Roll the Dice (Jori)

19

TORI

The next morning, the sun was barely up, and Jade and I were already out of the hotel. We made our way down the street to a small coffee place we went to last time. It wasn't anything special--just a little hole-in-the-wall café that probably didn't get much foot traffic that early in the morning--but both her and I agreed it was better than the lounge. Besides, it was our last full-day in Las Vegas. We needed good coffee!

Jade walked beside me, arms folded. The city was still waking up, the streets quieter than usual, and for a moment, it was almost peaceful. Almost.

"I think I'll get a French Vanilla Swirl coffee," I told her. "My tummy's totally calling for one."

"How do you even drink that stuff?" She asked as we approached the café. "It sounds like nastiest thing, like, ever."

I rolled my eyes, pushing open the door and holding it for her. "It's called having taste, Jade. Not everyone likes their coffee black and bitter like their soul."

A small bell rang as we stepped inside, the warmth hitting me instantly, the smell of brewing coffee stronger. It was the same barista from last time, which sent a few waves of reminiscence throughout my mind.

Jade was scanning the menu, even though she always got the same thing. She stepped up to the counter. "Yeah, give me an Americano. Two sugars."

Wow. Manners.

The barista nodded, smiling. "Anything else?"

"Yeah," she replied, turning to me. "She wants some kind of...vanilla...cream thing."

Vanilla cream thing? Seriously?

I stepped closer to the counter, smiling awkwardly. "One French Vanilla Swirl coffee, please." I shot a slight glare at Jade, who pulled out twenty bucks from her purse. She made a face, but a small grin was fighting to creep up on her.

"Would you like a Tall, Grande, Venti, Short, or Trenta?" The barista asked.

Jade scrunched her eyes, folding her arms. "Large."

"So, a Grande--"

"Just make the coffee!"

I winced at the goth's harsh tone, closing my eyes. Because, seriously--why did she have to verbally attack someone doing their job that early in the morning?

I began to dig into my purse, until Jade gripped my wrist tightly. I glanced up at her. She was shaking her head, avoiding eye contact.

"I've got it," she muttered.

Um, what?

"What?" Was exactly what came out.

Jade cleared her throat. "Our drinks," she said. "I got it."

I stood there, stunned. She always forced me to pay. "Uh...you do?"

"Uh-huh." She threw the twenty bucks on the counter as the barista made our drinks.

All I could do was stare at her. I involuntarily smiled, studying the way she wouldn't even look at me...which looked like it came from embarrassment. She glanced at me from the corner of her eye, jaw clenched, until she fully turned toward me.

"Thank you," I spoke softly.

"Don't push it."

We moved to the side to wait, the silence between us filled with the sound of milk steaming and coffee beans grinding. It was strange how much of a rollercoaster things were between us. One night, we were arguing, then kissing, then avoiding each other, then grabbing coffee together...it made no sense. But looking back, I guess it wasn't the most unusual thing between us.