I Met You In The Rain

What goes up...

"It's just a meet for some coffee, really." I took a short breath, fixing the mess that was my hair.

"Just some coffee, nothing important. We are just gonna chat a bit and catch up on everything since Highschool. He probably has a girlfriend, and then I won't have to worry anyway." I pulled my hair up into a quick ponytail decorated with the cute butterfly clip my boyfriend had given me for my birthday and pulled on my shoes.

"Just coffee with an old friend..." I once again reminded myself, shaking my head to clear unwanted thoughts.

I hailed a taxi, as a college student I wasn't quite able to drive. My parents always told me I didn't need a reason to drive, as they could take me places.... Until they kicked me out under false accusations of course. But still, me being unable to drive becomes expensive to get to places.

The coffee shop that he wanted to meet, it was a pretty far distance from where I lived, which annoyed me because he knows that I don't have a car. He also is fully aware that I live in a cheap apartment without a drivers permit. Why did I always let him choose?

"He better be paying for my coffee," I whispered under my breath as I played a smile, paying the taxi driver and preparing to get out. I stepped out of the cab, imagining I was stepping out of a limo onto the red carpet.... Might as well pretend to enjoy this moment.

I flipped my hair, gave a genuine smile at the taxi driver and waved bye. Sometimes kindness is enough, right? I looked at the Coffee shop, ironically named: Tea Emporium. It was a very expensive place, I couldn't afford this if I wanted to. I opened the doors, to see him waiting at a small 2 person table with 2 drinks. Thank God.

"Ashie! Baby! How are you?" He stood up in his private school blazer. I rolled my eyes at his extravagant hello.

"Hey, Alec." I walked over, smiling. "You remember my order?"

"Of course Ashie! Double White Chocolate Latte with a Caramel Drizzle. You're favorite."

"All the sugar~" I giggled sipping my Latte.

We went on, a normal conversation talking about how much of a sugar girl I am. I love my sugar. What was supposed to be a 30 minute meet up to just hang out wound up being a two-hour conversation about our lives. 

"Well this has been fun, but I have to figure out what dinner is going to look like." I smiled and giggled in a weird way that felt awkward and strange, yet familiar.

"Need any help? You always used to love my cooking," he was smiling at me, and I wasn't sure what to say.... Damn, I missed that smile.

WOAH. ASH. CHILL.

"Yeah, totally miss the way you almost burned my house down." I laughed.

"That was ONE time!" He said with a small blush, "you had fun though, admit it."

"Yeah, yeah. I guess so." I could feel something off here, it was getting too familiar. This was flirting. I stopped the moment with an awkward fade to nothing laugh.

He gave me the same smile I knew way too well, "Well, my number hasn't changed. Call if you need anything, Ash. I'm always here."

"I have a bOyFriEnD" I let out, in a burst of embarrassment.

"My number," he paused and laughed for a second. "Still hasn't changed." He winked and turned away from me.

Classic.

"WELL BYE." I uncomfortably stood up, grabbing the empty coffee cup and walked out. Very fast.

Waiting for the lights to co-operate, I notice my boyfriend across the street. It was kinda nice, I could prove to Alec I wasn't just pretending if he so happened to walk out of the coffee shop after I walked away.

The light turned red, and I rushed across the street to join my boyfriend. "Hey, Devin~" I rolled the "evin" to be cute.

"Hey babe, I didn't know you'd be this far into town."

"Well, an old friend wanted some coffee. They chose to meet up there," I pointed to 'Tea Emporium.'

I smiled at him, and we walked together for a few blocks before he stopped at a Taxi line up.
"Ash, I have to go meet my cousin. I'll talk to you tomorrow, ok?"

"Yeah, sure," I smiled, giving him a peck on the cheek and waving goodbye.

I watched him walk away for a few minutes before turning and getting in a taxi, heading for home.

"I have to figure out what dinner is going to look like, Ramen? Or Sandwiches."