Maple Corner

Happy tears burned down her cheeks as she put away a little note that was directly written for her. The words were like butter: smooth to read and caring like a healing balm to touch. When she looked inside, it was empty. “Just like she said,” she whispered to herself. 

…

1 Month Prior

Rosie just met her college friend, Lena, at the Maple Corner for a cup of coffee. It had been a while since the two friends had finally set aside a time and brushed midterm finals away to meet one another. Rosie smiled to herself as she picked a table to sit at. All this time, Maple Corner, the most famous coffee and tea shop (let’s not forget the bagels either) was the highlight of the campus. Every college freshman up to the graduating class wanted to be there. Every party, every celebration, every meeting was set at Maple Corner. The owner, Maple, loved gatherings and had enough money to build the luxury coffee shop she thought everyone deserved. This shop was built in the center of the campus for easy accessibility and greater area to have venues with the outdoor patio, surrounded by red oaks, franklin trees, and her personal favorite: vine maple trees. 

Taking a seat, Rosie gathered her thoughts. She never met Lena before, they only spoke online through a college forum. They found they had so many similar interests such as tennis, favorite classical jazz artists, and simply just loving life. They settled a day to meet just 6 months later. Surprisingly, they never met even though they were on campus around the same time taking classes. Sometimes Rosie would try avoiding the classroom Lena was supposedly learning in just so she could keep her imagination of what Lena looked like real. There was no going back once meeting -- and they were about to meet for real. No false pretenses, it would be all true. Rosie sighed looking around the room, ‘Where is Lena?’ she wondered. Then, a flushed girl, probably around 19, (similar to Rosie) walked in wearing a pink headscarf, black jeans with small embroidered flowers, tucked in with a vest under a long sleeve. ‘Wow, so put together.’ Rosie thought, ‘why can’t I look like that?’ she looked down at her own mismatched clothes from green military patterned pants to a dark brown top with her greenish red sneakers. Lena’s black short hair bounced when she rushed over in excitement. “ROSIE!” She ran full blown just enough to knock her over but thankfully recoiled herself in time. “Oh.my.gosh. Rosie, you are so put together! I love your outfit and girl, your curls are fabulous. Are those real?” Rosie nervously laughed, “Yes, my curls are indefinitely real. And wow, it’s so nice to meet you for the first time. I was trying not to ‘make up’ what you looked like, but I couldn’t help it!” Lena raised her eyebrow, “And what did you envision me as?” Rosie paused, “Well, actually, black hair. But I didn’t envision you as a fashionista and you are really put together. Your personality is way more extraverted than I imagined -but I love it!” Lena smiled, “I imagined you with red fiery hair, I have no idea why,” she giggled, “and everything else falls into play. You're pretty similar to what I imagined except the hair.” Both of them then decided to buy coffee. “Oooh, I love the coffee choices Maple decides on. Fall has always been my favorite time of year. The bright colors, the smells, long sleeves and jeans.” Lena looked down at the listings, “Oh! Look at that one.” She pointed to the Eggnog Fall Coffee Special with an excited look in her eye. “Ma’am, I would like to order that one please.” Rosie looked at the list, “I can’t make up my mind...could I have the Pumpkin Spice Latte with chocolate drizzle and whipped topping?” The cashier woman nodded her head, “That will be 13.89 please.” Rosie frowned thinking, ‘When had coffee become so expensive?” Lena sighed, “Wow, when did coffee become so expensive?” she shook her head pulling out her wallet. “No, no, stop. I’ll pay for it. There’s really no problem I can handle the money, it's no biggie.” Lena smiled, “Rosie, I would have never come on this hangout time with you if you told me you were going to pay for it. That’s why all the other times hadn’t worked out. You always said you would - and I just can't let that happen.” She smiled, “Let me pay for it, Rosie.” She nodded with a perplexed complexion, “Thank you so much.” She shrugged, “It just means we should come back and you can pay for our drinks. Plus, it gives us an excuse to come back and hangout!” Rosie laughed, “Wow, Lena, wow. You really thought this one through. That sounds great.” 

1 Month After

Opening up her college dorm room, she was confronted with a little mug wrapped in a bow sitting directly on her mini refrigerator. She frowned, ‘I don’t have any friends who give me presents,’ then just as she thought this, a little note was placed inside. “You owe me one. Coffee at 2pm today? I’m so glad we’re friends, Rosie! ~L” Happy tears burned down her cheeks as she put away a little note that was directly written for her. The words were like butter: smooth to read and caring like a healing balm to touch.. “Just like she said,” she whispered to herself. And she nodded, ‘I am so glad to be friends with Lena, too.’

Writers Note: Thank you for making it this far! If you liked this story, Maple Corner, and give it a thumbs up - or if you have any suggestion for my story, I’d appreciate it as well. I love writing because I can express myself in a different way but through a different character each time. And just like Rosie, my favorite time of year is fall too (except I’m an extravert like Lena).