. COFFEE BREAK -- open

[bim]

A book signing at an airport was just so.. odd. I mean, he understood the reasoning behind it. It was important to be in the public eye occasionally while he was writing another book. Or he’d just be assumed to be one of those authors that petered out after one or two books. Not that the public eye knew who he was of course. Authors, unless they were J.K Rowling, never got recognized on the street. However it was good to have a publicity event ever so often so people could see and go ‘ohh so that’s the guy who wrote that cool book that one time’. He also understood the connection with the location. His new book was based in Capeside, and the premise of the mystery (he mostly wrote mystery novels) was that bags are left at luggage pick up, the owner having boarded the flight then seemingly disappeared. Considering publicity information about the book had already been realised (shit, the deadline for the last ten chapters was fast approaching and he hadn’t even begun to solve his plot arc issue), it did make some sense, it was just, he wrote for young adults, and what young adult was going to waste a Thursday night and come all the way out to the airport for a book?

Well, in an hour or so he was going to find out, wasn’t he? God, what if no one showed up? That would not do well for his career at all. He’d be that writer that no one really cared about. Which, more than it would hurt his career, it would make the poor man even more unsure about his skills as an author. That wasn’t what he needed to say the least. Self doubt was no friend to writers block. In fact, in Ben’s case he was almost certain it was the cause of it. He was just second guessing his ending. Was it too predictable? Maybe, but if he changed it, how would he work in all the subtle hints he’d already wrote into the book? He would probably have to re-write large parts of the text, and considering how soon his dead line was, he wasn’t sure he could get it done. Nor unless he quit his job. Which he couldn’t afford to do. While his first two books had been successful, it wasn’t exactly enough to support him while he wrote. Hopefully this one would go over well and he could support himself while he turned it into a serious. That, or at least afford to work less hours.

The young man had very carefully picked out some dark jeans, and a green button up, which he pressed carefully, then put a grey knit sweater over- folding the shirt’s collar down over the sweater. He wasn’t really sure if there was a dress code for this sort of thing, so he had gone with very smart casual. In the hopes that he would make a good impression. He had also made sure his hair was neat, and his shoes were free of scuff marks. Perhaps he was going to a little too much effort, but still. It made him feel good about himself- gave him confidence. That was what was important wasn’t it? Even with his attention to clothing detail, Ben had still over-estimated how long it would take to get ready and to get there. Meaning he was early. It wasn’t unusual for him to be early actually, so that was okay. Parking his car in the short stay car-park, the young man got out of the car, collected his bag and made his way inside. He’d get himself a coffee at one of those rather over-priced airport cafe’s while he waited. Slinging his knapsack off over his right shoulder, the young man walked up to airport security screening section, and placed it on the bag scanner, before walking through himself.

With the all clear, he headed in the direction of the domestic terminals. Actually, did Capeside even fly internationally or did you have to change over? He needed to check that out actually. Personally, he’d only ever seen the domestic part of the airport. Making his way to the cluster of cafe’s and fast food outlets, Ben cocked his head to the side. Attempting to decide where he was going to get his drink from. Shame there was no Starbucks at the airport, or that would complete the self sufficient community airports seemed to be, with all the facilities and shops available. Choosing one with a rather cutsie name, but wasn’t that busy, he stepped up to the register and ordered a short skinny latté and stepped aside while it was made. Once it was handed to him, Ben turned around. Only to slam right into someone walking the other way, spilling his coffee over both of them. “Oh my god. I am so so sorry...”

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[kate]

It was quickly turning into on of those days for Kate. First of all, she had been up until the wee hours that previous night on the phone with her father, who was going away this weekend and was feeling a little rather nervous about flying all the way to Vegas, flying being one of his biggest fears, and had called his only daughter after having a particularly gruesome nightmare about the plane crashing (something Kate was almost sure of was thanks to him watching Final Destination with his friends the previous week). So he had called her in need of her reassurance that, it was actually very rare that planes crashed, he was more likely to crash in his car, and no, she didn’t think that he was going to cheat death and have it come after him, regardless of him being able to ‘guess’ who was calling. Needless to say; it was exhausting.

He daughter hadn’t really helped matters either that morning. She had been told before that Grandpa was going away for a few days and was devastated, causing her to spend the entire morning before school trying various techniques to get the day off school; ranging from feigning illness (something that almost worked- she was destined for stardom) to tantrums and sc reaming (which didn’t even nearly work) to bargaining, and promising to be good all week if she could spend the day with Grandpa (Kate had just laughed “You’ll be good anyway” she had told her with a smug tone only a mother could use, “you’ll get the time out if not.”) The entire drive to school had consisted of the little girl whining and calling her mother mean!

And now… Now she had been roped into dropping of, not only her Dad, but his friends as well. It really wouldn’t have mattered if it was just her father, but George and Patrick- they were a handful. It was Patricks birthday, and the three of them were celebrating with a long weekend in Vegas (the old man kept telling her, he was only enough to know better- but still young enough not to care) to let of some steam. But first, apparently, they were going to drive Kate absolutely crazy- she was close to pulling over and making them walk! Usually it would talk around an hour and a half to get to the Capeside Airstrip from her house, a little longer from her Dad’s- and the three had spend the whole time singing Elvis Presley’s ‘Love me Tender’

Again… and again… and again!

Patrick, taking breaks only to say something inappropriate and a little creepy to Kate. Logically, she knew he was just trying to flirt, and had probably had a little bit to drink, but it just came out sic k and wrong and honestly, she didn’t know which was worse: The singing, or the ‘flirting’. What only made this whole thing worse was that it was only a little after 11am in the longest day EVER! But, on the other hand, this stretch appeared to be over, “okay boys… Looks like we’re here!” She told them excitement seeping into her tone- something she told herself was just because she was excited for them and their trip- not because she was getting rid of them… No, she didn’t really believe it either. But at least now she could go home and have a nice, long, hot bath! Luckily for her, because the airport was so small, it didn’t take her long to park, and before you could say ‘Viva Las Vegas’ she was helping them check in.

“Remember, if you feel uncomfortable, just tell someone,” the blonde told her father pushing some of her hair that had fallen out of the pony tail it had been trapped in behind her ear as the group made their way to passport control, “noone will care, it’s what they are paid for.” The older man just laughed; she had always been the same, so protective, she had always taken good care of him,
“I will,” he told her wrapping an arm around her small shoulders,
“promise?”
“Promise.” The pair hugged and parted ways; him going through the security clearance, she waiting in case he needed assistance.
“Don’t worry Katie,” Patrick’s voice purred as he used the name only her father and husband could get away with calling her, “I’ll take good care of him,” and with that he gave her ass a good hard slap, but was gone before she could react.
“Jerk,” she hissed with a shudder. And to think, her father was off to ‘Sin City’ with him! She didn’t even want to think about it.

Right! First things first- coffee Kate thought spying a cute little café then I’ll make my way home. As she began making her way to the counter, she was sure she heard someone calling her name and, assuming her father had had a change of heart or gotten scared and come after her, turned around to scan the crowed but saw no one looking in her direc-

“-oof” she muttered bumping into someone and spilling the hot liquid (that smelt a lot like coffee- god that was going to stain!) all over them both, “Oh god!” desperately wiping at her shirt she looked up at the man, “that was my fault, I’m sorry- are you okay?!”

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