CHAPTER 4: SOME FOLKS JUST DON'T LIKE COFFEE
When the weekend came, Linus and Eudora were back at Java Jive to try out other flavors of coffee. Eudora, in particular, wanted to try something less strong as espresso. The barista served her some decaffeinated coffee, as Eudora was not that into coffee and they figured decaf would do her better.
"Have some sugar for the coffee, Dory," offered Linus. "It'll make it taste better."
"Thanks, babe," said Eudora.
"You should try some creamer, as well. They have different flavors of creamers, like French Vanilla, Mocha, and even Irish Cream."
Eudora grabbed the French Vanilla creamer and put it, along with the sugar in her coffee. She drank some of the coffee. It still didn't taste good to her, but it was an improvement over the espresso. Plus it had no caffeine in it so she wouldn't get so wired and hyper like last time.
"I guess I'm not a coffee person, Linus," Eudora conceded.
"It's okay, Dory," assured Linus. "Some folks don't have a taste for it. And some just like it on occasion. You still like tea, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Then you can get tea when we come here. Or hot chocolate, they serve that, too."
"Great!" Charlie Brown and Frieda walked in, along with Sally and Michael. Sally was sporting a new hairdo thanks to Frieda. It was a flipped-type hairdo, making it more grown-up than her old hairstyle.
"Hey, Linus, Eudora," Charlie Brown greeted.
"Hey, gang," Linus greeted back. "Care to join us?"
"Sure." And they all sat down with Linus and Eudora. "You want me to get you anything, Frieda?"
"Yeah, I'll try a salted caramel Frappuccino," said Frieda to Charlie Brown. And Charlie Brown got in line to get his and Frieda's beverages.
"I never pegged you as a coffee drinker, Linus," said Michael.
"I actually like it, Michael," said Linus. "Eudora, on the other hand, doesn't seem to enjoy it, as much."
"Can't really get into coffee like Linus can," Eudora replied.
"I totally get it, Dory," said Sally. "My dad drinks it daily before going to the barber shop. I tried it once. Aside from how it smells when it's brewing, I can't stand the flavor of it! And I think he brews it strong." Charlie Brown came back with his and Frieda's drinks.
"Here you go, Frieda," he said to his girlfriend.
"Thank you, honey," cooed Frieda, kissing him. Mallory walked in and spotted the group sitting together. She figured since there was no bad blood with them, despite being friends with Cobra and Dominick, she could talk to them.
"Hey, everyone," she greeted.
"Hey, Mallory," said Linus.
"Linus, with your sister being Sylvia's friend and all," Mallory began, "I hope it doesn't-"
"Hey, you can relax, Mallory," assured Linus. "What my sister thinks of you doesn't carry over to me or Rerun, our other brother. We're cool."
"What's on your mind, hun?" asked Frieda.
"Well, you know that new kid Wayne King?" Mallory asked. The kids all nodded. "I think he actually likes me."
"Really?" said Sally.
"Yeah," said Mallory. "He took me out to Joe's the other day after school. He was telling me that he thought I was THE most beautiful girl he has ever seen. And he knows about my history with Dominick and what had happened a few months ago, and it didn't matter to him at all."
"That means he does like you, Mal," said Frieda.
"Are you two doing anything else together?" asked Charlie Brown.
"We plan to go to the movies this afternoon," Mallory replied. "I just hope things will work out for me this time around. I want to move on from Dominick and actually try to stay out of trouble. I want to prove to everyone that I'm trying to get on with my life."
"Well, going out on dates with Wayne may be the key to that, Mallory," said Linus. "I say go for it."
"Really?" said Mallory. Everyone nodded in agreement. "Okay. Thanks everyone." And she got up and went to get something for herself.
"Maybe there's hope for her, after all," said Eudora.
NEXT CHAPTER: THE SERPENT SISTERS REACT