Floating On Air

III. Hot Chocolate or Black Coffee?

III. Hot Chocolate or Black Coffee? 

"I don't drink coffee." 

"How can you not like coffee?" he demanded.

"How can you not like hot chocolate?" I argued back.

"It's too hot!" Cameron protested. 

"But coffee's just as hot." 

"There's ice coffee, you know?" he replied, in a duh tone. 

"There's ice chocolate, you know?" I mocked. 

"Uh..." We swivelled our heads towards the cashier in front of us, in unison. She blinked up at us, in an almost intimidated manner. "Would you like anything?" 

"I'll have a regular hot chocolate."

"I'll have a tall black coffee." 

We spoke simultaenously. 

"Ew, black coffee?" I echoed, in disgust, when we left the counter. I couldn't help but notice how relieved the cashier looked. "There's no milk and cream in that." 

"So?" he shrugged. 

"That's so bitter. It's gross." 

"Your face is gross," he argued, lamely. "The bitterness of it makes it taste better." 

"No, it doesn't." 

"Order 30 - tall black coffee and regular hot chocolate," came from the speakers above us. I jumped on the spot, slightly and grabbed my drink. 

"Better not get your little Asian self bitter," I heard Cameron mutter, but I refused to acknowledge his comment. 

"So, what's up with Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum?" I questioned. 

"Who?" 

"Austin and Hayley." 

"Oh, them," he replied. "They've dated for only a month. I don't think they'll last but whatever." 

"Why not?" 

Cameron pondered over my question for a moment and take a long sip of his black coffee. "They're too similar, I guess. They're both too nice. It hasn't happened yet but their personalities will clash. That never turns out well, does it?" 

"I guess not, but I'm no expert in relationships so I shouldn't say anything." 

"Forever alone?" he asked, with a grin. 

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "No. I dumped him."

The boy walking next to me raised a dubious eyebrow. "Why?" 

"He was a douche," I stated, plainly, ignoring the stab at my heart. 

He was the complete opposite of a douche. He was one of the sweetest guys I'd ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Of course, I had never expected my first romantic relationship to last forever. I'd seen our break up coming. Zachary had been an insecure teenage boy who struggled to fit in within the confines of society. He constantly got high to help relieve the pain he received from his overly strict parents and society, itself. We managed to last two years and a half, before I decided I was tired of dealing with his overbearing problems, called him a burden and dumped him. 

That was probably the only action I had ever regretted in my life. Despite the fact that he had gotten high a lot, he had always been there for me and I couldn't help but be grateful for that.