Caffeine fix- chapter 1

"Ew, how can you guys still drink that stuff when you, like, work in a coffee shop?"

I looked up from my magazine. Jessica was standing next to our table looking at the paper coffee cup I held, like I'd told her it was filled to the brim with bunny's blood. "Like this." I took a huge gulp, then closed my eyes and sighed. "Oh Coffee, how I wish I could make sweet, sweet love to you."

Japer snorted, looking up from his book. "I think you'd burn yourself Bells."

I held the cup close to my face, and stared intently at it. "Sorry coffee, but nobody likes getting burned. Now if you were an iced coffee, that would sure change things. But I wouldn't want you to change for me, it just wouldn't be real. Don't compromise who you are for one steamy night of passion."

I grinned back at Jess, who gave me a 'you should be locked up' look, then stormed into the store room. I looked over at Jasper, with my eyebrows raised. "What's her problem?"

Jasper shook his head slowly, "She just doesn't appreciate true love."

I shook my head too in mock disappointment, drained the rest of my coffee and threw it into the rubbish bin. "Apparently I don't either, I just threw away my only love," I pretended to wipe away a fake tear and turned to Jasper, "But at least I got it in the trashcan on the first shot."

Three hours later customers started showing up. We all knew that seven was too early to open and that people weren't going to rock up until Ten, but the boss always opened the same time every day, saying weekends were no exception. So we just usually hung around and drank coffee and read or studied until there were customers to serve. If we didn't like coffee and reading so much, this job would be majorly boring.

Although it was quiet in the morning, it got really busy in the afternoons- seeing as 'Forks Caffeine Fix' was the only coffee joint in town. I wiped down the counter while humming the tune 'Don't stop believing' to myself. Jasper appeared next to me, espresso in hand. He gave me an approving smile. "The eighties were a wonderful time in music, don't yah think. And a wonderful time in fashion also," he handed the gentleman his beverage, then stared off into the distance, "I so would have been great in the eighties..."

I snorted loudly. Jasper was so far in the closet that all he'd wear was jeans and t-shirts and any piece of clothing that screamed 'Straight'. I bet he'd love to wear pink and have bedazzled clothing. But I'd admit it in a second; he totally rocked any clothing he wore. I don't actually think it had anything to do with the clothing- it was more his glorious blonde locks, toned fit body, dazzling smile and wonderful personality. Any guy would be lucky to have him- actually I considered myself to be lucky having him as my best friend.

Jasper and I had been the best of friends since we were four. Our Dad's new each other from the Army, then reconnected when they both joined the Police force- and then by some strange cosmic force both wound up in 'Forks, Washington'.

I reached up and patted Jasper on his shoulder. "Maybe Forks High'll have an Eighties themed dance, and of course I'll be your date, but only if one of the 'cute girls' doesn't ask me out,"

I pretended to scan the coffee shop, "Can't you see them lining up to ask me out?"

Jasper grasped both sides of my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes, "Bells, they're just lining up for coffee." He tried to keep a serious face, but a grin broke out. I turned to look at the coffee machine. "Touché Coffee."

"Alright already, I'll be your lesbian lover. But no pet names and definitely not kinky stuff in the bedroom, I'd like to keep my innocence intact thank you very much." I turned back towards the counter, where a beaming Angela stood. I grinned mischievously back. "Oh man, take all the fun out of life!" She shrugged, "When your Dad's a minister and your family is extremely religious, the most vanilla sex can seem raunchy."

"That's," I leant over the counter and kissed her on the cheek, "why I keep you around babe, in comparison to you- I seem so much more wild. Oh yeah and cause I love you."

Angela had been my best friend almost as long as Jasper. Seeing as I was home schooled I didn't socialize too much and that meant my friends list consisted of Jasper, Angela, her boyfriend Eric and Mike. "Awwww, that's sweet Bellsie! And I keep you around..." She leant forward and tapped me on the nose, "For comic relief."

I stuck my bottom lip out and huffed loudly, "And here I thought it was my dazzling smile and my winning personality."

Angela gestured animatedly at me. "And that's why you'll totally fit in at our high school! Come on Bella, stop home schooling and join Jasper and I at Forks High, where we'll be able to have lunch together every day. Oh yeah and you'll learn crap too." Jasper appeared behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "But then she can't be that crazy hermit chick that yells at everyone in French and reads books from before her parents were even born."

Angela crinkled her nose thoughtfully. "Oh yeah, I forgot how you choose your own subjects. How very useful learning French is."

I raised a finger on my hand, "First of all I'm not a hermit, I do leave the house. Unless this is where I live," I looked around the coffee shop, "If that's the case, I have a serious addiction to coffee and there are lots of unwelcomed strangers, think I should call the cops?"

A guy behind Angela cleared this throat, then checked his watch tapping his foot in an impatient manor. Angela glanced behind her shoulder. "I think I'd better order something quickly, or the cops will be showing up- to arrest the guy behind me, cause he looks close to killing me, you, Jasper and then himself." That's Angela for you, so pure and always seeing the good sides of people. Pfffft if she truly was, I don't think our friendship would have lasted past the one week mark.

"Ok, so I'm guessing- wait wait," I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers to my forehead, "Large half-caff vanilla latte extra foam."

"You know me well, too well actually. I guess you've been reading my blog." Angela pulled out a crinkled note, "Not even if you paid me." I snatched the money and deposited it into the till. Jasper let out a huge sigh behind me. "That's what she said in the 8th grade when I asked her to come see my play."

Angela shook her head in mock disappointment, "Honestly Bella, you were lucky that you missed that, I'd never seen 'Macbeth' performed any worse than that night. I still have nightmares about it." She shuddered, before grabbing her latte off of me and taking a huge gulp. "Ahhhhhh, that burn feels so wrong its right."

"Yeah, I've always wanted a tongue transplant. But hey I'll visit you in hospital, bring you lots and lots of iced drinks. Next please. Ange move it!" I shooed Angela out of the way, so I could serve the impatient customer, who let out an angry 'finally!" under his breath. Apparently, someone what's spit in their coffee today! And if I wasn't such a kind hearted being I would be happy to oblige. Actually if I didn't want to lose my job is more like it.

At about three o'clock, when I was cleaning the coffee table and fluffing the pillows in the corner part of the shop, they arrived. The muscular guy and the model-like blonde chick walked in holding hands, and the bronze haired guy and pixie-girl followed, laughing bell-like laughs sounding so carefree and, well, happy.

I picked up the magazines spread out of the table, and piled them neatly. I looked up as the four of them walked over to the usual spot, which happened to be exactly where I was cleaning. "Sorry guys, I'll get out of your way in a jiffy."

Bronze-hair smiled politely, "That's alright Hun, take your time. We'll just go order." He went to go walk over to the counter with pixie as muscles and model sat down on the loveseat; I straightened up, wiping my hand on my little black apron. "Um, I could just grab your order off you guys now. From my memory that's: Irish coffee, macchiato, espresso and a caramel latte, right?"

Bronze-hair looked impressed, "Wow, ok you're either a mind reader or we order the same things over and over too many times. But yeah thanks that would be great, and the name's under-"

"Hale?" I interrupted, smiling warmly so not to seem like a jackass. Muscles laughed a boisterous laugh that made me jump, as he rested his huge arm on the back of the couch. Pixie plopped herself down onto the armchair, grinning at me. "Ok then smartypants, we'll put the name under Alice. My name's so lovely that it should be shared with the world." She sighed turning towards the others, "Any objections? Like, should I have gone with 'Bandon' or How about the full 'Alice Brandon'? Come on guys, voice your opinions."

Model cleared her throat, "Well I think maybe if you're doing the whole name thing..."

'Alice', as I'd just so clearly found out her name, glared at Model pointing at her threateningly. "Don't you dare, Rosalie Hale!"

'Rosalie' turned to me smiling innocently, "We'll put it under 'Mary Alice Brandon' thank you," She turned and smiled smugly at Alice, who had slapped her hand to her forehead, cringing like someone had, well slapped her on the forehead. I didn't know what to do, so I just went ahead and giggled a little. When did all of sudden started giggling?

Alice turned to me, a serious look on her face, "Don't put it as Mary Alice Brandon, oh and if you don't mind, try and slip some rat poison into her Macchiato."

I shook my head in fake disappointment, "Sorry, I just used up the rest of the rat poison on the rude customer literally five minutes ago, maybe next time." They all laughed at my joke, giving me a major ego boost. "And by the way, I think that's a cute name," I gave her a wink before turning to the others, "I'll be right back with your beverages."

I walked off towards the counter, forcing myself not to look back to see her reaction.