Expect The Unexpected

Chapter 4

’Hello, Sam’’ I replied with a smile.

‘’Can I join you?’’ He asked, nodding towards the empty seat across from me.

Normally I wouldn’t do this; normally I would tell a person that I did not interact with my clients outside my office. That it wasn’t a very good idea… but…

‘’Yes sure, sit down’’ I smiled at him and felt my face heat up. Oh, I would regret this, I knew it. I knew myself and my life far too well.

‘’How are you?’’ I asked as soon as he sat down.  He shook his head and it made me feel somewhat stupid for asking that.

‘’You already heard how I’m feeling’’ He slightly smiled. ‘’How are you?’’ he asked

I raised my eyebrow at him; personal relationships with clients aren’t good. But, I was just having coffee with him so there was nothing wrong with this, I guess.

‘’I’m good thank you’’ I replied, as honestly as I could, because, honestly, I wasn’t sure how I was feeling. Everything was spinning and I wasn’t sure why. I felt this really weird connection with Sam, even if I had just met him. For a moment we just started into each other’s eyes.  I began to feel slightly awkward so I turned away.

’Have you ordered already?’’ He asked.

‘’Yes, have you?’’ I replied.

At that, moment Sarah came back with two cups. She set my hot chocolate in front of me and then set the other cup in front of Sam.

‘’Hot Chocolate,’’ He asked nodding towards the cup in front of me.

’Yeah, I hate tea and coffee.’’ I replied.

’How coincidental’’ He laughed, I tilted my head to the side.

‘’Hot chocolate.’’ He lifted his cup.

I laughed, not many people preferred to drink hot chocolate instead of tea or coffee.

I lifted my cup and took a sip, I had to turn away as I did so,  otherwise I felt somewhat awkward staring into Sam’s blue eyes as I drank my hot chocolate.

‘’Maria?’’ I suddenly heard a very familiar voice that created a lump in my throat. Sam looked at me and then at the person behind me.

Suddenly Sam’s expression showed confusion and something else, I just wasn’t sure what.

‘’Michael?’’ He said and my eyebrows shot up.  I turned around and saw Michael standing there, wearing the same facial expression as Sam was. Did they know each other?  Michael, the ex-boyfriend, the last that I saw him was at least… I wasn’t even sure how long. He hadn’t changed a bit. His dark hair was still the same length as before, styled up with gel. He wore a casual looking brown jacket and loose jeans. I remembered them; I was surprised he still had them. I swallowed as Michael’s eyes were on mine; his facial expression was hard to read. I swallowed, tearing my gaze away from him.

‘’W-What?’’ I said, glancing from Sam to Michael.

‘’You two know each other?’’ Michael asked the question all three of us were thinking.

‘’Kind of’’ I replied. ‘’But what are you doing here… I thought…’’ I looked at Sam and then back at Michael, taking a deep breath before continuing to talk. ‘’ I thought you had moved to Liverpool.’’

‘’Liverpool?’’ Sam suddenly said.

‘’Dude… I’’ Michael glared at Sam. Was there something going on that I didn’t know of?  

‘’Not now Sam, anyway it was nice seeing you… two. I’ll see you later then.’’ Michael said, and before either Sam or I could reply he had already walked away.  I watched as he left the coffee shop, I felt a weird pang in my chest. It was so weird seeing him like this. He told me he had moved to Liverpool… Maybe he was just visiting?

‘’How do’’ Both Sam and I said it at the same time.

I decided to let him speak first, see what he has to say, after all I was the psychologist, and I was better at listening than the actual talking itself.

‘’You want to know how I know Michael?’’ Sam asked and I nodded.

’We’re old friends; we used to go school together in Hereford, nothing too interesting.’’ Sam replied and I could tell he wanted to drop the subject.

‘’Oh right’’ I replied, taking a sip of my hot chocolate.

‘’What about you?’’ Sam asked.

‘’Huh?’’

‘’How do you kno Michael’ He asked.

I set my cup down and thought of what to say, but before I could reply, Sam’s phone began to ring. I sighed invardly, I wasn't entirely sure what I would have replied with.

‘’Oh, I’m sorry, here I’ll pay for these, I have to get this, I’ll see you around’’ Sam said in a hurry and left the coffee shop.  

I murmured a bye and sat staring at Samuel’s untouched mug of hot chocolate.

What a small world, who would have thought that my client knew my ex-boyfriend?  I didn’t like what I was feeling inside, and I knew that if I kept on thinking I would only upset myself. Michael and I didn’t exactly have the best break up in the world. It was just; I didn’t even feel the need to break up. I felt so confused; I had tried so long to get him out of my mind.

I could tell there was something else between Samuel and Michael, the way they acted created a very tens environment. Or maybe it was the fact that Michael and I had final laid our eyes on each other after so long…

I finished my hot chocolate in silence, trying to clear my mind and not let this get me down. Once done, I left the coffee shop and made my way to my apartment. Preparing myself to see Vicky, who would obviously read me like an open book; I wasn’t sure how she did it…