Blandview High Musical

39. Shayne Topp: The Coffee Connoisseur

I woke up in the morning, sprawled out on Egyptian cotton sheets. I looked over at the clock and the red numbers were trembling some. I blinked once, reaching over and grabbing the clock itself. It read 7:15 am. I fell back amongst the pillows, groaning. "How is it that only I can wake up at regular time on a vacation?" I rolled over, trying to get back to sleep and after about 20 minutes, I decided it was useless and opted to get up. I got dressed and walked out to the kitchen to find Jade making breakfast. "What time are you and Shayne leaving this morning?" She asked, not looking up from the pan of sizzling bacon. "We leave at eight-thirty this morning." "Make sure you're back before noon time. There's a Christmas festival in town and I'd like it if we could all go." Jade said.

            Shayne strolled into the kitchen. His bare feet were dragging against the tile flooring. His fists were balled and rubbing his eyes. "Who's going where?" He asked. He was shirtless and wearing a pair of RealTree camo pajama pants. They hung around his hips. I just rolled my lips together and looked away. "The Christmas festival." Jade said. "Oh right, Gill and I will meet you there." He said, reaching for the pot of coffee on the counter. Just then, Damien and Caylie came bounding down the stairs all bundled up. "And just where the hell are you two going?" Shayne asked. "Gonna snowboard for a little bit, we'll be back in time for the festival." Damien said as they were walking towards the door.

            "Don't touch my snowboard!" Jade shouted from the kitchen. Damien shouted something back but it was partially muffled by the thick walls of the foyer. "We should go get dressed." Shayne said, practically guzzling down the steaming hot coffee. I kept my eyes averted and my head down, trying to hide the flushing of my cheeks. I hadn't ever seen Shayne without a shirt on and it was a little...embarrassing. I shouldn't be simping over how he looks, but being so "grown up" about this is really hard. "I'd say you need to go get dressed." I said. Jade looked over her shoulder as she was draining the grease off the bacon. "You don't like me like this? You better get used to it, since it is my final form." "Shouldn't your final form be you being naked?" Jade asked with her back remaining turned. Shayne's face started to turn red. "You know what?" "I do, go get dressed and take her out before I get upset." Jade said. "Alright, I'm going." Shayne said getting up from where he was sitting. He paused at the entrance to the hallway, turning around. "I could just get naked right here." He suggested, reaching down and untying the strings of his pants. Both Jade and I simultaneously shouted "NO!" Shayne just threw his hands up. "Your loss." He said, returning to what he was doing.

            While he was gone, I took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Jade. "I didn't think you ate bacon." I said. "I don't usually because it makes me really sick, but I saw it in the fridge and I like really wanted it." She said. I raised a brow. "Oh, don't even. Javi hasn't been home in a long time; that's hardly a possibility." She said. I just shrugged my shoulders. "I'd be careful if I were you." I said. "Hey, I've been pretty lucky this far." Jade said, bringing the plate over to the bar and sitting down. I got up to use the bathroom. You know, wash my face and brush my teeth. Try to make myself beautiful for this date.

            "Have you ever driven an ATV?" I asked Shayne as we were standing in the garage. "Well, I did drive it once, but I think I fell off it." He said, carefully scanning the key box hanging near the door for the keys to the ATV. "Found it!" He exclaimed. "So you're saying we could crash while you're driving." "Oh please, I don't know if crash is the word I'd use." He said. He shoved the helmet at me. "I'd say, fly off the ATV or something softer. Not anything that invokes broken bones." He said. "Then maybe you should let me drive." I said, grabbing the keys from him. "What do you know about driving an ATV?" "It can't be that hard." I said, grinning.

            The wheels busted through the snow barriers as they lifted off the ground. The ATV bounced as the wheels hit the ground again and the suspension gave a little bit to support it. Shayne's arms were squeezing around my waist tightly as he was leaning his head against my back. I was screaming out of having a great time. "You're insane!" Shayne shouted. The engine rumbled as my fingers were wrapped around the handlebars. Snow was clinging to the tree branches as the rest of the trees were barren. The sun was flitting through the thickets as we continued to drive on.