Hot Chocolate and Conflicts

Part One B

Part 1 B

Throughout the next year, I avoided that particular Starbucks. Instead, I went to Tim Horton's. Even though they didn't have the peppermint hot chocolate that I so very much craved in the winter. At least their regular hot chocolate was delicious. I enjoyed my evenings at the closest Timmie's to me, eventually the employees referred to me as a "regular", which I was.

My life revolved around routines. Every morning, I would wake up at 6:15, do my morning routine, then be at school for 7:30. I'd have 40 minutes before school started, enough time to catch up on homework. After morning classes, I would briskly walk to the hall where my group of friends hung out at lunch. We would laugh for the whole of our hour and a half lunch break, and then finish afternoon classes.

After school, and the stress of putting on a fake face all day, I walked home alone. It didn't matter the weather. In that year, I walked home in the rain. In the snow. In the torture of sunlight, and the bliss of fog. It was relaxing.

Routine was relaxing.

Routine is what kept my head screwed on straight. Especially in the evenings. That was the typical time that my mind would start to wander. The typical time that I'd distract myself with hot chocolate. No matter the season.

I'd stay at the bitter smelling coffee shop till closing. It was better than going home, and when there was free internet, why not?

A year. That's how long this went on for. It was a good way for me to escape, to deal with my issues alone. It helped me feel better, like I was going out and accomplishing stuff instead of staying home and doing nothing. This was important to me, and over the course of that year, I had made friends because of that. I put myself out there, finally.

But Winter came, and the friends I had made wanted to go to Starbucks.

Did I have a choice? Yes. Everyone always has a choice.

Did I make the right decision? Well, for awhile there I thought that my world had ended. Although now, I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome.

After all, Terence Kynaston and I kept meeting.