Meet You There

Meet You There - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Josie didn't text me back that night, but I didn't even notice. In the morning, I showered and got dressed, then made a bagel for breakfast. Caleb was gone to work early and I soon realized there was no coffee.

   Reluctantly, I walked to the coffee shop - Java Bar - down the street. I had a credit card that my dad paid for, as long as it wasn't anything crazy or expensive. I knew that if I charged a two hundred dollar pair of shoes, he would call and make me return them.

   The coffee shop was small but smelled amazing as I stepped inside. The young man behind the counter smiled at me.

   "What can I get for you?" he asked happily.

   "Oh, um... a medium coffee with milk, please," I said quickly.

   "You got it," he finished.

   I paid and moved down so he could take the next order. When I got my coffee, I decided to sit and drink it there. It wasn't like I had anything else to do on a Saturday morning. My phone buzzed as I sat down.

   HEY IRIS, ITS JOSIE. I JUST GOT WORD THE PARTY IS ON. PREDRINK AT YOUR PLACE?

   What was happening? I had not agreed to this, had I?

   I CAN GO TO THE PARTY BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PREDRINKING.

   I WILL BRING THE VODKA. DON'T YOU HAVE CRANBERRY JUICE OR SOMETHING?

   What a strange question. The last time I drank was a horrible night. It was June; three months had past but I felt the same, sometimes. There was just so much pain.

   WELL, I GUESS. WHAT TIME? I sent back.

   WE WILL BE THERE AT EIGHT. PARTY IS AT NINE. OH AND IT S AT THE POOL, she told me.

   The pool? The first party of the school year was in the exclusive, resident only pool in Caleb's building? I didn't even own a bathing suit.

   RIGHT, OKAY. SEE YOU AT EIGHT.

   I'LL TEXT WHEN WE ARE THERE.

   In panic mode, I grabbed my coffee and stood up. Just as I headed to the leave, Bennett was coming in. Of course. And it wasn't like I could pretend not to see him. We practically had to touch as we passed through the door.

   "Hey. My day was... busy, yesterday... I didn't get a chance to ask around about you," he said, smiling, looking surprised to see me.

   "I guess I'm still nameless," I shrugged.

   "What floor do you live on?" he asked, as I walked past him.

   "I'm not telling you where I live."

   "I already know where you live. I just don't know what floor," he said, then half smiled.

   "I really have to go," I told him, pushing the door open.

   I heard him sigh as I stepped outside.

   For the next hour, I wondered if purchasing a bathing suit would get flagged by my dad. It wasn't like I could show up to a pool party without one. As I walked to the village, where the shops were, I thought about life in San Diego. It really was beautiful, my dad's house right on the beach. It was always sunny, I had a permanent tan, the back door was ten feet from the water. I barely changed out of my bathing suit for months. I wore it under my clothes to school, because we always ended up at the beach. I learned to surf. I sunbathed like it was my job. But I met Sheldon on that beach. And I left my bathing suit behind for a reason.