Best Friends

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Feeling tired and in need of something to awaken me, I pull up outside a 24 hour Starbucks right outside my home town. I have been driving five hours straight and even though I would be home in about twenty minutes, I feel like getting a Captain Crunch Frappuccino. My favourite drink from Starbucks.

With a smile on my face, I climb out of my car and head towards the shop. When I step inside, I hear the clear sound of the bell above me and immediately notice some people looking at me. A grin makes its way to my face when I smell the freshly brewed coffee and other delicious things. I've always loved Starbucks and am so happy that I am finally able to go there again. 

Although it is Saturday and only 7 o'clock in the morning, a few customers are queuing. I immediately notice the reason of the queue: there is only one employee behind the counter who is taking the orders and telling them her co-worker who prepares them. 

As I wait for my turn, I take a good look around me. Nothing has changed since I have been here the last time. There are still those, in my opinion, uncomfortable black and brown seats and they still haven't added any colours to the walls. It is as plain as ever, but modern. 

After waiting for what felt like forever, it is finally my turn to order. However, as soon as I want to step forward and order, some guy jumps the queue without even caring. What the hell? I glare at his back, being aware that he can't see my anger. Who does he think he is? Probably some wannabe. I am so over them. Why can't people just be polite and queue like other people do? 

I clear my throat in a manner that probably many girls wouldn't approve of, but I want him, whoever the hell he is, to turn around and face me. As it was intended, he spins around, raising his eyebrows. 

Angrily, I squint my eyes, saying, "Excuse me, there's a line, hero." I try to go past him, but he wouldn't let me.

"I'm afraid, it's beauty before anything else," he simply answers, grinning cheekily.

Never ever have I been insulted like this before.

I snort, looking up to meet his eyes. I shouldn't have done that. Because when I did, I drowned in those sapphire lakes, also known as his eyes. I know who he is now: before me stands Nathaniel Evans, Nate for short - probably the town's biggest player. He hasn't changed a bit since I have last seen him... well, he has gotten more handsome, to be honest. 

I swallow hard before I am able to speak again. "Well, then you'd have to be the last in the queue." 

I wait for him to say something evil back, but nothing. He just starts laughing, throwing his head back in joy as if I told the funniest joke on the whole wide world.

I join in. His laugh is one to follow. So infectious. It always has been. 

When he suddenly stops laughing, he winks at me. I literally feel my cheeks take on colour and inwardly, curse my easy blushing. Embarrassed, I lift my hand to tuck some strands of loose hair behind my ears. I don't like being caught to be shy. It must have looked like I am trying to flirt with him though as suddenly a girl walks up, linking arms with him. He grins at her when she playfully hit his shoulder. 

Who is she? I am not really sure if I have seen her before. Probably she is his girlfriend - for the week. No girlfriend of him has lasted longer than one or two months. He pretty much changes his mind every few seconds about girls.

Amused, she regards me with a pitiful look. "Sorry, I have to warn you before you embarrass yourself in front of all of us by trying to flirt with him," she giggles.

I raise my eyebrows. I am not trying to flirt with him. In fact, if she knew who I am she would know that I am the last person to try to flirt with Nate. But clearly, both of them don't recognize me. Well, one and a half years is a long time after all. But still, I am a bit disappointed that they don't know me at all, I was the IT girl how they called me back in the days. I would have thought Nate, who had tried to hit on me a gazillion times, would recognize me, but nothing. Well, I have changed to be fair.