Stupid Cupid

These awkward conversations and intimate connections make my head hurt

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Excuse the mistakes

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I’d forgotten how much I was dependent on coffee.

I’ve been making the effort to stop drinking it, since during my sophomore year of high school, I had a sort of overdose on caffeine. My hands didn’t stopped shaking for two weeks, and I had decided that it was time to maybe cut the drink out of my life.

However, this morning, I broke my abstinence, and as soon as I put my lips to the cup full of the steaming, heavenly liquid, I was hooked again. Now, as I got dressed for school, I was almost done with my second cup.

See, guys? I have a major problem.

I changed out of my polar bear pajama shorts and Stanford t-shirt, and I sifted through my drawers until I found an acceptable outfit. Then, I changed into the light denim shorts, and I tugged the tie-dye t-shirt on over my head.

I chugged the rest of my coffee, which was still hot enough to burn my throat and make me regret making such a dumb decision, and I hurried into the bathroom to brush my teeth. With coffee came the unattractive breath odor, and I could really do without that.

“Reed! Come down here please!”

I rolled my eyes and groaned at the sound of my mom’s voice, and I quickly pulled my brush through my hair before walking back into my bedroom. I grabbed my backpack off of my floor and hurriedly shoved all of my homework from last night into it. Then, I slung it over my shoulder and slipped on a pair of cheap, rubber sandals.

“Reed!” my mom called, annoyance dripping from her voice, “Please hurry up!”

“I’m coming!” I yelled back, and I made sure to sound equally as irritated. I trudged out of my bedroom and down the hall, and when I came to the top of the stairs, I saw my mom standing in the front hall. Next to her, looking uncomfortable was Jace.

“Hey,” I said as I stepped down the stairs. “Sorry. I didn’t realize that you were here yet, otherwise I would have actually hurried.”

“It’s fine,” Jace replied, though from the sideways look he gave my mom, I didn’t believe him. “I was a little early, so you aren’t actually late or anything.”

“Did you eat breakfast?” I asked, and Jace nodded. I contemplated running to the kitchen to grab some fruit or a granola bar to eat for breakfast, but I didn’t want to make Jace stay any longer. Obviously, my mom’s craziness was freaking him out, and I could understand that. I mean, I lived with the woman after all.

“Well,” I said, gesturing towards the front door, “Why don’t we just head out then? I mean, getting to school early would probably be a good idea, since you need to go to the office to get your schedule and locker information.”

“Yeah, that’s smart,” Jace replied.

“Then let’s go,” I said, and I put my hand on Jace’s shoulder and steered him around towards the front door. “Bye Mom,” I called over my shoulder, and I opened the front door. Jace hurried outside, and I followed quickly after him after grabbing my car keys.

“I’m sorry about my mom,” I sighed as we walked over to the Grouch, “She can be… overwhelming.”

“She is slightly in your face,” Jace said carefully, and I gave him a small smile. “But,” Jace added quickly, “She is really nice, and she definitely means well.”