Coffee Meetings

Chapter 2

I walk out of school with Kathy and Eric talking beside me.

Today has been uneventful, like every other day in this rectangular building. Eric and Kathy kiss during free period and lunch, I get made fun of a couple of times, Carter sneaks a wink at me when we pass each other in the halls.

Carter, Carter, Carter. The high-school dream boy , the best friend, and the bully. 3 stereotypes all mushed into 1.

We started out our friendship in Freshman year. We went to Senior football games with friends, had late night movie nights, stole glances at each-other during boring teacher lectures, and did all the this-is-the-best-time-of-our-lives-friend-thing.
       But at the start of our second year of Highschool, Kara transferred and high-school stereotypes pushed them into the relationship of star quarterback and star cheerleader.
        Once Carter realized his popularity, he started treating people and his life differently. He parties, pushes kids into garbage cans, picks fights in the halls, winks at innocent girls when Kara isn't looking, and skips class to use his fake ID to drink and do stuff nobody has any idea about.
    But he stills always has time to be my friend outside of school, which is his only secret.

" Drop me off at my house, will you." Kathy said as Eric headed over to soccer practice and she followed me towards my car.

" Uh, well, you know... I kinda have something to do..." I lied terribly.

" Okkkaaayy... I guess I'll walk home. We should hang out this weekend...call me, alright?" She asked, walking backwards.

" Ok, see you." I said jumping into my car and driving away.

                                                                              ***

My car is my home. Not like I don't have an actual house to go home to with a mom,dad,and an annoying little brother I secretly adore, but my car holds all my possessions and memories. Old shoes, Polaroids, and books are scattered on the floor. A picture of me and Carter at our Freshman talent show is taped onto the dashboard. We were dressed as clouds and did crazy standup comedy. It was all Carter's idea, so don't judge me.

I pulled into Don's Cafe, our towns popular coffee house. Best coffee in the US, if I do say so myself.

Don's was a type of old town cafe but very retro. Rainbow everywhere with mis-matched chairs and tables, and they have live music all the time with unknown bands and singers.

" Welcome to Don's Caf...oh, it's you! Hay El'." Josie, a purple haired artist says at the counter. She works here to pay for new paints.

" Hay! Could I get a table?" I asked Josie kindly. Me and Josie have been good friends since I started coming to the Cafe, and she's bubbly and sweet.

" Yeah. I'll get you one by the stage. A band says their gonna play some Melanie Martinez pretty soon, and their really good." Josie said, tucking a pencil behind her ear and pulling pack curtains acting as a door to a back room.

There is a small stage in the corner with a band tuning their instruments. Mis-matched tables are scattered around the room. It is pretty crowed with people in band shirts, flannels, huge sweaters, and dyed hair everywhere.

" This table ok?" Josie says as she motions toward a navy table with a floral arm chair and a stool.

" Sure. Looks fine." I say, putting my phone on top of the menu. I throw my school bag under the table and take a seat on the floral chair.

" I'm expecting that Carter will be here soon. So, I'll get your guys' regulars." Josie says as she walks away.

When she leaves I take out my laptop and open it.

" Science project on the genes of lizards...how interesting." I mumble sarcastically as I go onto google to research.

" Hay. I find genes of lizards very fascinating." Carter says as he walks over with a navy blue VANS backpack frown over his shoulder.

" Oh. Well then you can help me write my opening paragraph. Now, what is the color of a common forest lizard, Professor Carter?" I ask sarcasticly.

He smirks at me and throws his bag on the ground. He sits and we start to do are homework.

Once the band starts to play Collar Full by Panic!At The Disco, his eyes light up. He loves this band and he loves music. Once he tried to start a band. Let's just say the only gigs they played were for his parents.

" Dance with me." He says grabbing my hand.

I look down at our fingers intertwined. His hands are covered with scars and scratches. Mine are clean and polished. I think that explains are relationship. Him being the risk taker and me just tagging along.

" Ok." I say quietly, standing up.

He's a great dancer. He never talks about it to his new friends, but when he was in middle school he took dancing classes. Me and him joke about it, but he never would talk about that kinda stuff with his new friends. Would ruin his reputation, he says. No one can find out about The Coffee Meetings, he says.

We dance till I have to go home. When I say goodbye, he grabs my hand and kisses it, says he'll see me tomorrow. I end up smiling all the way to my car.

***

" Elissa, ya' home sweetie." My mom yells from the kitchen as I close the door, the Halloween picture smacking the door.

We go all out in my house during Halloween. I usually stay in my room for Halloween, which is tomorrow, but Kathy says we're going to have some fun so she's coming over.

" Come test out the celery logs for the trick-or-treaters." My mom says as I enter our bright kitchen, the natural light shining in from a big window in the corner.

My mom has been into this vegan lifestyle thing, and I have a life style of hiding fat filled snacks under my bed. My obsession,to be honest.

" Mom do you seriously want to get egged again for the 3rd Halloween in a row?" I groan, looking at the disgusting celery, raisin, and peanut butter concoction sitting on a plate on the granite-island.

" We just get egged because I used salty raisins, but I guess kids like the sweets. So I got the sweet raisins instead." My mom said, biting into a celery stick.

" Ok, sure. But don't make me clean the yoke off the windows tomorrow night." I said, laughing, as I  walked to my room.

Dear readers,

I hoped you enjoyed the second chapter of  TCM (The Coffee Meetings). If you have suggestions or kind remarks or ideas, please feel free to comment. Remember to vote also!

Zoe