Snippets of a Spiders Non-Spidey Life

Textbooks are Expensive and I'm Running Out of Coffee (Part 1)

'I'm so sorry. I didn't do that on purpose. I think I ran out of caffeine.' He attempted in a jokey tone.

Michelle just glared back at him, taking a deep breathe.

The boy silently lowered his head, as if almost ashamed of what he had done, and started writing his notes once again, withering under MJ's stare.

As the afternoon continued, the lights fluttered on and the sun drifted below the horizon. The luminous yellow book lay between the two, having all its information drawn out and absorbed in attempts to pass the exams. The scrape of metal chair legs against the floor alerted Michelle to the movement of the person next to her.

'I'm going to go get some coffee, or something more highly caffeinated, do you want anything?' a voice questioned.

'Green tea if there is any. I'll pay you back when you return.' She mumbled not looking away from her work, scared of losing her place.

'Cool, I'll be back in a bit.' He said walking towards the door of the library.

She casted her eyes up as he left, tracing his movements with her eyes. She wondered if he knew there was a little tea station on the other side of the library. Granted, it wasn't the best quality of stuff but it had got her through some tough nights, so it would always have a special place in her heart. She returned her tired eyes back to the pages of notes on the table and fell into her studying trance once again.

The appearance of a shadow looming over her brought her back out and plunged her into reality. A steaming paper cup of green tea was place in front of her, the hand being careful not to spill any over the table. She noted the smiley face drawn on it.

Carefully sitting down next to her, the boy placed his drink down next to hers.

'Sorry about the smiley face, I realized I didn't actually know what your name was but by then I had already placed the order.'

'I don't mind but you do know there's coffee over there, right?' she said waving her arm vaguely towards the other side of the library.

'Yeah, but this place is so much better. I'm also pretty sure that my coffee consumption is the one thing keeping the little coffee shop I go to running. They also give you free cookies when you order.' He said producing multiple cookies out of a bag she had not noticed.

'I didn't know what flavor you like so I just sort of got one of every flavor so we could split then when I knew.'

'Thanks.' She said while she helped him sort the cookies out into two equal piles.

'It's sort of an apology for earlier too. I know how annoying it is when people disturb you while you're trying to studying. I've got four roommates. That's part of the reason I'm here other than this stupidly expensive textbook.' He said wafting his arm at the book.

'I've got a noisy roommate too but just one. She's my best friend too but our work ethic seems to differ slightly.'

'Yeah, my friends are just winging the test tomorrow but I sort of have to do well in it and I've still got two more chapters to get through for tomorrow morning before I even start on the stuff I'm actually supposed to do as follow up reading for the class.' He said with a little laugh.

'Better get studying then.' She said with a laugh.

This wasn't normal for MJ, usually people really got on her nerves and every little thing they did would drive her up the wall but she couldn't even find herself to be mad at the accident earlier, after all he did bring her an excellent drink and cookies.

Michelle reached into her bag and grabbed her purse, getting ready to repay him for her tea. She must admit that the tea was some of the best she had ever tasted. Just as she was about to get his attention she realized she didn't even know his name.

As she looked over to his side of their shared table she spotted his cup of coffee. On it was written the name Peter as well as his order. Her inquisitive nature just had to know what was in the cup that seemed to have filled the entire room with its scent. From the label all she could make out was the words 8x Expresso.

'Peter, how much do I owe you for the tea?' she asked, feeling slightly nervous for a reason she could not pinpoint.

'Hm, oh nothing. It's on me.' He said barely drawing his eyes away from his work.

'You can't do that. I said I would pay you back.'

'I don't mind. I interrupted your studying, I buy you tea. That's how it works.' He said with a sense of finality in his voice.

Realizing that this conversation wasn't going to achieve anything, Michelle gave a sigh in defeat and put her money away. She couldn't believe she was letting this boy with a stupid mop of brown hair and stupid big brown doe eyes rule over her like this.

As the hands on the clock met once again, pointing up towards the twelve, the pair were forced to tidy up their notes and place that lifeline of a yellow textbook back up onto the shelf it belonged on. The lights flipped off shortly after they left, leaving them in the glow of the streetlamps.

'Guess I'll be seeing you at some point unless that library gets another copy of that book.'

'Yeah, that seems about right.'

'Goodnight, Peter.'

'Goodnight...'

'Michelle but you can call me MJ.'

'OK. Goodnight MJ. See you soon.' He said emphasizing her name.

They slowly parted ways, heading towards their respective apartments for the night. They both would have to hide the upturned corners of their mouths from the prying eyes of their roommates as they entered their rooms, both hoping to run into one another soon.