Force of Habit

Chapter 3

I sit on my raggedy couch, cuddled up underneath big fluffy blankets, hot cup of coffee in hand. It has been pouring all day and into the night. I'm glad I'm not in the rain. I think to myself as I get up to refill my coffee. Suddenly a wet feeling spreads throughout my sock. I cringe. Wet socks, ew gross.

Ripping off my socks, I continue on my quest for more heated caffeine. The quest is complete! I think to myself as the warmth of the drink spreads throughout my body. Too bad my toes are still cold. I rush back to my fort of blankets but step in another puddle of water. I stop. Why is water attacking me right now? I look up to the ceiling to be greeted by another drop of chilliness landing on my forehead.

"Oh, that's how we're going to play?" I say to myself and to the ceiling.

It only taunts me with another drop landing precariously on my eyebrow. I sigh as I grab a pot to place under the crack in the ceiling that allows my apartment to be wet. I keep walking but am only greeted by more of these wet monsters. Soon the floor is littered with every mug, cup, bowl, pot, or hollowed out form of dish I could possibly find. Finally I am able to sit down, thinking I have defeated the puddle monsters, but oh I am so wrong. For as I begin to cuddle back up, I am greeted by one last taunting drop landing right on the bridge of my nose. The only sound I make is the groan replicating that of a dying alpaca.

No wonder I got this apartment so cheap. I think to myself. I give up, so I sling my legs around so they are planted on the ground and without getting up, push myself to my bedroom, while staying firmly planted on the couch, ignoring the many dishes I overturned or shattered in the process and the screeching of the couch's legs as they scrape along the floor to my room. I make it all the way to the door, but me being the lazy butt I am, refused to get up or even open the door, so I allow myself to plop back down on the couch and fall asleep. But sleep doesn't come, thanks to the lovely plinking of water to puddle that the roof so generously gifted me with. So I lay there for unending hours, listening to the plops and plinks of water droplets contacting my floor.

I must have dozed off after a while before I am so rudely interrupted by my annoying alarm clock that has decided today of all days to be hidden behind my bedroom door. I sigh and get up, knowing that the longer I sit here, the longer the noise will persist, becoming louder and further enrage me. How I moved that couch last night is beyond me, since it was placed on the other side of my apartment yesterday. I now have no need to get a gym membership. Ever. All I need to do is move my couch back and forth across my apartment and I'm set. Plus it makes lovely designs on my unidentified flooring. Oh look now I get I clean that up. I think, staring at the assortment of multicolored glass and ever growing puddles decorating my floor. I sigh as I grab my beaten down broom and begin sweeping. Sweeping and mopping. Mopping and sweeping. Such a lovely way to start the day. I look at my clock and realize that if I don't hurry, I'll be late for work. Something I absolutely cannot afford at the moment. So hurriedly I get ready and hasten through the streets, racing against time. Yep I definitely do not need a gym membership if I keep this lifestyle consisting of couch moving and running to work up

"You're late," Jamey, my manager said as I burst through the door exactly one minute after eight.

"Sorry," I mumble pulling on my apron and grabbing a pot of coffee to refill the mug of the man's in the corner.

"You're supposed to be here at eight. Care to tell me what happened?" She asks, blocking my way.

"Ummm, sure," I say as I begin to tell her the story about my leaky roof and how I spent all morning cleaning up the mess. She replies with only a nod. As she does, a crash is heard from the back. She scurries off in the direction of the noise. Poor Sam, she's going to be getting a much louder scolding than I did.

I go to the man in the corner and begin refilling his cup.

"Hello," he says. I assume that he's just friendly, so I smile. But when I look up I am greeted by dazzling white teeth and sparkling grey eyes. Dustin. It takes me a minute to realize that it is indeed him. He looks even more stunning than before, if that is even possible, especially in actual sunlight and not the clouded over haze provided on rainy afternoon. I guess it is possible.

"Hi," I finally reply.

"So how come I didn't get a text or something yesterday from you, Miss Olivia? I kinda thought you were interested."

Wow, straightforward much?

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. I had-" I pause, wondering how to explain the fact that I basically live in a puddle of broken glass and am currently battling my roof, "housing issues."

He purses his lips and I think I may become jello. But then he speaks, "Oh, I'm sorry. Anything I can help with?" He smiles again. Scratch the jello, I'm a melted jar of marshmallow fluff.

"No, it's fine. My roof just sucks," I say, finally explaining. Well it took you long enough, Olivia. "So, what can I get you today?" I ask, needing to get back to work before Jamey gets any more upset at me for not working.

He clears his throat, looking at the menu before looking back up at me. "You," he said, his cristal eyes drilling into mine.

"E- excuse me?" I ask, startled by the unfolding events.

"I'd like to take you on a date," he answers almost instantly.

"You don't know me," I reply, turning my gaze away from his mesmerizing eyes and to the neatly tiled floor.

He reaches his hand to my chin and gently tilts it so I am looking at him again, "I'd like to."

Alarms are going off in my head, Brrring!!! Brrring!!! Nonono! Nope! No! Definitely not! My mind screams at me.

But he's so... And his eyes, I could stare at them for hours and never get tired of looking at them.

I sigh. What do I have to lose really? Not much. One date won't make or break me. I'll just need to be careful to not reveal anything about my past.

"Okay," I breathe, still lost in his eyes of stars.

He smiles, revealing his white teeth, before continuing, "I'll pick you up at 7, where should I pick you up?"

Whoops, no can't do that. "Let's meet at the park across from here," I say.

He looks puzzled, but his confidence quickly takes back over, "Okay then, Miss Olivia, I will meet you in the park underneath the weeping willow at 7 o'clock ."

He gets up, places a small sum of money on the counter, enough to cover the coffee and a tip, and exits, giving me a small smile before leaving.
And I can't help but smile back.