Are we meant to be ?

Chapter four

I woke up around seven and went for a jog around the park near by. I saw people walking their dogs, taking their kids to school, and of course people sleeping in the park. I jog back to my apartment and took a shower. "Morning, Sarah." since I didn't have morning class, I have a shift in the morning. "Morning, sunshine. Breakfast is in the kitchen. After you finish, I will teach you how to make your first cup of coffee." I was really looking forward to learning. Making the perfect cup of coffee is art and I love art.

I went into the kitchen"Morning, Peter. Morning Jake." Sarah made avocado toast. I sat down and ate my breakfast. "Morning Scarlett. How are you today?" Peter and Jake were busy preparing the ingredients. "I'm good. Excited that Sarah is teach me how to make my first cup of coffee." Peter look up and gave me a smirk "Good luck." I tilt my head "Why are you smiling like that?" He replied "You'll see"

I finish my breakfast and went back to the front counter and saw Sarah wasn't there so I just started my shift. People started to come in and take their orders and I was getting the hang of it. "Hi welcome to.." I saw those familiar blue eyes and my world stopped turning. "Scarlett... you work here?" It was Mr.Wallace. What is he doing here? Why in all the coffee shop in this town he has to come to this one? "Oh.. Hi.. Mr.Wallace. Em... Yea.. I work here..." I laugh awkwardly wish I have coma so I won't have to face him. "Right... I would like a cup of coffee and please make it quick I need to get to work." I press few buttons on the cash register and turn around and pour him a cup a coffee.

"Make sure I put on the lid, wouldn't want coffee to split everywhere" Again another awkward laugh. What's the matter with me? Can I talk properly and stop laughing. "Yes. We wouldn't that. So how much do I owe you?" He chuckle and taking out his wallet. "Is on the house. Is my second day working here but is just a cup of coffee. Don't worry about it." He look at me in a weirdest way but end up giving me warm smile. "No. I should just pay for it. Wouldn't want you to get in trouble." He gave me five dollars but I push his hand back towards him. "Mr. Wallace. Just take the coffee and go to work." He hesitated but then he put his money back into his wallet and into his pocket. "Well. Thank you for the coffee Ms. Jefferson. Have a nice day." He gave me the most handsome smile and wink at me before walking out the door.

After finishing my shift and started learning how to use the coffee machine. I found out why Peter was giving me the dirty smirk. Sarah was not a good teacher. She knows what's she doing but boy she doesn't know how to teach. But luckily I'm a good observer and a fantastic listener. I was able to make a decent cup of coffee minus the foam art, we still haven't get to that point yet.

I reach the lecturer hall but a note was on hung on the door. Class cancelled. Will be notified on replacement class. You must be joking. I cover my face with the textbook. I came all the way and found out there were no class today and I only have one class today. This sucks! "Hey. Class cancelled" I put my book down and saw Grace. "Yea. I notice." I sigh. "Come on, I'm going to the famous diner near by to get lunch. Join me." She pulled me and take me to the diner near by the campus. "This place has the best pancakes." Grace was telling me all the amazing food that this diner serves.

Suddenly Grace's phone rang. "Talk." Grace went to the side and talk on her phone. I look around and saw the diner she was talking about. I went across the road and saw a lot of people eating inside the diner. Their pancakes must be very delicious judging by the people that have ordered. "Hey, Scarlett. I need to bounce. My parents are back in town and I need to go get them at the airport." Grace was looking apologetic "Don't worry about it. You should get going." She hug me and gave me a slap on the shoulder "Make sure you get the pancakes." She ran off and I went in the diner.

The diner was red and white in color, very retro, very classic and very clean. "Hey sweetie, counter or booth?" A lady with a curvy body and curly short hair shout from the counter which startle me. "Counter" I said. I went and sit down in front of her. "Welcome to Diana's Diner. I'm Diana" She gave me a welcoming smile and a menu. "What's the specials?" She gave me a hard look and then soften her face "You must be new here. Everything is special here. Take you time. I will be back to take your order." She walked away and serve other customer. I studied the menu like I was studying for the exam.

"You should get the buttermilk batter pancake. It goes well with their homemade maple syrup." I turn to see that Mr.Wallace was sitting just few seats away. "What are you doing here Mr.Wallace. Shouldn't you be working or something?" He stood up and walk towards me "You mind?" Pointing at the seat beside me indicating that he wants to sit down next to me. "Sure." I took my bag which was on the seat and put it on the floor. "It was lunch time at the office and I came to see my mother" and he came close to my ear when he said that I felt my checks was getting warm "if she wants to have lunch with me but she was in a meeting so I just came here myself." I daren't to look at him so I just look at the menu. "Why no have lunch with the people in your office." I asked and looked at him when he was not looking and look away when he turn his head.

"The people in my office doesn't know that I'm here." I was confused what he was saying. Tilting my head to the side and looked at him. "I have my own company but my mother needed my help to replace Mr.Maverick before he comes back and I have to lie to my colleagues in my office saying that I'm out on a business meeting" I laugh and he was looking at me in the eye, smirking. "What are you laughing, Ms Jefferson?" I stopped laughing and gave him a serious look. "You know that this is not going to work right? Your colleagues will eventually find out because you're going to be a substitute for several weeks not several days. How many times can you use the excuse saying you're out on a business meeting?" He gave it a thought "I'm the boss, they have to believe me." We both laugh and there were a silence for awhile.

"So what are you doing here by yourself?" I ordered my food and look at him" I was suppose to come with a friend but she had an emergency." He nodded "Can I ask you something?" He gave me a look that made me feel like he's going to ask me if I'm Asian or something. "Yes. I'm Asian. Half Chinese and half Australian." I said in one breath and look away. "That's not what I'm going to ask you. But thanks for the info." I feel like digging and hole and bury myself. I lower my head into my hands "I'm sorry. A lot of people have been asking me that so I thought you wanted to ask the same question." He chuckle and pat my head "No. I just want to ask what did you major in your first degree and why come here?" It felt hot where he touch and I lift up my head and saw Diana bringing me my order. "I studied Business and Economic. My dad wanted me to studied that so that I could find a better job and I did and I work my ass off for two years and finally have enough money to study what I want. I came here just because I love the city and they have very good programs here."

I dig in to my pancakes and he smiled when he saw me enjoying my pancakes. The pancakes was soft and fluffy. It was the best pancake I ever had. "You never had pancakes before or what?" He chuckle and finishing up his coffee. "I did but this is the best pancake I ever had." He stood up and ruffles my hair. I look up with my mouth full and look at him. "Enjoy your pancake and it was nice talking to you. See you around Ms.Jefferson." He just disappeared after that.

Two weeks later....

My classes are going very well. I met a lot of new people, I'm a regular now at Diana's Diner, I can make delicious coffee and I got a Golden Retriever puppy named Boston. Basically, I saw people walking their dogs, playing fetch with them and teach them tricks. I wanted that so I decided to adopt one at the near by pet store. Boston is cute and fluffy, he's so obedient and I just love him so much especially when I come home from class, he will be sitting by the door waiting for me.

Classes with Mr.Wallace was great, we sometimes see each other at the coffee shop, the diner and around campus. We kept exchanging eye contact and sometimes I can't look away. Which is really bad because I think I kinda have a crush on him. This kind of things are forbidden in education institute, I try to keep all these feelings to myself and whenever I see him I try to hide myself but always end up failing and I don't know why.

"Class we are going on a road trip this Saturday to a art museum and I need your parents to sign this permission slips. Please give it back to me tomorrow." Mr. Wallace decided the class should get in touch with real arts and get inspired. "I don't think I can go this Saturday" I whisper to Grace "Why? Is going to be fun! Road trips are always fun." I frowned "I know but I promise my boss I will work full shift this Saturday and I can't back out now." Grace patted me on the back "Tough luck dude, I'll make sure to take some pictures for you" she smiled and start packing her stuff.

"What do you mean you can't go?" Nathan said in a shock face. I became friends with Nathan, Kyle and Nancy. They are very nice people and they helped me a lot when I couldn't catch up with the syllabus. Grace sometimes join us when her gang isn't around. "I promise to work full shift that day" I was tossing my food around my plate. "But is suppose to be a road trip for the whole class, it will inspire us for our up coming assignment."

"I wish I could go guys but I made a promise. I should get going there's someone waiting for me at home." They all looked at me instantly. "Who?" They all said. "None of your business. Bye" I turned around and went home.

Caleb's POV....

I was at my mother's house for dinner. She always insist I go back home for dinner before going back to my own house. "So how was your day son?" Mother asked while passing the bread basket to dad. "Is okay. Busy at the office and I need to run by you something about the class." Mother was focus on eating "I'm planning on bring the class on road trip to the art museum this Saturday." She finally look up at me and giving me disagreeing look. "You can't do that, you're a substitute and plus you need the students parent's permission."

"I already made the permission slips and I got Mr.Maverick consent on this trip. Now I just need your approval." Mother stood up aggressively and throw her napkin on the table. "She will come around" Dad pat me on the shoulder and went to check on mom. I was washing the dishes and mom came in the kitchen "You need to make sure the students are safe and you're responsible if anything happens." She finish talking and walk away.

The next day I hand out the permission slips to the students in my class. "Class we are going on a road trip this Saturday to a art museum and I need your parents to sign this permission slips. Please give it back to me tomorrow." I explained the details and dismiss the class. "Mr.Wallace, are there any other professors going?" A student asked "Yes. Miss Portman is coming with us." I asked Lauren to be the chaperone of this trip and plus I didn't have other choice since I don't know any other professor that well.

"She can't go, she said she had to work." Some student in the class said when I pass by the campus cafe. "Yea. That sucks. We don't get to go on road trips often. She should really go." I heard and turn around and saw Nathan and his friends were talking "Who can't go?" They all looked at me and startled from a sudden voice. "Hey Mr.Wallace. Scarlett can't go." Why? Because of work ? I need to talk to her.

This past two weeks I have been secretly staring at her. Sometimes is not so secret because she caught me looking at her. We exchange eye contact but we barely even speak. Sometimes I feel something inside me when I see her and I can't describe these feelings. I just want to see her face, her smile, and her innocent dark brown eyes. Maybe just a lot of thing happened between us and I got caught up with this messed up feeling with my student.

I went to the coffee shop she worked at after work. Is was around seven in the evening when I reached there. Why are there still so many people. Shouldn't the shop be closing by now. I standing outside the shop and notice that they changed their operating hours till 12 midnight. I looked for her and I saw familiar face working at the counter taking customer's orders. "Hi, what would you like?" she smiles to all the customers that comes in and greets them after they go.

"Good evening sir..." She looked at me stunned. "What are you doing here?" She asked while I decide what I want to order "Can't a man enjoy a nice beer after work?" I smiled and winked at her "Yea. Sure. A beer then?" She chuckles and went to get me a beer. I paid for the beer and went to get myself a table. People come up to my table and asked about my name and we talked. But I eventually turn them down when they asked to go back their place.

"You're a guy popular guy huh?" Scarlett came over and asked me while cleaning the tables around me. "Is nothing like that. We just talked." I didn't want her to think that I'm that kind of person. "Yea.. why are you here anyway? No other place for you to hang out?" She sat down on the empty seat in front of me. "Why? Am I banned here?" She smiled "No. Just curious." I straighten myself up and became serious "What is this rumor about you not going to the road trip?"

She looked at me and frowned.