Winter is My Season

Two: Unexpected Encounter

I gasp.

"Hi, can I have a latte?"

Calam Wells is right in front, looking at me.

I was still recovering from shock and stumbled with my words. "Y-y-yes sure." He flash a charismatic smile and I could feel heat rushing to my cheeks.

Calam Wells, the most sought after male at school, the perfect golden boy. I couldn't believe my eyes that this man is in my coffee house. I quickly hid behind my coffee machine, for the first time thankful that I was small enough.

I remind myself, breathe, Zara, breathe.

My hands shake as I made the coffee, occasionally fumbling with the machine. I wasn't infatuated with him or anything, no, but the sight of him had me stunned. Many of us call him the Untouchable. He is a typical golden boy; one who dates the school's most popular cheerleader and a valedictorian.

I walk to where he is seated and serve him his coffee.

He scrutinise my face, his gaze lingering a little too long that made me uncomfortable. "Hey, you look familiar. Are you from Westfield High?"

"Me? No-no, I think you got the wrong person." I lie. I couldn't bear the awkwardness of meeting someone I recognise from school and I'm not very much interested in discussing school-related stuff if he knew.

"Oh, sorry my bad."

I smile, telling him that I don't mind.

Another voice bounce through the hallway, "Why the hell is there a sudden blizzard? I'm not going to make it back for Christmas and my mum's totally not going to be happy."

"You gotta chill bro. Just apologise to her as soon as you get back," another says.

"Stop whining like a kid, Wes," Calam says.

Wes?

The two figures appeared right before me and I did a double-take. They are the friends of Calam that I had referred to and all of them are here, right in my coffee house.

There is no point 'hiding' my identity when Mitchell says, "Holy shit, is that Zara Clifford? What are you doing here?" Mitchell Cowell is my table partner for Chemistry.

I wave, suddenly in an extremely awkward situation that I wish I could escape from. "Hi. That's me."

Calam raise a questioning brow at me and I avoided his gaze in purpose. I shouldn't have lied.

"What the hell? Is this some Westfield High reunion?" Wes grumble. He was slouching on a seat next to Calam and nibbled on a cookie.

"Is there anything I can get you guys?" I ask nervously.

"So you work here?" Mitchell places his hand over my shoulder. We are not as close as you may think but he tends to be more comfortable around people.

"Yeah, my family run this inn and this is my shop."

"That's super cool," Calam says.

I shrug. "I guess."

"Drinks on the house?" Mitchell flash a cheeky smile.

"Sure."

"Damn, you're the coolest girl I know"

"I'll take that as a compliment," I say.

"So, is this where you spend your holidays?" Calam makes a move closer to where I am.

"Yep, mostly. It's kind of a dream job for me." I replied. I handed Mitchell and Wes their coffee, and Mitchell burnt his tongue by accident.

"Ouch, damn it!"