Basis: a shy book nerd who can't find a place to study.
Notes: Bernard's last name, Cobalt, says nothing about him as a person; Story written by authors alternating sentences, so it is certainly a joint effort.
Bernard Cobalt
Picking up his book, his favorite book, off the ground, the wet ground, Bernard made his way toward Edward Julian's, his coffee shop of choice for intense study outings. He wiped off the book with a smear on his pants, reddening when he thought of the way he'd walked right into a phone pole because he'd caught sight of that pretty girl. Oh, what a pretty thing she was, that Sally Hitchens. He bit his lip to hold back the smile, shoving his glasses back up his nose and entering the shop.
Walking in the open door, Bernard's heart raced up his throat as he saw many bodies studying, chatting, and some staring. He instantly thought they were staring at him so he felt self-conscious and quickly ordered his drink in a mumbled voice and shuffled to the corner table, not meeting anyone's eyes. The chair wobbled, a definite studying fright and reasonable excuse to exit EJ's as quickly as possible. In his extreme haste, he threw open the door so hard that he slammed the packed-full trashcan, making it explode in a hail of drippy cups and crumpled napkins. Appalled at his own clumsiness, a daily occurrence, and avoiding slightly judgmental glances, he hurriedly and quite inefficiently stuffed the debris back into its worthy container.
No one helped him. In fact, the baristas were used to such a display of clumsiness from Bernard that they added a tally to their "Bernard moments" sticky note. He was halfway through the door when he felt a hand on his arm - Sally Hitchens' blue eyes met his, concerned. Her hand slid down his arm, meeting his hand which she turned over to reveal a sliver the floor had given him. She looked away embarrassed. The sight of blood made her feel like vomiting. But all her popular friends stood behind her, waiting with weirded-out expressions so she turned and left and did not say bye.
Confused, Bernard shuffled out of the shop, heading in the opposite direction of Sally and her posse. The rain fell - so did his tears. Why did she show such kindness, but revert back to such a composed figure, a beautiful figure?
As he neared the crosswalk, tears and rain falling, he heard a cry behind him and turned to see Sally running after him, reckless, so he opened his arms and caught her and they kissed and cried and laughed and kissed again. "Sally! What do you think you're doing with a bookie?!" Her boyfriend shouted from across the street. She ignored him.
THE END.
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