if by chance | ✓

03 | not-so-nice to meet you

[ 03 ]

C O R A

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Screaming in harmony with a vacuum cleaner, I dance around in my room with a towel wrapped around myself, when my cousin, Vivianne abruptly bursts in and takes me off guard.

"Hey isn't that Riley's cat?" I ask, turning off the vacuum cleaner.

"Duh, who else would eat up a ribbon!" Vivianne chuckles, plopping down on my bed while the ginger cat aka Meowington purrs softly on her lap.

"A ribbon?" I snort.

"Yes, Riley's favorite purple ribbon that she wears every day. She's mad at this furball, so I thought of bringing her with me." She rolls her eyes.

I squat to come down to Meowington's level and laugh.

"You wanted to look beautiful on the inside too, huh?" I offer and Riley's pet let's out a soft belch.

"Anne, I think it's gonna throw up."

"Oh wow, not on my lap kitty!" My cousin warns, rapidly moving over to the balcony.

She lifts the cat up and it regurgitates some animal food along with the ribbon ─ which falls down straight into our carefully mowed lawn.

"Aunt Iris will kill me, won't she?" Vivianne looks at me with a guilty face.

"That she will, only if she finds out." I shrug.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I can cover it up for you lil sis, but that won't be free." I hinted.

Vivianne sighs and then glares at Meowington who probably doesn't give a tiny shit about the existence of humans, or other animals for that matter.

"What do I need to do?"

"Uh...look, I really want this part time job at Starbucks upon Piccadilly and my mom doesn't agree with me, obviously." I inform.

"And that's because?"

"She wants me to join the Math club. I mean, yeah I like Pre-calc pretty much but that's not what I wanna pursue next semester. Working part time as a barista and experimenting with drinks sounds more appealing to me!" I exhale sharply, blowing off the loose strands of hair falling to my face.

"Okay?"

"So...I know she's gonna ask you about this ─ about my whereabouts every weekend and I need you to cover for me."

"Now that's a deal." She grins and we quickly high five.

"Um, Cora, mum has invited y'all over for dinner this Friday. Please be there on time and," She pauses to flash a mischievous smile, "we're gonna have a sleepover later on that night."

"Oh my lord, you're the best cousin to have ever existed!" I squeal, pulling her into my arms.

✦

Downing the fifth cup of bitter espresso that evening, I shove my homework into my backpack and get ready to leave Starbucks.

Miranda, the blonde cashier at the counter, waves me goodbye and mouths "See you at work this weekend."

I feel quite accomplished, having bagged the job of a part-time barista at my favorite coffee shop. Although disapproved by my parents, I wanted to do it. And Coraline Eastwood always does it her way.

The wind chime above the thick glass doors jingle as I walk out into the cold, windy night.

It was already past eight by my watch, so I figure I needed to take a cab. The wind had a cutting edge to it, even though it was still late summer. I look up to see ashen clouds overcasting the moon. And the stars. It makes me a little sad, because on any other night, I'd be seen on my terrace or my balcony ─ gazing profoundly at the night flowers. So I mentally curse the clouds for obliterating my view.

The Uber arrives about fifteen agonizing minutes later, with a small surprise on the inside.

"Oh look who's here, Mr. Wobbly Table." I mutter under my breath but I guess I was way too loud for my co-passenger to hear.

The guy side eyes me and says, "Do you have a problem with treating people kindly?"

"What do you mean?" I narrow my eyes, observing the hazel eyed boy in the shadows and occasional light glares as the cab moves at a snail's pace.

"As far as my memory goes, I have apologized to you for it. I was in a hurry, and the hallways are always busy. And, uh, that's the end of this discussion." He states, running his fingers through his caramel brown mop of hair that would make him easily stand out in a crowd.

"Whatever." I scowl, making him chuckle.

"What's so funny?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Just that you're quite different compared to Noah." He answers.

"Wait a minute, you know my twin?"

"Duh."

"And you are?"

"Rhys. Rhys Crawford." He extends his hand.

"Well, not-so-nice to meet you, Rhys." I groan.

"My hand really is clean, you can at least return the gesture!" He snickers as I reluctantly do a swift handshake.

"How did I never see you before? I mean, as far as I remember, this is the first time we are talking!" I say in a matter of fact voice.

"That's because you're always too engrossed in yourself." He teases.

"Hey, that's mean!" I shoot him a glare.

"Sorry, I meant to say ─ I am pretty much low-key, contrary to you and, I guess we have different majors." He explains and I nod in agreement.

"Um, here's my stop. Where you headed by the way?" I ask as the cab nears Oxford street.

"Home, isn't that quite obvious?"

"Sarcasm coming from you. Ha!" I snicker.

"See you in college." He says, giving the hint of a smile, which for some abominable reason, I find really cute.

"Night!" I wave at him, getting down on to the dust coated asphalt, ready to head home.

"Hey ─ funnily enough, I don't know your name yet!" He shouts from inside the cab, making me turn around.

"Coraline. But you can call me Cora."

✦

a/n : aaaand, we welcome rhys crawford! *trumpet sounds*