Coffee

Independence on Friday

I awoke very early on Friday morning, barely having had any sleep at all. I'd spent most of the night tossing and turning because my stomach had been turned into a country for butterflies. I couldn't believe I was so excited and nervous at the same time about spending the day with Nate.

I looked at my alarm clock and noticed it was only half past six. There was no way I was going to be getting any more sleep so I dragged myself out of bed. I had packed up most of my stuff, even though I still had a few days before I had to move out. I decided to drop some things off at Mitchie's on my way to Nate's to make the move next week slightly easier. After looking at my closet, I put on the outfit that Tess had bought me yesterday because she had gone for something that was actually me. But it wasn't like Nate would know it was new, right?

At seven I had finished loading my car and was on the way to Mitchie's. I sent her a quick text before I started driving, knowing it would wake her up because she was such a light sleeper. Sure enough, when I got to Mitchie's fifteen minutes later, she was standing outside so she could help me unload. I grabbed the boxes from the boot while she grabbed the ones in the back seat. Luckily, I had decided to go for the lightest boxes today, saving the heavier ones for when I had more help so we were finished in that one trip. By the time I had put the last box in my new room, Mitchie had collapsed on the couch.

"Mitchie, it wasn't that much work!" I exclaimed as she sat up.

"I know but it's early! And I went to sleep early because I knew you were going to turn up because Tess called me last night and told me you were meeting Nate today," she said in one breath.

I took a seat opposite her and saw the smirk on her face. I swear she was spending too much time with Shane – it was like that smirk was ever present on her face now.

"I'm so nervous, Mitchie," I said, voicing my thoughts for the first time. "What if I say something stupid? What if I tell him I like him?"

Mitchie smiled at me reassuringly. "Cait, I don't think Nate would ever think anything you said was stupid. And you just have to act like you havealways done with him, and he won't know how you feel about him." She paused before adding, "Although, you know if you did tell him then everything would be out in the open," she finished.

I had already started shaking my head. "There is no way Nate is going to find out, Mitchie," I said.

"But what if he feels -"

"He doesn't feel the same. I just need to get over him and then everything will be fine."

Mitchie looked slightly disappointed but smiled nonetheless. "You better get going then, Cait," she said, gesturing to the clock.

I sighed. "If you wanted to kick me out, Mitchie, you just had to say so!" I stuck my tongue out at her as I let myself out of her apartment and I heard her burst into laughter.

I started the car and made my way to Starbucks, relishing the fact that this was the last time I would have to do that for some time. This Sunday, for our usual get together, we were meeting at Mitchie's so everyone could help me get settled.

I pulled into my usual parking spot outside Starbucks and made my way into the café. Surprised by the fact that there was no queue, I made my way to the counter and ordered two cappuccinos. The order took no time at all and I soon found myself leaving, holding the two cups in my hands. They felt a lot lighter than usual cups of coffee but I guess that was because they were mostly milk foam.

I didn't hit any traffic on the way to Nate's house even though I had hoped for some traffic to give me time to settle the butterflies in my stomach. Barely ten minutes later, I pulled into the driveway and got out of the car taking the coffees with me. The door opened before I got to it and Shane stepped out to take the coffees from my hands.