[ WP ] A kindness repaid .

I'm not gon na lie here, I stalked your submissions, and I really like prompts like these. Perfect for [ RF ]. Here's my shot at it. 
 *** 
 The alarm blared for the fifth and hopefully final time. But, just as all four other times preceding it, a hand emerged from the mountain of blankets and pillows sitting on a bed and hit the snooze button. The hand then retracted back under the sheets and remained there, until the alarm sounded nine minutes later. This time, not only did the hand come forth, but also the body it was attached to. The body was that of a male, and a very handsome one at that. He was tall and muscular, one of the many things that came out of his Tuesday and Thursday workout sessions. He had sandy hair and pale blue eyes, his Floridian heritage showing through. And, finally, he opened those blue eyes and pulled his slender body out of bed, checked the alarm clock that had been going off in his small apartment for 45 minutes, and promptly realized he was late for work. 
 
 Within seconds he was in the shower, and about ten minutes later he blasted through the bathroom door, finished with his morning ritual in there. He threw on his suit that he had laid out the night before, fastening the belt buckle with haste he did n't know he had. He slipped into his shoes, latched onto his briefcase, and bustled out the door. 
 
 He lived a mere 850 or so yards from his office building. It was one of the many perks of being lawyer in downtown Denver. He was supposed to get to work at 9:00, and his first appointments were usually at 9:30, but today his first appointment was at 10:15, and it was only 9:13. He turned into the Starbucks he passed every day on his half-mile walk to work, opening the door and letting the strong smell of the coffeehouse fill his nostrils, breathing life into him and further waking him from his weariness. The Starbucks was nearly empty, save for a couple of students working on protects or studying. No one was in line for a drink. 
 
 The man stepped behind the counter. The barista was a bright, friendly girl who looked nice enough, what with her curly brown hair and radiant smile. She asked what he wanted, and he replied with a Pike's Place roast, she asked for a name on the cup, and he told her it was JP. His full name was Justin Price, but everyone at the firm affectionately called him JP, short for `` just prosecutor'' after his skill in the courthouse. Justin had liked the name, and it was now how he introduced himself. As he pulled out his wallet, however, the barista stopped him. 
 
 `` Oh, do n't worry about that!'' The barista's voice was high and clear, matching her sunny personality perfectly. `` Someone already paid it forward. So the drink is all yours!'' She handed it to JP, who was somewhat confused. He took the drink and mumbled a thanks before heading out of the shop, stuffing his wallet into his back pocket as he walked. 
 
 He headed towards his firm again, drinking out of his coffee as he went. He rounded the corner of the street his office was on, taking his time to admire the wonderful weather of a terrific Tuesday morning. JP looked at the clear sky, with birds flying overhead, the chilly winds of autumn nearly ineffective against his warm suit and warmer coffee. He saw the sun glinting off of the glass skyscrapers, reflecting infinitely around the concrete jungle he called him. He saw the people, bustling about, ready to start their own day. He saw a woman pushing a stroller, a couple holding hands, walking into a movie theater, and a man running with a purse. 
 
 Wait, that's not right. 
 
 Before JP's brain had time to assess the situation, his legs had taken control. The first stuck out in an awkward angle and the second one played it off as if it was natural for a leg to contort behind another leg. The man running with the purse did n't have enough time nor stopping power to get around JP, and tumbled to the ground in a heap, purse in hand. JP stepped on the man's hand and pinned him, causing him to let go of the purse. One of the many officers that lurked the streets of Denver came over and cuffed the man, and a woman ran over to JP. 
 
 `` Did you just stop that man?'' she asked. She was slightly out of breath, her heels in one hand and her Starbucks coffee in another. She looked like a receptionist, and she had a nametag on, which read Bridget Rafey. Bridget ’ s blonde hair was a little frizzy from her chase, although she was a very pretty girl, and was overall very polite. She picked up the purse, and another officer arrived on the scene. Before JP could say anything, Bridget reached into the purse, pulled out a wallet, and showed the officer a driver ’ s license. “ This is mine, ” she said, her melodic voice back to normal. “ The man over there in handcuffs tried to grab it from me. This man right here stopped him, though. ” 
 
 The officer turned to JP and offered his hand. JP, who was still in somewhat of a daze, accepted and shook twice, firmly, as he did when he met a new client. “ Thank you for your actions today. Everyone here really appreciates it when people in the community help out. Well, everyone except the guy you caught. ” The officer laughed a hearty laugh, and then turned to join his fellow force member. Bridget turned back to JP. 
 
 “ Well, are you gon na answer my question or just stand there like an idiot? ” Bridget inquired. JP thought for a second, and then said, “ Where did you get that drink? ” Bridget looked surprised, like she was expecting an answer and not another question. The reply came slowly, like she was unsure of her response, but it finally came out. “ Off the corner of 13th right over there… why? ” 
 
 JP blinked, and then a smile crept onto his face, evolving into a chuckle and then a full-blown laugh. *Of course*, he thought, entertained by the prospect of what he was about to reveal. “ I walked into that same Starbucks just a couple of minutes ago. The barista there said that this drink, ” JP said, intimating the drink in his hand, “ was paid forward. I guess that must have been you, considering you were only one block down from me. ” Bridget was quiet for a moment, then followed the same ritual as JP: a smile, a chuckle, a laugh, and suddenly both of them had tears and their eyes and pain in their stomachs from laughing so hard. 
 
 Eventually, the laughter died down, but JP could still see it in her eyes when she said, “ Well, maybe we should go grab another one sometime. ” 
 
 And JP felt the same way when he accepted her fine offer.
