Birdsong and Sunrise

Ben kicked Abel under the table and sat up a little straighter, “Shut up! there she is.”

Lucy made her way through the door of the coffee shop and he waved at her, continuing with instructions through his smile. “Abel, don’t turn around. Just act normal,” he ordered.

Lucy waved back as she headed to the counter, gesturing and silently mouthing the inquiry as to whether he wanted anything. Ben shook his head, raising his mug to let her know he was good.

It had only been a few weeks ago that Ben had noticed her, sitting in a corner of the store, pouring over texts on plant biology and alternating between furious note taking and doodling. He had been coming to this coffee shop for years and always noticed the newcomers.

Their first encounters were casual. It began with a smile of acknowledgment upon a coincidental meeting of eyes when they looked up from their studies. This eventually progressed to a wave of hello upon settling in to each of their usual spots in the shop. Ben finally got up the courage to talk to her on his way to the bathroom one day. He noticed her sketching plant anatomy and decided to ask about her drawings. Since then, he had made it a habit to visit the bathroom at least once when she was there, always stopping on his way to or from. He hoped she didn’t think he had a chronic urinary tract infection or something worse, given the frequency of his trips. But, he couldn’t find a better excuse to talk with her than being in the same place at the same time.

He had mentioned Lucy to his brother, but this was the first time Abel was there when Lucy arrived. He was usually at practice at this time of day, but the cross-country season had ended and he was falling into a new afternoon routine.

“Can I turn around now?” Abel sat, unmoving, his face frozen with a goofy smile, “Or, do I have to pretend I don’t see you acting like a jackass, smiling and waving?”

“Abel, don’t be a dick.” Ben hissed back, still smiling, eyes on Lucy. “She’s walking over.”

“I am not being a dick. You really do look like an idiot. But, don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you.” Abel’s laugh turned into a fake cough as Ben kicked his shin again, warning of Lucy’s approach.

“Hi Ben! How is studying going today?” Lucy stopped next to them, smiling at Ben, and then turning to greet Abel, “Hi. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lucy.”

Abel awkwardly stuck out his hand, and Lucy laughed as she shook it. “Hello,” he smiled, “I’m Abel, Ben’s younger brother. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Ben’s told me all about you.”

Ben’s eyes widened as Abel continued, drumming his fingers on the tabletop, “So, you are the infamous coffee shop friend, I’m guessing?”

Ben could feel his face turning red, but Lucy responded before he could say anything to counter Abel’s oversharing.

“I suppose that’s an accurate description, coffee shop friend.” Lucy responded, then smiled again at Ben, “It’s good for studying accountability. Motivation to show up.”

Ben breathed out a sigh of relief, his heart still beating out of his chest as he tried to move the conversation along, “What are you working on today?”

“Just some note prep for finals and a paper. I can’t stay too late today, but I’m hoping to stay focused enough to get through most of it.” Lucy shifted her gaze between the brothers, “On that note, I’m going to get to it. Abel, it was nice to meet you. And, Ben, always nice to see you, my coffee shop friend.” She smiled, “Have a good day, guys!”

“Likewise.” Abel responded, a hint of mischief in his voice and on his face as he looked back at Ben.

“Nice to see you, coffee shop friend,” Ben called behind her, as Lucy found her way to a table in the corner of the shop, where she always sat. He watched her get settled, smiling to himself as his pulse slowed again, returning to its normal cadence.

“For sure, you’re an idiot.” Abel teased him, “You better get your game together big brother. You’re going to make it hard to play wingman if you just stare at her like a dope.”

“Nah, we’re just coffee shop friends,” Ben paused, sipping his coffee and smiling back at Abel with his own hint of mischief, “At least for now.”

“Sure you are. Whatever you say.” Abel said sarcastically, picking up the apple on the table between them and taking a bite. “I’ve got to head out,” he paused, swallowing the apple in his mouth, “Run number two of the day starts now. You sure you don’t want to come with? This town is making you soft.”

“No, go ahead. I’ve got to finish this if I’m going back home this weekend. Pa wants to go over one of the buy out deals he was sent this week,” Ben continued, “I still don’t think he should sell.”

“Yeah, I don’t know. It could be good for them,” Abel replied, “I’ll come back later and we can talk business. What time will you be here until?”

Ben nodded toward the corner of the shop, “As long as she’s here, I’m sure I’ll be here.”

Abel laughed at him, shaking his head as he rose from the table. He paused to bow and salute Ben, their customary departure since their treehouse days. Ben gave a responding namaste from his seat and returned to his studies as Abel left the shop.

“Coffee shop friends,” Ben thought to himself as he focused his attention back to the stack of text books on the table. “Well, I guess everything starts somewhere.”