Not All Sunshine And Rainbows

Chapter 2: Coffee Breath

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It's 12 in the afternoon and I'm sitting at a coffee shop waiting for James like the most basic human in the world.

I don't know why I agreed to this, but here I am. I have a black coffee in the mug Jake bought me for Christmas, and I'm nervously rubbing my thumb along my wrist while I wait.

It's not like James to be late. He's on time for everything.

Perfectionist would be an understatement for that boy.

He said 12:30 sharp and it's 12:32. I'm a little worried.

Then I see his car pull up, and I'm relieved that he's ok. James walks into the coffee shop with a triumphant look and his phone up.

"12:30 sharp! I told you I wouldn't be late!"

In response I hold up my phone and my watch.

"I have two devices that say otherwise," I laugh and so does he as we hug and he sits down.

"So," he starts, even his eyes show his glamorous smile, "talked to Jake?" There's a smirk on his face now that says 'no way you didn't'.

"Actually no," I say, matching his smirk, "he hasn't apologized yet."

James's smirk is replaced with a look of both relief and disbelief.

"So you're actually listening to my advice?" His voice dies off to a whisper but his face is more filled with excitement now.

"Ya, freckles, of course I am. Better than anything I could come up with," I shrug and take a long satisfying drink of my coffee but have to refrain from spitting it everywhere when I see blush creep onto his speckled cheeks.

I almost forgot about the disaster yesterday.

I bring my legs, which were straying too close to his, nearer to me and sit straight.

"I uh gotta go to the restroom," I mumble, as I hurriedly and clumsily stand up from the table. My knee hits the corner of it but I keep walking and manage to run into two more tables.

I apologize profusely and turn to go to the bathroom, then crash into a barista that's headed out from behind the coffee bar.

Jesus, you'd think I'd be able to use my eyes every once in a while.

"I'm so sorry, uh," I look for her name tag, "Amelia, uh so incredibly sorry."

I bend down and pick up the clutch and phone I knocked out of her hands.

"Here," I smile and rub the back of my head as she gives me a questioning look.

"I'm sorry too, I should've been looking."

"No, no uh it's fine, I'm fine. I'm just meeting a uh um, friend?"

Then she leaves and I continue my trek to the restroom to splash some water on my face and get myself together.

I'm only gone a couple minutes, but as I walk back I see another person at the table with James.

"Oh uh, hey Eric," Eli says. He looks a bit nervous, and it makes me happy to know he's scared of me.

I stare at James and he gives me an 'oops I didn't know you hate him' look that's completely fake.

I sit down and drink my now lukewarm coffee. Eli continues his conversation with James, and I move my foot till it's resting next to James's.

When my foot touches his he looks up at me a bit startled, but the look fades quickly as Eli continues to jabber on about whatever it is he's interested in besides Jake.