Summer

Chapter 03 - Lemonade and Diet Coke

Chapter Three

I step into Organic, the local café. Well you could call it a café if you ignore the cheap coffee and misshaped cupcakes that look like volcanoes as the red icing miserably slides down the sagging sides. Nothing here is organic, it's just the only letters they had left over, the c is really half of an o. The only reason people come here is because It's packed full of somebody's, if you don't hang out here for the bitter coffee, drama and gossip you aren't a somebody, you're a nobody.

I scan the tables for Hannah, we always go here on Sunday mornings. It's been our little ritual since the fifth grade. Some people go to church every Sunday of every year for their beliefs, we go to a tacky café every Sunday morning because we always have and always will. There are no buts, maybes or hesitations.

We don't even text each other, we just know we'll be meeting here probably for the rest of our lives and I'm okay with that, it's my way of escaping the drama and nagging of The Gang. I mean I love everyone like you wouldn't believe but sometimes I need space to think, to breathe and other than going to the beach this is the next best thing.

I find Hannah sitting in the corner on an uncomfortable plastic chair. She doesn't seem to notice though, she's lost in her daydream. A book glued to her hands and eyes. Creating unknown fantasies in her head where she can be anyone, anything she wants to be and no one can take that away from her.

I sit down across from her. I follow her eyes dart across the page as she rushes to finish the chapter. I don't mind, I'd wait forever if I had to. Hannah has this addictive calming affect about her, the way she intelligently watches everything around her yet sometimes looks as lost as I feel.

Maybe we are feeling the same way. Maybe she goes to a secluded beach and just stares out at nothing and everything at the same time. Just thinking, thinking about everything and everyone. Feeling all the emotions she can grasp. Worry, affection, loneliness, loss, bewilderment. At least that's how I feel. Like I'm floating and falling at the same time, like I can trust no one, like running from my problems will help. I feel so lost, like I have no place in this town.

"Sorry" Hannah's voice shatters my thoughts and I mentally thank her for it.
"Sorry for what?" I ask, still feeling lost.
"For finishing my chapter instead of saying hi" she's to good for her own good.
"Hannah" my voice is serious. "We have met here since we were in fifth grade and I do not mind if you do or do not say hello to me because we have greeted each other here every Sunday morning for about five years" I explain. She nods her head and opens her mouth to say something when James the waiter comes to our table. She instantly shrinks back, trying to pretend she was going to say nothing. She was definitely going to say something.
"Hey James" I greet him, he nods his head in my direction but his eyes are locked on the beautiful girl sitting across from me. I swear if I didn't know her so well I would believe she's an angel. Her high cheekbones and smiling eyes attract the attention of every boy with eyes and good taste. She's so perfect.
"What do you want ladies?" He looks at Hannah as he says ladies. I know he really meant 'What do you want Hannah' and I feel like I should leave but I stay because I know she has something to say. We order two coffees and watch James leave in silence.

He returns with two steaming coffee mugs. He leaves with a wink in Hannah's direction, he seems almost as perfect as she does. He has tawny hair and sparkling eyes. He's not too tall and he's muscled. High cheekbones and pink lips. He's the hottest guy in this town and every girl is in love with him, except me.

He's way out of my league and I respect that, I know I'd have more luck with a garbage can with a face drawn on it. I chuckle, my conscience is weird but sadly very true.

"He totally likes you" I state nudging her arm. Hannah shrugs and stares at her coffee, it's way too hot to drink.
"He's not my type" she states simply. This time I'm the one shrugging.
"Okay, then if you don't like James there's got to be someone special" I say in an insistent tone.
"Yeah, that's what I want to talk about" her voice is slightly toneless with, nervousness? We've told each other everything since forever.
"Please tell me it's not Daniel" I wince at the thought of my beautiful best friend turning down James because she likes a jerk like Daniel. I mean we are like brother and sister but honestly Daniel is a total jerk. Mainly because he's too rough and pushes people away instead of welcoming them. She shakes her head and relief floods through my veins.
"He's in The Gang" she whispers. This isn't just a high school crush, this is serious.
"Is it the bus kid, Spencer?" I guess. She nods her head slowly. I mentally scold myself for ignoring the obvious signs of love between them. Both of them have spent a lot of time together alone doing homework and reading books.
"That's wonderful!" I exclaim with relief that it's not some dangerous, jerk. It's just a simple yet intelligent boy from a simple yet not very intelligent town.
"You really think so?" She asks obviously unsure of her emotions. I was right about one thing; her emotions are taking over but not about everything, just one thing. Love. She is unsure if she should follow her head or her heart. She doesn't even know what her choices are, just that she likes this guy but he might not like her back.
"I'm sure you're perfect for one another" I state honestly. She smiles and we sit in silence. Sipping coffee in between fragments of gossip and conversation.

James comes back to collect our coffee mugs and I order a lemonade and diet coke. Behind me someone enters the café, Hannah is staring incredulously at them and I whip my head around to see spencer. Brown hair, dark jeans, collared shirt and a book in his hand. I have to admit, he's cute but not my type. I don't even know my type.

I call him over and get James to grab another drink. James hands me the drinks in cute retro glass bottles and places glasses on the table, full of ice.

I have lemonade, Hannah has diet coke and Spencer has blood orange fizzy drink. I notice they probably want some space so I grab my drink, bag and skateboard and move to a different table. I place my bag in a chair, lean my skateboard against the table leg and lean against the table, glass in hand.

James comes and stands next to me with a backpack over his shoulder. His shift has finished. He's wearing black jeans, converse and a tight t-shirt with a band name over the front. 

"She's pretty" he mutters. I look at him, like really look at him. His tawny hair slightly ruffled and his tanned skin. Things I never bothered to notice about him before.
"I know" is all I say. All I can say as I watch my best friend and her crush with an extremely good looking boy standing inches away from me with his eyes locked on her.
"She likes him though doesn't she" he says glumly.
"I'm sure there are other girls who would fall to their knees and jump off of cliffs for you" I state, I'm irritated for some reason.
"What's wrong?" He asks his voice is as smooth as his flawless complexion.
"I don't know" I say miserably. "It's just something they have that I know I will probably never have" I gesture to the cute couple.
"What would that be?" James asks, my cheeks redden slightly as I notice his eyes on me now.
"If I knew I would have told you already" I tell him the truth.
"You worry too much" he states and puts a hand to my chin and turns my head so I'm looking straight into his eyes.
"I know" I whisper. He has beautiful eyes. Green, just so green. Like a forest you can get lost in for hours. We look into each other's eyes for what feels like hours. Finally he releases my jaw and I can look somewhere that isn't him. He leaves soon after and I follow him out.
"See you around Sky" he says before turning in the opposite direction. With a glance in Hannah's direction I skate down the road.