Chapter 6 Coffee

Elara.

“I would have a cup of coffee and a muffin, can you make it cold coffee please?.” I asked.

An icy voice sliced through the conversation.

“It’s considered bad manners to order before the rest of the party arrives.”

My eyes darted to Landon.

I watched as waitress found her smile, she didn’t smile so much when I settled here, she pulled away as Landon settled beside me

“You are late.”

“By two minutes.” He spoke

I enjoyed punctuality.

I was never a minute late, I always arrived three- six minutes before the ideal time.

It mattered a lot to me.

“Why am I here Landon Hayes?.”

“Just Landon.” He spoke

My eyes darted to his.

For a second, I could get lost there, yet I fought every temptation and I looked away.

His strong perfume filled my nostrils, even the scent screamed old money, one glance through the glass wall, I could see his white Ashton Martin packed outside with a personalized plates 

Hayes.

I glanced away.

“Did you talk to the coach?” I asked and he nodded.

“On Monday coach will bring it up to the board and you will be assigned a room, all we need is for you to be quiet during practice.”

It’s art not a dance club

We all used personal headphone to guide us through our work, we enjoyed having the room quiet, that’s one thing they don’t have to worry about.

“How do we this? The design.”

“Every week we meet up and you show me, I approve the ones I like and.” He was about saying when he smirked.

Does he always do that?

I felt tempted to roll my eyes at him

He did stare a lot.

I am not about to call him out for that.

I could tell it would only make him more overly confident.

I looked away from him again when the coffee arrived.

The waitress didn’t spare me a glance, for a moment I was worried she will make the mistake of pouring the coffee all over me.

“Once a week, every Saturday.” I asked and he nodded. “I expect no interruption from your team. We don’t go anywhere near you and they don’t do the same either, our room is off limits to all of them, including you.” I whispered

For a moment he looked surprised before he masked it off

Art is sacred to me and I didn’t share my word until it’s ready, so do the rest of my club, we don’t see each other’s work without permission, we have our system.

“Deal, if that’s the case we need to know the arts club support hockey.”

“Do you support art?.” I asked and he smirked at me.

My heart skipped a beat as he stared at me.

“I have a couple in my room and I assure you my teammates don’t have a problem with arts but with the way you spoke to the coach, they will think you have a problem with hockey and question why we will help you?.”

I hate that he is right about that.

“We have to convince them we don’t hate hockey.”

“Attend every game and we do the same attend every art show, we don’t hate each other Elara.”

The way my name rolled off his tongue.

It sent a chill down my spine.

My eyes flickered at his lips, his tongue swept across his lips.

“My eyes are up here Elara.” He spoke again and I rolled my eyes at him

How could he be kind yet annoying.

I don’t like the way he stirred things inside of me.

I hated the way he made me feel.

“Fine.” I whispered.

If I have to prove I don’t hate hockey, I will.

Anything to keep my club, and find a way to get funding without the help of the school, enough to convince the principal we would be able to keep the club through the next year.

“Lastly, no one can know about this deal.”

“Don’t you think everyone will find it weird that you are helping me and I am creating banners and designing the team logo for no reason.”

“You can’t tell anyone.” He said again, this time in a serious tone and I nodded.

Why did it matter?

I sipped the cold coffee when I heard a click.

“The fuck.” Landon and I spoke in unison

It was a girl, she took a picture of us.

I was about to stand up when Landon held my hand causing me to turn to look at him.

His warm hands yet found its place on mine.

“Don’t, she is not worth it.” He spoke.

I watched as she ran off and disappeared into the other side.

I have seen her before, in the hallway, I didn’t like the idea of her showing that picture to everyone, the tension it could cause.

I settled back on the chair, I knew it was too late and even if I walked up to her, I would only be creating a scene.

It’s a small town, the last thing I need is my parents finding out about it, I don’t need a lecture on what we don’t do in our home. And mom shaking her head in disappointed.

“What do we do?.”

“Why do you care?.”

“She could spread a rumor with that picture, everyone could think we are saying Landon, or even worse, they will think something else, the last thing I need is-“ I was about saying when I kept quiet

Another scandal.

Another lie.

Another scheme to ruin my life

I worked so hard to make sure the last one stay between the walls of the school, this time I could only imagine how bad it will be.

“What are you staring at?.” I whispered.

He glanced at me without a word

In a moment a vibration filled my mind and I pulled out my phone.

The picture was posted on the school page, with the caption.

Another hockey player down.

The hell.

“How are you so calm about this? She posted our picture without permission.”

“I can’t control what people do?.” He spoke calmly.

“Yelling and screaming is only going to give her the satisfaction she wants.” He said

Another thing he is right about

“I will fix it.” Landon suddenly spoke

I never had anyone say that to me.