Weeks back...
The shrill sound of my alarm clock woke me up at 5a.m. Silencing it, I untangled myself from the heavy weight of my roommate's arms on me, climbed off the bed and exited to the bathroom with my phone. Placing my phone on the bathroom cabinet, I put to play my favourite song by Adele; someone like you, and performed my morning ritual of brushing my teeth and taking a hot relaxing shower. Done, I tied a robe and commenced to drying my hair only to discover the wall socket we normally used beside the bathroom mirror was faulty.
"That's another expense. You are lucky I have an alternative." I pointed a warning finger to the socket, and then I realised what I was doing. "I'm talking to a spoilt wall socket. Perfect. I need my coffee." Sighing, I unplugged the dryer and left the bathroom with it and my phone.
I was shocked to see my roommate still sleeping when I entered the room. She was still on my bed, now in a scattered position_ one hand hanging off the edge of the bed with fingers brushing the floor, the other hand tucked underneath her stomach which was surprisingly still on the bed, her legs tangled in a heap of bedspread, drool patch evident on the pillow case from slightly parted lips. I half expected the music playing and me singing to wake her but she didn't even move a muscle.
I plugged the hairdryer to the wall socket close to my bed, sat on my bed and started drying my hair. The noise from the hairdryer and water drops on her face from my wet hair woke her up. She mumbled something about the music and noise before she tossed her head in the other direction, away from me.
"Finally you decided to join us." I said dryly and continued with drying my hair. I knew the noise from the dryer was pissing her off but it's my hair on the line.
Groaning loudly, she covered her face with a pillow. "You are going to be late for school if you spend another second on that bed, you know." she mumbled something under the pillow and ignored me.
"That's it. Get up from there." I turned off the hair dryer, turned to her and dragged the covers from her. Pillow included. She thrashed around with her body, stopped then sprang up, giving me a murderous look. "Don't give me that look missy." I dumped my hand's content on the chair and returned to drying my hair. "You slept before I did yet here I am."
She stood up sluggishly and walked to the bathroom. "I hate you." she tossed behind her before closing the bathroom door.
"So you've said a million times but you still leave your bed every night to come cuddle me on my bed."
I unplugged the dryer, and placed it on my bedside table since Berth was sure going to need it. Hers got spoilt yesterday. Searching through the closet, my eyes caught the red dress my dad bought for me for my last birthday on a hanger and I just missed him. I took out the dress and tossed it on the bed, wore a red lacy panty and matching bra then put on the dress. Applying a touch of make up I didn't know why I bothered with today, I wore my sandals, ran a brush through my hair, and I was ready to go.
"See you later Berth." I took my bag and was about leaving when Berth rushed out of the bathroom naked and dripping wet. The shower still running.
"Are you planning to leave without me Didi? Why did you wake me then?" she stood hands akimbo, pouting.
"Berth I love you but I can't go late for you. I need to get to the cafe down the street and grab breakfast before heading to school. If I wait for you, I might as well just skip breakfast which I can't. You do remember Amy, Amy Condos right?" At her nod I continued. "I have to tutor her. Its Thursday, remember? As it is, I might probably not make it to lunch."
"But it's still 6:15 Didi. Are you trying to win an award or something?" she started doing a crazy dance slide with the water dropping on the floor from her body.
....Leave it to Berth to choose that moment to play...
Rolling my eyes upward I opened the door and stood there, holding the door handle to stop the door from shutting in my face before I replied to her question. "Maybe."
"Well I know for sure that's not the only reason young lady." She stated as she left for the bathroom to dry off. I heard the shower go off. "I know you just want to meet yummy cafe boy." She called from the bathroom.
Rolling my eyes, I retreated from going out, shut the door and went to sit on Berth's bed. "I don't know what you are talking about and Steve's not yummy."
"Who said anything about Steve?" I groaned loudly. She was trying to push that button and really she was so close. She laughed so loud and was obviously enjoying herself. She knew this discussion triggers the frowning lines to spread across my face. "Okay. Yeah, its about Steve. Stop being so cranky."
I pulled out my phone from my bag and sent a text message to Amy, reminding her of our appointment. It was necessary I did that or else, messed up would be an understatement to describe my day. She would definitely come up with an excuse as silly as she had to walk her dog.
"I'm not going there because of him. My coffee is way more important." I said seconds later when I was done messaging Amy.
"Yeah right. Like you don't want to just gobble him up anytime you see him." She said re-entering the room now wearing a white thong and matching bra with her hair wrapped in a towel. "I see the look on your face when those girls flirt with him. It's like... " She paused as if looking for the right words to say as she rummaged through the closet for something to wear.
"It's too early in the morning to argue with you. Steve is just a friend. Nothing more." I said not giving her the room to think of something to say.
"But you are not cool with that, are you?"
"Of course I'm cool with it. You know what, I'm off. I'll get something for you in case you show up early." I blew a kiss at her as I made for the door but stopped when I placed a hand at the handle and turned to her again. "Berth, please clean that up before you trip and break your neck." I pointed at the water on the floor.
She tossed me an I-know-you-are-just-running-away look and snorted. "Bossy. Wait, is that makeup on your face?" I heard her say before I closed the door.
***************
The smell of bacon and coffee wafted through the air and my stomach grumbled. Hunger pangs.
Steve waved at me from the counter with a big smile. He was a worker at the Sunrise cafe I frequented most times, probably has been even before I came to this school. When I first stepped foot into Ohio for college, he was the first friend I ever had. It surprised me that he became friends with me. He was so handsome with his intimidating dark looks, dark short hair done in spikes and athletic build in contrast to my lower than average look. Yummy? No, I think Berth understated. He was more. Our love for sports was actually our first talk which grew to friendship. I was into Soccer and track sports while he was basically a basketball player.
I always felt guys like him rolled with super hot girls with sexy looks_ slim and straight long legs, perky breasts and super hot curves, and not a plain old me. I was too curvy, you could even say fat. Most girls who visited this place always flirted with him and it annoyed me. Berth was right. Truth be told, I came here so much because of him. Though I wished we wouldn't just be friends. It was still early so the place was almost empty and I was super psyched their claws were off him for now.
He was fixing espresso for the customer that was there before me but I couldn't help but imagine what those lips smiling that customer-friendly smile would actually feel like on mine. Would they taste as good as they looked? Shaking my head slightly I forced my mind out of the gutters just in time as he placed a paper bag and a plastic cup on the counter which the customer took and left the cafe. It was my turn next.
"If it isn't little miss sunshine." he said beaming when I reached the counter.
"Good morning Steve." I smiled back
"You're quite early today I must say. What can I get ya?" he asked with that sexy drawl of his that I had come to enjoy listening to. I opened my mouth to reply but he cut me off. "Don't tell me. The usual."
"Yes please. Morning Stacy." I greeted his colleague. She was at the other side of the counter, smiling, and writing down something on her notepad.
"Morning Nadia. Trust you had a good night's rest?" she asked still not taking her eyes from her notepad. She was still smiling.
...I never see her frown.....
"Yes, I did, thank you." I replied smiling back. I waited for my order while Steve fixed it for me. I couldn't help but follow his every move with my eyes. With his tanned skin, one - sided dimple when he smiled and even talked, his muscular build topped with a firm ass, he was so dangerously handsome. He wore an apron over khaki shorts and black short-sleeved t-shirt that covered little of his tattoo. His muscled arms were covered in ink making him look exactly like the guys my dad would sternly tell me to stay away from. His confident strides as he rummaged through the tiny kitchen to fix my order was a view to look at.
"Here you go." He placed my order of coffee and French toast topped with bacon, banana and maple syrup in a tray before me and I placed my bill on the counter. He pushed it back to me. "It's on me."
"Really?"
"Of course. We are friends, remember? That's what we do. Go on. I'll be right there."
Moving away from the counter with my tray I walked over to my seat at a corner close to the glass wall of the cafe. I always called it my seat because funny enough anytime I came here, it was always empty. It felt like it was meant for me.
I brought out my books and laptop and put on my headphone to study a bit as I enjoyed my breakfast. I was so engrossed in what I was doing I didn't know when Steve refilled my almost empty cup of coffee and sat on the seat beside mine, watching me, until he tapped me.
Startled a bit, I relaxed when I saw who it was. "Oh. Steve. Thanks." I smiled sweetly at him indicating with a tap at my refilled cup. Putting down my headphone, I took a sip of my coffee. I saw through the rim of the cup that he was still there watching me, studying me with an intense look and a slight smile tugging his lips. I actually became more aware of my looks. First time I ever tried make up, did I not do it right? Did it actually look weird on me? Or is it the dress? I loved the dress and whenever I wore it, it made me feel good. Was my taste that bad that I didn't know it wasn't actually fitting on me? Nonsense! My dad bought the dress for me and actually loved it on me.
So I cleared my throat and asked. "Is there anything on my face? Do I have food stains on my face or do I look so beautiful you can't take your eyes off me?" I teased wryly. He continued staring at me. Strange. I took a huge bite into my food to concentrate on something other than his eyes. "Are you sure it's okay to sit here? Your boss might get mad at you."
"Not to worry, He is always mad." I stared at him confused. "Don't worry. There aren't a lot of customers anyway and Stacy is there too. So... what's new?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows and breaking the somewhat uncomfortable silence.
I closed my book and laptop because there was no need to deceive myself. I know what Steve was trying to do. He always complained my nose was always stuck in books, reading. I never 'test the waves' as he called it. He won't let me study, not while he was here.
"Nothing much. Just school work that's all."
"Oh. So no guy sweeping you off your feet yet?" he winked
I laughed and it made him blink repeatedly. At the moment, dating was the last thing on my mind. Okay. It wasn't the last thing on my mind. It was the second. The first was one person, the second was dating that one person but there was just one problem.
"I seem to chase them off because I always looked down at books instead of them and my looks. I've come to figure out guys don't like smart girls after all."
.....Like you.....
"Nonsense. That's not true. I like smart girls."
...Then its just me.....
"You are different." I teased.
He laughed. "Are you trying to say I'm not a guy? Because if you are, I can show you the hard facts." he teased with a smirk.
"Ewww.... That's not what I'm saying. Of course you are. It's just you are....you know... Steve." I bit back a smile as I tucked an errant hair behind my ear which still escaped again.
"Believe me I don't understand what you just said but one thing I know is, you are a beautiful and intelligent woman and any guy would be so lucky to have you. Beauty without brains is my major turnoff. That I'm sure of." he tucked the errant hair which doesn't stay no matter how I tried, behind my ear. His fingers lingered a bit on my cheeks as he locked eyes with mine, staring into my soul.
A warm feeling spread through my stomach. I looked away, which made him drop his hand. I wasn't surprised about the fact that I felt the loss of his hands on my face.
Clearing his throat, he stood up. "Well little miss sunshine. I'm going to go now before he strangles me with his eyes." he grinned and gestured with his head for me to see who he was talking about. I laughed out really loud when I saw his boss's wait-till-i-get-my-hands-on-you look at the open office door facing me.
....If eyes could kill...
"You should really laugh always. It brightens the room." My laughter died down and I looked up at him. He was giving me that look again and this time I looked too. Unable to tear my gaze. He was standing really close to me, leaning down slowly and I really thought he was going to kiss me. Huge goosebumps erupted on my skin as shivers raced down my spine.
....What if he does? I've never kissed anyone before....
"I'll...uhm...see you around then sunshine." he said suddenly and winked at me before he darted towards his duty post.
....What the....?
I ate my breakfast in a hurry, packed my stuff and practically ran out. I didn't want to see him because he might see what I was feeling inside; Disappointment, huge ball of it.
As much as I wanted to deny it, the friendship zone was not what I wanted anymore. I'm almost falling down a cliff, in love with him and if he had kissed me then, God forgive me I would have let him have his wicked way with me regardless of where we were.
Did he find me attractive now or was I mistaking what just happened now? Didn't I see hunger in his eyes? With Steve, one couldn't be so sure.
Heaving a long sigh, I glanced at my watch. There was still a little time left. My school wasn't far from here anyway. I'll make it even before most people. Adjusting my shoulder bag, I walked to Outstanding Heights college.