Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Take Back Your Pain ❯ Of Coffee beans, Art, and Secrets ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 4: Of Coffee beans, Art, and Secrets

~Shane~

That made a weird chemistry class. Here I am standing in the hallway, kicked out of class with this guy I barely knew. Even though he insulted me, threatened me, and tricked me, he intrigued me. No one at this school is ever that cool.

To tell you the truth I don’t have many friends at my school. Of course I had a few select people I chose to talk (mostly the drama kids or the art kids) but no real friends.

‘I’m skipping this joint,’’ I said putting my book bag on my shoulder,’ you coming?’’

He shrugged. ‘Forget about it, I have a really busy day and skipping isn’t a thing I do,’ he said being all self-righteous.

‘Come on, your only young once and we can make up all of our school work tomorrow,’ I reasoned. He gave me a weak smile.

‘fine, lets go,’ he laughed following me out of the building, ‘’you are such a bad influence.’
We walked out to the parking lot and to my old blue SUV. I unlocked the door and we hopped in. As we left I turned on the radio I tuned to my favorite New Age/techno station. I started to get into it, when Rhira suddenly changed the dial to some metal station. He grinned and sang along getting into whatever crappy song was on.

‘What do you think your doing?’ I said turning back to my station.

Sparing myself from that junk, that you call music,’’ he said turning it back.

‘It’s not junk, its art, and I can’t say much about your crap,’ I said turning it back. That’s when we broke out into a station turning frenzy.

We both grabbed on to the dial turning it insanely when it popped off. ‘’Watch the road!’ Rhira yelled as the car hit a guard rail. I took control of the steering wheel and we got back on the road. Because the dial was off we were forced to listen to some lame pop station.

‘Get the dial,’ I ordered regaining order back to that which is my car. He started laughing as he reached on the floor for it.

‘It’s not funny!’ I said holding back a laugh. He popped the dial back on and put it on some talk show.

‘So where are we going?’ he asked looking out of the window.

‘Dennison’s café/ gallery, I go there all the freaking time,’ I said driving into the parking lot of it. Dennison’s is like home to me, I practically grew up there. Before my dad went psycho, he used to take me there and buy art for the house. Now I just go whenever I have free time (which is most of the time).

I swung the door of Dennison’s open and made a dramatic entrance. ‘Oh Dennison’s you make me coffee! I especially love the hard brown toffee! That you put in my latte with care! Oh Dennison’s your so fair!’ I screamed dumping myself on the nearest couch.

‘Your no Emily Dickinson, kid,’ the lady behind the counter said laughing at her own lame joke.

‘Whatever Amy,’ I said getting up and walking to the counter. I beckoned for Rhira to follow and he shrugged following me. We sat on the barstools looking at Amy mess around with the espresso machine.

‘So what brings you here? Shouldn’t you be in school,’ Amy asked handing me coffee,’ and who’s this good looking guy?’ Rhira rolled his eyes as I laughed.

‘Why go to school, when life it self is just a big classroom? Oh yeah, this is my new friend Rhira. Be nice to him,’

Amy owns the coffee shop part of Dennison’s. Dennison’s is family owned and I pretty much know the whole family, except for the family members who still live in France . Her brother (who’s my ex) runs the gallery, her father acts as manager (while sleeping in his office), and her mother bakes all the biscotti and scones.

Amy pulled her long black hair up. ‘’Yeah, that’s why I’m glad I’m out of school, I didn’t learn anything. Do you want some coffee kid?’ Rhira shook his head no.

'I'll take a caramel latte please,' I said showing off a big grin. She swirled around the machines until my latte was freshly produced. I licked the froth and caramel off the top. Perfection. Rhira talked to Amy about some random crap so I decided to wander off a bit and go to the gallery.

I went through the side door into the gallery to see Andre (Amy's brother studying a piece of art. He had his glasses on his nose, his dark brown hair in a ponytail, and a hand on his chin.

'What are you doing?', I asked standing next to him, mocking the hand on the chin thing. He looked at me annoyed and grunted.

'We just got this piece in from a local painter. It’s supposed to be a mother and child but I just don’t see it,' he said frustrated.

I tilted my head from side to side. 'I see a dog dancing in a skirt,' I said laughing. He looked at me like I was a child and I looked away.
Amy and Rhira walked in and stood beside of us. 'What are you two doing,' Amy asked looking at the painting with us.

'A dog dancing in a skirt,' I said holding back a laugh. Andre looked at me and I turned away. That's one reason why our relationship didn’t last; he always treated me like a child. Some people just don’t get humor.

We all turned way and Andre looked at Rhira like he was dirt. Stupid snobby French kid.
"Who is this,' He asked eyeing Rhira up and down.

Amy put her arm around Rhira who gave me a weird look and shrugged her off. ‘This is my new friend Rhira,’ Amy said smiling and trying to grab Rhira back in her grasp.

‘He must be sorry if he’s hanging out with you Amy, so I take it he must be with Shane.’ Amy smacked her brother and left for the door.

‘Shane, I’ll see you, and Rhira don’t be a stranger,’ she said winking at him. He shuddered as she walked away and I laughed. Andre looked away from the painting and at me.

‘Amy is a very scary person Rhiro, I’d stay away if I were you,’ Andre said still looking at me with an interested eye.

‘It’s Rhira,’ He said looking at Andre weirdly and walking away to look around the gallery.
‘’Whatever. Shane why did we ever break up,’ he asked leaning against a statue to flaunt what he never had. Loser. The story behind that is when we were actually getting close until A) he started treating me like a child, B) He wanted to meet my family, and C) his fake French charm was wearing off.

‘Because you’re a prick and I could do so much better,’ I said grabbing Rhira and leaving. I swept him off his feet and led him through the door.

‘What was that,’ Rhira asked touching his arm as it turned red,’ you artist are so hostile, never bring me there ever again, Amy may rape me, and how dare that jerk get my name wrong. ‘

‘Yeah, bad idea, but I go there everyday to get coffee. I hope you know Amy isn’t going to leave you alone.’

We walked back to my car and got in. ‘Where to now,’ Rhira asked putting on his seat belt. I turned the ignition on.

‘To my house, I’m in need of food and relaxation.’
When we got to the fenced in gates of my neighborhood, Rhira’s eyes got huge. The gate guy let us in and I drove like a crazy person until we hit my driveway.

I unlocked the door and turned around to face Rhira. ‘Warning you, my mother is insane; if you see a wine bottle let me know, and can’t think of anymore guidelines but I’ll find some as we go along.’

We walk through the foyer, through the living room, to get to the dining room. ‘’Wait here, when I say Rhira you come, until then stay,’ I ordered.

’I’m not a dog,’ he said rolling his eyes and slumping in a chair.
In the kitchen I found my mother wearing a big flowered hat drinking tea with Ms. Weatherby, our next door nosy neighbor.

‘Shanna, dear! What a surprise! Your home early which is great because Ms. Weatherby stopped by and we were just talking about you,’ she said in a delightful tone. Ms. Weatherby winked at me and sipped her tea.

‘Great,’ I said in a sarcastic tone’, I brought a friend over’.

Her eyes lighted up and they looked at each other. From her face I could hear her saying ‘Is it Amber Conner! Please let it be Amber!’

‘Who is that dear,’ she asked hiding a smile. I smiled back and looked in the dining room.

'My friend Rhira,’ I said looking at him. He shrugged and walked in waving shyly at my mother.

Her eyes got huge and Ms. Weatherby got up to excuse herself out. ‘’I have to go make sure Henry is ok,’ Ms. Weatherby said regarding her little dog. She really meant,’ I have to gossip about your family now, dear.’ She left and my mother was left stunned.

My mother sat up and put a smug smile on her face. ‘’So nice to meet you…’

‘Rhira,’ Rhira said putting his hand out. She looked at it in disgust but shook it.

‘Yes, Rhira, but you know what they say friends come and friends go…hopefully you’ll stay,’ meaning she had and evil plan afoot. She walked out of the kitchen but then turned back. ‘’By the way your father’s coming home.’ She walked away and I bust out laughing.

'your mom’s creepy,’ Rhira said opening our fridge and helping himself to a soda.