Caffeine

~Chapter 1~

"Can I enter it?" I managed to say. I grit my teeth, waiting for his response. I've been trying to convince him that I wanted to join this year since last month. The winner gets his or her book published nationwide. That was already big publicity.

He places the bread knife down and sighs. I closed my eyes in frustration at his response. "Honey. . ."

"I get it, its okay." I cut him off. "Forget it." I mumble, getting up and leaving to go to my room. A part of me wanted to understand that the competition was a hundred miles away and on a school day. It would mean a week off from school.

It had a very simple schedule. Entry of book on day one, a seminar full of well known writers on day two, a book convention on day three, and announcement of winners on day four. Not to mention the 8 hour drive from here to there.

My frustration wasn't in my dad, it was in the incapability of a person to reach their goal cause of the lack of everything. I grabbed my Macbook from my desk and placed it in its sleeve. I wanted to get out of here. To transfer back yo my world of endless words. A place where I control.

I ran back down the stairs, quickly pacing out the door of our house without looking back. The turn of events today was already eating inside of me.

I walked to the place I never thought I would step foot on till a week or so. The place was peaceful, air conditioned, the aroma of coffee lingering around the air. Plus, it had Wifi. I was somehow already thinking that it would be a perfect place for me and my Macbook. It was a place of escape from everything.

It foreshadowed my ungiven dreams. The Cafe was designed to be a garden, the interior was all modern wood. Everything inside was nothing but glossy brown wooden structures. From chairs to the tables. A glass door separated itself from the outside garden. Every shade of green was filling the eyes of customers as they walk through the entrance.

I made my way to the cashier at the same time, eying for Carrie. When the line finally reached my point, I scanned their menu boards, hanging from the top of the ceiling, before ordering "One tall Green Tea Cream. Full sugar level" I told the lady handling the cashier. She gladly writes some notes down on the cup and asked for my name. "Laura"

As my drink was done, I tried looking for her again, the place was packed, yet small in size. I'll give it 3 days, this place would be a ghost town by then.

I found a couple, standing up from their table and quickly took it as they left. An employee cleaned the table as I turn my head from left to right. Either she didn't bother coming here without me, or she already left. The second was was more unlikely since she would've spend hours here. I texted her to meet me, but knowing her she would almost never reply. She's the kind of person that texted only if there was announcement of class suspensions or about the mall having a sale. She's more of a caller than a text messenger.

I sighed and just opened my Macbook. The connection was pretty quick, which was good. I was starting to like this place. Despite the crowd of people, you could still hear the acoustic playlist being played on the speakers.

I somehow felt like I was still in my room, collecting the curing effect of the sheer cold air. The aroma was breath taking, it was like a drug. I should've expected a high standard coffee shop of this rich town of Corin.

"Excuse me." A voice said above me. My fingers stopped to whatever I was doing, the voice was deep and familiar, it startled me, I was hoping for a perky high pitched voice of Carrie but instead, I looked up seeing a blonde tall figure wearing a denim jacket with a cheeky smile. It was Ross Lynch, my schoolmate.

"Mind if I sit?" He asked waiting for my approval. He towered over me with his height. I've seen him in school a lot, me being a member of the school newsletter, I once wrote an article about him making the final point at the inter school badminton competition.