Step Up

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen:
Decaf for Two

I drove all around town looking for Josh after our slight 'disagreement.' I don't know why I got so mad at him for saying it was his job. I want, if not need, him to worry, things are so much less complicated when he's around.
After what felt like hours or so of clueless driving, I stopped at a local cafè for a cappuccino. I was tired, and cold, and clearly not in a good state of mind and coffee was just the thing I needed to fuel myself up. Although I heard somewhere that too much caffeine isn't good for the baby, one cup can't hurt.
"One cappuccino. To go, please."
Once the barista nodded, letting me know it was coming along, I set my elbow on the counter and rested my head on my hand. Opening my heavily, strained eyes again, and into my vision came a man sitting by himself. He was fiddling with the disposable plastic cup in front of him, and while his head hang low, I could still recognize him. His eyes dragged with the dark depth of bags underneath, his hair a tangled mess.

"How long's he been there?" I pointed back as he set the warm cup down in front me.

"Him?" He gestured with his head, I nodded.

"Poor kid's a mess, hasn't moved once and he's been here atleast an hour. Be my guest." He threw his hands up towards him and turned around to start wiping the counters with a rag.
When I sat down acrossed from him he kept quiet, barely taking a glance at me.

"I've been all over town looking for you. I didn't think this was the place you'd be."

"It's the last place I thought you'd look. Guess we were both wrong."
His breath reeked of alcohol.

"Have you been drinking?"

"What are you, my mom? You made it perfectly clear you aren't my girlfriend."

"Josh I was mad. Don't beat yourself just because I said something I didn't mean!"

"Reality check, not everything is about you Maya."
He lifted his cup, ready to take another sip until I pulled it out of his hand and dumped it the trashcan nearby.

"Okay, we're taking you home. C'mon, lets go."

"I don't need your help." He resisted me, pulling his arm out of my grip.

"Fine. You wanna stay here? We'll stay here."
And when he gave me a look that said 'what' , I did nothing but reply with "Well, I'm not gonna leave you here alone."
Given another slight exchange in looks saying 'why the hell not?'

"You're drunk! Drinking and driving isn't good for you." So I turned around just enough to say "water, please!" to the barista, smiling at Josh when I returned to his face and taking the first sip of my coffee since I got it.

"You're drinking coffee. Caffeine isn't good for the baby."

And it hit me.

"Although I heard somewhere that caffeine isn't good for the baby, one cup can't hurt."

Two weeks earlier
"Goodmorning, sleepy head!"
When Riley and Farkle went on their super date, I decided to spend some time with Josh but it ended on me throwing up every ten minutes and then falling asleep watching The Breakfast Club with him curled up next to me.
The next morning I woke up, being lured to the kitchen by the traveling scent of blueberry pancakes and freshly brewed coffee.
"Hello my love." I smiled, standing besides him as he flipped another pancake onto the plate beside the stove.
"Hello to you too! Someone's in a good mood." Josh sang, kissing me on the cheek.
"Oh I was talking to the pancakes."
He chuckled.
I walked over to the cabinet, pulling out a mug the Matthew's gave me for Christmas last year. It read "'sup losers." And I picked up the half filled, scolding hot coffee holder, pouring it in the mug.
As soon as I brought it to my lips, letting it seep through the open space entering my mouth, I spat it out. It was bitter and bland.
"What is that?"
"Decaffeinated coffee." He spoke, still focused on the pancakes.
"It's disgusting!" I blurted. "Where's the good stuff? The sweet, creamy, rich, sugar-induced coffee? Mama needs her coffee!"
"Mama can have her coffee." he sang mockingly. "As long as it's decaffeinated." He smiled.
"What are you trying to do me Josh? I mean I love ya but c'mon man! I can't, I just can't!"
"Caffeine is bad for the baby Maya, Hold through!"
"One cup can't hurt!"
He picked me, making me squeal and threw me on the couch only to hover over me.
"You're an idiot." I laughed, shaking my head.

"You said you loved me."

"Did I? Cause I didn't mean it." I chuckled, scrunching my nose.

"Oh what? Were you talking to the pancakes again?"

"Oh, pancakes!" I jumped up, pushing him off of me, running over the kitchen where a plate full of blueberry pancakes and a jar of peanut butter sat.
"Orange juice it is!"

Present
It was Josh. He was the somewhere I heard it from. He was looking out for us like he always does. He really did see it like it was his job. And I yelled at him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked, snapping me back to reality.
I just leaned over the table and kissed him.
"Let's go home." I smiled. I stood up, reaching out my hand for him to grab, which he did. Then we walked out the door and drove home together.
I am lucky.