oxygen (e.d.)

chapter twenty-three

{riley}
*6 days until birthday*

i sip my coffee and flip through my book, not really wanting to read. instead, i lift up my head and start to scan the rest of the customers in the starbucks.

in my head, i like to people watch and make stories about the all kinds of people i see.

old lady eating alone:
newly widowed. likes to spend time in the coffee shop she ate at with her husband every saturday morning. lives alone and still cries when she receives mail with his name on it.

pair of teenagers:
first date. she's liked him since second grade, but he just recently discovered his feelings for her. it's weird, since they've known each other forever, but they make the most out of it.

middle aged woman typing rapidly and angrily on her phone:
her name is karen and her husband was late to take their daughter to dance class. she likes pumpkin spice lattes and picking up her kids from school. only shops at hyvee or whole foods and hates ripped jeans.

i laugh at my own little world and tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. sloane and wyatt are busy doing god knows what, and both my parents are working. so, basically it's just me.

i could call grayson, but i'm pretty sure he's with wyatt and sloane, too. probably scheming another way to ruin more of rowen.

sighing, i stand up and throw away my coffee cup. it was cold brew, which i hate, but it makes me sound sophisticated.

i pat my back pocket to make sure i have my phone, and start walking for the door.

"hey," a voice says behind me.

i swivel around and am met with....

you guessed it.

ethan.

"your book," he says, but i don't quite here it. too much blood is rushing to my ears.

"hm?"

"your book, riley," he lets out a small laugh and holds out the novel i left in my little corner.

"oh," i reply, "thanks."

he nods, and i stand there awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

"happy birthday," he says.

"what?"

"you know, early birthday. in case i don't see you."

"thanks," i laugh, "it's no big deal."

"throwing a rager?" he asks sarcastically.

"oh yes," i joke back, "me going out to eat at a 3 star restaurant with my only 2 friends- and one of them is my brother- is quite the party scene."

he laughs and i take that as the cue for the end of the conversation.

"thanks for returning this," i hold up my book, "see you around."

"bye riley."