Hotter Than Fire

2 - Coffee

On the way back home from the concert my phone gave the notification beep. I checked it like usual to find a new friend request on facebook. My heart skipped a beat on seeing the name on the profile. Ashley Purdy. I instantly confirmed the request. The first message came right then.

REMEMBER ME CAT?

IT'S KAT. I replied. WITH A K.

STILL A CAT.

*SIGH*

HAHA. SO WE'RE MEETING UP TOMORROW MORNING FOR COFFEE AT CAFÉ OMÉ?

I gaped. This was one straight forward guy. What a way to ask a girl out.

NO WE'RE NOT. I replied.

YES WE ARE.

I looked at Juan sitting next to me in the taxi. "how will you react if I told you that am going out with Ashley tomorrow?"

Juan looked at me in the 'elder-brother' way. "I would sigh and ask u to think twice before volunteering for heart break."

"k, then I wont tell you."

Juan was about to say something in reply when the taxi came to a stop in front of my house. I hopped out of the car and closed the door behind me. "bye Juan...!"

He just shook his head disapprovingly.

ARE YOU ASKING ME OUT? I replied.

MAYBE...

*SIGH*

CAFÉ OMÉ AT 9.00 THEN?

LETS SEE.

***

I was up at 6.00 the next morning, despite coming home at 12.30 after the concert last night. First I showered and then flat ironed my hair, and took about an hour to decide what to wear. Finally I decided on wearing black pumps and a black lace dress that came right above my knee. I wondered if it was too fancy for a coffee date and added some rubber wrist bands and matching hair streaks.

By 8.30 Juan came over. I didn't step out of my room to meet him but I heard my mom greet him like usual. And just like usual he opened the door of my room and came in closing it behind him. The same old Juan. He wouldn't even care if I was changing. Then again, neither would I. I never see him as another guy but as just Juan.

"you're going out with Ashley." he stated flatly.

"maybe you should come with Andy. As a double date"

"am not gay," he reminded me.

I gave him my 'I don't care' smile and picked a black leather bag to go with my dress.

"where are you going to meet?" Juan asked.

"Café Omé" I replied. He nodded. "joining me with your boyfriend after all?"

"love life is not in my favor," he replied with a sigh. I looked at my besties actual saddened face and sat down on my bed next to him and draped my arm around him.

"hey why do you want a girlfriend?" I asked. "you have me right."

Juan smiled. "you're never letting Ashley come in-between us"

"never" I replied.

Café Omé had a very romantic atmosphere. The place was almost all made of wood, the floors, walls, ceilings and furniture. As I entered I noticed Ashley, he was sitting at a table for two gazing out through the huge windows at the fast flowing river below. I took the moment to study his look. Silky long hair, black t-shirt, ripped jeans and sneakers. He turned as if he was aware of my attention and gave me one of his mischievous smiles.

I smiled in reply and took my place in front of him.

"cat," he acknowledged me.

"Ashley," I replied.

"call me ash" he looked at me steadily as if he could see through me at my brain and skull and whatever else. I felt uncomfortable under his eyes. He brushed his long bangs off his face. A black round birthmark was on his cheek. I smiled inwardly. I loved birthmarks. "Apparently this is a self service place," he said finally, and I noticed that indeed there were no waitresses around and several customers were placing their orders at a counter.

"apparently," I answered, showing him that I had no intention of getting coffees for us. He asked me out, he get my coffee.

Ash stretched out lazily. "can I get u a saucer of milk, cat?" he asked playfully.

I laughed politely. "just tea, black" I replied.

"oh," he said, still looking at me in that weird way of his.

I watched him get up from his chair and turned my attention towards the view from the picture window. The morning shined on the beautiful fast flowing river and the dew studded trees. Thick grass covered the area, probably because no one go down there much. The natural greenery blended into the parking lot, where a very familiar motor bike was parked. I looked at it closely. The number plate was obstructed from my view. I shook my head. No way he could be here...

Just then the fire alarm started ringing.