Coffee with a Shot of Hatred

She wore red lipstick and ate chicken nuggets for breakfast. He was the peculiar background character in every vivid dream. She ran her hands through her unwashed hair and took a deep breath before walking into Daniem's Brewery. He was at a corner booth, making everyone around him uncomfortable, sipping a chai tea. He was the type who understood that chai tea was repetitive but also couldn't correctly pronounce "chai". She got something green with a lot of caffeine, grabbed a straw, and sauntered over to the booth. She sat with him and looked at the ground. He removed his mask to take a sip of tea then put it back on.

She pulled the straw out of its paper, set her mask to the side, and sipped the green liquid. She made a face, but kept taking small sips. He watched her, thankful that the mask was hiding his smile. She was the most beautiful person to the world to him even though she found him repulsive. He didn't mind. Not too many people would be around someone like him and be happy about it. She yawned then looked across the street at the McDonalds parking lot that sat before a bunch of colorful tubes. She was always more comfortable talking at a place with a lot of kids around.

He took another sip then looked at her again. "So, where is she?"

She didn't speak for a long time, Every few minutes he would say her name or try to pressure her to no avail. The last time he called her name, a tear fell down her face.

"Where is she?" he asked again.

"Gone."

"Gone?" The worry in his eyes was clear. He was picking at the end of his straw. "Where?"

"I can't say."

"Yes, the fuck you can. She's my daughter too. Where is she?"

"I can't--"

"Bullshit. You lured me here for this?"

She was silent. "I hate mochas."

"I hope you drown in one." He stood, threw his tea at her, and stormed out.