AJ sat quietly on the metal stool, the plastic seat silent since he made no movements. His head bent low over his teacup. Hiding his face. He smirked, Like the hat and glasses don't already do that. His mind retorted bitterly.

Taking the thin handle in-between his thumb and forefinger, he lifted the delicate cup to his lips. Draining the brownish-cold liquid with a quick swallow. He grimaced automatically; hot tea was never really his thing. It was Vanessa's.

Vanessa. God, he thought painfully. Why'd she do it so late? Why couldn't she tell me sooner? He could still see a chip from the teacup Vanessa had knocked down and broken in her haste to leave him there.

Thoughts raced through his head, causing him to step back and analyze his now past relationship for the thousandth time over. Still, he found neither answer, nor a hint in what she was feeling. Nothing. Her eyes always shone with a happiness that never betrayed a hiding emotion, her body language was always graceful not jerky or trembling.

Damnit! He was supposed to be happy now! His career booming, real notice has been taken, they had awards coming as if they were falling from the sky, praise was phenomenal, and she decided it was time to, break it off, take a little break from each other, think about what they meant to each other, see if there was anything else they wanted or was looking for…

His teeth clenched in anger. What he wanted was her! She knew how to hold him when he tried to push things away; she knew when he needed someone to tell him to shut up and think, to see a different view of things, she knew what to do when things got to him too much, she knew how to make him smile when he never wanted to again, and she knew when he couldn't fully express his love and smiled and showed him.

The bell over the door rung as someone stepped inside. Closing his eyes, AJ prayed it was Vanessa coming back in, saying it was all a mistake. Gone five minutes and already he wanted her back in his arms and life again.

"You doing okay, man?" A familiar voice asked quietly.

Not trusting his voice yet, AJ shook his head 'no.' "Not really, D. I already miss her." He whispered hoarsely.

Howie nodded slowly, "She called and told me you'd need somebody. I guess she was right."

Taking in a deep and shaky breath, AJ nodded as well. "She left me, D. And I can't for the life of me figure out why." He looked up from his teacup and stared blindly ahead of him. "She brought us here, ordered tea and toast for us, and then told me there was no more 'us', runs out. "

His head turned timidly, "And I don't know why."

Giving him a sympathetic look, Howie gave him a small pat on the back. "Does it matter, AJ?" He asked cautiously, "Cause knowing won't bring her back."

"I know." He murmured, "I know. But I can't stop thinking about what might have gone wrong." Taking the stool next to his, Howie ordered two more cups of the Earl Grey tea.

The waitress snapped her bubblegum and smiled flirtatiously at him, "One teaspoon or two?"

He shook his head slightly, "No sugar."

"Milk or creamer?"

An inaudible sigh escaped him, "No, just plain tea please."

Getting the hint, she nodded and walked off.

Shaking his head again, Howie turned to his friend. "Just let it all out and tell me about it, man." He gave a precarious smile, "Indulge yourself in tea and sympathy my friend. Because I do believe you need it."

AJ weakly returned the smile. His friend was right, he needed this talk.

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