Don't let your crown fall

6. The 3 C's: Cari, Cats and Coffee

Shannon's pov:

The best date ever? I could see Cari's cheeks turning strawberry red when she realized what she had said. Best date ever..
Oh wow, the last person who said that to me was my ex. It stung a little hearing those words again.
I tried to take a deep breath without making it obvious and then I said:

"Yeah the three C's - Cari, Cats and Coffee"

I decided to act like the whole "best date ever" thing hadn't happened and I think it worked.

Cari started walking towards the coffee shop. For a brief moment there I thought she was mad or hurt but that thought was pushed away when she turned around and said:
"It's on Shan! Last one to the coffee shop pays!"
She laughed and then she ran across the street.
I laughed at her childishness.
I decided to tease her by walking as slow as possible towards the shop.
"You run like my grandma, Shannon Beveridge!"
Cari teasingly yelled at me from across the street.

I just shrugged and smiled at her.
I kinda forgot to look for cars when I walked out onto the road.

"Shan! Watch out!" Cari yelled.

"Oohh shiit" I yelled while jumping away from the speeding car heading straight towards me.

"Shan are you okay?? What the hell?! U almost gave me a heart attack!"
Cari yelled, but this time it was serious, not like when she called me a grandma.

I sat up, I had hit my knees pretty hard when I jumped to the sidewalk. But other than that I was okay.
My eyes met Cari's.
We both began to giggle a bit.

"How ironic, the first time we hang out you almost get killed because I play some childish game"
Cari said smiling.

I just looked at her again. Like I really looked this time. Wow, she's beautiful. I hadn't really noticed that before cause I've been so busy thinking about my ex.

This was the first time since my ex and I broke up, 3 weeks ago, that I've really allowed myself to look at a beautiful girl. And wow, Cari was more than beautiful.

"What are you looking at Shan?" Cari said smiling and low-key blushing cause she knew just as well as I did, that I was looking at her and smiling like an idiot whilst doing so.

She helped me get up and she brushed all the dust off of my pants.
Cari and I walked the last few feet to the coffee shop, and went in.

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Everything was just amazing. Cari was amazing to talk to. The coffee was great. The cats were cute and one even fell asleep in my lap. But then she asked the question I had hoped she wouldn't ask:

"When and why did you and your ex break up?" Cari asked genuinely wanting to know.

I looked down into my almost empty cup of coffee and tried to gather all my strength so I could tell her about this without crying.

"I'm so sorry, you don't have to answer. I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that" Cari blurred out. She laid her hand on my arm reassuring that I was okay.

"No no it's okay. It's just... It's just hard you know?"

Cari moved her hand from my arm down to my hand. She nodded and said:

"Yeah I know.. But I think it's good to talk about with someone. That someone doesn't have to be me, but I'm always ready to talk"

Oh wow this girl is amazing. It's like she can read my mind or something, cause that was just what I needed to hear right now.

I looked up from the almost empty cup of coffee and my eyes met hers. I got an idea!

"I wanna show you something. Come on now we're going on an adventure" I said excited.

I stood up, still holding Cari's hand. She got up with me and I got out my wallet to pay.
We kinda ran out of the coffee shop and over the street to my car still holding hands.

I could feel this rush in my stomach and my heart felt lighter. I've felt like this before, I think it's called liking someone??

I completely forgot about my last relationship. It was like my broken heart was beating again. I love this feeling.

"Shan where are we going?"
Cari asked sounding very excited and just overall happy.

I looked at her for a second and I just smiled.

"You'll see when we get there"
I said while trying to focus on driving but god that is difficult when you have a beautiful girl sitting in the passenger seat. I wanted to look at her so bad. I just wanted to admire her pretty face.

I hope Cari isn't to hung up on the fact that I didn't answer her question.. It's just I'm not good at talking about my feelings it makes me uncomfortable and awkward. But then again, everything seems a little easier with Cari. Am I falling for Cari Fletcher?