"The usual, guys?" enquired the server.
Her name badge declared her name was Hailey in large, curly and friendly letters.
"You bet!" Billy replied.
Hailey turned from the counter and busied herself with cups and coffee grounds. She worked with the enthusiasm that her corporate chain demanded but she was young enough, based on the rainbow colours in her hair, not to have realised the irony and conflict of her Greenpeace pin badge on her apron had with the morals of the profit chasing company she seemed so happy to represent. How can it cost 4 dollars for a friggin' cup of beans and water Billy thought to himself.
"Good weekend?" Billy asked.
"Fucking no!" Shot back the response. Billy could tell there was something on Joanna's mind.
"What's up?" he offered sincerely.
"That bitch at work, the one I told you about" she fired back. "She only chewed me out in front of everyone last night!"
"What are we talking about here?" Billy enquired cheekily, raising his eyebrows quickly up and down akin to Magnum at the start of the quintessential 80s TV show.
"You dick. I'm being serious here. I'm properly pissed!" Billy looked apologetic.
"I'm sorry" he put a friendly arm round her shoulder and squeezed gently. She leant into him, accepting the comfort.
Billy could smell her perfume. He couldnt place it but nobody he knew wore it, which meant there was a strong, subliminal association that meant he always knew his friend was near.
"Come on then, what happened".
Billy knew something was up but he also enjoyed being a councillor. He was never good a following advice but was happy to give it and Joanna knew he always said the right thing at the right time. 'Mostly' she thought quietly to herself.
She was wearing a dance vest and sports bra under a black jacket with black leggings. She adjusted the straps on her top as if going through final preparations for getting ready for a fight.
"I'm gonna kill her, I swear!" Joanna vented.
The 50 year old woman behind them in the queue stepped back ever so slightly. Joanna was in her early 30s. Slight, not much more than 5"4'. But with her platinum blond hair and dark eyes she belied her small stature with a presence that said 'back off, I'm dangerous'. Billy knew she was fully capable of kicking serious A if she had to but knew that wasnt all she was about. He knew that when she wasnt in full battle-mode she was a sweet and caring woman who had dug him out of too many holes, too many times.
"Coffee's up" interjected Hailey.
"Can we get those to go?" said Joanna. She turned to Billy. "We're going outside. I need to smoke!"
Joanna wasn't a woman you questioned in this mood. He knew if he didn't follow her, she'd leave him standing right there.
"Sure!" proclaimed Hailey who proceeded to grab to paper cups to transfer their drinks to.
"You know it's better for the environment if you bring your own cup for that. "Billy informed Joanna. "It just goes in landfill".
"He's right you know proffered Hailey, acknowledging the support for her green credentials.
"Miss, thanks for the coffee." said Joanna replied sternly, knowing this kid didn't have a clue about the real big issues. "You!" she grabbed Billy by the arm, "we're going to smoke".
With that she turned, grabbed her cup and moved swiftly to the door.
"I'd better..." tried Billy before he could say goodbye to the server.
"I think you'd better go after her. See you tomorrow" she said cheerily.
"Yeah, thanks" replied Billy and swiped his coffee from the bar and headed after her.
The morning was cold but sunny. Birds circled overhead. Nothing songful or exotic but grey, vulturish pigeons that were waiting patiently for the early morning rat racers to drop a flake of croissant as they hurried to their trains and buses. Joanna was on her second cigarette. Billy often worried about how much she smoked but also couldn't help but notice how sultry it made her look as her eyes narrowed as she inhaled and how the smoke cascaded upwards from her full, red lips as she let it out.
"You just need to talk to her." said Billy. "If you don't say something it will go on and on." Joanna considered the words as she took another drag on her cigarette.
"I'm not saying anything to her, she can damn well come and apologise! And if she can't say sorry then she'd better stay the fuck out of my way."
"Let me speak to her" Billy suggested. He was ever the councillor and the diplomat. Billy often worried that Joanna thought he was a bit of a pussy given his aversion for rows.
"Don't you fucking dare!" She smiled and the thought seemed to break the mood.
"I will, you know!" Billy stood up and motioned to start running.
"You couldn't run to the end of the street!" Joanna broke into a full laugh.
A suit with a briefcase walking by considered she might be slightly unhinged but then thought nothing further of it and continued on his way to whichever desk he currently occupied in whichever accountancy firm he worked for.
"Look, I know you're the fitness guru." Billy conceded. He knew Joanna liked to keep fit. It explained her ass that looked like a peach carved out of rock in her sports leggings.
"But I used to be quite an athlete at school" he said proudly.
"You're my fucking hero!" Joanna laughed again and punched him hard in the arm. The grin on her face made Billy at ease but didn't prevent him feel it hurt.
"I do boxercise now", Joanna told him. "So you'd better be nice to me."
"Yes ma'am!" he saluted like a soldier at attention.
"Come on you idiot. I'm going home to get changed. You can make me breakfast."
Joanna's apartment was big. 'So much space.' Billy thought to himself. The flat he shared with his housemate, Grant, was small in comparison and ten times as untidy. Billy set his work bag down on the chair by the door. Joanna was half way across the lounge. She took off her jacket and threw it on the sofa. Her place was clean as whistle but Billy smiled to himself as he watched Her do it.