Chapter 11: A cozy café
Andrew opened the door from the transit station, taking in the slightly sleepy atmosphere of the neighbourhood. It was just after noon, so the space should be clearing out from the lunch rush, but this part of the city was always like this. It was one of the reasons Andrew liked where his company was located, despite his long commute from home.
The small town relied on the big companies in the area, but specifically Andrew's now former workplace. Lots of the scientists ate away from work, including Andrew. The small cafe he had suggested was one of his favourites, so in a way, this was a final goodbye.
Heading down the street, Andrew kept his expression light. During the trip here his headache had cleared up, but he was sure he looked worse for wear. He probably still smelled like liquor, and was slightly glad Maxwell hadn't said anything about it. He was going to miss the beautiful layout of the streets here, but at the same time, there was a relief to it all. He had thought this was going to be the end of everything, but Maxwell was there to immediately catch him. He was a great friend, and he finally felt confident to call him that.
The soft bell jingled as he opened the door, and one of the staff there recognised him.
"Andy! How are you do-wait, you look awful. What happened?" She asked, the smile falling into a frown and Andrew laughed. He pulled on the sleeves of his sweater, covering himself as he approached the counter.
"Well, some things...happened. I drank a little more than I should." He sighed, knowing that things were going to get awkward. "My girlfriend and I broke up." Several gasps from the staff members behind the counter.
"What! Are you okay?" Andrew laughed, feeling a little awkward.
"Yes, I think so. My neighbour was a great help, even if I inconvenienced him. We're meeting up today so she can hand over my laptop. So if things seem a little...awkward, that would be why." They all seemed upset to hear it.
"Why would she break up with you? You're such a good catch." One of the girls muttered too loud, and flushed when it was clear Andrew heard. Andrew gave an awkward smile.