The Exception

Chapter 6: Coffee Is The Least I Can Do

I bolted through the front door of my house.

"Hey, Agnus, how was school?...Oh...darling,"

My mom, Kate, looked at my second ruined top. She frowned and pursed her lips. "Must have been quite a day."

"You have no idea," I muttered. "Is he ok? Is he still in the hospital? What was wrong with him? Is he...."

"Actually, he's here,"  guy's voice rang behind me and I turned around. He was really tall, and this time sported a casual blue shirt and shorts. "Mrs Rider, just invited me for coffee..."

"Can I make it? It's the least I can do...I'm so sorry," I said and shook my head.

The guy smiled and I let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't mad. That was good.  "Sure...it's Agnus, right?"

"Yeah, and you are?" I asked with  soft laugh. I didn't even bother to ask for his name! I was a terrible host.

"Keith," the guy smiled as he shoved his hands in his pocket. "Mrs Rider was just telling me how much you tend to play the violin."

I raised my brow and stared at my mom who gave  guilty grin. 

"And how many other secrets did she spill about me?" I asked him and crossed my arms.

"Nothing much, you kind of burst in pretty soon as we arrived..." Keith responded.

"And now I'm gonna make that coffee," I headed straight towards our kitchen. It was small, with a yellow and white tile-theme to it. I liked it, and I could detect the remnant scent of ginger cookies. My mom must have baked this morning. Ooooh, goodie.

I fixed up the coffee, and brought the milk jug and sugar. I joined him with my mom at the dining table.

"Thanks," Keith accepted the cup, but then lumped three sugars and a good dosage of milk. I smiled in amusement as I fixed my own and mother's cup. I sat down.

"So, yes, I do enjoy the occasional jog, and then I also enjoy the violin..." I said and my mother laughed.

"Enjoy? You live and breath on that instramunt among other things," my mom laughed. "Keith here is manager to a small sweets shop quite close to your school actually."

I raised my brow. "A sweet shop?"

Keith laughed. "Yeah, my mother and father are divorced. Just me and my mother, and I have to make ends meet."

"So where do you go to school?" I asked him. "Or do you even still go to school? I'm sorry, I'm just making assumptions here."

"Yeah, I school, at night...perks of being a homeschooler..."

"No way...I thought homeschoolers were..."

"What?" Keith grinned. "Socially awkward? Have no friends? Watch PG rated movies, overtly strict parents?"

"Well, maybe..." I uttered shyly. He shook his head.

"I do admit there are things I may have missed when doing my education at home, but  my job kinda jerked it right and made me grow a back bone..." Keith said. 

"Reminding me of jobs, and backbones, you need to send us your hospital bill...we have to cover it...I insist..." my mom spoke.

"I should be the one covering it..." I said.

"There's really no need..." Keith started, but my mother and I shot him a...don't even think about it look. 

"No offense, sweetie, but you don't have the money to cover his bill..."

"I'll find a way," I spoke, determined. It was my fault that he got hurt, I should pay for the damage.

"You could always work in the afternoons at the candy shop...we're looking for help," Keith said in a joky tone.

I looked at him, sparks of ideas flying in my head. "That would actually be perfect."

Keith had just then taken a sip, and hiccupped in the shock that I took it seriously. "You want to work?" He raised his brow and I nodded.

"It's good for extra income, and I get to pay back the hospital bill...if I'm allowed a shot..."

"I can schedule an interview with the boss," Keith spoke, and a thrill of excitement filled me. I might actually be getting a job! "If Mrs Rider is ok with it."

"I actually think it is a great idea..." my mom winked at me. "You'll finally be able to save up for that..."

I kicked her leg softly and she hopped. She nodded and realized she was saying a little too much to someone we had just met that I was comfortable with. "Ah, I need to pick up your sister, you can show Keith out...right?" my mom stood up and grabbed the keys and her bag on the counter.

"Sure..." I said and grinned. "Bye mom."

"Bye, sweetie..." My mom left, leaving me and Keith in awkward silence.

"So...that candy shop..." I started.

"Ah..." Keith leaned forward. He pulled out the phone from his pocket. "Can I have your number? To contact you for the time of the interview?"

"Sure," I said. After sharing contact details we finished our coffee. Keith was quite fascinating. He had been in this town all his life, and worked with his Uncle, who was apparently the owner of the sweet shop...called Candy's Delight. However, he himself did not eat anything sugary and jogged every morning.

"If you get more comfortable, some time I can show you some of the other routes," Keith offered and I nodded.

"Sounds great..."

Keith glanced at his phone. "Shoot, I need to go...but it was nice getting to know you and your mom..." He stood up.

"It's really great to get to know you too..." I responded. "Nice to meet someone nice..."

Keith laughed again. "Good bye, Agnus..." I led him to the door and he walked out. I watched as he turned his walking into a jog, down the street. I closed the door and pulled out my phone which buzzed. It was Ellie.

Gonna have coffee and homework...wanna come? 

I sighed. I enjoyed spending time with Ellie, but the thought of her brother possibly being there made me nervous.

Seriously? Why?

I shook my head. It would be good to get up to speed with school, and Ellie was my best shot at it.

Sure, but I can't stay too long...

I responded. Two seconds later I got a:

:)

I smiled as I grabbed my school bag. I quickly texted my mom to where I was headed and locked the house. This was going to be an interesting night.