"Coffee maker's out today."

I watched as the face of the girl in front of me became crestfallen before she begrudgingly ordered a hot chocolate. But in that split second before she tried to adapt and find a new order, I almost heard my heart break for her. She was such a small, almost delicate person and it was only emphasized by the sad, nervous look she wore. Somewhere deep in my mind, that single obstacle that I had presented to her made me feel like I was a horrible person for creating more hardship for her.

I'm being overdramatic, I'm sure. But there was something about her that made me sure that flowers would bloom to make her happy.

I watched as she sat at a table in the corner. It wasn't a large space so she was still quite close to the coffee bar, but I could tell she was trying to make herself scarce.

The bell on the door announced the arrival of a man. He was young, early 20s in a black thick hoodie and jeans, and he was what I would describe as pretty. Not in a delicate sense, but he wasn't edgy, despite his obvious easy confidence. His personality was in his walk as he strode over to the girl and took a seat opposite from her.

She tried for a smile towards him but it only lasted a second.

"Look, Jen, I'm sorry about what I said, but you can see how I'd think that."

This darkened something in the girl's eyes. "You accused me of cheating on you!"

"Yeah, well, he was standing pretty close, wasn't he now," he hissed out, the pretty gone from his face as it scrunched in unprovoked anger. I watched as the girl's posture tightened and the fight went out of her eyes.

The man seemed to savor it and took it like a cue. He took a breath and smiled and the light seeped back into his features. Back to pretty. Pretty like a poisonous flower.

"So, we can just agree to move past it then?"

She nodded.

"Lunch, then?"

She nodded again.

He picked up the menu from the table and started scanning it. Just as I moved to bring the girl's order to the table, he glanced up and I knew this wouldn't be a simple harmless look.

"By the way, I know you were rushing out last night and all, but you could've at least made yourself presentable, Jenny. Haven't I told you that gray's not your color?"

I watched as Jenny began to quietly panic, her breaths became more shallow and her hands began to fidget frantically where they were under the table and hidden from him. Her eyes flicked to me and I knew I had to intervene.

I took the order over and placed it in front of Jenny, giving her a small nod and hoping she understood that I was here if she needed.

She glanced at the man and then back at me. "Thank you."

I was sure this wasn't just a polite mannerism so I backed down slightly.

I turned towards the man and raised my eyebrows. I stared at him a moment before asking. "Anything I can get you?"

"Coffee." He answered, keeping his eyes on Jenny.

Unlike how I felt with Jenny, I took great pleasure in my next words. "Coffee makers out today."

"Well then, what's the point!" He growled. I watched as something seemed to click into place for the girl. She sat up, shaking off the unease.

"Enough, Marcus."

Her tone stopped him. I watched as his eyes widened, so slightly I would've missed it if I wasn't monitoring his reaction. Those eyes scanned her, taking in the sudden changes in her demeanor.

"Jen-"

"No."
His brow furrowed, clearly not used to the definitive tone she put in her words.

"No, I'm done. I'm so done. With you, I mean. Everything's an argument I can't win, everything's a war you can't lose. I get yelled at for standing too close to a guy when you don't come home until 1 or 2 in the morning and flirt with every girl who works within a mile of your office. I get criticized for how I look when you're practically fused to that bloody hoodie! I went to the store yesterday and came home to you yelling about the TV remote not working after you threw it across the room the day before because I forgot the milk. I wake up terrified every day and it is a relief when I can get out of the apartment that I pay for!"

She stood up and I smiled, knowing she was about to cast him out of her life.

"So get out of here. Go to that apartment, get your things and get out of my life. I'll be back in 6 hours. Be gone by then."

Marcus stood and opened his mouth, his eyes on fire and his poison prepared. I slid in front of him and I watched his fire falter. He backed up and I hissed, "Get out of my shop."

He left. I turned back around to see the relieved smile on Jenny's face. She collapsed back into the seat and I knew what she needed. I cleared my throat to get her attention.

"I don't have the machine working, but I have some filters. Coffee?"