Chapter 9

It was now 5:30 and the cafe was beginning to get the dinner rush in, the usual customers came and went and Caroline served them with her perfect smile fixed on her face. Everyone loved her and she made good tips too, which was all the more good for her now.

"Caroline table 9 needs clearing please…" her boss called as he returned to serve another customer.

"I'm on it…" carrying her cleaning things, she quickly cleared the table and took the money over to the till, cashing it in and placing the tip left for her into her tip jar. There was a slight lull in customers so she took a few minutes to sit down, but she didn't stop working, she went from serving to studying.

"Ah, a midsummer night's dream." His voice echoed next to her.

She placed her book down, turning towards him "Stefan, hi…"

"Hi…"

"Can I get you a coffee or something? Maybe tea? Or something else?" she asked getting up and moving around the other side of the counter.

"Caroline its fine…I can wait." He said, she held his gaze until he rolled his eyes "Coffee, please…milk two sugars…"

"Gotcha…" she busied herself making his order and took his money, handing him his change. "One coffee, milk, two sugars…"

"Thanks." He took a sip "Hmm, it's good."

Caroline smiled and nodded serving another customer before returning to him. "So other than a coffee what brings you here? This isn't your usual place is it?"

"It isn't but it might be from now on. The coffees real good and the company isn't too bad either…" he smiled "I was just on my way home from Soccer practice actually and needed a boost, my usual place is too far out."

Caroline nodded "How was practice?"

Stefan smiled at her "It was good." They stayed silent for a few moments before he looked up at her again "Tell me to but out if you don't want to talk about it but how did it go with the principle? Bonnie and I didn't really want to leave you but we were kind of frogmarched back to class…"

Caroline picked up her books and pushed them under the counter, walking round to sit next to Stefan at the counter, she took a deep breath and sighed heavily "it wasn't as bad as I thought, although I'm really irritated my Mom thought it was her place to tell the school. They've basically said it's ok for me to stay at school for as long as I feel comfortable and I have free toilet passes and stuff… other than that not much was said really." She shrugged

"And how do you feel about that? Staying in school?" Stefan asked taking another drink

"Ok I suppose. It was what I wanted to do so it's nice to be told I can do it. I guess I'll just take each day at a time…" she yawned "sorry…"

"it's ok, you must be tired after the day you've had and now you're here working." Stefan said softly.

"I'm used to it but yes, I get more tired now. I guess I better get the practice in for all those sleepless nights I have to come…" she laughed

"That's true…right I leave you too get back to it…" Stefan said, standing up about to leave.

"My shift finished just as you came in actually. I just like to stay here a while and read a little…this way I get to avoid my mom for as long as I can too" she said softly

"I'm sure she'll come round, if she's anything like you then she'll come round." He said squeezing her hand. "Do you have a ride home or?"

"No I walk, I only live down the street and I like the walk" she shrugged

"Mind if I walk with you?" Stefan asked and Caroline shook her head with a smile.

She pulled her coat on and buttoned it up, it was beginning to get a little snug around her middle now. She grabbed her books shoving them into her bag and lifting it over her shoulder "see you tomorrow Al…" she called receiving a response back. "I'm ready"

"Ok, let's go then…" once again they linked arms and walked down the street together towards Caroline's.

"I never did thank you for listing to me that day in the library…" Caroline started "You really didn't have to stop and listen to me off load all my problems, but you did and…"

"Hey" Stefan brought them to a standstill and took her hand "you don't need to thank me. We're friends right?" Caroline nodded "Good, because friends help each other out, if it's to help you pick your books up off the floor or to fetch someone when your sobbing in a girls bathroom…" he laughed

"Don't tease me! I'm vulnerable…" she laughed back "Just know I appreciate you being here and being my friend…" they walked a little further down the street, this time Caroline stopping them "well this is me…" She pulled away from him "Thank for walking me home…"

"It was my pleasure. Go and get yourself some rest…" he watched as Caroline walked up her drive way and then he quickly grabbed something from his pocket. "Hey, Caroline?"

"Yeah?" she walked back down the path and met him halfway.

He handed her a piece of paper "My number. Whenever you need talk, or cry or whatever it is you need…call me ok? You aren't on your own…"

She took the paper and held tightly in her palm as he walked away "Night Stefan…"

"Good night, Caroline"

Their friendship is definitely blooming isn't it ? may be back later on ...