All I Am (Wattys2015) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Blue pulled on a black somewhat flowy shirt made out of heavier fabric with ¾ sleeves. It was kimono styled and came to her hips, with a deeper v-neck than most shirts and a tie around the waist. She knotted it where she was slimmest and pulled on a pair of loose, baggy boyfriend jeans that were light-wash. She wore a thick belt at the waist because they were too big and cuffed them at the bottom. Over the top Blue wore a black pleather jacket and for shoes she wore black Vans Pretas she'd gotten on sale.

She pulled her hair out of her bun and it tumbled in soft, barely-there waves, the platinum-blonde strands shining in the light. Blue applied some foundation, some bronzer on her cheek-bones and a little bit of matte brown eyeshadow. She added a little bit of matte nude lipstick and shook her hair out. There. She looked effortlessly good, she thought.

Blue had 10 minutes before she needed to leave the house. She passed them waiting in agony, then called out she was going to have coffee with "Kaitlyn, so I'll be gone for a while."

Blue slipped her phone and a $20 bill – enough to buy coffee for them both and a snack – in her jacket pocket before zipping it shut. She headed out the front door and walked down the driveway slowly, enjoying the crisp winter air and the smell of salt from the ocean.

Ten minutes later Blue rounded the corner and approached the coffee shop. It occurred to her they hadn't worked out where to meet, so she lingered right outside for a couple minutes.

There he came. Maddy strolled around the opposite corner she'd come from. He was wearing black sunglasses, light jeans, a black v-neck t-shirt and a black jacket over it. She smiled at him slightly, trying to keep her heart from racing so fast.

He pulled one hand out of his pocket and gave her a little wave. His light blonde hair stood out against his black clothes, glinting in the sunlight. A couple passers-by gave him second glances, one being a teenage girl, Blue noticed.

As he walked up the couple steps leading up to Iron Sands Café, Blue felt suddenly excited. "Hi," she said to him.

He surprised her by giving her a hug. "Hello again," he said, laughing.

Blue felt herself tense and then relax in his arms. She willed herself not to blush as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders gently. She could smell in cologne and aftershave. It was so overwhelming she felt faint for a second.

"How are you since this morning?" she asked, once coming to her senses.

Maddy pulled back but kept his hands on her waist gently. "I'm great! Glad I skipped heading back out and surfing more to have coffee with you. And yourself?"

Blue giggled slightly. "I'm good, thank you. A little bit tired from this morning, but it was so worth it."

They walked into the Iron Sands Café and Blue noticed Elliot wasn't working today. Instead, a young woman in her early 20s with brown-to-blonde ombred hair was working as cashier and barista. Falcon was at the stove cooking.

"Hello, welcome to Iron Sands Café. What can I get you two today?" the woman asked, giving Blue and Maddy a friendly smile.

"I'll have a flat white, please; what about you?" Blue asked, looking at Maddy.

"The same, thanks," he said, pulling his wallet out of his pocket.

"Alright; that'll be $7 please, thank you," the cashier said.

Blue grabbed Maddy's hand before thinking. "No no, I'll pay."

Maddy shook his head stubbornly. "I'm paying, Blue."

"Let me at least pay for mine," she protested. She had to admit that she was having fun bickering with him.

"No, Blue," Maddy said, handing a $10 bill to the cashier, whose name tag read Lydia.

Lydia handed Maddy a numbered flag and his change. "Thank you!" she said, smiling.

"Thanks, Lydia." Maddy smiled back and then turned to Blue.

She distractedly walked over to a table with two seats by the window. "I wish you had let me pay," she said, mock-angry.

"Sorry, Blue. Can't let you do that," he grinned as took their coats off and sat down. He nodded vaguely at her shirt, clearly trying not to be too suggestive. "That shirt looks nice on you."

Dammit, he thought as he felt himself flush somewhat. He hadn't meant it that way.

Blue felt sorry for him. She could tell how embarrassed he was by what he had just said. If it didn't have a deep v-neck it wouldn't have been a big problem. She acted like nothing was out of the ordinary by saying, "Thank you. I like it too."

Before long their coffees came and they started talking. They talked about anything and everything. Blue lost track of the time; it felt good to be talking to someone for once and enjoying it. It felt different. She felt like she was able to freely talk with him about what she wanted and voice her own opinion – something she didn't do too much at home. Blue laughed with him. They talked about surfing, school, Piha and eventually about their lives. She felt better than she had in months.