The Boy Under The Azaleas

I Like Tuesdays.

Today is Tuesday, I Like Tuesdays because I take a detour on my way home from school and go to this coffee shop on a quiet street off to the right of the town centre. They aren't that well known but I'd say they are better than most of the popular coffee restaurants around. This routine is probably what I look forward to most and gets me through my week. People at my school call me a coffee goblin as I go to coffee places most days in the week, but I only go to this certain one on Tuesday's. Anyway I'm on my way to school now but I've decided to take a detour on the way there too and go to that coffee shop, I'm really tired and I need coffee right now.

"Hey, Hun" the barista, Jenny greats me as she does every Tuesday.
"Good morning, Jenny" I smile at her. Jenny is really my only friend nowadays but she is 5 years older than me and not in school anymore so I don't see her all that often other than when I come here or on the rare occasion we make plans to meet up, usually on a Sunday.
"You're 'ere early, what can I get 'ya? The usual?" She asks in her quite cockney accent.
"Nah, I think I'll just get an espresso today, thanks."
"Alright," She begins to brew the coffee, "you tired, mate?"
I look up, snapping out of my daydream.
"Yeah, a bit, I didn't sleep last night." I answer.
"Yeah, I get you...I've had like three espressos since I got up." She laughs. "I'm hyped though."
I sit down to wait.
"Have you had many customers this morning?" I ask to fill the gap of speech as the coffee brews.
"Nah, you're first." She pauses. "I was about to ask you the same but then I remember you don't have a cafe and I'm just quite bad at socialising." She chuckles.
I laugh. These kind of statements are part of the reason I like Jenny because she is an adult yet she acts to naive and childish sometimes which can be funny.

"Ere' you go, one espresso." She places in on the counter. "Now, ain't' you supposed to be at school?" She gives me a suspicious look.
My eyes widen.
"What time is it?" I ask hastily.
Jenny looks at her watch. "It is.....8:35."
"Oh no, damn it, damn it. I'm going to be completely late!" I stammer, panicked,
"Calm down, chill. Look, my dude, I can drive you." She offers.
"Who will watch the cafe, though?" I ask.
"It's fine, no one really comes until about ten-ish." She explains
I sigh. "If you say so." I walk over and pick up my Espresso.

"Thank you so much, Jen, like seriously." I say as I open the car door since we have arrived now.
"It's alright, any time." She exclaims
"Oh, I forgot to pay for my coffee!"
"Don't worry, it's on the house! Now go to school, you little delinquent!" She chuckles.
She starts her car again and drives away. I sigh - I really don't want to go to school today...should I go to school today? I mean, I don't really have to, right? These are the questions I am asking myself as I silently stare at my turd hole of a school, but then out of the blue there is a tap on my shoulder that brings me out of my spiral of questions.
"Uh, are you alright there?" A husky voice asks, from behind me.
I turn around and see a tall boy with light, ashy blonde hair, eyes coloured like worn gold, sharp facial structure, crystal clear completion that looks velvety soft and wearing the same uniform as me.
"Uh, sorry-I mean, yeah, I'm fine." I stutter. "Who are you?"
He gulps, probably noticing how stupidly nervous and embarrassed I am.
"Oh, my name is Uriel, I believe I'm in the same form as you. Am I right?" He asks.
Oh...so this is the all famous Uriel.
"I believe so..." I say as I look at the time on my phone, from my pocket. "We should probably go in..its 45 past.."
"Oh, crap!" He exclaims and we start to quickly pace towards the entrance of the school (turd-hole).
There is silence as we walk.
As we reach the entrance Uriel holds the door open for me.
"Uh, thank you." I walk through. I can feel my cheeks turning an embarrassing shade of red.
"Sorry, I didn't ask your name." He says. "What is it?"
Oh, crap.
"wha-uh..oh-umm..." I stutter.
What do I do? I can't say Derrick! I'm hardly even out! I wish I could say Derrick but...I can't! I panic and start running down the hallways. Where should I go? Oh no! Ah, yes! The library!
Jeez, I'm so stupid doing this.
I run into the vacant library and hide behind a shelf on one of the aisles.
He wouldn't follow me, would he?
I look at the time on my phone again. 8:50 am, just 10 more minutes and I can sneak off to art class.

8:51.
8:52.
This feels like forever!
8:54.
8:55.
8:56.
Time goes past as I keep an eye out between gaps in the book shelves.
8:58
8:59
9:00, I hear the school bell ring as I sneak to class.
I keep my head down throughout the lesson. I have come in late and luckily Miss Scandy didn't spot me and I missed the register.
Everyone is working silently so I decide to look around the room, having finished.
As i look around I meet eyes with someone from across the room and it just happens to be Uriel. I panic and shift my head back down to my work.