Chapter one: Coffee Break
BEEEEEEEEEPP!!
“Looks like I have to go...” Harry said sadly
“WHAT?! NO!” I shout in protest
BEEEEEEEEEPP!!
“Yes, but I’ll see you soon. And just until then,” he closes his eyes. Oh My God. He’s leaning in. Only a few centimeters away. I think I might faint.
BEEEEEEEEEPP!!
Even closer. Our lips were about to touch.....
My eyelids snap open. A frustruated cry escapes my lips. I swear, one of these days that alarm clock is going out the window. Time for school, the best place ever! Not. The floor is shockingly cold as my feet touch it. I stand, silently cursing my slippers are across the room. How the hell did our floor get so cold? We live in goddamn California for god’s sakes! I groggily walk to the bathroom and take a minute to stare at my reflection, and thinking about my dream. Harry was about to kiss me! That would never happen in real life. I silently laugh at myself for getting my hopes up. I reach into the shower and spin the knob until steam is pouring out of the shower and into the room. Jumping in and quickly getting all my business taken care of, I start to finish the rest of my getting ready process. Curl hair, put on make up, pick outfit. Today I picked out a fitted, striped Jack Wills dress- that I had saved up months of babysitting money for- and a black cardigan.
Thundering down the stairs, running just as late as usual, I found my mom and my little sister Sam sitting at the table. I was half expecting to see dad, but he skipped out a year ago with some blonde bimbo leaving us behind with mom. I personally don’t mind, we never really got along, but it hurt Mom and Sam, therefore it hurt me too. My mom looks like me. With the long brown hair, soft blue eyes, and a concentrated expression. My ten year old sister Sam was a different story. She had crazy dense black curls, and wild green eyes. Sam was so different from me it was hard for some people to accept the face we were sisters.
“ Sam, you have exactly five minutes to finish that bagel or I’m leaving without you.” I said flatly. She started whining, but I walked out of the room so I didn’t have to hear it.
Like I told her, five minutes later I was rushing out the door with Sam trailing behind me. I dug the key into the ignition and turned. My three year old Eclipse was not doing so well today. On the third try it roared to life. I cranked the stereo before it even had a chance to start playing, since I knew exactly what was about to come on. One Direction’s newest CD, Up All Night, had been on repeat for the past two months. Sam started yelling something at me again, but I didn’t hear her because I had just turned it louder.
Did I mention I probably shouldn’t have a license? I’m just a smidge crazy behind the wheel. We peeled out of the driveway and up the street. Speeding towards the elementary school I take in the bliss of driving my car. I rolled the top down and started belting the lyrics to Everything About You, half expecting to get pulled over. When we reach the school, I give Sam a quick hug and practically toss her out of the car. I decide to take a trip to Starbucks before I have to go to school too, and call Austin.
“Morning Babe.” He said tiredly.
“Hey! Wanna grab Starbucks before school?” Even though he hates most their coffee, he goes with me to just so he can eat the lemon pound cake.
“Sure!” he perked up “ Meet me there in 20?”
“Ok!” I said
“See you there, love you”
“You too.” I wasn’t exactly sure what I meant that “You too” to be directed to, but I wasn’t completely sure it was the I love you. Now that Sam was gone, I turned the speakers all the way up and sang at the top of my lungs the entire drive to Starbucks.
I pull up in front of our local store and see a large SUV with British plate, which is really weird, considering we are the most boring town in all of California. Nobody interesting ever shows up here. Deep in thought, I pace into Starbucks and place my order. While I’m waiting I sit and look around the store. In one corner, as usual, is the Monday morning crowd. It’s the normal Price Point Starbucks until the center of the room. There is a table of five strangers all speaking with heave British accents.
“Must be the SUV people.” I think to myself. The coffee guy calls my name, -I think it’s Fred, or maybe Craig? - bringing me out of my haze. I pull out my phone to text Austin to see where the heck he is. I grab my latte and turn around and run right into.... a wall?!... No, not a wall. A person. A person with very nice pecs.
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” I apologize. It’s on 7:20 and I’ve already dumped a whole cup of coffee on a total stranger. Way to go Hannah.
“Don’t worry about it, Love.” He said. I looked up at Mystery Guy, and I can barley see his face. He’s got on a Jack Wills hoodie, along with a hat pulled low over his face. There are massive sunglasses hiding his eyes, yet for some reason he looked familiar. His accent was flawless, making my heart jump with every word he speaks.
“But, for dumping coffee on me, there is a consequence, you owe me a lunch date, and your phone number.” He stated with a devilish grin. I could also imagine him winking, but you know the sunglasses kind of got in the way of that. He whipped out his phone and handed it to me. I was so shocked I forgot to say no... Quickly typing my name and number, I handed it back to him.
“Text you later!” he said with that smile again, that for some reason made my heart race, and walked away.
As the boy sits down Austin pushes through the door, late as usual. His blonde hair was wild and not looking like he had brushed it, and his blue eyes that are normally super hyper, but were filled with sleep this morning, stared me down the whole way across the store. When he reached me, he pulled my small frame closer for a hug.
“Morning, Lovely.” He whispered in my ear making me melt.
“Hello” I say, making the smile is showing in my voice, and right there I decided not to tell him about Mystery Boy that I had given my number. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?
Noticing how close it was to first bell, Austin ordered and got his pound cake to eat in the car. I lock eyes with the British boy a few times as we waited, while Austin went on talking about things I could care less about, like football, and how the Bears won last night. Every time I looked at the guy, something tugged in the back of my mind. He was so familiar! Austin got his pound cake and we started walking out to the parking lot. I felt all five of the Brit’s stares on the back of my head as I walked out of the store. I glance back at him and give him a small smile, which he immediately returns, which makes me blush. I feel awful about not telling Austin, but things haven’t been the same since “The Incident” I actually kind of want things to be over. I mean I love Austin, but....
Austin gives me a quick peck on the lips, jumps in his car, and drives away. I do the same, singing One Direction half-heartedly and think about the mystery boy all the way to school.
