Chocolate-not-Coffee

Chapter 2

I was already up and out of bed way before my alarm actually rang because I had the sudden realization that I didn't finish my assignments. With a groan I recounted the events of the previous day as I gathered up my papers and laptop to quickly complete my work.

When I got home from the café, the first thing I did was set the cup away on my shelf after washing it out from the inside. Then I went to freshen up, only to find out that my eyes were all red and puffy from crying all evening.

Needless to say, I was really embarrassed that barista boy saw me in that state. God only knows what he would think of me now!

I also discovered that I didn't know his name but that wasn't a big deal since I was mainly anti-social at school. He probably didn't know mine either.

Shit, I'm already late for math!

I begrudgingly thought to myself, looking at the time when I finished up my assignments. I grabbed my backpack from the chair, slinging it over both shoulders and dashed out of the dorm buildings without caring for breakfast. Thankfully, I didn't forget to lock the door.

I reached my class panting and huffing. Fortunately I was only 5 minutes late. Any more and the professor would've had my head.

Mr. Walter just glared daggers at me as I entered the classroom seconds before roll call.

"Take a seat at the back Ms. Jones." He sighed, gesturing me towards an empty seat in the third last row.

I immediately walked over to it and dropped my bag beside it, settling onto the desk and began arranging my books and lecture notes as the professor began to take the roll call.

I was, however, startled by a low whisper from behind me.

"Hey, Bridget!"

I turned around and was immediately met by barista boy's beaming face.

"H-hey!" I sputtered in shock. He was in my class. And he knew my name!

He chuckled at my shocked expression and continued.

"How did you like the hot chocolate? Was it to your taste?"

I stumbled over my words. "Y-yeah, it was. Thank you."

I smiled brightly at him, still feeling embarrassed that I couldn't address him as anything other than barista boy. I was lucky though, since he responded to the next name that the professor called out.

"Sorren Hale!"

Oh so that's his name. I made a mental note of it in the back of my mind.

I was busy internally testing out how the name sounded when Mr. Walter's loud and rather agitated voice broke into my thoughts.

"I'm giving out worksheets to everyone now. You and your desk mate are to spend the rest of the class working out the sums together and are free to come to me for any problems you face."

I looked back at Sorren and said, grinning, "Looks like we're partners for the day!"

I passed it off as a trick of the light when I said it but I swear I saw him blush for a second.

*****

I wasn't surprised to find out that he was rather smart. Although the questions were a bit hard, he breezed through them all like they were nothing. It made me even more embarrassed of the fact that I never noticed him.

I wasn't half bad at math either so we finished up way earlier than the rest of the class. Submitting our answer sheets to the professor - who nodded his approval - we returned to our seats. I plopped down onto mine with a sigh, my head on the table and my thoughts drifting to yesterday.

That's right. Ace broke up with me.

I'm single again, yay for me!

I could even hear the sarcasm dripping from my own thoughts. I groaned a bit, feeling my throat choke up a bit at the recollection.

Maybe I wasn't ever meant to be with someone...

A gentle tap on my shoulder brought me out of the spiral I had almost fallen into.

It was Sorren, of course. He really just conveniently popped up whenever I needed it. My expression turned soft as I looked at him with that thought in my mind.

Sorren - who seemed taken aback by the way I was looking at him - coughed a little to cover up his involuntary gestures. I internally giggled, finding it somewhat cute.

"C-class is over now, we should head out unless you wanna be late to your next one." He stuttered a little.

I composed myself as I sat straight on the chair and pulled up my backpack from the floor. The students had already begun to file out of the classroom so I quickly shoved in all my books and notebooks and got off the chair, slinging my backpack on one shoulder.

"Let's go?" I asked him, before realizing we weren't that well acquainted to just casually walk together. I blushed a faint red as I fumbled with my words, trying to find what to say next.

"I-I mean..."

He laughed in that highly contagious way that he does, making me chuckle a bit too.

"Come on," he replied, still smiling. "I'll walk you to your next class."

I nodded and went along with him. We made small talk as we walked, asking each other about our majors and such. Mine was literature but I still had math as a minor subject because I liked it. He had taken finance and accounts.

By the time we reached the door to my next class, I knew that I wanted to be friends with this guy. He was really easy to be around.

"Do you have your shift today at the café too?"

"Yeah, would you like me to get you anything later?" He replied, turning his head to look at me.

I shook my head. "Actually, I was wondering if I could come hang out when you're on your break."

His eyes lit up immediately at my words. "Really?" He said. "That would be awesome! See you then Bridget!"

"Bye, Sorren."

I smiled and waved at him, watching him wave back before his figure retreated down the hallway and disappeared from sight.