Not as they seem...

Coffee Break

As soon as she had looked up he knew who it was. She wasn't in her private school uniform or with her normal side kicks, but it was definitely her- the girl who he'd managed to wipe mud all over on the bus the other day. She had her long hair out, smooth and straight as it flowed over her shoulders. He would have known those green eyes anywhere. This in itself surprised him. How was she so familiar to him already? He checked himself and quickly offered her a hand as she struggled to find her footing without stepping on the jumpers.

“Oh, god,” he couldn't help blubbering, “I'm really bloody sorry. I didn't even see you there...” she took his hand and he pulled her effortlessly to her feet again.

“I mean, not that you're not noticable...” he heard himself start to dig a hole as he took in her long legs in light, designer ripped skinny jeans and a loose cropped, chunky knit sweater. It was hanging off one shoulder and was showing her lightly tanned shoulder. Oddly, he felt himself start to blush as she straightened herself up and then tossed her hair over her bare shoulder. She looked at him with slight amusement.

“I mean, I would have noticed you.....” he tried again, “because... you are..... a person.”

Even the other shop assistant who had been watching him raised an intrigued eye brow at his incompetence.

"It's Ok,” the girl came to his aid, “I get it. It was was an accident. I already tripped over the damned vacuum that I left there, so it's not your fault.”

Jax shuffled awkwardly on the spot. He was about to offer to help pick up the jumpers, when she spoke.

“We really need to stop meeting like this.” she smiled.

She remembered him! Was all he could think as he tried summons a proper response. She was way out of his league and he should have been shuffling his way out of there & away from her, but something about her made him want to hang about a bit longer.

“I'm Anna,” she offered, after an awkward moment in which he was trying to process his next move.

“Jax,” he replied, and they both nodded.

“Aren't you about due for a break?” Benny piped up.

He'd watched the whole thing like it was in slow motion. While he was disappointed that this guy, who was a bit on the dangerous, rough side, was clearly not gay, there was something even more interesting clearly happening between him and his co-worker. It was now his job, as the responsible adult, to help this along a bit.

Jax's heart was thudding in his chest.

Was that a hint to ask her out? He panicked, Or was the other guy just s**t stirring him?

He looked at Anna who was clearly embarrassed.

Oh f**k it, Jax thought, he was going to go for it. You only lived once, didnt you?

“Do you wanna go.... get a coffe or something?.... If you are going to have a break anyway?”

She shrugged, “I'm not sure.....I mean- First you get mud all over me, now you bowl me over in the middle of a shop. I might be in danger if there are hot beverages around.”

Jax saw the cheeky glint in her eye and relaxed.

“You could get an iced coffee...” he offered, “Or I will just sit at another table...”

Anna looked across at her co-worker, as if to say 'What do you think?'

“Oh girlfriend!” he exclaimed, as he clutched the receipt book and fanned himself as he looked Jax up and down again, “If you don't go for coffee with him- I will!”

“OK,” she nodded slowly, as if she was talking herself into it, “Ok-Let's go!”

“Oh, by the way Benny” she said to the guy as they left the store, “There's a whole heap of jumpers on the floor back there. You'll make sure they get picked up, won't you?”

“Oh, you're delirious from the fall girl! Make sure you take plenty of time to recover.”

As they meandered their way to the food court, they both seemed to stick their hands in their pockets as they walked along. Jax racked his mind for something to say He couldn't believe what had just happened and that he was now taking this hot girl for a coffee.

They stopped at Starbucks and ordered, then Anna nudged him with her elbow.

“Sorry about him back there,” she said, referring to the guy in the shop with her, “He is a bit full on.”

Jax chuckled, “That's OK. I'm glad I knocked you over. I was a really worried he was going to hit on me.”

“That was probably a fair chance.” Anna laughed as they collected their drinks and found a table.

“And I'll even take the risk and let you sit with me.” Anna smirked as she slid out the chair opposite her.

He laughed out loud and then was appalled at himself. Since when did he openly laugh with rich, hot girls? What the hell was going on with him? As he took the chair she had slid out for him, he had a strange feeling that this wasn't going to be just a once off coffee.

After an hour, 2 coffees, a shared muffin and a surpisingly good time, Anna reluctantly thought she had better get back to work. Benny had spent the whole time texting her lewd messages, so she held little hope that the store was clean. Jax walked her back to the shop and she seemed happy to exchange numbers with him.

When she entered the shop again, she immediately noticed the new stock was neatly stacked on the front shelves. Her jaw dropped in disbelief. She had really underestimated her colleague.

“You don't have to do a thing to do,” Benny said casually, trying unsuccessfully to contain his excitement, “So you have all the time in the world to spill the beans on what that whole situation was!”