THE LIGHT TO YOUR DARK

Coffee and Confrontation

Awkward moments are hell... I feel like they are schemes to make me feel guilty. I have no lack of that emotion but to just throw in a little extra torture.

                                                                                                           -Ezelynn Chambers

I eyed the two boys as they sat across me. While Houston seemed actually at ease and was happily sipping his coffee, Gideon sat stoically with his arms crossed and eyes fixed at the door. Anyone would think that he was waiting for someone, but I felt that he avoided looking at me. He had declined to have anything saying that he'd already had breakfast and that he was too full to even have coffee. He had not said anything except a hello when Houston had first introduced us still, I noticed him glancing at me now and then.

Even though the café was noisy the silence between us was deafening, and the awkwardness was becoming unbearable. Although Houston would pipe questions or opinions, they would be answered with a couple of words. Needless to say, he had been silent for a couple of minutes now.

I gulped my last bit of coffee and checked my watch, the bell was to ring in fifteen minutes, which was not enough time to excuse myself. I sighed, having enough of the tension so I turned to Houston, "So what do you have next?"

"Gym, half of the people in the grade are scheduled to have it together so that there are enough people to play different games. I assume that I am lucky enough to have it with you?"

"Yes"

"Great, I'll make sure you stay in my team every time."

"What do you play?"

"Football. Although I'm an 'all the sports' kinda guy."

"Yeah but I don't play football. Like at all."

He frowned with his burrows furrowed, "Well it's just gym you don't necessarily have to know a game to participate all you have to do is earn marks."

"Well, that is the case unless you do know a sport."

"Right. Don't worry I'm sure that I could teach you a thing or two in the time that we spend together." He said with a wink.

I just smiled in response.

We again fell into a silence that was somewhat comfortable this time. 

I sneaked a look at Gideon to find that he had straightened up and was glaring at Houston. So much so that his jaw was clenched and a vein in his temple looked ready to burst. Houston oblivious to all this was happily sipping his latte while making eyes at the waitress behind the counter who by the slight blush on her cheeks and the glint in her eyes when she looked at our tables was totally returning the sentiment.

I look at my watch and find that 10 mins were left before the bell rang. So I stood up and gathered my things. My movement caught both the boys attention and they looked at me with inquisitive eyes.

"Only 10 mins left for the class to start don't you think we should go now?"

In response, Gideon stood up but Houston looked apprehensive. His eyes drifted between us and the waitress and when my brows slid up in question he sighed as if making an incredibly difficult decision. Finally, he spoke,

"You guys go, I'll be right behind you."

Saying this he tipped a salute at me and nodded at Gideon and went to the counter where the waitress angled her body towards him and smiled in his direction.