Next Time I Promise

Claire walked over to the table and handed the man his bill. The door chime rang as someone entered the cafe behind her. She placed the bill besides the man's coffee and stood there pretending to write something down as she waited for him to fish out his money. He pulled and a handful of change out of his pocket, dropped it on the table, and got up to leave. He knew there was more than enough there to pay the bill plus tip, but like most people at this hour of night, he didn't want to bother. It was closing time for cafe, one of the few places that stayed open this far into the morning hours. But they had to close sometime, after all this wasn't the big 24/7 city. So with no more place to hide from the night everyone gave up and went home to sleep. Claire just gave the man a half smile as he walked past her, her way of saying "thank you." She raked the change off the table and into her hand before whipping it down. She picked up the man's empty cup and walked back to the counter. Balancing the cup on a saucer, she walked gracefully between the tables to the back of the cafe. She slid the plate across the counter and pulled the man's change out of her pocket. Dumping it on the counter she sighed and went to work separating the coins. She was fast and it only took her a couple of second. Depositing the change in the cash register, and her tip in the jar on the counter, she walked over to help Stacey whip down the tables and put the chairs up. "Every night it's the same, it always feels like crossing the finish line at a race." Claire said to her friend/workmate referring to time of night. She had been working the closing shift at the Iced Cafe ever since she had come to the city three years ago. It started as just a part time job to help while she was going to the University down the road, but it had grown on her. She liked the place. It reminded her of the coffee shop she use to go to by her highschool. So tonight, as every other night she worked here, she closed up and went home to study for a little before going to bed. "I wish I were at the finish line." Stacey replied quietly a minute later. Claire raised her head, brushing her blonde hair back from her face. She looked over to her friend who just looked back and then down at the table she was whipping. "It's not over yet. I still have one more in my section." Claire stood up straight and turned around. There was a single person sitting in the booth in the back corner that she hadn't seen come in. Claire calmly walked around to the back to get a better look, trying not to make her intentions known. As she came around, she saw the young mans face. She raised her hand to her month and lightly bit her knuckle. As she watch the man drink his coffee, she felt a chill run down her back. She realized how tense she was getting and dropped her hands by her side. The man eye caught this motion and he looked over at her. Their glances met and for a second Claire could not turn away. She felt like running, but couldn't. He nodded slowly and it broke the gaze long enough that she turned away. She got a really weird feeling in her stomach and memories from years ago began to float to the surface of her mind. She shook it off and walked over to the coat rack. She tossed her apron on one of the tables and walked briskly to the jackets hanging at the back. She picked up a black jacket, managing to knock a yellow rain coat off at the same time. She walked over to Stacey and passed her the jacket. "Here, why don't you go home? You got class tomorrow and I've got my day off. I'll lock up." Claire just gave her a half-smile and put her hand out ready to take Stacey's apron. Stacey looked at Claire puzzled. "But I still have-" Stacey began. "Oh don't worry about it. The safes locked until tomorrow and he's not that evil looking." Claire thought as she walked Stacey to the door. "Okay, but if he tries anything..." Stacey said as she put on her coat. "Don't worry, I can handle it." Claire said to Stacey and as reassurance to herself. She closed the door behind Stacey and locked it. She then walked around the cafe straightening all the center pieces on the tables and put up the last of the chairs. She wasn't in any sort of hurry to deal with this man, but it was something she would eventually get around to. She walked to back counter and made up a cafe au lait. It was a treat she gave herself at the end of long nights. Walking past the man, she tried to keep a steady pace. Her legs were a bit lose, but she managed. She walked towards the both the man was in, but they continued right by. She saw that he looked up as she walked past, but she wasn't about the return the glance. She walked up to front window and looked out. The streets were almost empty. A cop stood on the corner looking around and then walked off. She took a deep breath. Why was she just standing here? Why had she walked past him trying to avoid his eyes? She hadn't done that in years, but it felt the same. She turned around and shutting off all the lights except those above the booths, walked back to the man. She put here coffee on the table and sat down across from him. She sat for a minute in silence, trying to find the words, and all she could find was past memories. "Why?" She finally managed. "Why, Glen? After so many years, you just decide to walk through the door?" Status: Complete Total Pages: 9 Total Word Count: 3539 Creation Date: 7/26/99 Outline: Working nights in a small coffee shop, Claire has seen her share of ghosts. Many people pass through with little more then a look and a word or too. However this night the ghost will be from her past as a young man walks into the shop and back into her life. Future Plans: Although some refinement is needed, this story is pretty much complete. I think it is one of my better stories, and hope to publish it soon.