19th October [Later]

Wooohoo! Just posting this blog so I can post another piece I wrote. I wrote 1061 words in 25 minutes. I beat yesterdays time, but probably because there are a few less words.

Here it is. It makes just about as much sense as the other one did.

Coffee House.

I slipped in beside Jo as she strode quickly towards to coffee shop. I looked around us, the winter cold was finally setting in, and despite the warmth of the sun on my neck there was a bitter breeze. Tucking my hands into my pockets I crossed the road, admiring as I stepped up the curb the beauty of the red and orange autumn colours of the leaves blowing along the black, oil-like tar mac.

"So, why are we going here again?" I asked, pulling at Sophie's sleeve.

"I told you already once today Jo. We’re going so that we can get a coffee."

"I know that." I snorted angrily. That’s what people do at coffee shops, but why on earth are we going to the one right across town? Why can’t we be normal and go the one on Taime Street? Everybody else thinks that one’s great. Hell! I think it’s great! Why can’t be go there!" I was moaning, and it was unattractive. But I didn't care. I was cold, and my head had begun to hurt; it felt as through each gust of wind had sliced through my brain and come out my nose again.

"I know, you already said that too. The one on Taime Street’s all fine and well, if you like sitting around a bunch of freaks. Besides, I’m hoping to see somebody." This was the first time I’d heard her mention meeting anybody. I shrugged my shoulders, and instantly regretting it as an icy fingertip brushed the back on my neck.

"It’s cold though!" I grumbled. "Why didn’t you tell me we’d be walking all this way? I’d have worn a thicker sweater." Sophie laughed and tucked a strand of copper hair behind her ear.

We carried on walking for a few minutes in silence. I was counting the cars. It was slow today, probably because it was 3 in the afternoon on a sunday. I had only counted seven cars since we’d left Sophie’s house that morning.

"Oh, here we are." I looked up. In front of me was a tall office-type building with transparent glass doors. My mouth dropped open as I surveyed the site, then stepped inside.

"It’s big." I stated simple. Sophie nodded and led me around a small corner into a little common room. Inside were at least a dozen college students, only a couple of years old than myself. Each one of them was sat at a table, or poised neatly over a piece of paper, pen in hand. I took my hands out of my pockets and rolled up my sleeves. The warmth of the building had quickly seeped into my skin, and was crawling up the back of my neck, making me sweat profusely. Despite this however, I suddenly felt perfectly at ease, and followed Sophie as she went and sat in one of the over-sized squishy armchairs in the corner.

"So.." I began, relaxing back into the warm, soft brown leather. "What should we do now?"

"I have something to show you." I smiled and Sophie reached inside her jacket, pulling out a notebook and black Biro.

"What’s so special about that?" I asked, squinting at the paper as if I expected it to come to life, and tell me itself. "It’s just paper."

"Yeah," replied Sophie handing me the notebook and pen together. Her hands were warm, and her eyes glinted.

"Well?" I asked, getting rather annoyed.

"You remember last year. Last November actually. You told me how badly you wanted to go to that writer’s meeting thing? You’re mother wouldn’t let you, right? And you had to drink coffee all on your own to finish your novel?" Sophie said it slowly, as if she thought I wasn’t listening, deaf, or just plain stupid.

"Uhuh." I nodded.

"Well," she started, "I knew it was getting around to that time again, and since you hadn’t mentioned anything to me, I figured you were just going to sit down at your computer all lonely again, and write another sad love novel." I grimaced.

"Last year’s was pretty crap wasn’t it?"

"Lack of coffee, and writing buddies. See, that’s why I brought you here."

"I don’t get it." I shook my head and looked at the notepad again.

"This is the writer’s group from last year. They meet here every sunday and saturday during November, to push out their novels." I laughed, and then saw she was serious.

"You mean, you brought me here, so that I could write a book?" Sophie nodded and grinned at me insanely.

"I know how much this thing means to you. I’ve decided I’m going to take part this year too. I’m going to write a novel about the two of us."

"Woah." I leapt forward, out of my chair and hugged her tightly. "You’ve really brought me here, because of what I said, all that time ago?"

Sophie blushed and grabbed my hand. "Yeah Jo. You wouldn’t shut up. I think the whole school heard about your coffee shop fiasco." I laughed.

I sat back down, still unsure. I wasn’t really used to writing with all these people around. I sank back, and reclined in the warmth of the shop, a gush of welcoming smells each tried to grab my attention. I could smell coffee, and muffins, and, was that perhaps cookies? I smiled and closed my eyes.

"Thanks Sophie. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

There was a cough, and I opened one eye lazily. "Excuse me ladies, what can I get for you?" I glanced at Sophie alarmed.

"I don’t have an money." I hissed.

"Don’t worry," she said sleepily. "It’s all taken care of.
Hey Al. This is Jo, the girl I was telling you about last week. Can we get two Capuccinos please? We’re with the writing group." The man stood tall before us, his back though, was slightly hunched and his thin rimmed glasses hung off his beak-like nose.

"Certainly m’love. I’ll have Kathy send them right in. You enjoy yourselves now."

"You mean, you’ve been here before?"

"Well, yeah. Of course. I had to check this was the right place didn’t I?"

"Yeah. I guess." I smiled at Sophie again. "Thanks." I really did mean it. I really was happy. And this really was my place.

It's really baad. And it's boring. But I guess when I write like this in the Nano it won't be too bad, because the characters are interesting, and developed.