Jo and Cathy sat outside a coffee shop. Their agreed upon meeting place. It was spring and the weather was just starting to warm up enough that they sat at one of the tables outside, soaking up the sunshine radiating from the clear blue sky.

They were waiting. Waiting for Alex to appear.

“Do you think she’ll show?” Cathy asked, looking at her lover over her cup of Chai latte.

Jo merely shrugged, their own cup of coffee untouched. They were far to nervous to drink it. “I hope so, but who knows?”

“I had no idea you had so little faith in me.” The cold voice came from behind them.

Jo startled and Cathy almost dropped her cup as they both turned to see Alex standing behind them.

Alex gave nothing away, even as her tailored clothes showed off her figure, physically her body was stiff and straight. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance and her mouth was a thin line.

She wasn’t happy.

She stared at both of them and they stared back, until common sense overtook Cathy and she pulled the one remaining free chair over.

“Alex!” She chirped. “We’re so glad you could make it, take a seat.”

Alex rolled her eyes but sat down, crossing one leg over her knee.

“I’m sorry.” Jo piped up. “We didn’t mean anything by it. We just really want this meeting to go well.”

Alex waved her off. “You’re fine. Gabriel often tells me I need to be more understanding of peoples emotions.”

“Did you come alone?”

“Gabriel and Sam both wanted to join but I requested this first meeting is just us. They understood.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Cathy asked.

Alex glanced morosely at their cups before rolling her eyes. “I can’t drink that anymore.”

Cathy felt her cheeks flame. “Right, sorry.” She mumbled, embarrassed.

Alex sighed. “It’s a pity. I miss coffee.” She paused briefly. “Mind you, there’s lots of things I miss from my previous life.”

There was a pregnant pause.

“It must have been hard.” Jo questioned.

Alex shrugged again. “I was luckier than most, I had and continue to have Gabriel to rely on. And Sam.”

“How was it? Having Sam entering your life again after six months?”

Alex sighed. “I didn’t handle it well, but we’re good now and together.”

Alex looked at them. “You didn’t call me here to discuss Sam or Gabriel. Why don’t you tell me why I’m really here?”

Jo and Cathy exchanged a look before turning back to Alex, who was regarding them with a cool look.

“We want your help.” Jo blurted out.

“What?”

“Look Alex,” Jo said. “Your story got finished. Ours never did. The author started writing mine and Cath’s story then left. And to this day our story has never been written. Yours has.” Jo pleaded.

Alex uncrossed her leg and sat forward. “Okay, first of all. Just because our author wrote my story does not mean my story is finished either. There’s a lot of unanswered questions she has failed to follow up with. Oh, I know there’s talk of a sequel but that’s not happening any time soon as far as I know. And even if I did have an in with our author, that doesn’t mean she’ll listen to me.”

“You’re the most fleshed out, out of all of her characters Alex. Jo and I don’t have anything. We just hoped you may know of a way to put our author back on track with our story. That’s all we want.”

Alex snorted. “She wrote my story alright, but I wished she hadn’t. Everything our author penned down for my story, saw me go through hell! Why would you want that?”

“We don’t.” Cathy reasoned. “But our story is more of a romance whereas yours was more…more.”

“Destructive?” Alex suggested, raising her eyebrow.

“It was a way for the author to vent her feelings. Everything she bottled up inside was put into you. That’s why your arc is filled with so much pain and anger.”

“Aren’t I lucky.” Alex deadpanned.

“We just want a chance for our story to be told, that’s all.” Jo said.

“I wish I could help, I really do. But sadly I don’t have a way of making our author write your story. I’m sorry.”

Jo and Cathy both slumped their heads in disappointment.

Cathy looked at Jo. “I guess it’s back to being only a passing thought in the authors archives of their mind then.” She said sadly.

Jo just looked at her, their eyes filled with sadness.

Alex felt bad for both of them. It wasn’t their fault they had been stuck with such a terrible author charged it’s telling their story. But it wasn’t hers either.

A sudden thought caught Alex unawares and she sat up straighter.

“I may have an idea.” She mused softly.

Jo and Cathy both perked up, hopeful.

“Yes?” They both said in tandem.

Alex looked between them. “You don’t have anywhere to be do you? Either of you?”

Cathy snorted. “No, I mean it’s not like the author is going to write down a scene for us or anything. We’ll just fade into obscurity once again.”

Alex stood up. “Maybe not. Come with me.” And she set off walking.

Jo and Cathy exchanged another look before silently agreeing what did they have to lose, and ran to catch Alex up, their mugs and drinks forgotten long ago.

They fell into step alongside Alex.

“Where are we going?” Jo asked.

“Home.” Alex answered. “I may not be able to get our author to write your story, but I know someone who might be able to.”

“Who?”

“Gabriel. If there’s anyone our author listens to, it’ll be Gabriel.”

The three of them walked on, one with a purpose and two with a hopeful vision of one day getting their story told.

(_The author would like to apologise to their characters for leaving their stories unfinished.)_