Chapter 05: Bad boy gone Due to low ratings, Monday was cancelled. Said no one ever. They cancel my favorite TV show, but they don't cancel Mondays. Tell me how that's fair. I opened my bedroom window to breathe in the fresh air... and immediately slammed it shut. It was flipping cold outside. What a bad idea. I took a hot shower and got dressed, checked my phone and saw no text from Luke. Did he forget that we went on a date this weekend, which makes Monday our first day? Our first day as an us. And I know my phone isn't broken this time. I went back to my bedroom window. Lucky for me, Luke Dawson lives opposite me. It's very handy for the occasional sneak peak. "That jackass..." I cursed, as I saw the empty space where his car was meant to be. He'd already left. And I still didn't have a car. My car was still outside Austin's house, collecting dust and cobwebs. "Millie!" my door burst open and Flora came in, wearing a fluffy pink jacket and tight jeans, "If you want a ride, you better hurry. I'm about to leave." "You're taking me to school?" Maybe this is a prank. "You don't have your car. Unless you're planning on taking your tricycle again-" "No, no, no!" I waved my hands fanatically and grabbed my backpack, "You've never offered to take me to school before, but I am not questioning it!" My sister isn't exactly famous for her kind gestures. Maybe it really is the dawn of a new era. Her car smelled like a perfume store and I found three pairs of high heels under my seat. I carefully put my bag somewhere that wouldn't squish any of her things. That's some little sister respect right there. "Can we pick up some coffee on the way?" I asked, "I usually go to the Coffee Bean before school." "Are you crazy?" she responded, "That's where Max works. AKA my ex-boyfriend who dumped me two weeks ago. I am not seeing that douchebag again." But coffee. My soul. Hurts. Flora drove to school and left my soul in a coffee filter. ** I wasn't sure what to expect at school. Luke was kind of a big deal there, so I didn't know how people would react after our first date. Flora had asked me 101 questions about it on our drive. But it turns out, not many other people knew. It was the usual morning bustle of no one looking my way. I was taking my biology textbook out of my locker when he texted me. You left home already? Well hello. I texted back: First period starts in 5 Luke: I've been waiting outside your house. Your mum said you were in the shower LOL. My mum hasn't known my whereabouts since she lost track of my dad's. Rookie mistake to ask mum. Luke still didn't know my family like that. I was about to close my locker, when I saw another text come in. He sent me a picture: A photo of coffee in the cup holder of his car. He'd gone to the Coffee Bean before coming to pick me up. That's why his car was gone when I looked for it this morning. My irritation disappeared and was replaced by guilt at doubting him. In my defence, he's been a jackass so many times before, that I hadn't expected this from him. But I should. I should totally expect to be treated well. I texted him: That's so nice! I didn't realize you were picking me up Luke: It's ok. I'll trade you that coffee for a kiss Me: Deal. ** I sat in biology, barely able to follow the class. It was too early to understand the Latin coming out of my teacher's mouth. "A prokaryote is an organism without mitochondria-" Mrs Baker was interrupted by someone walking in. "Mr Dawson, I don't believe you're in this class anymore." Dawson. Am I dreaming about him now? That is sad. "Sorry, Mrs B," he said in the voice that was unmistakably his, "Millie forgot her coffee." What? My eyes shot open and I sat upright. He said my name. He said coffee. I stared at the handsome boy in front of the class. The boy I've kissed. The boy I've yelled at. The boy who dares to interrupt class with my coffee. A confident, smooth-talking Luke Dawson. He caught my eye in his blue-eyed gaze and raised the cup in a small gesture. A small gesture that meant so much more. It showed me that he took our deals seriously. Coffee for a kiss. Twenty pairs of eyes turned on me. Chairs squeaked back so people could get a better look. The class was staring at me... And I was staring at that coffee. My face lit up like a kid in Disneyland. "Can't this wait until after class?" Mrs B asked Luke, "You've interrupted my lesson for a very peculiar reason." She wasn't angry. Mrs Baker was a friendly teacher who had taught Luke biology last year. I could tell that she had grown fond of him. "We both want your students to pay attention," Luke replied, "And Millie's a zombie before caffeine. She can't help it." That made Mrs Baker lecture me, "Well now that isn't healthy, Millie." Thanks. Let's make this class discussion all about my unhealthy habits. Mrs B gave Luke a kind look and let him give me the coffee. She thought it was sweet of him. This was new territory for Luke and me and I felt butterflies in my stomach as I watched him walk towards me. He was used to people staring at him but I was not. In the silence of the classroom, he placed the coffee cup on my desk. There were a couple gasps as people realized that Millie was me. I was Millie. He was a senior and I was a junior people forgot on the class register. The sound of the coffee cup landing on my desk reverberated against the silent classroom. Luke said in his deep, husky voice, "I held my end of the deal..." Right here? Mrs B was nice, but there's no way she'd let us make out. Right here. In front of everyone. "So do I get that kiss now or later?" he said in a low voice. "Later," I squeaked, my cheeks blushing at the stares we were getting. He smirked. "Alright, Mr Dawson. That's enough. I'm sure you have class to get to now as well," Mrs B said, "And Millie, now that you've had your coffee, why don't you walk the class through your answer to question two." My heart fluttered from his last words before he left. Audible chatter replaced the silence in our classroom. I just stared at the coffee cup in front of me. I couldn't believe what just happened. That's when I saw the name scribbled on the side of the coffee cup: Minnie. ** We kept our relationship low key. After the coffee showdown, I felt reassured that Luke wouldn't hide us anymore. I was still haunted by the first week of school after summer camp, when he ignored my existence. A part of me was scared he would do the same now. Coffee-gate showed me that wasn't the case. Maybe that's why he did it. He wasn't exactly a public gesture kind of guy, but he put himself out there today. I ate lunch with Cearra on the bleachers. It was getting cold, but I really didn't want to sit inside with everyone else. "I feel like you're hiding from the inevitable," she said, wrapped up in three jackets and two scarves, "People are going to find out about you and Luke." "Some already have. He brought coffee into my class today," I said, stabbing my salad with a fork. Rabbit food. "No way. A declaration of love!" she exclaimed, making a whiplash sound, "Even when he was hooking up with Bianca he never-" My expression made her retract her words, "OK, probably not a good idea to bring up his exes. Anyway, that's amazing. Bad boy gone good. I like it." I never thought of him as a bad boy. He seemed like an obnoxious jock to me. ** Five minutes before the end of lunch, and I was walking down an empty hallway. The sound of students in the cafeteria faded behind me the further down I went. Most seniors had their classes here. The only class I had here was AP Math. "Room 110... damn, I passed it..." I muttered to myself, reading the numbers on the blue doors. I retraced my steps back. Classroom 108. This was the one. It was five minutes before the bell rang. Five minutes before the classrooms would be filled with students. I opened the door and walked inside. Bunsen burners and test tubes lined the shelves. The classroom shades sliced the light into strips along the floor. Four minutes until the bell rang. Someone closed the door behind me. I wasn't alone. Four minutes. Until then, I had four minutes alone with... "How was that coffee?"