Teatime for the Soul

[greenforgreen.livejournal.com]

Title: Teatime for the Soul
Author: greenforgreen
Characters: Kathy G. and Josie
Summary: At Heathrow Airport in London, a little is learned from two different women.
Disclaimer: This is a work of ficiton. This is not meant to harm, slander, or mirror any of the performers.

I wrote another oneshot! This time with a very different character set up. Enjoy!








The airport was freezing cold as the last travelers for the holidays rushed to meet their departure times. Snow had begun falling on the ground and a delicate frost covered the windows where the mighty planes could be seen through the glass. People hurried across the terminal like ants in a colony, each with suitcase and cellphone in hand. The large clock in the center of the massive airport chimed lowly at the ten thirty mark. Soon the last plane would take off from the Heathrow Airport to the wild night of snow and wind.

A woman lightly stirs her coffee glass inside the terminal’s cafe. She had just arrived from Paris and was now waiting for a friend to pick her up from the airport. The world beyond the brown glass was a blur as she watched carefully. Each person was a ghost as the phased in and out of the large crowds. The woman picked up her mug and drank the hot liquid as she watched a couple pass. They shared a kiss in front of the window before the man tore himself away and headed straight for the docking bay to Tokyo.

What a prick. It’s the holidays,” Josie mused.

She sipped through her drink, still focusing on the terminal for signs of her friend. It had been a half an hour since she called him; she didn’t expect that oaf to be here in an hour. Unconsciously, she smoothed her wild waves down. She knew she should have brought a book to read or at least a magazine.
The door’s bell tinged into the quiet air and another woman stepped in. Josie’s eyes turned uninterestedly at her. She was a petite blonde; Josie could tell the woman was upset by the crease lines along her brow. The customer walked in and found a seat across from Josie’s table. Josie watched as she reached inside her purse and pulled out some tissues. Dabbing her red eyes, the woman batted away her new forming tears.

This sparked an interest in the brunette.

“Now dear, why are you so upset?”

The woman jumped slightly at the interruption and looked up nervously at Josie. She didn’t looked like she wanted a conversation to be picked up, especially now.

“I… I just had a disappointment. No big deal.”

Josie noted the accent; it was American with a twist, possibly she was Canadian. Josie felt herself frowning at the woman’s words. She hated when people tried to make out their problems as if it was no big deal. Perhaps it wasn’t anything large, but she hated people crying and feeling helpless.

“Apparently it’s something dear. I haven’t heard of any problem too small, now go on.”

The other woman moved away to herself. She sniffed and wiped her eyes again. Josie sighed and drank her coffee. It was impossible to start a new conversation with strangers. People nowadays were so into their own thing and rarely spoke to anyone foreign to their comfort zone. Josie wasn’t a sociable person, but she enjoyed being around and listening to folks. The brunette frowned again as she heard the other woman whimper softly. Josie stood up and moved over in the chair across from the crying lady.

“Now, now sweetheart, don’t cry,” Josie cooed softly as she pulled a couple of napkins from the dispenser.

The woman took them gratefully from Josie’s hands. She blew her nose and rolled the paper into a ball with frustrated fingers. She sniffed and occasionally whimpered as Josie began rubbing her back. What in the world could have possibly set off the poor thing? Josie ordered some tea despite the wet slurs from the woman, who didn’t want to be more of a burden to the stranger.

“I-I can pay for it. Please I don’t want you to do that for me,” she hiccupped.
“Nonsense, you need it dear. Just calm down now,” Josie spoke with kind assuring tones.

Josie stayed by the woman’s side while her breathing finally slowed. The pale face was blotched with red spots and her eyes were just as dark red and vibrant blue from the tears. After the last whimper escaped, the blonde took in a breath and let out a shudder; Josie smiled and patted her shoulder.

“Now, doesn’t that feel better?”

The woman nodded. “Thank you. I-I’m Kathy.”

“I’m Josie, love,” Josie perked up a lovely, gentle smile. “Now what’s got you in a vale of tears?”

Kathy grew silent again. She sniffed and took in another breath. Josie waited until she’d speak. The poor girl was still terribly distraught from whatever occurred; the brunette only hoped that it wasn’t an abusive relationship. The blonde smoothed her own hair back and let out a stiff amount of air.

“Just a lot of disappointment.”

“Ah, so not spending the holidays with a loved one?” Josie replied sympathetically.

“Well, I am with some friends, but… he doesn’t want to be with me.”
Josie frowned; it was a common case with these younger ones. They all have these desires and they cry as they watch it fall apart in their very eyes. It was a sad sight indeed, but they are just learning about the biggest heartbreaks in the world. Soon things would be worst for them.

“Well dear, not everyone gets to be with a person they want. Sometimes you have to deal with the second best-“

“But he does stuff to me! At work together he’ll always lift me up or has me playing his wife. It’s mixed messages and it’s confusing me!” Kathy groaned.

“That’s a man though. Mixed messages even if they want to give a plain answer.”

The tea had finally arrived and the steaming cup was welcoming to the blonde. Eagerly, she reached forward to take a drink. Josie smiled that she was coming around. She took her own coffee and sipped at the rest of it, perhaps she sound move on to the tea as well. Kathy took a small drink, savoring the warmth. She had been walking the streets of London before she finally ran after a taxi as the snow fell around her; it was too damn cold.

“So, what brings you here to jolly England?” Josie asked, now helping herself to some hot tea.

Kathy set the glass down looking at the brunette. “Oh… I was invited to come along. They didn’t want all the guys and wanted to balance out the testosterone I guess.”

The two girls chuckled at the light humor. Suddenly, Josie’s cell buzzed through the café. With a nervous laugh, she mutters an “excuse me” and walked outside. The light bell chimes from her phone were getting louder the more she ignored it and didn’t pick up. The brunette muttered a string of curses before she opened the lavatory door. She hid inside a stall and pressed the button.

“Oy, where the devil are you, Jim?” she harshly answered.

A string of yells filled the phone and the brunette covered her ears. Apparently, Jim Sweeney couldn’t hear the other line. Josie tried to listen but only could make out a few words.

“There! Snow! Flat Tire! Another hour!” was all she heard from the other line.

“A flat! Jim I told you two months ago to get that blasted thing replaced. You better get here in that hour or I’ll take the bus,” Josie threatened.

“We have a spare in the boot. I got a bloke out here who’s trying to help me get it going!” Jim announced when suddenly there was a bang in the background. “I gotta go, Jo. See you in an hour!”

Josie’s eyes grew wide when she heard another sound in the background. The phone’s dial tone buzzed in her ears and she let out a frustrated breath. Last time she’d rely on someone. She walked out from the stall and into the café’s main building. Kathy was still there in her seat, apparently still not over the “heartbreak”. The brunette took a seat across from Kathy this time and pulled her cup to her.

“Was that your ride?” Kathy asked her.

“Yes and apparently I’m never going to get home tonight.” Kathy gave off a look of confusion and concern, which Josie smiled assuring her. “It’s just a flat. Nothing too much.”

“Oh” was the only reply. Josie fiddled with the cup in her hands and she sighed. This was going to be a terribly long night. At least there was someone to share the time with.


______



“Tell me about this man you’ve been crying about.”

Kathy looked up. She smiled and just tried to shake it off, but Josie was serious. If there was going to be some time to waste, they will spend it trying to fix Kathy’s problem. By this time they had ordered another round of tea and this time some fresh chocolate biscuits.

“Well… he’s funny,” Kathy began.

“Aren’t all men?”

Kathy ignored the comment. “He’s also strong and talented.”

“Once again, aren’t all men? Dear so far he doesn’t sound like anything special.”
Kathy’s mouth dropped. How dare this woman talk like she knows exactly what’s going on in her own mind! She bit her tongue however and looked down.

“He specifically picks me for everything. He just doesn’t see me as an ‘another girl’. He knows I worked hard to get this far with my career, when the rest of the world thinks I suck.”

Josie nodded. She remembered a time just like this. When she started her career in improve, no one really liked her. It took some time and help from some of her coworkers. She could only imagine what would happen if she never gained the confidence. Kathy would seem the type who would have a low self esteem; if she worked along with men, she had much to make up for.

“Well, you look pretty successful. What are you exactly?” Josie sipped her tea after she spoke.

“Um... well… I am a comedian.” She made a nervous “hello you surprised?” smile and shrugged her shoulders.

“Oh, really? So am I!” Josie replied, but then stopped. “Well I was at one time. Now I focus mainly on stage plays.”

Kathy nodded. She could see this woman being a celebrity over here on this island. She was gorgeous with her dark, thick hair and beautiful smile. Kathy looked at herself in the mirror: smeared make up and frizz sticking up above her flat hair. She didn’t have the flair of Josie in any way. Josie noticed the change and patted her hand.

“Don’t fret love. You’re pretty. This man should be ashamed for not seeing the talent and beauty you posses.”

Kathy gave a sheepish smile. “Oh… Wayne doesn’t like girls like me. I’m not even sure that he likes girls.”

Josie smiled mischievously and gave her a small glare. “I’m sure he likes you the way you go on about him. He sounds like a lovely man.”

Kathy grinned. Oh she did fancy Wayne, her coworker on the show. She loved his smile he gave when having a fun time. His humor was more than wonderful; it was hysterical. She even blushed at the thought of him carrying her during Action Replay. The more she thought about him, however, the more she remembered why she was here. She wanted to go home, back in the safety of her own house for the holidays.

“Is that why you’re here?”

Kathy was brought away from her thoughts. “Pardon?”

“You’re escaping him? Your friends?”

The guilty look confirmed Josie’s hypothesis. The brunette sighed and shook her head. Kathy fiddled with her napkin and looked back out into the terminal. She could read the time slots above the clock. There was one last plane back to Los Angeles and it was due to leave within the next thirty minutes. Josie frowned at the younger’s decision.

“Running away won’t solve your problem. You’ll just regret it.”

“Why? You’ve been through it before and now you’re married to an idiot?” Kathy muttered irritatedly.

“No, I’m not married. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. Go back to him.”

Kathy looked back at Josie. Their tea cups were now empty, but steam still rose to the atmosphere. She couldn’t stay here; she had to get on that plane and fast. What was holding her back? Certainly not this Brit; Kathy had the choice to leave a long time ago.

“I really need to go. I’m going to be late for my flight.”

Josie glared softly as Kathy abruptly stood up and slipped her coat on. Once again, time repeated itself and soon Kathy would regret ever going on that flight. The brunette laid the tip down as she watched the blonde leave out, the door chiming her exit. The last woman just sat there waiting for Jim to arrive; soon she’d be going home to her own lonely home with her two cats and pictures. She could imagine herself in Kathy’s shoes perfectly. Hopefully the blonde would turn around and let the words sink in. This Wayne person probably had a hard time to explaining his feelings. Josie had no hope with her choice; he was in love with another man and frankly, it would be rude to persuade him to leave with her.

“Oh god, Ryan… it’s your fault I’m all alone,” Josie smiled ironically and stood up, leaving the Heathrow's cafe.