Eastern District School

Chapter 6 - That is the question!

Someone once told her that you can tell a lot about someone by what they choose to drive. Rich's car was a silver/grey colour and although seeming like a sporty type of car (with a not so prominent spoiler) inside it was rather on the large side. It could ideally fit 5 people in and the boot looked that it would be a fairly big size too.

"Oh here, you'd better take this." He passed her travel mug to her, as he put his key into the ignition. 

"Oh yeah, thanks." she said softly as she took the mug from his hands.

"It's cute." he said, but then seemed to stiffen as he put his hands on the wheel.

Cute???

"I mean, something different. You seem to carry it around a lot it seems." He was clearly trying to dig himself out of a hole he had made. It didn’t seem that he was actually asking her a question, but rather a string of observations. It wasn't cute, it was practical! But she didn't say anything to encourage him, she just smiled and nodded. Reaching for her seat belt and plugging it in, she nodded her head, prompting him to do the same.

Rich started the car, without another word and the engine came to life. He eased out of the car park, which actually rather resembled a yard at the moment with all the vehicles there and bustling of the workers. All of them set on a small mission and a job to do.

He hadn't lied, the cafe was literally only just down the road. They could have even walked it, she thought. It may have been easier, to not as well. She would have preferred to avoid sitting in such close proximity to him, but then...they were going to a cafe, there would be plenty of time for sitting closer. Rich pulled up outside on the main road, which seemed to be quite empty. He swiftly turned the engine off, unplugged his belt and opened the door in about two seconds flat.

Rose suddenly realised what he was doing and hurried to open her door, clumsily fumbling with the handle and her mug.

It seemed they both reached for the handle at the same time.

"I got it." she mumbled as she climbed out of the car, putting her phone into her trouser pocket and brushing her leg with her hand. Rich just smiled as he still held onto the car door. Rose stepped away from the car allowing him to shut the door.

"Are you taking that in with you?" he gestured to the travel mug Rose was still holding in her hand.

Rose looked down towards her hand. Part of her was holding onto it almost like a security blanket, she thought and quickly tossed it onto his front seat. Now both her hands were free, and she suddenly felt so stupid with them just hanging by her side. She tried to hold them together and instantly felt how sweaty her palms had become. She rubbed her trousers again, hoping he wouldn’t notice her nervous behaviour.

"After you." he said and gestured with his hand toward the cafe. He seemed to not notice her rather odd unoccupied hands, well at least, for the moment. She felt like she had the whole world staring at her.

Why did men often invite the women to go ahead of them? You may say it is polite, manners...a real gentleman? Or was it rather because the woman could then not see where exactly the man's gaze was?

Rose stepped into the cafe as Rich of course held the door open for her to go ahead of him once again. She stood in the entrance of the cafe, wondering if she should pick a table for them to sit at. She glanced around and found the cafe almost empty. There were about eight tables or so and a long counter, which acted as a bar table. Perhaps they could sit there, she thought and went towards one of the stools.

Although the stools were a little high, Rose pushed herself onto the stool using the foot bar. Rich noticed and seemed to smile at her, before taking the seat next to her.