3| The Coffee

Amelia pov

Holy fucking shit.

My head was pounding. I felt as if someone had punched my face and crushed my skull. And I also felt my intestines about to burst from the amount of alcohol I'd consumed yesterday. My eyes were closed and all of my senses were hurting bad enough to know that not opening eyes was a good idea. I turned around and buried my face in my pillow.

Then I ran to the bathroom and puked my guts out.

In that moment I forgot about the harsh light that was entering my already sensitive pupils. I also forgot the fact that I was wearing the same dress as yesterday and that my limbs were screaming at me to not make them work. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I had to stop myself from shouting. My eyes were red and puffy, surrounded by my smudged black mascara and eyeliner. My lips were cracked as if deprived of water.

Water.

I was fucking thirsty. My throat felt like a desert. I got out of the bathroom before I could die of the smell, and gulped down huge sips from the glass kept on the bedside table. I looked down at my now wrinkled dress, and decided it was just better to bathe right now. So I stripped, and rushed inside.

Half an hour later I walked down the stairs freshly showered, smelling of sweet vanilla and chocolate. I had decided to stop by Bridget's house before class started, so I walked inside the kitchen to grab a bite. There I found Uncle Mason reading the newspaper, his glasses perched on his nose. He looked like a warden, though fitter.

"I would ask you how you feel, but seeing you yesterday, I'm guessing not so good."

I smiled ironically, "When did I come home?"

"Two hours later than what we agreed upon. But I was prepared, so no worries. You better thank your friend for dropping you home in that condition."

"Which friend?"

"I guess he said his name was Theo." My hand froze on the fridge handle. Then the memories came rushing back. Green eyes, body like a Greek god, jaw that could cut.

Holy fucking shit. I couldn't believe I forgot about the hottest guy I'd ever seen.

I rushed upstairs. No, I didn't want to believe it was true. But I knew it was. When I slammed the door to my room open, I did see those 'fuck me' red heels. I'd broken into a store and stolen something. Technically, he did, but he did it because of me.

He could have said no. I thought to myself.

Uh, yeah he did. But you did not fucking listen.

Fucking hell, I just did something illegal. I paced around the room, putting my head in my hands, wondering how I could have done something like this even when I was drunk. And then my mind chose to remind me of my resolution, my resolution to change. But did change mean going to jail?

Absolutely not.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Bridget's number.

"God my head hurts." She groaned.

"Do you have Theo's number?" I asked, frantic.

"My head fucking feels like I've been pricked by millions and millions of needles." She groaned again.

"Oh come on, Theo's number, do you have it?"

"What? Why do you need his number?" She sounded alarmed.

"There's been a, a problem. I'll explain later."

"Did you sleep with him? I swear I will kill him if he treated you like-"

"What the fuck? Why the fuck would I sleep with him?"

Uh, why the fuck would you not sleep with him? He literally is like sex walking on two legs. It was moments like these when I hated my inner voice.

"You two left together and-"

"I said I'll explain later, just send me his phone number." I hung up before she could say anything. A minute later my phone chimed.

For a split second I thought of changing my decision and not calling him. But I needed to know if I'd done something else that could potentially ruin my life, so I dialed his number without a second thought.

"King." He answered on the third ring.

"Hi?" My greeting came out as a question.

There was a pause for two seconds, then, "Mia?"

"Yep, that's me." And I internally cringed.

"How did you get my number. Are you stalking me now?" I could hear his smirk.

"What did we do yesterday?" I asked.

"We did a lot of things angel, which one are you talking about?" And right now, his smirk would have widened at the double meaning.

My heart fluttered when he called me that. I gripped the phone tighter, "Did I do anything stupid except for the breaking in thing?"

"Well, you said I was as hot as hot water." He chuckled. "No no, it was as hot as really hot water."

I groaned, "And?"

"That's it angel, you didn't embarrass yourself much. You were quite composed." He was laughing at me, I could feel it.

"Look, I just wanted to thank you for making sure I reached home. And I also wanted to apologize for, uh, for making you steal the-the heels."

"The heels," He hummed, "The sexy red heels which I bought for you, but you didn't even wear them."

My face reddened. "Yeah, um, sorry. I'm going to return them today."

"What?" He sounded panicked all of a sudden. "No, you can't return them."

"Why?"

"Because I- you just can't."

"Theo, we broke into a shop at one in the morning and we stole something, that's illegal. I don't want to go to jail, and I especially do not want someone else to go to jail because of me."

"No we didn't technically steal them. I paid."

"You paid for them?" My eyes widened.

"Yeah, and I also kept an extra hundred dollars. The owner would be more than happy right now. If you go and return, you'll lose the heels and I will lose my money, so just keep them."

"Wha-what? But why did you pay?"

"Because you looked like a child and the heels were your candy. And I didn't want you to regret." He said.

"Um, thank you. How much was it?"

He laughed, "You're not paying me back Mia."

"Yes I am. How much was it, Theo?" I asked again.

"Nope."

"Oh come on. I really hate it when someone spends on me. Just tell me."

"No, you're not paying me back. I won't let you."

"Theo-"

"Fine, buy me coffee then." He said.

I blinked. "Coffee, yeah, I could do that."

"Perfect. We'll meet at Josie's in about ten minutes, sounds good?"

I nodded, "I'll meet you there."

Fifteen minutes later I was strolling down Street 5, pushing my hair behind my ear and taking in my surroundings. Everything had indeed changed, but still had a certain familiarity attached. I remember coming to Josie's every Sunday with Bridget. But like every happy time comes to an end, mine did too. I moved to Canada, and since then until now, nothing felt home.

Josie's hadn't changed a bit. The exterior was still painted a light pink and white, and when I stepped inside, I could smell the familiar scent of milkshakes and donuts. I was reminded why I used to love this place so much.

My eyes swept over until I found him sitting in the corner most booth. He had his back to me, but I could tell just by looking at his back muscles that it was him. No one could have a body like that. I walked over, taking slow deep breaths to calm my erratic heartbeat.

He looked up from him phone when he heard me sitting down. A small smile appeared on his face. "Mia."

"Theo." I nodded in acknowledgment, giving him a smile back. "Did you order?"

"I was waiting for you." He looked behind me, signalling someone to come over. Then seconds later came our server, dressed in the uniform, but with the front two buttons open. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, a flirty look on her face. She pushed her front enough to make her cleavage visible.

"What can I get you?" Her voice was nasal and suggestive. I didn't like it, I didn't like it at all.

"A black coffee for me, with a chocolate donut." He looked up from the menu at me. He didn't even glance at her.

"Something, extra with that?" Her voice sounded breathless.

"Uh," Then he did look at her. "No." Then he looked back at me with an eyebrow raised.

"Are you sure?"

That's it. I whipped my head to her side, a sick smile on my face. Her desperation and her voice was getting on my nerves. "A white chocolate mocha for me, keep it one cube of sugar. And a vanilla muffin. I'm fucking hungry, bring it fast."

Theo chuckled as she sauntered away from our table. "You're quite the opposite from yesterday."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mm, yesterday you were playful and flirty. Today you're serious like a librarian."

"Flirty? I flirted with you?" I felt my face redden. That is the exact reason why I do not drink.

He hummed. "What's your favorite color?"

I blinked, trying to process the sudden change of topic. "It's blue, why?"

"Blue like your eyes?" He asked.

"Blue like the sky." I corrected. "Why?" I asked again.

He shrugged, "No reason. So what are your plans for today?"

"Oh, unpacking mostly, I've got to arrange my closet. Then I was thinking of heading into the city to explore a bit, get the familiar touch, see what I've missed. Nothing interesting actually."

"Dean told me you moved to Canada. Why?"

I licked my lips, playing with the hair tie on my left hand. "I, uh, I just-just wanted a change."

Then I was saved when the bimbo server came to place our orders in front of us. She glanced at Theo again, her eyes filled with lust. But when she didn't get a response, she turned to glare at me, and returned back. I wanted to snarl and pull her hair. Stupid bitch.

"What's your major?" I asked him, taking a bite of my muffin. I almost moaned out loud from the taste. It tasted fucking delicious.

"Business. Yours?"

"Law." I replied.

He looked up from his coffee, a surprised look on his face. "Really? You want to be a lawyer?"

"Yeah, why do you look so shocked?"

"No, nothing. I just thought you'd say, like, an English major or something. I don't know."

I tilted my face to look at him, "Well, it was always law for me."

He nodded, didn't say anything. He seemed to be in deep thought. So I didn't say anything as well because I didn't want to disturb him. And also because I liked the silence, it was comfortable. I sipped my mocha as he sipped his coffee, and I took that time to study him. I'd already established the fact that he was undeniably attractive, but he wasn't just hot.

No, he was gorgeous.

He was stunning in that rough way, with harshness and ruggedness. His features weren't royal as a prince, they were lethal like a panther. So incredibly rough, but beautiful at the same time. I was literally following the movements of his hands as he raised them to take a sip of his coffee, his fingers drumming on the table, his tongue peeking out of his mouth to lick his lips, his eyes looking down on the table.

Then as if sensing my gaze on him, his eyes lifted up to meet mine, lips turning into a lazy smirk. 'Caught', they said.

"I just realized we didn't really go on a ride yesterday." He said after some time.

"Mm, we didn't."

He waited till I looked at him. "Wanna go now?"

*