Café Day was a small coffee and cupcake shop that sold reasonable yet extremely delicious creamy and unhealthy food. It was exactly what anyone would need on a hot Sunday morning. Starbucks was just a few blocks away from it, still, Café Day was never short of customers. The majority of students preferred Café Day due to its not-so-soaring-the-sky rates. Plus they rarely wrote the names on the cups wrong.
It was exactly 9.58 am when I entered the peaceful space. The scent of hot choco-latte and chocolate cakes instantly hit my nose and I breathed it in with delight. Who doesn't love the aroma of coffee?
I smiled at the cashier girl who was a junior in our school and worked here on weekends. We had briefly acquainted over the past two years. Though our talk mostly consisted of 'Hey, is there anything good in the canteen?', 'Is there ever?', 'Good point, bye!', 'Yeah ciao!' I considered her one of the few decent girls in our school.
She waved back happily as soon as she saw my smile. She lifted the cup she was sipping from earlier. "Want some latte?"
I shook my head, "Waiting for someone." Vaguely I wondered if she got coffee for free since she worked here. In that case, I'd apply instantly.
She wiggled her eyebrows. "Colton Hastings huh?"
I rolled my eyes, scanning the area for any sign of him. I wasn't surprised she knew about us. Everyone knew about us. "Yeah, he hasn't come yet?"
Amy shrugged, pointing her thumb at another girl who was serving an old couple some coffee. "She hasn't jumped up giddily and opened up her top two buttons yet. So I'm guessing no hot guy has entered yet which means no, Colton hasn't come"
I chuckled heartily. "I guess not. He's rarely punctual. I'll grab us a seat."
"Try the left corner ones. They are under me, you don't want to worry about Colton drooling over her big boobs." She suggested, winking at me.
"I don't think he would." I muttered rolling my eyes.
"He's a guy honey. He would." She said politely.
I scowled at her sarcastically. "Great help you are!"
She winked. "Have been told so before." Just then the bell rang and we looked over expecting to see my hot boyfriend walk in with confidence, instead, in walked my ex-boyfriend looking miserable.
"Isn't that Kevin Hall, your ex?" Amy whispered, whistling softly. "Should I anticipate some drama?"
I blew a huff of air. "I hope not." I whispered back. Just then Kevin lifted his head, looking straight at me. His lips instantly turned upwards and his face brightened. I felt a pang of hurt that I didn't share his sentiments. He was a great guy - is, he is a great guy!
"Hey, you didn't come to the party." He spoke, walking towards me. There was no accusation in his tone, just plain curiosity.
I coughed awkwardly. "Yeah um, we decided to have a night in. You know just movies and food."
"You four girls? That's nice, you have always loved that." He grinned. I wasn't surprised that he remembered what I loved. I knew I remembered tons of stuff about him.
"Yeah just us." I lied, feeling guilty. I rarely lied to Kevin.
"So what are you doing here?" He asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets, lightly tapping his left foot. A sign of his anxiousness. I didn't know how to answer. I didn't know what to answer.
"Oh she's waiting for-" Amy started to reply and was cut off by another furious voice.
"Me." Our eyes turned to Colton who had his one hand stuffed in his jeans pocket, looking intimidating.
"Him." Amy ended her sentence meekly. I suddenly felt jealous of her, she was safe on the other side of the counter while I was right next to these raging bulls and something told me today wouldn't be a 'turn away and slam the door' day.
I gulped wondering how we all could have missed the bell. "Hey." My voice came out squeaky.
Colton ignored me, glaring at Kevin who straightened up, glaring back at him. I opened my mouth to speak but the other girl beat me up. As Amy had predicted her hair looked fluffier and the top two buttons of her blue shirt were wide open. She stared at them excitedly, biting her lips seductively, and then proceeded to pout. I personally thought she looked like a walrus sucking on a Popsicle.
"What would you two love to have today? I recommend-"
"Shut up!" I bit my lip to stop the bark of laughter at Colton's reply. She stared with disbelief at Colton then huffed and turned to Kevin. "What about you sir. You seem nice and-"
"Shut up!" Kevin exclaimed, not even sparing her a glance.
This time I couldn't even hold my laughter, I ended up clutching the counter for support. Even Amy was guffawing, holding her stomach and gasping for air.
The girl looked utterly offended and gritted her teeth. "You two are such pigs. No one has ever talked to me like that. I will make sure-"
"Shut up Jen!" This time it was Amy speaking in between her laughter. "Nobody wants you here. Go wipe a table or something."
"Yeah shoo shoo." I waved my hand dismissively, still chuckling at her insulted face.
She stomped her foot like a 5 year old who was forbidden to eat chocolates and walked to another table picking up the plates with a loud clatter all the while glaring at the four of us with hatred.
I chuckled softly and turned to Colton and Kevin who were still stuck in their 'who's the man' stare. I rolled my eyes, going and patting Colton's arm. He just grunted, not even glancing at me. I narrowed my eyes at them.
"Okay, that's it. I'm breaking up with you Colton." I hissed with hands over my hips.
The response was instantaneous.
"What the fuck?"
"Fantastic."
Colton scowled at me furiously. "You are breaking up with me for this prick?"
Kevin seemed to be extremely complacent. "You should have known she was still in love with me."
"No, the answer to both sentences." I spoke, glaring at them. I turned to Colton. "I am breaking up because you are acting like a prick and Kevin-" I turned to him. "- I'm way over you. Get this straight. Both of you. One more staring contest and I'll spread the rumor that you two had kinky sex in a barn."
"What?" Both shouted simultaneously, horror plastered on their face.
"You wouldn't do that." Colton stated, less than little confidence in his tone.
I smirked deviously. "Try me."
Even Kevin looked terrified. He knew I'd do anything if challenged.
Colton gulped, looking at Kevin with disgust. "Who would have sex with him?"
Kevin beamed haughtily. "Your girlfriend."
I felt a small blush cover my cheeks and slapped Kevin's arm. "Shut up, don't spread such rumors."
But apparently, Colton didn't seem to hear, or even if he did, it didn't matter because he had already delivered a punch on Kevin's jaw. I felt my own jaw drop.
"What the eff Colton?" I spat, pushing him behind.
"Don't you dare say something like that about my girlfriend again." Colton warned, his voice deadly.
Amy and few others had already gathered and the second Kevin stepped ahead to punch Colton back, a man grabbed him from behind.
"Sorry." I apologized in embarrassment and smiled guiltily at a fuming Kevin holding his jaw. I sent my best death glare to Colton and ignored him when he winced physically. Stepping out of the shop I was ready to kill someone.
A Sunday morning is supposed to be indolent and dreamy with smiling faces nearby not livid and vexatious with sullen faces around.
"Why are you so pissed?"
I glared at Colton, anger bubbling inside me like lava. "Why? WHY? Oh let me see why, maybe because you were late and the second you come you start a fight, then you completely ignore me because Kevin is oh-so more interesting. On top of all this, you punch him. And then you have the guts to ask me WHY! Do your brain cells go on a vacation on Sundays?"
He blinked, not expecting such a vehement response. "He started it." Colton protested weakly.
"Really? How? By coming to a coffee shop that is open for everyone?"
"By talking to you."
I gritted my teeth in frustration. "So you're going to punch every guy that talks to me?"
"No! Just Kevin."
I took a deep breath, trying to cool myself, and then gave him the best glare I could muster. "Go ahead then punch him. Fack him for all I care. I'm going home."
Colton grabbed my arm. "Sorry." He apologized seeming zero percent apologetic.
I narrowed my eyes. "And what do I do of your sorry? Make pickle?"
I took the liberty of blooming in his apprehension. He blinked unable to answer. "Um just take it?"
I shrugged out of his hold. "I don't want it."
"Why not?"
"What do I do with it?"
Colton seemed ready to tear his hair out and throw them on the road. "Just, I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean to hit him - as much as I wanted to. He just makes me ... insane."
"And jealous." I added.
Colton scowled at me, staring with a 'don't-be-absurd' face. "Colton Hastings doesn't get jealous."
I mentally rolled my eyes. "Racheal Smith doesn't believe bullshit."
"I wasn't jealous okay?" he finally shouted with exasperation.
"So you wouldn't mind if I go to Kevin's house?" I smiled inwardly as Colton's face turned furious and his mouth opened to shout but then he caught on and snapped his mouth shut, his face turning blank.
"No, I don't mind."
I clapped my hands, faking happiness. "Great then drop me home so I can change and go to his house."
Colton's eyes scanned my blue half pants and orange tee hidden under my very old purple zipper. "You look good."
I tried not to blush at the unintended compliment. "I can't go in half pants and an old zipper to meet his mom. I need to look decent."
His frown deepened. "Are you trying to impress his mom?"
I shrugged. "I should at least look decent."
I saw as Colton's eyes turned hard and his lips thinned into a straight furious line. His eyes determined. He took a step closer to him, staring straight into my eyes. "You are mine for three months, Smith. I will not have you cheating on me. Remember $8000 and I can always tell your mom everything."
I gritted my teeth, narrowing my eyes. "Two months, 3 weeks, and five days. And then I'm free."
"But until then you are mine. And I don't like sharing, as a matter of fact, I hate it. So you are not going to Kevin's house." The finality in his tone shook me.
"You don't tell me what to do. No one tells me what to do." I poked his chest heatedly. "I'll do exactly what I want. So if I want to go to Kevin's place, I will bloody hell go."
Colton gripped my poking finger in his hand, pulling me closer. I stumbled on his chest at the unexpected yank. He leaned closer, making sure I saw his indomitable face. "He is your ex and clearly still in love with you. And you might still like him too which as your boyfriend, gives me every fucking reason to be jealous. So when I say you will not go near him without me, I bloody hell mean it. Got it?"
I blinked, gulping timidly. "Okay." I whispered. Like hell I am listening to you, you blackmailing pig! I didn't dare say that aloud.
We stared at each other until his lips neared my ear, brushing against them delicately. I felt goosebumps rise on every part of my body and my breath hitched. "Racheal Smith, you are mine for two months, three weeks, and five days. Mine only."
And just like the contact was lost and Colton Hastings, the obnoxious jerk with the highest asshole credits walked away into his car leaving me perplexed and ready to become a heart patient.
~~~