A Blooming Beauty

Chapter 8

Jessica and Bethany had left the house hours ago. I had decided to take a quick shower before I headed to Starbucks for a drink.

I wore a pair of floral leggings paired with a grey tank top and my black converse. I grab my pink blazer and head downstairs.

I grabbed my board and skated to the coffee shop down the road.

"One Chocolate Chip Frappe with Banoffee pie please." I said to the lady.

"Name?"

"Blair."

I took my usual table at the far end, near the window because I loved looking at the people walking past. It calmed my nerves.

My name was soon called but a boy in a hoodie took the drink and headed for my table.

Carter.

"Miss Thompson? I believe your drink is ready." He said handing me my drink. "And pie.."

"Th-thanks." I stuttered.

Pull it together Blair.

"Can I sit with you?" He said generously.

"Uhmm... Sure..." I say as he takes a seat.

You didn't go through last night for nothing. Man up. I mean, girl up... I think... He's just a boy Blair. He's a normal person.

"So what are you doing here?" I managed to blurt out. "Not that it's bad or anything."

"Oh I come here every Saturday or Sunday morning. To relax." He says.

"Oh really? How come I've never see you before?" I say smoothly. That's it Blair. Relax.

"Maybe we come at different times?" He says shrugging.

We talk and talk until Carter gets a call from someone. "Excuse me." He says answering the call.

I pull out my phone and text Beth and Jess:

"With Carter @ Starbucks rn! Any tips??"

"FUCK. ACT NORMAL." Jess replies.

"Ouch." I reply back.

"Just don't freak and act nervous! You'll be fine." Beth replies.

He soon comes back and bites his lip. "Sorry Blair, that was my mom. I need to go."

"Oh, no biggie." I say smiling.

"Thanks. It was great hanging out with you again." He says smiling.

"You too." I say returning the kind gesture.

He opens the door but closes it again and returns to the table. "Blair?" He says, his face looking serious.

"Yes?" I said.

"We're friends now, right?"

"Of course." I say smiling.

"For the record, if you're the definition of nerdy? I'd gladly accept the title too." He said winking at me and he walked out the door. I smiled to myself.

Maybe these lessons weren't so bad after all.

I skated back home with the drink in my hand, nearly empty. On the way home, I find Thomas walking along the sidewalk.

shit.

Say something. Anything. Don't be that awkward girl anymore. You can do this.

"Uhmm, hey Thomas." I say naturally.

"Hi there... Uh.. Marry.." He said stopping for a while but then continues walking.

Claire? Marry? I doubt he even bothered to know my name.

"It's Blair." I said so quietly I barely heard my own voice.

I shook my head and continued skating. I arrived home to find my parents sitting on the living room couch, my father reading the newspaper and my mother watching The Notebook.

"Blair? Where've you been?" My father says without looking up from his paper.

"Starbucks. Just got a drink." I said putting down my board.

"shhh!" My mom hisses. "I'm in the part where they're in the boat looking at birds!!"

I shake my head and jog up to my room. I figured I should get a head start on my homework. I take out my math notebook and start answering my homework but I couldn't focus. The way I talked to both Thomas and Carter was amazing. I didn't stutter (that much) or walk away or act freaky! I was just... Acting like... Being....

Myself.