He sat at the counter tracing the rim of his cup with his index finger. He looked up at the clock, then turned to the door. Nothing. He turned back to his cup, and with a big sigh he rested his face in his palm. He then resumed tracing the rim of his cup again.
"Are you going to eventually take a sip?" A familiar voice asked from behind the counter.
No answer. The blond haired man kept watching his friend. He was a trance. He was staring at the cup but he could tell that he was not focused on it.
Suddenly the sound of the bell rang and he was out. He turned around to see who was there, only to be let down again.
"Dare." The guy behind counter finally called.
He turned around to look at his best friend stand there with a smirk on his face, arms crossed.
"She will be here." He let out a little chuckle. "She probably got detention."
Darien rolled his eyes, then went back to his coffee. He picked it up. Took a sip and made a grossed face.
"Yeah. Coffee that is supposed to be hot taste like crap when you let it sit." He grabbed the cup, dumped the old coffee and poured more into the cup. He then placed it in front of his best friend. "Please stop wasting my product."
"Sorry, Drew. I will pay for a second glass." Darien said pulling out his wallet.
"No need." He put his hand up. "I would much rather you just tell Serena you are in love with and that you would love to take her out for Valentine's Day."
He let out a groan. Ran both hands over his face. "Don't you think that is what I have been trying to do?!"
"I don't know." Andrew rested both hands on the counter. "Maybe my college grades aren't as great as yours, but I am almost certain 'Hey meatball brains...failed another test?' does not translate into 'I am so in love with you and I want to show you the best night of your life.'" He shrugged his shoulder. "But again you have the better grades than I do."
Before Darien could fire back. Three female bodies leaned up against the counter next to him.
"Who is going to show who the best night of their life?" A cute little blond with a red bow asked with a smile from ear to ear.
"Hey Mina!" Andrew moved back from the counter and leaned a little towards the three girls. "Lita. Raye."
"Hey Drew." They all said in unison.
"The usual?"
"Yes please." Raye answered putting her money on the counter.
"Want me to make Serena's now?" Andrew asked picking up the cash.
"Yeah, her and Amy should be here in a second." Lita answered.
"Did she get detention again?" Darien asked out loud.
The three girls turned to look at him. For a second they forgot he was even there.
"What's it to you!?" Lita yelled rolling up her sleeves.
He had seen this motion way to many times, and luckily he had only experienced a Lita punch once. There was no doubt he deserved it but it did not soften the blow mentally.
"Lita calm down." Mina fanned her hand closest to her. "He is just checking of his one true love."
Raye and Lita looked at each other, then back to him. His face was turning a little red.
"We knew it!" They yelled.
"You are so in love with her!"Raye screamed.
"Would you shut it!?"Darien started to look around.
"Don't yell at her pretty boy!" Lita squared up.
"No. No Lita." Raye slid off the stool. "Calm down. It's okay. He just doesn't know how to express his feelings right now. So we will let that one pass."
Lita started to slouch.
"Hey look Serena is here!" Lita shouted.
Darien turned around in his seat so fast he almost slipped out. The three girls laughed.
"Smooth..." Andrew whispered trying so hard not to laugh as well.
"I hate you guys."
"No, you don't." Mina argued. "And you don't hate Serena either."
"And that's okay!" Raye added. "Because she likes you too." Raye winked at him. She then turned to grab two drinks from off the counter.
"Raye!" Lita said from behind her grabbing two other drinks.
"No, Lita." Mina said as she grabbed the last drink. "Maybe it is a good thing he knows." She put a straw in her shake. "That way he can finally get rid of his fear of rejection and ask her on a date."
Lita looked him up and down. Then looked to Mina. "Nah... not going to happen."
They all walked away from the counter. He turned back to face his friend.
"You just had to say something didn't you?"
"What did I say?" Andrew asked cluelessly.
"Don't pl-"
He was suddenly interrupted by the most beautiful sound, a laugh. It was a laugh he knew so well, and without a doubt he knew it was hers. He didn't turn all the way around this time just enough to catch a glimpse of her face from the corner of his eyes. Whatever Amy was saying to her had her intrigued and she had a smile across her face.
He loved seeing that smile. No other smile compared to hers, and with the combination of her bright blue eyes, she was able to light up any room.
He continued to watch as she stood on her tip toes to wave to her friends that were waving at her to come over. Her shirt rose just a bit and he could see the smooth skin of her abdomen area.
On a normal day she would come order a drink at the counter, and he would be washed away by the scent of strawberries and cream, but since her friends already ordered her drink she didn't make the stop.
"There goes my shot." He whispered to himself.
"Don't give up yet." Andrew argued. "She just got here. Maybe she will want something else and come over. It is Serena you know. She does like to eat and that will be your chance." Andrew tried to explain.
"Maybe. Maybe not. I am not going to hold my breath." He pulled out one his textbooks, threw it on the counter and opened it. He could only see her slightly from the corner of his eye, but when he focused just enough he could still hear her laugh.
"But you are still going to wait?" He threw a towel down to wipe the counter. "You got it so bad."
Darien just ignored him, and continued pretending to read.