COFFEE CUPS

Chapter 6 - Marcus

I ship it!

You know, Blaire and Spencer?

They're so cute together!

"Oi Marcus, look at those strange people over there!" Anna says, pointing at Blaire and Spencer who are emerging from the staff toilets still sopping wet. I mean, it took me like 2 minutes to dry off, what were those guys doing in there?!

"You guys took a long time!"

"NOT my fault, Blaire thought it was fun to keep splashing me with water so I never got dry..." Spencer sighs and glares at Blaire. I notice her whisper generator to Spencer, causing his face to burn with anger.

"Woah, Spencer, you okay?" Anna asks, walking over to Spencer and separating the pair. She winks at me and points to Blaire who is also fuming. Great, I'm getting lumbered with the super angry one.

"Hey, Blaire! Let's serve the customers while Anna sorts Spencer out, okay?"

"Fine." Blaire says, wandering over to me and starting to make herself a peppermint hot chocolate.

"Woah, woah! I'll do that!" I butt in, grabbing the mug out of her hands as soon as I notice it shaking violently.

"Sorry, I just..." She sighs, sinking her shoulders.

"Don't worry about it. Here, have a cookie!" I smile, passing her a chocolate chip cookie I'd baked earlier.

"Thanks." She says as I finish off the cream on her hot chocolate and stick in a peppermint stick.

"Is there something you want to talk about?" I ask, signalling to Kenna and Leo to cover for me.

"Marcus, how does Anna do it?"

"Do what?"

"Put up with Spencer!"

"Well they've known each other an awfully long time -since they were born in fact - so I guess it just comes naturally to her."

"Lucky."

"Maybe you should try and spend more time with him? It's his - and Anna's - birthday in 2 weeks, maybe you could try and do something for that?"

"But Kenna and Leo have planned a party..."

"Anna probably won't want to go and I don't think Spencer will either."

"So we could do something as a group instead?"

"Maybe. Or you two could do something together?"

"No way! I'd rather go as a group, thanks." "Fine. Where exactly should we plan to go?"

"No idea..."

"Anna's mum owns a restaurant...?"

"Let's go there."

"Sure?"

"Sure I'm sure."

Spencer and Anna return then, with Anna shooting me a kind of worried look that I've never seen before. I have no idea what it means, so I rush over to her in a split second, leaving Blaire to her own devices.

"Marcus, wait for me in the storeroom, I need to tell Kenna something." She whispers and runs off in Kenna's direction. I do as she says and walk to the back of the storeroom. She appears seconds later with 2 teas and passes one to me. I nod in thanks.

"What did you want to talk about?" I ask taking a sip. She must've put extra milk in it so it's just the right temperature.

"Something's up with Spencer."

"Something's up with Blaire."

"Me first. When I took Spencer outside he was all quiet and you know Spencer, he's never quiet."

"So...?"

"I think Spencer's in love."

"Woah, okay. Who is he in love with?"

"By process of elimination, I'm guessing it's Blaire."

"MY TURN! Blaire was asking me how you put up with Spencer and his antics, so I told them we'd do something for your birthdays next next week."

"And what might that something be?"

"She wanted to go to your mums restaurant."

"But Kenna's having a party for us! Not that I'd go but..."

"Let's leave those two lovebirds alone and stick with Blencer for the time being."

"Ohh, that's so cute! We've totally got to set them up now!"

"But how...?"

"Let's not turn up at the restaurant."

"WHAT?!" Okay, I've got to admit, this idea of Anna's didn't shock me as much as I thought it would.

"You know, let them have some alone time, maybe watch on from another table?"

"Damn, Anna, you really are mischievous!"

"Maybe I was a spy in a past life!" She says, winking at me and sitting up.

"We better get back to our shift..."

"Sure, but one second..." She laughs, stretching up and planting a kiss on my cheek and walking back into the coffee shop. I walked slowly after her, carrying the cocoa and icing sugar mixture we sprinkle on top of hot chocolates with me to fill up the shakers. Kenna eyes me strangely, and looks from Anna to me a couple of times.

"What did you guys do in there?" She asks, leaning on the bar and staring me down.

"Let's just say this... Spencer and Blaire are... Well... We're missing the party to set Spencer and Blaire up..." I whisper, leaning over so Spencer and Blaire can't hear what I'm saying.

"What?" She screams, clasping her hands over her mouth.

"Shut up, Kenna, you're making it obvious." Anna hisses.

"Sorry, sorry. So are you guys going to be spying on them or something?"

"Of course!" Anna laughs, doing one of her little dances and winking at me.

"Let's make this happen!"