My Coffee Girl

Chapter 4: First Impression

As I pushed the door opened, majority of the class had begun to settle in. I walked briskly to Daniel's table and sat next to him. Agnes shuffled on her feet for a while before decided to occupy the empty seat beside Clarie hesitantly. Clarie seemed taken aback by the unannounced newcomer, but her warm smile quickly masked her surprise. 

I've always liked to study a person's behavior, making up possible theories based on their appearance or change of emotions. But I had quickly learnt that Clarie was difficult to read. She guarded herself well, always keeping her feelings in check while she drifted in and out of groups of friends, never staying long enough for people to know her well. Aside from Daniel, no one really knew what she was thinking about. From her slight shift of emotion, I could sense that she wasn't exactly comfortable with Agnes sitting next to her even though I had no idea why. 

My wandering mind was sharply tugged back into reality as Daniel nudged me slightly. "Is she the one we saw at your mum's place yesterday?" 

I nodded my head and hummed. "I think so." I was pulling my textbook from my bag before his wry smile made me stopped. "What now?" 

"I don't know about you; but Clarie told me you have the hots for her," he whispered smugly. I rolled my eyes at his air quotes. That was what they were discussing about huh? 

I focused on finding the page of the new chapter that we were going to learn later. "You know, we're not in elementary school anymore." Before I could bottle up my annoyance for good; my big mouth decided to open up again. "Plus, Clarie could pay some attention during classes to improve her grades." 

The moment the words rolled off my tongue I knew I had screwed up.

Big time. 

I glanced up swiftly only to be frightened by Clarie's expressionless obsidian eyes, which were now narrowed and zeroed in onto me dangerously. 

"Thanks for reminding, Zane." Her cold fury was evident in her tone. Before I could utter another word, she had whipped her head around as Mr Anthony called for attention. I turned to Daniel, hoping to ask for backup only to be greeted by his stony face. 

He avoided my gaze and faced the giant whiteboard ahead of us instead. He sat straighter, his form unusually rigid and still. "You know you shouldn't have said that." I hated myself for swallowing at the sight of Daniel curling up his fists without himself knowing. I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the class, unwilling to get beaten up by an overly protective boyfriend. 

Well, isn't this just great. Congratulations for pissing off someone that truly cares for you, Zane. I thought to myself bitterly. Hell, she even returned the correction tape to me without so much of giving me a glance. If I was not mistaken, she had stolen, or in her words "borrowed"; about four or five of them from me. She had enjoyed so much on annoying the hell out of me by stealing them that it was almost some sort of a tradition thing between the both of us. 

Daniel broke the stagnant silence as we were busy solving equations. "I suggest sending her a text. She would get all tongue-tied if you do it in person. Which led to her being flustered. And then to frustrated. And then to furious." He stated calmly, referring to my impending apology.