Ships Passing

“So I discovered something about myself.” Arthur sits across from his best friend Bethany, fiddling with his wristwatch. 

“Oh?” She looks up from her book, her blue eyes sparkling like sapphires in the warm light of the coffee shop. “You know there are like 100 ways this conversion could go, with an opening line like that.” She scrunches her nose the way she always did when giving him a hard time. Gosh has she always looked this cute?

He clears his throat, “Fair point. I think it’s a good discovery.” 

“Will I think so?” She sets her book down. 

“I hope so?” He takes a breath, “You know how after my last break up, I said no girl ever felt quite right?’ 

“I do remember that. Did you figure out why?” She leans forward, he can almost see constellations in her freckles. 

“I think it’s cuz–none of them are you.” He gives her a sheepish smile. 

She immediately leans back and looks out the window, his heart sinks,  “You’re three years too late.” 

“Late?!” His voice is loud enough several other guests look over at them. He shrinks down. “Late? What do you mean late?”

“Art, come on, I was in love with you in high school.” She puts air quotes around the word love. 

“You– you never said anything.” he hold his hands out confused. 

She sits up straight, “You know how you had Phys Ed right before our science class?” He nods, “I always had your favourite granola bar in my bag because you were always hungry. I don’t eat granola bars, I bought them for you.” 

“But you did stuff like that for Jacob too.” his mind is racing, she had liked him when they were in high school. Had she moved on? 

“You had English right after, whenever you had a presentation, I always had gum for you because it calmed your nerves. I had braces until weeks before we graduated.” She closes her book, clearly whatever assignment she had brought with her was no longer important. 

“Well–those are just nice things you do for people. You were–are always so kind.” He starts, and she holds her hand up. 

“I memorized how you liked your coffee so that if you texted me that the carpool would be rushed, I could make it for you. Two sugars, even though you claimed to like your coffee black. But your mom would always steal a sip or two of both you and your dad's coffee, and she hated the bitter taste. You always said when you didn’t live with her you drink it black, but you can’t because it reminds you of home.” She let out a sigh.

“Why didn’t you tell me directly? How was I supposed to pick up these little things?” He stares in disbelief. 

 “You either had a girlfriend, recovering from said girlfriend or were hopelessly invested in another girl. Life isn’t a romcom or TV show where you confess you’re feelings and everything magically everything works out for you. I wasn’t going to try to break your relationship up or take advantage of your heartbreak. I figured if you wanted me, you’d notice me as more than just one of the guys.” She shrugs. 

“Well, I know now, can’t we try now?” He extends his hand to her.

“No.” with one word his heart felt like it shattered. “Art, I can’t. After we graduated, I moved on, happy to be your friend and support you from a distance.” 

“But Beth– Is there someone else?” That had to be the reason. 

Bethany, shakes her head, “No, but I’m happy alone. I get to have all kinds of adventures, meet all kinds of people and do whatever I want. I’m happy.” 

“But we could find happiness together.” He offers.

“Maybe.” She shrugs, “Or we’d be miserable and we’d come to hate each other and lose one of our long-standing friendships.” She puts her book in her bag, “I don’t resent you for not noticing me – anymore. I used to, but I let it go. We’re in college, Art, we have a lifetime to find and fall in love. There is no deadline.”

“So you are saying there is a chance?” He can feel the hope rise in his chest. 

She stands, slinging her bag effortlessly over her shoulder, “Don’t hold your breath Art. Maybe there was a reason our feelings were like ships passing in the night. I’ll see you on Christmas break okay?” And with that, she walks out of the coffee shop, taking his heart with him. 

Three years later

Coffee in hand, Arthur scans the coffee shop, he doesn’t see anyone that reminds him of Bethany, but she still could be here. If he remembers right, she had dropped out of college and had been travelling and writing for the last two years, so they really hadn’t been home at the same time, he sat in their spot facing the door. She’d asked to meet up, she wouldn’t bail on him. Sure, the last time they’d met here was– awkward. But they had both been at Jacobs's wedding and that had been fine– they’d even shared a dance. 

He pulls out his phone to text her when a motorbike parks in front of the shop, and the passenger hops off–it can’t be. Bethany takes off her helmet and shakes out her hair. She looks so different, her hair is pink, and in a pixie cut. The driver lifts her hand to his helmet as if to kiss it. She waves and watches him take off. 

When Bethany walks in, Arthur waves. She joins him after getting her own coffee, “Hey, long time no see stranger.” She sets her helmet on the seat beside her. 

“No kidding. I thought you said motorcycles were death traps.” He points to the helmet. 

She shrugs, “Depends on who driving” Her smile gives her away, and he notices the ring on her finger.

“Are congratulations in order?” He smirks and she happily shows off her ring. 

“He asked me last weekend, and no we have no plans yet, it’s been a whirlwind of a week” She looks down at her ring. 

“I’m happy for you, Bethany. You look really happy.” He pulls out his phone to show her the ring he bought for his girlfriend. “It should arrive in a few weeks.” 

“Oh, it's gorgeous!” Bethany looks at him, “I bet she’ll love it.” 

“I hope so. Not that I’m worried she’ll say no.” He puts his phone down on the table. “Looks like we found a place to dock.” 

Bethany smiles, “Yeah, looks like we did.”