Chapter 5: Packing 1

I sat in one of the seats at my favorite coffee shop. Salle de café. It was in the early hours of the morning, and I still had over thirty minutes until classes started. I stayed beside the window, staring as people tried to get to their various destinations. I took a sip out of my cappuccino. The delicious flavour caressed my taste buds which made me sigh in contemptment.

I usually branch at the cafe to get a steaming cup of coffee. My one and only energy giver. But sometimes I brew some from home, but I wasn't in the mood for that today.

"You seem lost in thought." I heard someone say. Jake was seated opposite me, giving me a curious look. 

"Hey, where have you been?"

"In the back room. What's up? You seem sad." 

"I am." I played with the edge of my cup nervously. This might as well be the last time I would be here.

"I'm moving to Canada."

"Really? How come?" I couldn't really read him right now. 

"Well, my dad has work there, and I don't think it's finishing anytime soon."

"Wow, I'm going to lose my favourite customer." He said with a chuckle. He then held my hand. I was slightly surprised, but I didn't show it.

"So this is probably the last time I'm seeing you." He asked. His gaze was so intense that I had to look away from him. 'Why is he looking at me like that?'

"Probably. I might come around to say goodbye." I said to him, I then realised that I hadn't fulfilled my promise to Courtney.

"I hope so. Emily, do you want to go on a date sometime today? I know I will regret it if I never asked." My ears immediately rang warning bells. 'He's not serious, right?'

"You're asking me out?" I asked and he just nodded as a reply. 

'But Courtney…'

"You don't have to say yes, I'm not pressuring you. I just think it's finally time I tell you how I feel."

'Way to go Emily! A guy has a crush on you. Who would have thought that was possible.'

"Jake, I'm really flattered, but we're friends and that will only complicate our status."

"It doesn't have to be so, Emily. I'm ok with you not reciprocating my feelings, I just want to have this with you, please." The look in his eyes made my heart clench. 

'It wouldn't hurt, would it? But he's my best friend's crush!'

"Ok, I guess there could be no harm." 

"You won't regret it. I'll pick you up at four." With a big grin, he kissed my hand, and left to attend to his customers.

'What the hell will I tell Courtney? I can't tell her that he asked me out on a date so It ruined everything.'

I finished my coffee, ran out of the shop, jumped onto my bike and rode off.

After five minutes, I arrived at the school's building. There was a big sign board that said; "Fairfield highschool" I secured my bike and made my way through hundreds of teens. 

I can just avoid Courtney throughout today, that should help me.'

"Emily!" I heard someone scream my name. Courtney was weaving herself through some juniors. 'Avoidng is officially cancelled.'

"Hey Court, I was looking for you." I said with a smile. 'When did you start lying to your best friend?'

"How was it?"

"It went great!"

"And…what did he say?" She had a hopeful look. 'God I'm a horrible friend.'

"Well…he…I couldn't tell him." I finally said 

"What do you mean?"

"I wanted to, but I couldn't."

"Does he have a girlfriend or someone he likes?"

"Courtney, he asked me out." I said to her, I glanced at my watch to see that we only had five minutes until classes started.

"Really? That's great!" She said, I stared at her, my mouth slightly hanging open.

"What! But didn't you…"

"I only said that so that he would ask you out. I know that Jake has always liked you, so I knew that you asking him to go out with me might make him finally admit his feelings for you. But since you didn't even tell him, what made him finally tell you?"

I couldn't believe this. Courtney tricked me. She was actually trying to hook Jake up with me, and it worked.

"I can't believe you did that. And how long have you known?"

"Since you introduced him to me last year. You can be quite ignorant." The bell rang and everyone started to head for their various classes. 

"You'll tell me later." She said and dragged me towards our history class.

****

School ended, and Courtney kept talking about my date with Jake. I wasn't really that excited about it. Although this wasn't my first date. Up until today, Jake was just a friend who I talked to and served me my favourite coffee. I would have never foreseen this coming.

One minute I was getting ready for my date and the next, I was at a restaurant with Jake.

It was a nice restaurant and their food was delicious. I thought going on a date with Jake would be boring. I don't know why I felt like that, but this has definitely changed my whole perspective.

"Truthfully, you think the coffee at the restaurant is better than the coffee I make at Salle de café?" Jake asked with a queer look. The never ending smile on my face only widened.

"Yeah, it has this taste I can't put my finger on." I said with a thoughtful look. I was actually just messing with Jake. Salle de café coffees are the best I've tasted. Nothing can beat theirs.

"Really Jake, you should know I'm kidding. No one can make a cappuccino as good as you do." I said assuringly.

"That's better." Jake dropped me at home. I hugged him bye and ran into my home.

'Not bad for a first date.' My mind told me. I then realised that there were a bunch of people in my house.

"Honey, you're back. Come help us pack." My mom's voice sounded. She was telling the men what to do.

"Pack, what do you mean?" A few men were carrying the couch, TV and the dining table. My mom walked towards me.

"Well, we're getting rid of all our stuff, since we're moving out, we already have the tickets, we're leaving for Canada tonight!"