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If my face gets any hotter, I swear it will pop right off my body and shoot straight into the atmosphere. “I-I’m just shocked is all.” I lower my gaze to my lap, feeling like that’s a better place to look than at his impossibly handsome face. “I thought things were going well at your school. You were going to be a doctor and all, right?”
Alex’s sigh has me chancing a glance upwards at him, and I watch as he leans back in his chair with a quizzical expression. “I did, but things kinda changed for me last summer. Track Coach called me to take Seth’s place this term. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t turn it down.”
“You took Seth’s place?”
Oh, I bet Seth just loved that. I wonder if he’s okay. He’s definitely going to be complaining about this for the next month, if not more.
“Yeah, he wasn’t the happiest about it, but I think he’ll be okay to run in the winter.” Alex chuckles. “Maybe it’s a good thing I’m here. It’ll push him to do better.”
I wince, feeling worry twist within me. Last summer, Seth didn’t treat his body well at all. He pushed himself too hard, which is the reason why he can’t run now. I hope his rivalry with Alex doesn’t drive him into the obsessive state he was in just a month ago.
“Alright, class,” says the professor in a loud commanding voice. “My name is Ms. Chloe Blanc, and this is French 101. I would like for you all to choose a partner. They will be your speaking buddy for the entire semester.”
Alex touches my hand, making me flinch in surprise. I blink back at him as I meet his soft smile and his kind eyes. “Want to be my partner?”
I know I should say no. What if we have a big project and he needs to come over? Seth will have a huge fit. Or, what if, Seth finds out we are speaking partners and has a fit anyway? My mouth opens and I try to force the word out, but something happens. I blink in shock as my tongue betrays me, and I hear the one word I shouldn’t say escape my lips.
“Sure.”
*****
I throw open the door to the Coffee Shop with a large smile on my face. When I first woke up this morning, I thought my world was over. All thoughts of my mother have vanished from my puny little head and have been replaced by Alex’s easy smile. Memories float through my head of Alex following me out of the French class and into the hallway.
“Hey, Rachel,”I recall his shy voice and the way his gaze lowered to his feet, his body shuffling from foot to foot.“Do you think I could have your phone number? Maybe we can hang out sometime?”
“O-oh,”I recalled breathing. My heart pounds in my chest at the memory.“I-I don’t know.”
“I don’t know many people around here, and it would be good to have a friend to talk to once in a while.”
It was all over when he set the puppy-dog eyes on me, and I gave him my number quickly before rushing out the door and to my next class. The entire day I was giddy and excited for a reason I didn’t want to contemplate. I have three wonderful boyfriends.
Why am I so excited about Alex giving me his number?
Maybe Mom is right. Maybe something is dreadfully wrong with me.
Something slams onto the floor and glass shoots in all directions. Several people sidestep the shards and my gaze lifts, watching as Lucas bends over, staring at the broken mug before him as if it’s suddenly transformed into a three headed dragon.
“Again?” I hear Jason shout while stalking towards Lucas with his hands on his hips.
My smile slips from me, and I rush towards them, wondering if there’s anything I can do to rectify the situation. Lucas keeps his gaze lowered. His hands are held tightly behind him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lucas look so dismal and docile in my life.
“All you had to do was wash the dishes, Lucas. That’s it!”
“I’m sure he didn’t mean it,” I say while resting a hand on Lucas’s shoulder.
Lucas jerks away from me and quickly takes off his apron, crumpling it into his hands before rushing towards his backpack and stuffing it inside. “Sorry,” he mumbles while passing us. “It won’t happen again.”
Jason scowls while watching Lucas stride towards the door. “Like hell it will,” he says, turning angrily towards me. His scowl darkens and he crosses his arms. “That guy is a fucking idiot.”
I wince. “Come on, Jason,” I say sweetly. “He’s not that bad. He’s just learning.”
Jason scoffs. “He can’t do anything.”
“Well, just give him some time.”
Jason throws his hands up into the air. “He’ll most likely break all of the dishes and poison the customers if I give him any more time.”
I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “Take the broken mug out of my pay.”
