(English) The Change

The Meeting

As Jerome and I stepped into the coffee house, I could feel his eyes in the back of my head like daggers. It wasnt a new feeling to me but one that made me shrink into a little girl, hiding in a corner from the monster in her closet. I couldn't show that it was getting to me, or he would start in his routine of abuse when we were alone.

"Get me a coffee with 2 creams and 2 sugars, and be quick about it." He said to me as he sat down expecting me to act like his maid fetching his coffee. I knew if i didn't I'd regret it, so i approached the barista to place our order.

" Hi, welcome to high java. What can I get for you?" The Batista said with a jerkiness that for some reason annoyed the crap out of me. No one can be the perky while being at work especially this early. She must be desperate for tips I thought to myself.

"Yes. Can i get a coffee with 2 creams and 2 sugars. And also a caramel macchiato with extra caramel drizzle please?" I tried my best to be pleasant even though her jerkiness was quite annoying to me.

"Of course. That'll be $11.59. Will you be paying with cash today?" I also noticed as she said all these things she was looking over my shoulder in a half stare half daze looking at Jerome. It did make me kind of jealous, but at the same time all I could think was "Please steal him away so I never have to be with him ever again." 

"Excuse me...... Jessica?" I said snapping her back to reality. "Oh, yes I'm sorry. How will you be paying today?" She said realizing I knew she was staring at my fiance. "Yes, I'll be paying cash. Here you go." I have slammed half placed $12.00 down on the counter in front of her. "YOU CAN KEEP THE CHANGE." I said in a half whisper have yell through gritted teeth at her. You could tell she was embarrassed by the blush in her face and the way she looked down at the ground, never trying to establish eye contact with me after our little transaction.

I went to the end of the counter to wait for our coffees. My mind just drifting to what my day was shaping out to be. That's when I felt the strangest feeling. A kind of shock to my skin while creating goosebumps. Maybe it was the fall air that would occasionally drift in when someone entered the coffeehouse. Yeah, that had to be it.

"Number 4? Number 4 your order is ready." That was my cue that our orders were ready  I picked up our cups and there was that feeling again. It wasnt a bad shock but it definitely caught my attention.

*Bam*

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so clumsy." I said not even looking at the person I accidentally crashed into not paying attention. 

"You're ok. Stuff happens. Are you ok? Do you need me to buy you some new coffees?" He said in a soothing, velvety, calming voice. It made me look up at my coffee spill victim.

"OMG"

"IT'S HIM!!!" I shouted in my mind

It was the guy in my dreams. Down to the very last detail. The blonde golden wavy hair. The hypnotic blue ocean eyes. The statuesque athletic frame. The goatee. EVERYTHING.

"Miss, are you ok? It's not a problem to replace your coffees. I feel terrible not paying attention and running into you like that. Please let me replace them for you." He said with such sincerity in his voice. "Please let me help you up."

As soon as he touched my hand I felt it. The Shock. I quickly drew back my hand, trying to figure out what was going on. Was this reality? Was i still dreaming?

"Dont mind her she's just naturally clumsy." Great. Jerome had already made his way over. I know I'm going to be punished for this later. "Sorry my fiancee is so clumsy. Sometimes she just doesnt pay attention." Looking at me with a rage in his eyes while talking to the guy.

"Its quite alright. It was actually my fault. I really wasnt paying attention to where I was walking and your fiancee had just turned around with the coffees. Where are my manners? My name is Phillip. Phillip Black. I just transferred here to Decatur University." His voice kept me hanging onto every word that came from his lips.

"I'm Jerome Bradley. And this girl right here is my fiancee Samntha Alexander." He introduced me like I was some supporting cast in a bit part. 

"Very charmed I'm sure." He said looking at me while shaking Jerome's hand. Omg. Am I blushing. This cant be the guy from my dreams. But he look and acted exactly like him.

"I'm so sorry Phillip. Jerome is right, I can be so clumsy sometimes. Please let me buy you a new coffe while I get us some new ones." I said to him hoping he didn't think the same things about me that Jerome vocalized in private to me.

" oh no ma'am, I insist on buying us all new coffees. I was the one who bumped into you. It's the least i can do." He looked at me with such kind eyes.

"Hey babe" jerome said putting his arm around my waist as if i was some territory to be marked like a tree by a dog. "If the man wants to replace the coffees, who are we to be rude and say no." Jerome could be a jerk in so many little ways. I was so embarrassed.

"Yes" he said stepping to the counter telling a different barista than had waited on me. "Can I get a coffee with 2 creams 2 sugars and 2 caramel macchiato please. With extra caramel drizzle please?" 

How did he know what coffees I had ordered?

All three of us stood outside the coffeehouse. Coffees in hand. I was still wondering how he knew what to order.

"So Phil, what is your major?" Jerome asked Phillip with his arm still firmly planted in place around my waist.

"Historical studies and Literature. I've always loved history and literature, so it was a no brainers what I would get my degree in once I made it to college." He said while sipping his coffee.

"Oh wow, I'm getting my degree in historical studies too. Dont you just love.....  "

"How history just has so much to offer?" Phillip finished my statement before I could.

I could see in the corner of my eye how Jerome's body language was changing.

This year seemed like it was going to be a very interesting year...........