This Old Coffee Shop - A Before You Exit Fanfiction

Chapter Five; Out of Gas, Awesome Apartments, and Drunken Messes

-Clara’s Point of View-

I was squished in between Connor and Toby on the back seat of Carter's car. My head was literally against Connor’s shoulder. My heart fluctuated and I tapped my feet against the soft mat on Carter’s floor.

"Just ignore all the body sprays...she kinda has a problem.." I said, while chuckling as I referred to the array of sprays on the ground in the back of Carter's car.

"Would you rather me smell bad?" Carter remarked cleverly as she grinned wickedly, causing Riley to laugh. She began turning the corner onto I-4.

"Alright so where do you guys live?" Carter asked. I still felt light headed from the asthma attack I had just recently had. I passed out before I could even realize what had happened, but from the looks of Connor's face, I knew something must have went down.

It was a struggle just to keep my eyes open, but I could see familiar roadsigns coming into view.

"..Shit..." Carter mumbled. My eyes drifted upwards to the front of the car.

"What.." I stated more than asked.

"I'm outta gas!" she yelled, "I barely have enough to get back to our apartment!"

"Why don't you ever fill up your tank, Carter!" I protested, groaning and sitting upright.

"You come back to me and tell me about filling up my car when you're getting just above minimum wage and have to do all the driving!" She laughed, "You two only make minimum wage?!" Toby had asked, laughing casually, giving Riley and Connor a look that meant something neither Carter nor I knew.. They are always amused with our arguments for some reason.

"Look-just take us back to your place and we can probably find a friend to come pick us up there." Riley suggested, smiling a toothy smile, as always. Which was perfectly white and straight.

"Good thinking officer Riley!" Carter said while making a u-turn and heading back towards Carter and I's apartment. Yeah, two seventeen year olds with an apartment. What a disaster. Incorrect. Although Carter and I do some pretty crazy shit we are very responsible when it comes to our living conditions. Plus we both come from psychotic families.

We pulled into our designated parking spot and Carter shut off her car. The engine died with a overdrawn roar and I waited for Connor to step out of the car before joining his side.

*

"Or how about that one episode where Sheldon has to take Penny to the hospital and he can't drive and-" Carter said laughing as she walked up the stairs with the rest of us following shortly behind her.

There was a harmonious yes and laughter from all of us.

As we neared our room number I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door swiftly.

Our apartment was a loft, with a staircase straight in front of the door leading up to my room and Carter's room. Off to the left is a kitchen and a place for at least 4 people to eat at. To the right, a pull out couch and a flat screen on the wall was in display. The walls were painted purple and blue and were decorated with many different items. All to mine and Carter’s customization. Interior design was my backup if singing and acting didn’t work out.

"Woah! This is awesome!" Toby said in awe.

"It's just an apartment Toby.." I said with a beam.

He ran toward the couch and jumped on the it briskly before kicking his feet up onto the coffee table.

"Toby.." Connor said. It was the first I heard him talk since we were at Starbucks.

"No-it's fine. It's what Carter does 9/10 of the times.." Carter gave me a thumbs up from the kitchen. Riley and her were giggling endlessly about something and she suddenly pulled the hair tie out of her hair, letting the blonde locks cover her back.

I saw Riley stare.

I realized my hair was up as well and I instantly ripped off my grey beanie and let my hair  stream out.

As the rest of them continued to conversate I made my way upstairs to change out of my rough uniform.

I slipped into a pair of high waisted jean shorts and a homemade tie dye shirt that Carter and I made 6 summers ago. So many memories flashed through my eyes.

Before leaving, I found myself checking the mirror. Making sure I looked okay. Don’t ask me while, I just felt obligated too, with three attractive males in one apartment it was difficult not to feel self conscious.

I noticed a newer looking dark circle underneath my eye and my heart pulsed in fear. Quickly rushing to my vanity to apply concealer and powder to hide it from everyone’s attention I ended up re-applying my mascara to make it look more natural. I quickly rushed out my door but found myself crashing into a hard figure. I got scared, knowing it was Jordan and shrieked “Please don’t hurt me, it was an accident, I’m sorry!” while shielding my face, but to my surprise I felt zero impact and I gawked up to find Connor’s china blue eyes looking down at me with an incredulous expression.

"You alright?" He asked grabbing my shoulders and catching my fall. “Why would you think I’d hit you?”

"Oh-uh, I’m fine, and I uh-thought you were a burglar, it got freaked out for a second.." I grabbed the bridge of my nose, hoping my lie sounded real, because it sounded fake to even my own ears.

"You really scared me back there.." He said referring to the attack and blowing off the fit of fright from me. Thank God I thought while sighing deeply.

"Yeah..I tend to do that." I giggled, realizing I was still standing abnormally close to him but..-I didn't mind. I don't think he did either.

"You’re just lucky my mom forced me to do that CPR summer camp when I was 13.." He mocked, smirking slightly, leaning against the door frame with a hint of confidence.

"That was you?" I asked shocked and quickly gazed to the side, hoping he hadn’t noticed my blush. I could still feel my cheeks burning crimson as I peered back at you.

"Yeah.." He looked down embarrassed.

"Well, thank you.." I paused for a minute but then decided to go for it and I wrapped my arms around his neck loosely. He hesitated for a second, but instantly gave in, slithering his arm across my back.

"Anytime." He said with a grin as he rested his head atop of mine.

It fit.

The hug.

It felt so right.

So much different than anytime I've ever hugged Jordan.

When I hug Jordan I feel scared.

When I hug Connor I feel safe.

Releasing my grasp from around his neck I frowned realizing I didn’t want to, but if we embraced any longer it would have became awkward. I do not want to creep him out.

He cleared his throat and all of the sudden, I heard a car door slam and the voice of Carter panicking. I ran down the stairs.

"Clara..." She said pointing out the window. I trotted over to the window and very coincidentally saw Jordan walk out of his car. Angry and hammered as always. He stumbled forward, smashing a beer bottle against the cement driveway and spotted me peeking through the window shades.

“Carter!” I whimpered, ungrasping the shade and running towards the door to lock it. “We need to hide them or,” I was cut off instantly.

“Hide us? From what?” Riley questioned, cocking his brow.

“CLARA, LET ME IN THIS FUCKING DUMP NOW!” Jordan screamed through the barrier of the door.

"Shit..." I whispered, knowing the next few minutes of my life would be agony.

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