#01 › samuel harrison + juno behar.

[momentspassd]

— characters: sam & juno — setting: latte love — tagging: @hvneymelons

Only a few months into residing in Blue Harbor, Samuel had been unaware of the coffeeshop feud until very recently. No side had been chosen on his part, and as a newbie the writer felt no fealty toward one place over the other.

Coffee wasn't just coffee. As a New Yorker Samuel Harrison knew that much. Especially with many shops claiming to have the world's best cuppa.

Therefore he'd setup at an outside table with his laptop and drink, people watching rather then tapping away at the keys and making any progress on the next installment in his detective series.

It wasn't writer's block.

The coffeeshop impartial's thoughts were simply pulled by distractions. Big or small, didn't matter, though he was mostly consumed by matters with Ben and the boy's biological family and him losing grip on what he'd thrown his life away for little more than three years ago, along with the fact that the woman he'd left behind was also here in this small Illinois town.

Sometimes Samuel considered that the ups and downs of his own life were at the fingertips of a writer that did it for the drama. Whose fingers flew over the keys anytime a new plot twist presented itself.

"This seat's free if you need to sit," the writer offered, umber gaze landing on the figure standing nearby. Squinting into the sunlight, all he could discern was that the person was female and likely on their phone, but it was better to be polite than leave someone awkwardly standing by.

Gesturing across from him, Samuel tacked on, "unless you're grandfathered in across the street and can't be seen here at the gates of the enemy."

[momentspassd]

The notebooks were something that Samuel took stock of. Umber eyes keenly observed the wear and tear, the thickness and signs of additional notes or mementos stuffed between the pages, and found interest in the plural. There was more than one.

Back in the day, either as a teenager or a young man in university, the New Yorker carried a notebook around as well. There had always been a need to have pen and paper on hand readily for the chance that an idea would suddenly cross his mind.

Something he'd learned by way of missing out on one too many brilliant moments that came when he was walking about or zoned out.

The young brunette was quiet, there was something reticent about her that kept the author from making casual conversation and asking about her notebooks. Even if the writer within him was itching to know if it were for similar reasons as to what he'd purposed notebooks for before his phone had become the catchall.

After a sip of his now lukewarm coffee Samuel set the half empty drink down on the table and nodded to her question with some amusement appearing on his features. He leaned forward some and rested his crossed arms on the edge of the table, "you haven't heard?" It was rhetorical, mostly a reaction. "Apparently the two coffee shops have beef. There was an article about it in the newspaper about a month ago."

Then he gestured to her notebooks with a lift of his chin, "with the way you were observing the place and with those I was starting to wonder if you were doing some investigative journalism here."

Juno had a regular seat in every establishment they entered. It was - in the end - a seat they picked with purpose and for their comfort, but as they made way through the coffee shop they couldn't help but stop and stare at the people in their seat. Juno hadn't gotten there early enough to claim it but having to look for another that offered the same view wasn't going to be easy. You see, Juno's purpose had never really been about the coffee. They didn't care much for it, preferring the tea they got over in Ruby's place instead, but their subject was across the street and from their regular seat Juno had a full view of them. They could watch and learn and gather information. Today didn't seem to agree with their plans, which left Juno standing in the middle of the walkway until they heard the male speak. Their eyes traveled towards the sound then the computer sat before him, and with nod Juno moved towards the available seat. A computer meant little to no conversation - which was good since they weren't exactly sure how or why people started small talk or felt the need to fill in the empty air. "Thank you." Juno replied after taking a seat, then reached for one of the menu's in the center of the table. They placed their journals to the side of the table until needed. Curiosity got the best of them and Juno asked the question, "The enemy? Is there a feud I've been highly unaware of?" Their gaze shifted back towards the coffee shop across the street before meeting their companion once more.