I follow Cam toward her room with a new lightbulb in my hand. When we enter it's pitch black so I switch on my phone flash light and hand it to her.
She holds the flash light as I work and when I finish I reach for the light switch.
"Alright, should be all set." I say and I flick on the light switch. As I do I look around a little confused. Cam moved in today but aside from her comforter on the bed there isn't a sign of her stuff. There's nothing here, No extra furniture, no pictures to hang, not even boxes waiting to be unpacked.
"Did you still need help getting stuff in here?" I question
"Uh, nope" Cam says awkwardly "I'm all set"
"Is your stuff getting shipped here?" I ask curiously, still not catching on.
"This is it for now" cam says not making eye contact "I travel light"
When she finally looks at me she has a soft smile but it doesn't reach her eyes. Something seems off about this situation but I can tell she doesn't want me to keep asking questions when she changes the subject and hurries me out of the room.
"Thank you again for changing the lightbulb. I appreciate it, now get to bed hot shot. You have an early morning."
She playfully shoves me toward the door and I stumble back laughing.
"Anytime Cam. Sleep tight." I wink at her and then pull her bedroom door shut behind me.
I fall asleep that night with my mind consumed with Cameron. Her cute raspy voice, those tight yoga pants she was in earlier, how outgoing she was at the party and then my thoughts keep drifting back to the questions about her cold empty bedroom and how it didn't match the warm presence Cam has.
I wake up early the next morning and get to practice. It's a decent skate, two hours of drills, footwork and conditioning. It's 7am by the time I shower up and leave the rink.
I pull my car up to the small coffee shop I pass on my way back to campus. I like stopping here and make a habit of it once the season starts. It's quaint, a little quirky and best of all, quiet. I like the calmness this shop brings before going back to the chaos of campus.
Today when I walk into the coffee shop I hear the doorbell chime right as I notice the girl behind the register. I see the face that's been consuming my every thought since I met her. I smile. Cameron hasn't noticed me yet she's looking down at the register with a confused look on her face.
"Hey roomie" I say once I'm standing in front of her. Her head snaps up and she looks surprised to see me.
"Jace? Hey..what're you doing here?"
"This happens to be my favorite coffee shop. I was just grabbing something after practice. You work here?"
She gestures toward the black apron tied around her waist. "As of one hour ago and man this shit in high tech." She says referring to the register in front of her. "I worked at a coffee shop back in Chicago but it was old school. Cash only, the most high tech thing I did there was punch in order totals on a calculator."
She keeps rambling and I find it amusing. Seeing her light up when she gets an idea.
"Oh. Wait! I can practice with you okay, what do you usually get I'll put it in."
"A double shot of espresso." I answer and watch her swipe through her options on the screen in front of her. Her brow furrowing.
"So you see," she says still swiping "I haven't actually found the espresso options on here yet. Best I can do is a black coffee." She says with a taunting grin on her face.
I laugh "you know, I've been meaning to change up my order. Black coffee it is, make it a large."
She nods and punches it into the register.
"That'll be $3.80." I give her the $20 in my hand and she makes me change handing it back. When she turns to pour up the coffee. I slip what's left from that $20 in the tip jar. Everyone needs a little good luck on their first day.
She spins back around holding a piping hot cardboard cup filled to the top with black coffee. When she places it on the counter she looks up at me expectantly and I can't help but make a show of taking my first sip.
"Wow" I say "expertly poured black coffee. Never had better. I'm writing a yelp review. Five stars."
When I look at her again she's beaming as if even though she knows I'm teasing her she appreciates the praise.
"I just so happen to stop by here a lot and I think I found my new order Cameron. Thank you. What days are you working here?"
She shrugs "as much as I can I guess. I'll pick up shits before or after classes and weekends."
"Well I think the first day is a success so far. I'll see you at the house later?"
"Yeah I'll be back later. See ya hot
shot."
"Later Cam" I say giving her one last smile before walking back out to my car.
