Chapter 8: Coffee

With a caramel macchiato in hand, I feel instantly better. The rich scent of coffee and caramel soothes me as I step out of the car, greeted by Connor’s smiling face, who's leaning against his own car elegantly.

"Hey, Nora," he says with a nod, his eyes roaming over me. "You’re looking fucking hot today, jeez." His compliment makes my cheeks warm.

Before I can respond, Ryker's voice booms across the parking lot. "Still up for partying tonight?!" he yells, drawing attention from the students nearby, some of whom can’t help but glance at Connor.

"Definitely," I laugh.

We all walk into the school together, a big group of friends. As we near the teacher’s room, Connor and Ryker trail alongside us. Just then, Mr. Smith, one of the older teachers, spots us. He's struggling with a pile of boxes.

"Perfect timing, guys. Can I borrow some muscle?" he asks.

Connor and Ryker immediately dash forward, competing to carry the heaviest box. I give Mr. Smith a smile and accept a small box with one hand, balancing my coffee in the other.

We follow Mr. Smith to the teacher’s room, Lina and Charlotte chatting animatedly about the weekend, which is only minutes away. Ryker walks beside me, thinking out loud.

"You know... Instead of going to the club tonight," he starts, just as we enter the lounge.

My attention snaps to Mr. Adkins, who’s typing away on his laptop. His eyes shoot up when he hears us, and after looking straight into his brown eyes, I swiftly look away. At the far end of the same large table, Mason sits, his eyes flickering between me and my friends with suspicion.

Ryker continues, "Why don’t we party at your place, Nora?"

I keep my eyes on Mason as I answer, "I can’t. My brother’s home tonight."

"You know, I'm starting to think you have no brother," Connor butts in.

I walk past Mason to help Mr. Smith with the boxes. "He’s real, just... shy. Doesn’t do well with strangers. Bit of a dickhead, honestly."

"Language, Miss Raven," Mason interjects loudly.

I glance back at him, smiling cheekily. "Oh, Mr. Jackson, you’d probably say the same if you met him."

Mason gives me a pointed look, his lips twitching with a ghost of a smile.

"Anyway," Connor says, stealing my attention again. He hands the box to Simon while looking at me. "It was so much fun last time. Remember when we saw the neighbors smoking pot from your bedroom?"

Mason’s head snaps up, eyes narrowing at me.

Mason’s head snaps up, eyes narrowing at me.

"Oh my God, yes!" Ryker laughs. "And Asher running around your yard with Gina on his shoulders!"

Mason’s glare intensifies, but I turn away, feeling Connor’s hand rest on my shoulder.

"Connor," Mason snaps. "Don’t you have detention somewhere?"

I hand the box to Simon, who smiles at me kindly.

"No, I don't," Connor responds, his hand falling off my shoulder. "You do, Connor," I hear Mr. Adkins say.

The tension in my stomach tightens at the sound of his voice. I step forward to help Simon pack all the boxes into the low cupboard and ignore the boys behind me. I need that car key.

"Out, Connor. Ryker, too. Lina, Charlotte, you’re done as well," Mason orders.

They all leave, and I turn around with my coffee in my hand. Mason eyes my coffee, and I know exactly what he's thinking.

It’s silent for a few seconds, his eyes still on my cup.

"But... it’s caramel," I say with a mock pout.

Hannah chuckles from the counter, sipping her own drink. "I like caramel," Mason says.

"No, you don’t," I retort.

"I thought you didn’t take sugar in your coffee," Mr. Smith chimes in, backing me up.

"Exactly!" I nod in agreement. Mason then flashes me the car key from his pocket, making me raise an eyebrow.

We’re clearly negotiating here.

Mr. Adkins is silent and watches our encounter with interest.

"I would like to try. Please," Mason pleads, giving me puppy-dog eyes. I eye the car key.

"Ugh. Fine," I say with exaggerated sadness, walking over to hand him my beloved macchiato. "Just know you’re taking away the only bit of joy I had today."

Mason smirks as he grabs the cup, and I swiftly snatch the car key from the table. "I’m sure you’ll survive," he quips, sniffing the coffee suspiciously.

"Doubtful," I mutter, holding out hope he’ll change his mind. Hannah walks forward with a smile on her face. She loves the fact that she knows that Mason is my brother, and nobody else knows.

Simon knows, obviously, and helps me out quite a lot of times when I have a discussion with Mason. A few other teachers who have been to our house also know, and they all treat me like their little sister as well.

"Nora," Simon says behind me. I twirl around the same time I put the car key in my bag and notice he has made me a cup of coffee from the machine.

"Why can't you take the coffee from the machine?" I hit the back of Mason's head, and he looks up at me with annoyed eyes. "That coffee is fucking disgusting. "Even this caramel crap is better than that piss water. Now go home, Li," Mason complains.

Hannah laughs loudly and drinks the last bit of her hot chocolate. "Don't insult my choice of coffee," I grumble out.

I walk over to Simon and take the cup of coffee with two hands. It does look like not-so-tasty brown water. "Thank you," I say with a kind smile. "Have a good weekend, Nora," he whispers with a wink.

"Will do!" I smile brightly, turning toward the door. But just as I do, I catch Mr. Adkins staring at me with an unreadable expression. My smile falters slightly.

"Alright, have fun working late, guys," I call over my shoulder. "I’m off to drink wine!"

I pull Hannah with me, and she follows me with a wave. "Bye, Mr. Adkins! Mr. Jackson!" she chirps, her cheeks reddening slightly as she glances at Mr. Adkins.

Seriously, why does this man have this effect on everyone?

We slip out of the teacher’s room just as more teachers begin to file in.