Bookshop/Cafe, Oxford St, Sydney, 18 May 2012, 1:30pm

At first I thought that Marcus and Kate (not their reals names) were a couple in their early twenties trying to come to terms with a long distance relationship. Kate had made the move to Sydney to go to university while Marcus had stayed in their home town in rural NSW, possibly to work on his father's farm or sell saddles on the main street (for his father). I got this impression because when they arrived in the cafe Kate said to Marcus "See, this is amazing. You can see why I love it here. You can sit here for hours, peruse the books or have a piece of banana bread. It's so Sydney". "Peruse!" thought Marcus, "That's another new one". She'd probably already said "copious" on the way to the cafe. "We sat around and drank copious amounts of red wine last night".

"Cock head", I thought, when I heard it. But my eaves were already lowered and I was involved. There was no turning back. I opened my book and assumed the "I'm not listening" position.

So Marcus had come to visit Kate in the city for the weekend. It was the first time they'd seen each other since the Christmas holidays and Marcus was having his fears that Sydney was changing his girlfriend confirmed. An awkward break up scene at the bus depot on Sunday afternoon loomed. This is what I'd gleaned from one sentence. That's my favorite part of the drop, the jumping to conclusions at the outset. You then have to stick it out and find out the truth which can be more or less interesting depending on the subjects.

The next thing they talked about was a party that Kate had been to a week before at Zoe's house. Ah Zoe. I wish no one had brought her up.
"Yeah, I've met Zoe", said Marcus.
"When?" said Kate.
 "A couple of times around Uni".

 So he's from the University too. He's not from the country. He might want to stop getting around in flannel shirts and R. M. William boots then, it's a bit confusing for bystanders. Just a suggestion.

Then Kate wondered into some very self-destructive territory. "Yeah Zoe" she said, "She's so gorgeous isn't she?" I let out a sigh. I’d seen this kind of thing before. There was silence from Marcus. "She's one of those people who don't know how attractive they are. She's got absolutely no idea. Don't you reckon?" Two questions for Marcus about Zoe. I'm not sure he had given Zoe much thought before today but here was Kate, forcing him into an opinion about her. "Yeah" said Marcus, trapped. "She kind of does that thing where she acts really clueless".
"What do you mean?" said Kate.
"Like she's in some sort of dream world."
"Is that hot?" snapped Kate.
"A bit", said Marcus.

Oh dear. I signaled for the waiter. “You better give me another one of these Chai Lattes, looks like we’re in for the long haul now”, I said and laughed. He smiled awkwardly, looked at me and then at the empty chair on the other side of my table and said “Yes, looks like it”.

Kate and Marcus sat in silence, staring down at the table. Finally Marcus looked at Kate and said “You’re a bit like that too sometimes”.
“Like what?” said Kate.
“In a little dream world”, said Marcus.

Nice save.

“I had a really nice time last night”, said Marcus and took Kate’s hand. She smiled.

So there you have it, they’d spent the night together. It was becoming blatantly obvious that neither of them was from the country. Nor were they in a long-term relationship. I can’t say I was shocked. A little bit hurt maybe? Confused? Betrayed even? But not shocked. They’d probably just met at a party the night before. Or perhaps they’d met at the University once or twice. He’s doing a Science Degree but has decided to take a couple of Arts subjects on the side for good balance. She’s doing a Commerce Degree and doing a couple extra subjects because it will look good on her resume. Bang! They find themselves together in Russian Revolutions.

Marcus and Kate went on looking deep into each other in the eyes. It was a magical moment. Time stood still in the café/bookshop. Then Kate, I think to everyone’s horror, said, “You know Zoe?”

Oh God please, no more Zoe! Who is she anyway? Why do we have to keep going around and around in circles talking about Zoe? It’s enough to make you want to throw your full Chai Latte at the wall and storm out.

“Yeah”, said Marcus.
“I think she’s like that because her parents are divorced and her Dad’s a real asshole”. Marcus let go of her hand.
“Could be”, said Marcus. “Sometimes when people get divorced…”
Kate quickly cut him off. She was the only authority on Zoe. “Her dad has all these frequent flyer points, like unlimited points because he got injured in a carry-on luggage incident, and he won’t give Zoe any. You can transfer them and he won’t do it”.
“That’s pretty tough, I remember …” Marcus was cut off for the second time.
“She’s so creative, Zoe. She drew this picture of me in the courtyard at Uni in five minutes and it was like a professional had done it”.
“Oh yeah”, said Marcus and took out his phone.

 And just like that, she lost him. I don’t think she realized it then and there. It would probably take until the middle of the week when she sends him a text message and he doesn’t respond. I hope the amazing Zoe is around then. I hope she’s a shoulder to cry on. Or will she be gone? Sketching pictures on the plane to Vanuatu because Daddy’s finally relented. Zoe. Always Zoe.

 I closed my book up and had the last sip of my Chai Latte. There was nothing more I could do for them. They’d lied about being from the country and now Kate had thrown any chance of happiness out the window. As I walked past them towards the exit of the café I whispered “It could have been great”. “What?” said Kate. “This café’s great”, I said.

 And it was.

 Kate and Marcus relationship survival rate: 15%