Title: The Coffee Theory

Author's Notes: Hey guys! It's Matrix here, reporting back in after a bit of a long absence. School -does- tend to keep you busy! Well, anyways, Welcome to my new story, "The Coffee Theory"! It's a comedy, if you haven't already figured that out...and a romance as well! (First season) For all those readers who are following up on my story, "A Broken Promise", I can assure you that Chapter 4 is in the making. I'm just trying to do lots of brain-storming on it, so I can make this delayed chapter extra special for you readers. So please read Chapter 4 when it comes out!

Virus: ...

Matrix: Oh, allow me to introduce my sidekick, Virus! I mean, every other author seems to have an alternate ego or such, so I thought, "Where's MINE?" Well, here she is! -hugs Virus- Yay!

Virus: ARGH! Get off! Too. MUCH. LOVE!...



[Story START]



Prologue: The Bet Begins


"Motoki! Another cup of coffee here, bud!"


The man being called to twitched considerably from where he stood, right by the coffee machine. Though he just had to maneuver his arms a bit to retrieve the requested coffee, the man known as Motoki Furuhata did not budge; not a bit.


He turned to face the caller, the ebony black-haired man who stared back at him expectantly. The usually calm face of the blonde-haired man was contorted into a furious one; quite frightening really, but, hey, that's the face one usually wore when their best friend was one, Mamoru Chiba.


Through clenched teeth, Motoki hissed, "And how many coffees have you had since you've been here, Mamoru?"


Mamoru blinked. And blinked again. "Uh...4? 5?"


"18, YOU MORON!"


Motoki marched over to Mamoru's place at the counter, ready to, "knock some sense" into the perplexed young college student. Oh, and would Motoki ever make that cliched phrase literal.


WHAP! (That hit's sting would last for a few days...) "Are you crazy? 18 coffees?! Do you know how bad for your health that is?!"

At the sight of the assault, the rest of Crown Parlor's coffee-consumers slowly pushed their coffee-filled Styrofoam cups away...and ran. Ran as fast as their sorry legs could carry them!

Mamoru glared at his blonde-headed friend and growled, "YOU'RE the one that's crazy...hitting your customers..."


Motoki smirked. "Hey. At least we're CONCERNED with the health of our customers. That way, our customers will still be alive to come back to our store next time."


"But, geez, you didn't need to hit me. I mean, I got exams I gotta study for. Caffeine keeps you awake. See where I'm going here?"


Motoki shook his head sadly, ignoring all of Mamoru's babbled words. "Ah, addiction to coffee, who knew?"


That's when something in Mamoru snapped. Maybe it was just the still atmosphere of the store; all of the remaining customers trying to keep as quiet as they possibly could. Or it could have been the challenging way Motoki had presented those words. Or maybe it was just because Mamoru didn't like taking a hit to the ol' ego.


"I'm -not- addicted."


Motoki chuckled, still swaying his head back and forth. "Whatever you say, man."


"I'm -not-!"


"Sure."


"I AM NOOOOOOOT!"


Motoki turned back to face Mamoru, his eyebrows shot straight up so that they almost disappeared completely underneath his blonde bangs. "Oh, really? Well, listen here, pal. I doubt you could last a week without coffee."


Mamoru "pfft'ed". "A week? That's NOTHING."


"Heh. Really?"


Mamoru grinned back, a reassured glint passing through his dark blue eyes. "Hai. Really."


"A week's worth of working in place of me says you can't do it," Motoki was heard to say.


Mamoru grinned; a malicious, determined, arrogant grin all rolled up into one. "Fine. But when you lose, -you- have to wax my car for one week."


Motoki grinned, extending a hand towards Mamoru, which the raven-haired man took, after

concluding that Madake had no taser or such, hidden in his hand.


"It'll be fun watching you wait hand and foot on the customers, Mamo-baka."


"Better start honing your waxing skills, Motoki. You'll certainly need 'em."


And this is how the stupidest bet on earth began.



Author's Concluding Notes: -hides from the rabid readers- Yes, I know it's short,


Virus: And crappy, let's -not- forget -crappy-.

Matrix: -glares- Shut up.


but remember: It's only a prologue! Future chapters shall be looonger and better! Because you know this authoress can't resist putting some mayhem to cause some trouble for our adorable Mamo-chan! -squeezes chibi Mamo-chan- I wuv you!


Mamo: Can't...breathe...air....X.x


Virus: Save me from the stupidity.


E-mail comments and such to: thepinkmatrix@aol.com or REVIEW!