Coffee At Midnight

A little something I wrote in a creative writing class back in college. ☺

12:06 am. Sophia turned the coffee cup on the table and stared out the window. Liam was running behind, like always. 

‘You know I don’t have a lot of time.’ He had told her. ‘Why don’t we just get coffee at midnight… you know, like we used to always do.’ Sophia thought it sounded sweet and was glad he had suggested it. She fiddled with her necklace as she gazed out the window.

‘Extra cheese?’ Liam grinned at Sophia, awaiting her answer.

Sophia looked up at Liam and smiled in return, nodding her head. ‘Of course, cheese is the best.’

Liam paid the cashier and took the fries, taking one and dipping it in the cheese, feeding it to Sophia. ‘What ride should we go on next?’

Sophia hummed, chewing her food as she looked around. The sun had started to set, and the LED lights from the rides bounced off the metal. ‘Can we go on the Ferris wheel again?’

‘Whatever you want to do.’ Liam smiled, and they, arms linked, walked to the Ferris wheel.

Once at the top of the wheel, Liam dug into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. ‘Sophia, I know we’ve only been together for three months, but these three months have meant the world to me, and I can easily see the rest of my life with you.’ Liam opened the box to show a small silver chain with a heart. Encased in the heart were an alexandrite and an aquamarine gem. ‘It’s our birthstones.’ 

Sophia felt her stomach churn, grinning, as Liam clipped the necklace around her neck

Sophia reached up and fiddled with the necklace around her neck, glancing at her watch one too many times. 

“Would you like another?”

Sophia’s train of thought derailed, and she looked up. “Oh, um…” looking into her mug, she was surprised to find it empty, “yes, please.”

The waiter took the mug from Sophia’s grasp and gave her a sympathetic look. Ignoring it, she checked her watch again. 

12:28 am. She decided it would be best to call to see if he was still coming. Sophia grabbed her phone and dialed Liam’s number, hearing it ring. The waiter came by with another cup of coffee. The phone continued to ring.

“Hey, Liam. You’re late…” she stopped herself from saying ‘again.’ “I’m still here. Let me know if you’re still coming or if I’m wasting my time.” She hung up.

Her thoughts trailed to how desperate she may have been to meet up with him. She wondered why she begged him to show up. But she knew damn well she’d pray for him to take her back.

Sophia stood outside her high school, waiting. Her friends had already gone inside to the dance, but she had promised Liam she’d wait for him. He had told her she’d be late. But not this late. Sophia looked down at her watch. He was twenty minutes behind the time he had promised to be there, and Sophia started to worry.

Why was she even bothering to continue this fight? Why was she continuing to choose to love him?

She looked around for the waiter and waved him over. “Do you think you could make another drink for my… friend? I don’t want it to be cold when he gets here.”

“Sure thing. Same order?”

Sophia nodded, “yes, um. A caramel latte with extra foam.” 

Sophia smiled as the waiter took the mug and walked off to make a fresh drink. While waiting, Sophia turned back to the window, staring at her reflection this time. She glanced at her watch again. 12:34 am. Back at her reflection, her eyes trailed from the necklace against her chest to her bare shoulders. Suddenly becoming aware of the plastic seating against her thighs, she tugged at her clothes, pulling the hem of her skirt further down her legs and her shirt further up her chest.

Sophia stared at herself in the mirror, flattening the red dress against her stomach. She checked her watch—7:48 pm. Now 18 minutes late. She had tried calling Liam numerous times, none of her attempts being successful. 

‘Is he still not here?’ Sophia’s mom asked as she poked her head into her daughter’s bedroom.

‘No, mom…’ the frustration leaked from her words. ‘But it’s okay. I’m sure he was busy. There’s a reason for everything.’

Sophia’s mom gave her a look of pity. Sophia’s phone rang and she jumped for it, answering it immediately. ‘Liam?’

‘I’m here. Please hurry.’ Then he hung up.

Sophia grabbed her purse and rushed out to Liam’s vehicle. She stood outside his passenger door, waiting for him to unlock it as the cold started to seep into her veins. When he finally opened the doors, she was met with blasting heat.

‘Hi, honey! Happy one year! You look extra handsome today.’ Sophia leaned over the center console and kissed her boyfriend on the cheek.

Liam was stiff, his face expressionless as he turned to her slowly, looking her up and down and running his fingers through his dirty blond hair. ‘That’s what you’ve decided to wear?’

Sophia looked down at herself. She felt cute and knew she looked good. ‘Uhm, yes? My mom and my sister helped me pick those out…’

He scoffed. ‘It’s far too short. Do you know what other people will think of you?’

‘What other people think of me isn’t my problem, Liam.’

‘Well, it should. I don’t understand why you don’t care.’

‘What? You want me to change?’

‘No! I don’t need you making us any later to our reservation.’

‘It’s not my fault we’re running late, Liam.’ Sophia felt the tears stab the back of her eyes as they fought to come out.

‘Stop arguing with me, okay? And cover up next time, Jesus.’

The clink of the glass setting down across from Sophia brought her back to reality, and she wondered if the waiter thought she was crazy at this point. 

“They’re coming. I promise.” She fiddled with her necklace again.

The waiter just smiled and walked away. Sophia mentally yelled at herself for saying anything. Of course, this random stranger doesn’t care. 

12:50am. Still no sign of Liam. Sophia got up and walked back to the bathroom, figuring she could waste some time there. Walking to the cafe's back, she pushed the swing door open and turned to the mirror. She ran her fingers through her hair and fixed her makeup. Feeling her phone vibrate, she grabbed it to see a text from her sister.

‘If he’s not here yet, he’s not worth it!! Leave him, sis.’

Sophia put her phone back into her pocket, ignoring the text. She walked back out of the bathroom and froze in her tracks. Liam was standing in front of the door, looking around for what Sophia assumed was her. She felt her heart punch at her ribcage as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Liam punched his hands in the air, celebrating his victory. Sophia could tell he was scanning the crowd for her, raising her hand to wave. He pointed to her and blew a kiss as his teammates crowded around him, celebrating the winning goal.

‘Did you see that, babe?’ Liam ran to Sophia after the game had officially finished. ‘I did it! And it was all for you.’ He scooped her into his arms and showered her face with kisses, his long, sweaty hair tickling her face as she laughed.

Sophia locked eyes with Liam, and he gave her a half-hearted wave. He was holding flowers. Roses.

Sophia lay under her sheets, tears burning her skin as they ran down her cheeks. She wiped them away furiously, treating them as if they were the constant badgering of thoughts in her head. Her mom knocked, creaking the door open just a crack.

‘Sophia? Honey? Someone’s here to see you…’

Sophia inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled slowly through her mouth, ‘okay, mom.’ She slipped out of her sheets and wiped at her face again. Trudging down the stairs, she saw Liam standing at the front door. He was holding a large bouquet of roses.

‘I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry you feel sad about what happened. I was just really stressed out and didn’t think you’d be so easily upset by it.’

Sophia hesitantly took the roses from him and looked at them, drawing out a long sigh. ‘It’s okay, Liam… I understand why you were upset.’

Liam smiled and pulled Sophia into a tight hug.

Sophia forced her legs to carry her over to him. He handed her the flowers and gave her a side hug. “Roses.” He said simply as if she couldn’t tell what they were. “Sorry, I’m late. You didn’t specify what time we’d be meeting. Isn’t midnight a little late?” Liam followed Sophia to their table and they sat down.

“Liam, you wanted to meet at midnight…” Sophia mumbled, turning the mug in her hands.

 He took a sip of his coffee. “Ew, really? This is cold…” he turned in his seat and waved his arm, “excuse me, waiter!” picking his mug up, he signaled for a refill. Sophia started to wonder how much time had passed since she ordered him a new drink. Had it really been that long?

Liam turned back to Sophia, “Wait, what did you say, Soph?”

Sophia shook her head; she didn’t want to waste any more time on cold coffees and ticking watches, “nothing.”

He shrugged and leaned back, “alright. Just don’t be too upset with me. Parking was hard to find, even this late at night.”

She looked back out the window, staring past her reflection and into the empty lot outside.

Liam and Sophia had been circling the parking lot for what felt like hours. Sophia thought they should move on and find somewhere else to park, but Liam was determined to circle the lot long enough. Waiting for what? Sophia wasn’t sure. Maybe some new parking spots would magically emerge from the ground.

‘Liam, we’re wasting time and gas. Just try the parking lot down the street.’

‘No. You have to pay a meter there. This lot is free.’

‘That’s why there are no spots…’ Sophia mumbled. ‘I’ll pay for the meter, okay? I’m tired of this.’ Sophia turned to look at Liam. He craned his neck, still scanning the lot for open space. ‘Maybe we can go to that new parking garage just a few blocks away. A short walk won’t hurt us.’

Liam still wasn’t listening. No matter how many times Sophia repeated herself, no matter how much she raised her voice, he simply didn’t want to hear her.

‘Wait, Soph, what if we go to the new parking garage?’

Sophia threw her hands in the air, ‘what do you think I just said!?’

He just laughed and shook his head, patting her hair, ‘you’re so cute.’

“What did you want to talk about, Soph?” Liam leaned back in his chair and sipped at his new, hot coffee.

“I want to talk about us, Liam. I don’t understand. Why would you end it? And so easily, at that? You acted like our entire relationship meant nothing to you.”

“That’s not true, Sophia, and you know that. Our relationship meant the world to me. You of all people should know that!”

Liam had invited Sophia to stay the night. He had told her that his parents were gone for the weekend and they could finally spend quality time together. Sophia told her mom she was spending the night at her best friend, Rachel’s house. 

‘Really?’ She knew Sophia was lying. ‘You haven’t done much with your friends since you and Liam started dating.’ Sophia wanted to argue, but she felt like she wouldn’t be able to justify anything. Liam always got jealous and angry when Sophia wanted to spend time with anyone that wasn’t him.

When she got to his house, Liam was playing a video game with friends. The moment he finished his round, Sophia found herself under him. He was kissing all over her body, and no amount of force would get him to move. ‘Liam…’ She pleaded.

He ignored her, trying to take her pants off. Sophia felt her heart stop as a newfound strength welled inside her, ‘Liam!’ She shoved him off.

‘What Sophia!?’ He yelled

‘Some consent would be nice!’

Liam scoffed, ‘you’re my girlfriend. That’s consent enough.’ He moved back onto her and started kissing her neck, his hands sliding up her shirt.

‘I’m serious, Liam! Get off of me!’ Sophia slipped out from under him and fixed her clothes and hair.

‘Don’t you love me, Sophia?’ Liam stared at her like a puppy that had just been kicked.

‘Of course, I do, Liam!’

‘Then why don’t you want to have sex with me!?’

‘I don’t feel ready, okay!?’

Liam huffed quickly, eyes squinted as he looked around the room for something, quickly grabbing the tv remote and throwing it at the wall behind Sophia, ‘you do this every time, Sophia! Do you ENJOY making me angry!? You think it’s funny?’ He got closer to her.

‘No!’ She backed up, tears falling down her cheeks.

Liam grabbed her arm, getting close to her face. ‘You know what? Leave. You look so pathetic, just standing there and crying. You don’t love me.’

Sophia felt the tears welt back into her eyes as the memories came flooding back, “if it meant that much to you, then why was it so easy?”

“You don’t understand. I want you to be with the right person, and I’m just not good enough…” He shrugged that arrogant shrug again and crossed his arms over his chest, looking out the window.

“I know you’re capable of change. You do realize that you can be that right person, right?” Sophia's ribs dug into the table as she leaned across it, her eyes begging for his, “I believe in you, Liam. In us. I know I didn’t hallucinate the amazing times we had together…”

“Sophia…” annoyance spat from Liam’s voice and into Sophia’s ears like venom. “Changing isn’t that easy, and you know it’s not something I can just do for you. Why do you constantly have to ask so much of me? It’s so… tiring.” He shrugged again like it was the only bodily movement he knew how to do.

Sophia ran outside of Liam’s house, dialing her best friend, Rachel. She picked up immediately. ‘Well, look who it is!’ Rachel laughed a bit.

‘Rachel, please…’ Sophia said through sobs. ‘I’m sorry... Can you please pick me up from Liam’s?’

Sophia heard Rachel’s tone shift, ‘Oh my god, yeah. I’m at the mall, but I’ll leave right now, okay? Stand outside. Don’t go back into his house.’

Then it seemed to click. And, for once, Sophia was starting to feel angry with him. Angry with the way he treated the waiter, angry at the way he showed up late, angry at how he was still blaming Sophia for his lack of punctuality, angry at how he wasn’t willing to be a better person for her, angry at all of the trauma he forced her to go through.

“No, Liam… You’re right.” She grabbed her purse.

“Duh, I told you…” he finally looked at her, “wait. What?”

“Do you have any idea what you put me through? How many nights have I cried because of you?”

“Soph, your emotions aren’t mine to control...” He laughed.

Sophia cut him off. “asking you for more than you can handle is tiring and, frankly, I don’t know why I stayed. I ignored my mom, my sister, even my best friend. Maybe I was blind but, I see who you are now… The night you dumped me, I went to Rachel’s house and cried to her all night about what you did to me. I wondered what I did to deserve it. She told me I didn’t deserve any of it, but I barely believed her back then.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder and unhooked the necklace, dropping it onto the table, “you can have this back… And when you leave, don’t forget to tip the waiter.”

Sophia heard Liam call out to her as she left the diner, left the roses, left Liam, all for good. Tears welled in her eyes, but she forced them down, pulling out her phone to call her best friend.