Early October, Washington Square Park
"I haven't even had midterms yet and I'm already so swamped with coursework. This biochem lab is going to kill me," Lanie groans. "Feels like I haven't seen you in forever."
It was a beautiful, crisp morning as the friends made their way across Washington Square Park.
"Yeah, it does. I'm glad you were free for coffee at least. I've got my Legal Studies exam this morning so I'm in need of a little caffeine distraction," Kate says.
"Oh, for Crime 101 with Annoying Guy?"
"It's Legal Studies 370 but yes. Though now that you mention it, Rick hasn't been there for almost two weeks," Kate realizes.
"Hold up, Rick? You know his name?" Lanie definitely felt like she had missed something.
"Yeah, he introduced himself after we solved a murder together," Kate states nonchalantly.
"Girl, I'm gonna slap you!" Lanie exclaims.
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell me you two were 'solving murders together' now?"
"Lanie! What? No it's not…we…it was one time!" Kate feels her cheeks turning beet red.
"Uh huh, sure. So he's not annoying guy anymore then?"
"That's the thing. He hasn't been in lecture since then. Not that I've noticed, at least," Kate explains.
"Yeah, and you would notice," Lanie responds.
"Seriously, all we did was discuss the reading, which I was surprised he'd even done. We both concluded that the killer that was stated in the reading wasn't the real killer. We shared our theory and presented evidence. Our professor was impressed. It was…nice. He introduced himself after class. That's all," Kate says, trying to fight off Lanie's subtext.
"Nice, hm? Sounds like you had fun," Lanie trolls. "All he did was tell you his name?"
"Yes," Kate confirms. "And I didn't want him to think I cared so all I said was "okay" and then I left. Haven't seen him since. Maybe he finally decided to take a hint and leave me alone."
"Girl! I really am gonna slap you!" Lanie exclaims as Kate pulls open the door to the campus coffee shop and gestures her dramatic friend through the door. It was nearing 8:30 and the line almost met them as they entered.
"Whatever," Kate laughs. "I will say that class has been a little less interesting without him there. But still, I wouldn't be mad if I never see…him…again."
Her voice trails off into a whisper and her piercing green eyes grow three sizes as she recognizes the man in line in front of her.
"What?" Lanie whispers, noticing Kate's sudden reaction.
"That's…" Kate whispers and points, trying not to get Rick's attention.
"Hm, interesting, so are you ready for the exam?" Lanie says, trying to tactfully change the subject just in case a certain someone overheard them.
"Uh, uh…" Kate flounders awkwardly. "Yeah…uh. Yes, I am. I feel good about it."
Lanie had never seen Kate so flustered.
"Good, that's good," Lanie hums. Then, silence, except for the hustle and bustle of espresso machines hard at work. As they inched closer and closer to the register, Kate tried to stay unnoticed. Finally it was Rick's turn to order.
"Yes, hi. Can I please get a grande whole milk cappuccino and uh, whatever these two lovely ladies are having," he says, turning and pointing to Kate and Lanie behind him. Kate's face fills with embarrassment once again.
"No, you don't have to do…" she tries to say.
"Please, I insist," Rick says. She decides not to hold the line up so she shuffles forward and blurts out her order.
"A grande nonfat latte with two pumps sugar free vanilla, please." Then she quickly nudges Lanie's shoulder.
"Right, um, can I do an iced white mocha with an extra shot? Please," Lanie says with a smile. Rick pays and the three of them awkwardly step to the side to wait.
"Thank you," Lanie says to Rick. "Kind of you to pay it forward." She's going to pretend he's just a random stranger, trying to cut the tension.
"My pleasure. Uh, I'm Rick. Your friend and I have a class together," he says, calling her bluff.
"Uh huh, Crime 101, right?" Lanie confirms.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Rick asks slyly.
"Lucky guess."
Kate is pretty sure she's going to either puke or combust. "I'll grab us a table," she says to Lanie before hightailing it to a chair as far away from Rick as possible.
A few minutes later, Lanie arrives at the table with her mocha and Kate's latte in her hands. Rick had taken a seat at a table across the coffee shop and pulled out a notebook. Weird, Kate thought, assuming the notes were for the Legal Studies midterm, as she had not once seen him take notes in class. "Here ya go," Lanie says as she sets Kate's drink in front her. The steam escaped in a rapid stream from the small hole in the lid, the smell of her familiar order filling her nostrils and her soul with a palpable comfort. "So..." Lanie begins as she takes her seat. "Rick seems...nice?"
"Yeah, he seems like a lot of things," Kate rolls her eyes.
"I mean he did buy our drinks, unprovoked. That's quite charming," Lanie states. "But I get it if you don't want to talk about it."
"It's more that there's really nothing to talk about," Kate returns. "What about you? How are things with that guy? The one you met at that party?"
"Girl, you know I can't do commitment right now," Lanie sighs. "But I do let him keep me company every once and a while."
"Oh, get it!" Kate laughs. "Do you have plans for Halloween yet?"
"Not yet. Did you have something in mind?"
"Nothing in particular but I've always wanted to do matching costumes. Something slutty, of course."
"Kate, I like the way you think," Lanie says before looking down at her watch. "I have some ideas, but I'll share them later. I've gotta get to my Genetics lecture."
"Uh! Okay, it was good to see you," Kate says. "Dinner tonight?"
"Already there, girl. Good luck on your exam," Lanie wishes. "And...go talk to Rick."
"That's not happening but thank you," Kate says as her friend grabs her coffee and her backpack and leaves for class.
Kate sits by herself, casually sipping on her still hot latte, keeping her gaze pointed down. Don't look, she kept telling herself, afraid she'd look at Rick to find him staring back. What if he was staring at her, though? Creepy. She picks up her cup, holds the brim to her lips and subtly looks for him. He was still captivated by his notebook, cramming at the last minute. But where did those notes come from? Why wasn't he in class the last two weeks? How did he end up at the same coffee shop as her at the same time? And when did she start caring?
"Uh!" Kate exclaims after her mental battle. Without thought, she stands up and her legs carry her across the room. "Hi," she says bluntly, drawing his attention from the page. He looks up and quickly closes the notebook.
"Hi," he says, his classic charming grin spreading across his face.
"Is this seat taken?" Kate asks, gesturing awkwardly.
"No, please, by all means." Kate slides into the chair and Rick leans forward.
"Thanks. And uh, thanks for the coffee. That was...nice."
"My pleasure, really," Rick says.
"So..."
"So?"
"Are you...ready for the exam?" Kate asks, nursing on her liquid courage.
"Not as ready as you, I'm sure," Rick replies slyly. "But I feel pretty good."
"Good. It's just, um, I haven't seen you in class in a while," Kate states.
"Yeah, I had some family matters to attend to," Rick explains. "But it's all been taken care of."
"Okay. That's good. Nothing serious, I hope?" Kate asks.
"No, I just wasn't able to come to lecture because of it," Rick says. "Thanks for asking."
"Sure. I know family can be...complicated," Kate mumbles.
"Yeah, you have no idea," Rick laughs.
"I do, trust me," Kate says with a sad smile. "Anyway. We should probably head over to the lecture hall. Wouldn't want to be late." She rolls her eyes with a twinge of sarcasm as they pack up their bags and leave the coffee shop together. "I'm Kate, by the way," she blurts out. "I realize I never told you my name."
"Well, Kate, thank you. For telling me that. And for checking on me. I really appreciate it," Rick says in genuine as they cross the street.
"Yeah, well, don't get the idea I like you or anything. I just figured something had to be wrong when I saw you studying," Kate scoffs.
"There she is," Rick laughs. "Um, I don't want to get you riled before you take the exam, but can I ask you something?"
Kate raises her brow the way she always does. "Uh, sure."
"It's nothing weird. I was just thinking, wondering if you'd want to be my partner for the semester project? I know we're supposed to let the Professor know after the exam if we're working with someone, so if you want to...we could let her know," Rick rambles.
"You want to be partners?" Kate confirms. "Is it like your mission to drive me crazy?"
Rick chuckles nervously. "That's part of it. The other part is that, you know, we make a good team."
Kate laughs. "Pretty small sample size!"
"I suppose," Rick acknowledges. "Sorry I even asked."
"No, it's...fine. Um, yes. I'd like to be your partner for the semester project," Kate finally says.
"Really? That's great!" Rick exclaims. "Uh, could I have your number?"
"Okay, don't push it," Kate laughs.
"I meant so we can figure out when to meet," Rick says.
"How about you give me your number, and I'll text you?"
Kate and Rick stood outside the lecture hall as Rick typed his number into Kate's phone. Moments later they walked into the hall and joined their other classmates who'd arrive a little early. The TA was walking up and down the stairs passing out a Blue Book to everyone as they sat down. Rick and Kate sat at the far end of a row about half way to the stage, two seats in between them as their TA had instructed. About ten minutes later, the Professor arrived to begin circulating the exam.
"Good luck," Kate whispered as she passed Rick the salmon pink paper the test was printed on.
"Thanks," Rick smiled. "I'd say the same to you except you don't need it."
Kate gave a toothless smile and then looked down at the exam, her cheeks matching the color of the paper.