacket unbuttoning her white blouse and sitting on her side of the sofa, having kicked off her heels and removed her jeans, sitting in black lace panties in an attempt to get comfortable. The two sat talking as rays of early morning light crept through the splits in the blinds. He had been here before with her, yet he wondered why she was back now. They hadn't spoken in a while, having only seen her in passing as they worked in the same office building. He was wondering why him and why now? He wasn't entirely over her, dreaming of a moment like this where she'd grovel asking him to take her back, but he wasn't a pushover. He was a changed man, much more adept at handling her intense mood swings and passive-aggressive personality, granted he'd get the chance.
She got up from the sofa and began to make coffee; still familiar with his apartment layout, she knew where everything was. He watched her from the couch in the adjacent living room, admiring her allure. She was a beautiful woman well endowed with smoky, exotic features that spoke to her middle eastern descent. Maybe he did still want her, but he'd never say it as she was the type with a blunt tongue, fearing she'd say something that would again send him to counseling.
Maybe he was a pushover? If he was, well, then she was crazy-making the good times great, something romance novels were made of and the bad times a pit of despair. Living and loving her was a rollercoaster ride that, deep down, he missed. Yet again, having grown from the experience, he couldn't let her know that she needed to realize what she had given up and honestly ask for it back, hoping she had learned from the experience. Through her pale blue and sparkling grey eyes, she looked at him from across the room, asking him if he wanted a cup of coffee. He nodded and began to get up. She told him to sit down she'd bring it to him. "Two scopes of brown sugar?' She questioned, remembering from their time in the past. She poured the hot coffee into matching black coffee mugs from Denny's, a reminder from an incredible night out together, having picked them up on a whim.
She brought him the cup of coffee, and then he admired the sensual switch in her walk as she moved back to the kitchen. He smiled with the first hot sip. She stared at him, then proclaimed he was the best thing she ever had and threw it away. Not getting the internship really made her realize that. Without someone to share in the good and the bad times, she saw the importance of what she had let go of. She had grown to find stability and understanding more attractive than good looks and an accent. She loved and missed how she could fly off the handle, and he'd still be there waiting to comfort her. Within herself, she found how to deal with her swings of emotion, and if she got the chance, she'd find a way to not be so volatile.
His heart jumped; he wasn't expecting that revelation. She then repeated it. He heard her the first time, yet the second time was even sweeter. She stood at the side of the kitchen counter, holding sensually, looking down bashfully, waiting for what he'd say. Gradually becoming aroused, his insides sparked with desire. "Why are you telling me this?" He questioned. She looked up from the floor at him. "Cause I want you back, how can I get you back?" Feeling she needed to explain more, she nervously rephrased. Then he stopped her.
The glorious early morning light backlit her from the kitchen window, causing her skin to glow. She stood there on her tiptoes, biting her lip exposing herself enticingly dreadfully anticipating the answer. The guy with work in the morning hadn't taken his eyes off her since she had said what she said. He set his coffee on the coffee table next to the sofa. At an unsure pace, he got up and understood what he was about to embark on; having gotten the hallelujah sign from her, he walked to his room, leaving her alone in the kitchen. She then set down her coffee on the kitchen counter, taking a beat, understanding what she had set in motion. Her emotions high and on the verge, her newly mature self then took the reigns guiding her to follow him, pushing the door to his room closed behind her as she entered.
