If one of her friends or acquaintances of hers from back in Sunset Bird were to describe her, they would probably say that Jamie Last is a sociable girl, kind and excitable. She had strong convictions about the silliest things and that she appreciated good food, both making it and especially consuming it.
Unfortunately for her, she had not made many connections with people in Virginia and, amongst them, Baxter Ward is the one friend she has made so far into her college career that is willing to tag along with her when she goes to a new café or restaurant in town.
"It would be such a shame to move to a new town and not try out all of the cute cafés!"
She remembers saying that exact phrase to Cove the day before she caught her eastbound plane at the end of summer, and it is something she repeated to all of her friends since then. However, no-one really seemed to share her sentiments as much as the equally-strange monochromatic young man did, possibly because they go café-hopping every other day like they are on a mission.
Charlottesville is not well-known for its nightlife or the gastronomic quality of its restaurants, being mostly a small college town with historically-relevant buildings dotted around it, but still, this is where she lives now, so she ought to make the best of it. She is glad to have trusted companionship over it, in any case.
The pair arrives to a small coffeeshop at Main Street. It was small, with only a few tables in the narrow and long space, but the air was filled with a nice smell of cookies, which was a plus in her book. Popular music played in a low volume on the background, not loud enough to be a bother to conversation, but something to make the wait time run smoother.
"How are we feeling this one?" She asks, lightly, to the young man next to her.
He smirked. "Well, this seems like a pretty nice one. It's got that special ambiance."
Baxter only uses that word to tease Jamie, since she has mentioned on many occasions that a restaurant's ambiance is important to her. Though the joke is much overplayed almost a year in, he does not miss the way her expression tinges with slight embarrassment
Oh, how he adores that look!
"Shut up..." She mumbles.
He just chuckles as he peruses through the menu. "My, is this the treatment I get for joining you on your quest to finding the best café in town? I even support you financially!"
It is true, he does. She does not think she has ever had to pay for anything as long as he is around, which is fortunate, since she is a broke college student and could not afford nearly as much designer coffee as she usually consumes thanks to the bankrolling of the Ward economic enterprises back in Oregon.
Not that it is not a point of contention at times. It is not like she asked for him to do that! Still, she really does not want him to think she brings him along with her plans just because she is broke and he was much too well-educated to let a lady pay her way, along with having the generous capital to back it up.
"Well, you don't have to..." She mutters, feeling slightly guilty about it.
Baxter senses this, his expression softening slightly. He put his foot in his mouth again.
"Well, we all know the real reason why you ask me to accompany you these days, and it's not my credit card." He says with a smirk.
That look makes Jamie very uneasy. What kind of out-of-pocket shit is this man going to say next? It suddenly dawns upon her, a conversation she had with Francine Second last week.
Francine, sometimes Frankie, was a common acquaintance between Jamie and Baxter. She was a childhood friend of the young man's, as they grew up mostly in the same small town in Oregon, even though he really does not care much for her. Paradoxically, then, the two girls are closer between each other, often exchanging campus gossip and easy conversation over their common classes.
A few days ago, Jamie told Francine to not come along for their next café-hopping session because she wanted to spend more time with Baxter alone. Because she likes him.
Francine would never! She would never, ever betray her friend this way! That woman swore upon her mother's prized opal earrings that she would never, ever tell anybody about this. Especially Baxter!
Though, one may argue, Frankie had a bit of a habit of saying too much when she really should not. While she would not find herself in a situation with Baxter that would really warrant a concern, since he really did not care for her for reasons as of yet unknown for Jamie, she had certainly let it slip with other common acquaintances of theirs, who had no commitment or incentive to keep quiet themselves.
Jamie had never met the Autumn Gang, as Francine dubbed them, but they seemed like the nosy sort for sure. Not that she can judge, the Summer Entourage of hers is no different.
"Let's hear it then." She finally says, taking a chair on a table and hoping she does not sound as shaky as she feels right now.
"It's because you always over-order and can never finish the food." He responds, the usual teasing lilt in his voice.
Jamie let out a loud and heavy sigh of relief. Perhaps Francine had not betrayed her after all. She is going to treat her friend to some tacos later, she feels horrible for ever doubting that girl.
"Right, yes. You're absolutely correct." She responds finally, sounding far more relieved than she had anticipated. "By the way, I'm ordering one of every croissant they carry here. They made a hell of a case for them online and I'm not wasting a trip. I hope you didn't have any lunch."
Baxter, on the other hand, feels more than a little discontent at this turn of events, even if he is still cognizant and cool as ever. Surely, that conversation he overheard between Jamie and Francine had not been a figment of his own imagination?
He calmly sips his black coffee. Oh well, he decides to just watch her basically inhale the strawberry shortcake she just ordered, a small smile gracing his lips. Perhaps he can get her to confess next time. For now, this is enough.