Of coffee, clothes, and breakups



"I wanted a Cappuccino! Not a frapuccino!" I cry to the waiter.

"Sorry," he says and walks off with a scowl, then brings me the RIGHT order. I take a sip. Mmm.caffeine makes me feel better.

"What's gotten into you, Emma?" Talim says. "Your not worrying about Aragorn, are you?"

"No," I sigh. That's such a lie though. I'm so freaked out that Arwen is flirting with him. 'She's so pretty! What if he just gives in?' I wonder.

"So... Emma..." Legolas says.

I look up to see a speechless Legolas. "Legolas, spit it out."

"I have something that might make you feel better." Some reason he doesn't look too excited.

"What?" I ask hopefully.

"Well," Legolas looks very uneasy. "How about we take our coffees to the mall and you guys can drag me around. Besides, I think I need some new clothes." He looks very bumbed that he even mentioned it, even when Talim and me squeal with happiness.

"Yay! This shall be so much fun!" I squeal.

"Legolas, prepare to be in style," Talim says with this big grin.

"O no," I hear Legolas mutter very quietly. Poor Legolas. But he's so sweet to try to cheer me up though.



"Try this on, Legolas!" I say, handing him green shorts and a wife-beater. He looks at it blankly for a moment. I keep on wondering what he's thinking. Most times he can hide expressions very well, like right now!

Legolas takes the clothes and goes into the dressing room. Poor guy, I'm sure he's embarrassed because we keep on seeing people from school. I turn around and see... Arwen?

"Look," I point out. "Aragorn must have stopped studying and came looking for us at Wizard's cup...then maybe she came here by herself. Maybe we should look for Aragorn at the Wizard's cup," I say.

"Let's go talk to her and see if she knows where he went," Talim answers, but I feel a little nervous about it. As we walk around this fountain that is kind of blocking the way, I gasp. Aragorn is with her! He said he was studying!!

"He came to the mall with her? I thought no one could bribe him into going, but me!" I whimper.

"He's got his study notes. He probably just came to get some food at the food court! They're studying, see!"

They didn't look like they were studying. They were talking and she was laughing...and he was laughing with her. Who laughs like hell when they're studying? Not my Aragorn and not any sane person I know!



It's been two weeks since Aragorn and Arwen at the mall and now it's the third Saturday I've been here at Gondor High. Luckily I haven't seen much of Arwen, but then again, I haven't seen much of Aragorn. I pick up the phone and dial Aragorn's number. "Aragorn, come over. We're going to watch a movie!"

"What movie?" he asks.

"Legally blond," I tell him. He grumbles, but I beg. "Come on! You used to watch movies and stuff with me all the time! What's changed?"

"Nothing!" he says. "I'll be right over."

I then call Legolas.



Legolas, Talim, Aragorn, and me all squish together on this love seat. Aragorn seems a little uncomfortable and I think it has something to do with me, and not the cramped couch. Legolas seems to be grimacing throughout most of the movie. He may look girly, but hell no, he's not! Talim looks like she's watching the best thing on earth. She, after all, has never seen it.

I look over at Aragorn. He's spacing...I've noticed that he's been doing that often.

He finally glances at me and whispers in my ear: "Can we talk real quick?"

I nod, but I feel nervous because he looks sad and confused. He pulls me outside the room. Silence. But the kind of silence I HATE. I finally understood the term, 'Tension so thick you could cut it with a knife'.

Finally he speaks. "Emma, I feel like a horrible boyfriend," he says. "I hate to tell you this, because I love you, but I've been feeling torn between two people." My eyes are watering. No, this cant be happening. I remember this happening with another boyfriend before!

"And you chose her?" I ask.

"Huh? Arwen?"

"Yes! Who else! Are you dumping me for her?" my voice starts cracking with sobs and my fingers shake. If I ever was in this state, he would wrap his arms around me, but this was different. That was before...before Arwen. The thought made me cry harder.

"No!" he says. "I just don't know what to do! I can't just go steady with you when I start liking another person too. I just need to find out who I like!"

"Well, forget it! If you think she MIGHT be able to give you something that I can't give you, forget you! Forget the "us"!"

He looks at me astounded. I run inside and jump face down on the bed. Talim turns off the TV. Legolas and Talim turn around in the love seat to look at me. I'm so embarrassed that Legolas is seeing me like this. Talim runs outside after Aragorn and Legolas takes a seat by my bed.

"He dumped me!" I sob. "He dumped me because I'm not a princess and she is!" I continue to cry. Legolas lays a hand on my shoulder. "That's not it, Emma. He loves you so much."

I look up at him. "Then why is he doing this to me?"

"Talim went to talk to him. Maybe he'll give her answers," Legolas says. "And Aragorn loves you so much and you'll probably get back together. Your such a great couple, it's sick."

"Sick?" I ask. "Why is it sick?"

He shakes his head. "Because, no one is ever like that for me. You know I'm a prince, so when I'm home its just servants fanning me and here it's every girl wanting to be with me only because I'm a prince. I feel like no one has loved me for me in that way. And to see you guys so in love, though your going through a tough time, it's sick to me. I'm jealous for both of you."

I didn't say anything for a moment, but gently patted Legolas's hand. "Don't worry, Leg. You'll find someone right for you."

Legolas lays in the bed with me. (don't get any sick thoughts)

"Yea, I hope," he says.



"Aragorn, but you love her!" Talim yelled.

Aragorn turned on his heel. "Yes, I do and always will..."

"But you don't love her enough to be with her? You're going to give her up...one year's worth of trust you gained from her and then because some pretty-doll-face princess walks into your life, you give it all up!"

"Well..." Aragorn paused. "Yes and no. I don't love her so much that I'm sure about her and not Arwen. I've felt more with Arwen."

"Physically? You faggot! Have you touched that girl and...???!!!"

Aragorn slapped his hands over Talim's mouth as some teachers strolled by. "No," he muttered. I've just felt so much more in love with Arwen, but since I've known Emma so long, it's hard to give her up."

Talim rips Aragorn's hands away. "But you'll give it all up anyways? It's too late to get Emma back, I think. Anyways, what does she have that Emma doesn't? Emma has money! Emma is beautiful...!"

"And Emma doesn't have one thing: an adventurous bone in her body! I love adventure! I love thrill! I love hunting in the woods and walking with rangers! Emma loves malls and beaches! Arwen is exciting and for the spring break she wants to go to the shire! How exciting! Somewhere so far away!"

Talim shook her head. "I can't believe you, Aragorn. What am I supposed to tell her? That you really love her, but you just dumped her because she likes malls?"

"That I love her and I want things to be the same...but just not going steady. I want it to be like it was before we were going steady. Just friends. I hope to see you all at lunch."

"Don't be so sure. If she doesn't want to sit with you, I'm on her side. Maybe you don't deserve her," Talim shook her head and walked back.

Aragorn sighed and turned the other way.