Requiem for a Dream

1. Dead & Gone

🍂🍁☕️

"I hate fall. I really do. It's a bi-polar bitch from hell, disguising itself with pretty leaves and pumpkin spice lattes. I don't buy that bull. I don't," I ranted to Ben as we walked down the busy street.

He gave me an amused smile, having heard this rant before. "Every year," he mumbled with a slight shake of his head.

I continued, "You don't know the struggle of having to freeze to death in the morning, only to pass out from the heat in the afternoon!" I shivered as if to emphasize my point. It was 7:30 am, and I was not a happy camper.

"Oh believe me, I know. You tell me everyday."

I rolled my eyes.

We walked towards the small coffee shop in the tiny town square just outside of campus. Chimes jingled as we walked through the doorway. The familiar smell of bakery items and fresh coffee made me feel right at home. The heat from the shop warmed me to my core, and was a welcome exchange for the October morning chill.

"If I didn't have classes or work, I'd be in here all day," I sighed as I leaned on Ben's shoulder. He smirked and lead me to the counter. After we placed our orders, we waited on the side of the counter for our beverages. I rubbed my hand in anticipation of the sweet, warm liquid.

Ben watched me and grabbed my hands within his own. His large hands were pink from the cold, but warm and firm as they raised mine up to his lips. He gently blew warm air onto my hands, effectively heating them up, before lightly kissing my palms. It wasn't much in terms of PDA, but it still made me blush.

"You're so sappy," I muttered, and he chuckled at my embarrassment.

The sound of two ceramic mugs hitting the wooden counter diverted my attention. I reached for my drink and readily took a big sip. The hot liquid burned a trail down my throat, but it was worth it.

"Hmm," I hummed with my eyes closed. "Thank God for fall and pumpkin spice lattes."

"The difference between you before coffee and after, never ceases to amaze me."

I ignored his comment and walked to our usual two-seater table near the fireplace. Styrofoam pumpkins and plastic fall leaves decorated the small coffee shop, while the smell of cinnamon wafted through the air. The atmosphere was so warm and cozy. My five senses were in fall sensory heaven.

"God I love fall," I said, taking another sip of my beverage and blissfully ignoring Ben's rolling eyes.

"Speaking of," Ben said reaching for a packet of sugar on the table. "I told you about the fall-kickoff party one of my friends is throwing this weekend, right?"

"Yes, and I told you I can't go. Midterms start next week, I've got to study."

"Oh come on," Ben whined, using his brown puppy dog eyes on me. "You're smart, you'll do fine."

"We go to a Top 10 university, Ben, everyone here is smart."

Most students here got at least a 3.8 in high school, and our professors never failed to remind us that college wouldn't be as "easy".

He pouted. "I know, I know. But I have to go to network and don't want to go alone." He pulled my hands from my coffee mug and massaged the underside of them with his thumbs.

"I thought it was your friend's party. You'll have him," I said, already knowing I was fighting a losing battle.

"You know how it is with them Jace."

At a small, competitive university like Copper, you didn't really have friends, you had business connections and study resources.

I'd met Ben's friends before, and most of them were pretty good guys, like Trent, who was throwing the party. But I know from Ben that they only hung out because their parents worked together in the city, and had urged the pairing. Ben's parents had a business dynasty, and Trent's parents were lawyers who represented it. It seemed like a natural match that the two boys should get along, given they were expected to follow in their parents' footsteps.