In the Coffee Shop

In the Coffee Shop

Author's note: Thanks go out to Kat for betaing this me! <3

By kira

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Amber looked up from her book every time someone entered the coffee shop. She was waiting for Bernd to finish his therapy session and it was only when she checked the time on her watch that she realized he would not be there for another fifteen minutes. Picking up her tea, she sipped it, and opening her book, she started reading again. The time seemed to fly by, and when she went to check her watch again, the door opened again. Amber looked up and saw a familiar figure enter the Starbucks. She waved and called out to him.

“Hey, Bernd!”

He looked over at the sound of his name. Bernd slowly made his way through the maze of tables over to where Amber was sitting. “Hey…” He plopped himself down in the chair opposite hers.

She could see that he had been crying when he took off his sunglasses, as his face was puffy and his eyes were red. “You okay?” Amber reached out and put her hand on his, giving it a gentle squeeze. It tore at her heart as he looked like he was about to burst into tears.

Bernd nodded. He looked away and back, trying to get a hold of himself. “I hate it,” he said softly, his voice catching on the last word.

“I know, but it’s good for you. Do you want me to get you a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and you can tell me about it, or do you want something stronger?”

“Can I get a mocha latte grande with extra whipped cream?”

“You want a croissant?”

“Please.”

Amber nodded. She gave his hand an extra squeeze before getting up from the table. Grabbing her purse, she said, “I’ll be right back.”

Bernd watched her go. He folded his arms across his chest and sat back in his seat. He hated going to therapy, he felt it made things worse, instead of better. Sighing softly, he slumped forward and rested his head on the table. Events from his therapy session came flooding back and as much as he hated himself for it, he started crying.

When Amber returned to their table with his order, she found him crying softly. Setting his coffee and croissant on the table, she moved her chair over to sit next to him. “Bernd…?”

Looking up at the sound of his name, he wiped the tears away with his fingertips. Unable to get a coherent word out, Bernd leaned in and wrapped his arms around her. Burying his face in the space where her neck met her shoulder, he cried.

Amber held him close. She made soft little words of comfort as she rubbed little circles on his back. Whatever they had talked about today must have struck a raw nerve. She had seen him upset before, but never like this. “Sweetie? You want to go home?”

Bernd nodded, before abruptly shaking his head. As much as he wanted to go home and just hide in his room, he didn’t want to talk to his father or anyone else about his therapy session. He knew they meant well when they asked about how it went, but it was too painful to share and he could tell his father hated his vague answers. Bernd could also hear his therapist gently admonishing him in his head about his avoidance, but he had spent most of his life walling off painful emotions and acting out, and it was a difficult habit to break.

“Which is it, Sweetie?”

Pushing back from her, Bernd took a deep breath. He let it out slowly. “Please…?”

“Okay.” She stood up. “Come.” Amber held her hand out to him.

Bernd grabbed a few napkins and wiped his face and blew his nose. He picked up his coffee and drank some. Feeling a bit better, he grabbed his croissant and stood up to go. Shoving it in his pocket, he picked up the wad of napkins and followed her to the door, pausing just long enough to dump the napkins in the trash. Taking Amber’s hand, he drew a bit of strength from her as they left Starbucks and headed home.