Shot in the Dark

Lina's coffee fix

I woke up with the sinking feeling, realising that the weekend had come and gone in a heartbeat. Seeing as school was nearing the final exam season I knew that as much as I would rather do anything other than revise, I had to keep up the grades that I was recently achieving.

I must have been the first person awake as the house was silent, which isn't surprising as it was before eight on Mum and Will's only real day off.

Not wanting to wake the others up I grabbed my Physics book and my stationary, stuffing them into my bag before making my way to Lina's.

As I opened the heavy café door the smell of hot chocolate mixed with coffee filled my nose. I sat in my normal corner seat which looked out upon the fountain in the centre of the square.

This seat was my saving grace before and after James had ruined every friendship I had. It was the only place that gave me privacy from the town. The tall booth that surrounded the table made it seem hidden from the rest if the café. Most of the town people chose the seats at the centre of the café, where they could overhear all the gossip in the comfort of their seats.

I dropped my bag in the seat before grabbing my purse and heading to the counter. Luckily with it being so early on a Sunday there was no queue, allowing me to go straight to Seb with my order.

Seb smiled as soon as he saw me walking towards the counter. "Ahh Bella, what a surprise!" He spoke in his thick Italian accent. He leant over the counter to give me the tightest hug.

I laughed knowing full well what he was implying. "I know it's not Wednesday, but with exams nearing my seat and your coffee was calling to me."

"Well you know I make the best coffee in town." He retorted with a wink.

"Exactly! Are the others working today?" I asked Seb, noticing that he was the only one on the counter.

"Only me, Kate and J this morning. The others are in later though." He replied as he started to wipe the counter after taking my money.

"J, is he new?" I queried. I've never heard of a J working here before.

"No, he's been here a while now. He never works on a Wednesday though, which is probably why you don't know him. I think he only works Mondays, Tuesdays and Sunday mornings." Seb answered.

"Oh okay. Well revision is calling, I'll catch you in a bit." I smiled before slipping back into my seat.

I was quickly working through solving an equation when I noticed a steaming cup of coffee placed on my table. I looked up to thank Seb for once again saving me with my liquefied energy, only to see James stood in front of me with a towel placed on his shoulder and a waiter band around his waist.

"James? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing Princess."

"Hang on. You're the J that Seb was telling me about? You work here?"

"No, I just dress up as a waiter for the fun of it" James replied sarcastically.

Lina's is my favourite café and I didn't know that he worked here. I was slightly annoyed that I could have potentially had even more of a discount than what I have now.

"How long have you been working here?" I grabbed hold of my coffee, smelling the aroma that was oozing out of my cup. Seb never failed to amaze me with his coffee skills.

"A few months after I moved in." He shrugged and slid into the seat next to me, chucking the towel that was on his shoulder onto the table.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know I had to if I'm being honest" James shrugged submissively.

"I see" I muttered. I took my first sip of my coffee, closing my eyes so that I could truly appreciate the coffee.

"At least we know I can make a mean cup of coffee by that reaction." He chucked as he picked his towel, making his way out of the booth.

"Seb made this for me" I shouted back at James, not allowing him to even joke about stealing Seb's masterpiece.

"No, he didn't Princess. Ask him if you don't believe me." With that he left me alone to clean up the nearest table.

Chucking my headphones in I slowly began to get stuck into my revision, tuning out the busy café that had people constantly entering to get their morning fix. After revising half of the course and two past papers three hours later I found myself walking up to order another coffee.

"Seb, fancy making another one of your coffee's? Potentially with that slice of cake." I asked whilst pointing to the chocolate cake that looked like diabetes in a slice as it was covered in so much chocolate.

"Sure, I'll put your order on now." He placed the largest slice onto a plate, and then continued to cover it in warm hot chocolate.

"This is why you're my favourite." I said as I gave him a flirty wink.

"I'm hurt Princess! Even after I made you the best coffee you've ever had you betray me like this!" James appeared behind Seb, bringing out a coffee in my mug. (Yes, I even have my own mug here I'm that much of a regular!)

I rolled my eyes, taking the coffee from James.

"Thank you, but Seb always makes my coffee. So, there is no point in lying, I know it wasn't you."

Seb handed me the cake before interrupting our conversation, "Bella, I've not made a single coffee this morning. Haven't you seen how busy it is out front?"

"You haven't?" I questioned in disbelief.

"No Bella, now I need to serve these customers and he needs to start making coffee" He replies before hitting James with his towel, shooing him away from the counter and back into the kitchen.

Taking my goods back to my seat I smelt the coffee in disbelief. Since when could James make coffee better than Seb. See I only would have coffee if Seb was working, knowing that no one could really match up to his standards, only to find out the boy across my room made the best coffee that I have ever tasted. Shocked at my recent revelation I dug into the cake that I was certain I would regret eating in a few hours. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE 

Triple update guys- take this as a serious apology for being so inactive! 

Next chapter is James POV (will be updated next week/ potentially before the New Year if I manage to write a few more chapters) 

THANKS FOR NOT LEAVING 

-T