With the sunny weather came the tourists. It was older couples this time of year rather than the trendier crowd that gravitated to their town in the summer.

People came to this town, mostly artisans, to discover inspiration. With the mountains in the distance and the lakes, rivers and streams, along with the rustic ambience, it was the ideal location. Many of the downtown businesses were painted in murals and the street musicians would be out if the weather allowed for it. But as you got further away from downtown, you found a different paradise that could release your creativity.

Artist workshops operated at resorts all summer, every summer. Young people would come to learn, while families came to encounter art and nature in all its elegance. This time of year, however you would get the crowd before the real crowd; the people looking to get away from everything for a while to a charming, relaxing place.

These were her favorite people. Families were always in a rush, but the older couples had been there and done that and now just preferred to savor their vacation with a relaxed breath and a smile. They never honked when traffic built up and never tried to rush their order.

Ada took over cleanup after the rush slowed, content to get away from the register for a while.

It wasn't as rough as she thought it would be. Not as many classmates showed up now that town was full of older couples, and the ones that did were so wrapped up studying for finals that they didn't have the time to ridicule her. Which was fine by Ada. Most of the students who came in were the ones who were there to show their alliance with her.

So she made her way around the spaced out bistro tables, spraying down a table with a bottle of cleaner she held in one hand and wiping it off with the rag she held in her other. She almost made it appear like a dance the way she moved around them, smiling and making chit-chat with the customers at nearby tables.

"I heard about that terrible rumor going around town, Ada," one of her regulars, a woman in her seventies, said.

The customers who knew her and had no ties to the school, like a parent or student, seemed to be supportive today. They knew her well enough to see her relationship with Tom for what it was; a friendship.

She didn't mind customers asking her about it; it was better than talking behind her back. "Everything's been sorted out. Everyone who matters debunked the rumor, and now hopefully both our lives will go back to normal." Every time someone brought the rumor up today, she made sure to reply loud enough so anyone she went to school with in the coffee shop would hear.

It would be ludicrous to think just because they cleared Tom of any violation that this whole thing would be over with. Rumors were stronger than facts, at least in high school, and Ada needed to brace herself for that. The innuendos and snickers and stares would probably remain until graduation. All she could do about that was try to spread the truth wherever she could and hope that a few people would listen.

"People can be so hateful sometimes," her friend chimed in. "They just keep on talking and don't care to think about what the words can do to someone else."

Ada nodded and picked up two coffee cups from a dirty table and walked them over to the bus tub she put on another dirty table. "Well these words could have cost someone their career."

"Like I said, people don't think about it."

Ada finished filling her bus tub and picked it up, handing it over to Crystal to carry into the kitchen. "I don't suppose it ends after high school?"

"Not with social media," the woman said with a snort. "And you think that's bad, go to church. Gossip, judgement and the threat of eternal hellfire. I swear, half the people go just to catch up on the latest chatter. Something tells me they aren't as God-fearing as they should be."

Ada laughed and took a new bus tub from Crystal and placed it on the nearest dirty table.

"So how did this rumor get started anyhow?"

The heads of her classmates popping up was seen in the corner of Ada's eye. On the one hand, she didn't want to talk about it. On the other hand, she was just provided more control over the situation and she'd be foolish to let that opportunity slip.

"Well, Mr. Bennet," it felt odd calling him that now, but Ada pushed through, "is the guy that most people go to with their problems. I don't know why, but he just sort of became the school psychologist for most people. So I went to him with one of my problems, but I did it here instead of the school and we just sort of wandered around and talked. I didn't think it was a big deal because he's a good customer here, so I see him outside of school a lot.

"Anyhow, my dad heard about me leaving the coffee shop with him, but he hadn't heard why, so I guess he thought something more was going on than there was. Mr. B and him talked it out and everything, but they did it here and people I think read into my dad's accusation and just sort of stopped listening after that. They ended up becoming friends from this whole ordeal."

"That's it?" the friend asked.

Ada raised her arms and shrugged. "That's it. Then the rumor just sort of took off from there. What sucks was that even the principal could tell the rumor wasn't true, but they still had to put him on leave. Like I said, though, at least it's over and done with. School will still suck I'm sure, but at least there's only a few weeks left of it."

The first woman shook her head. "That's too bad. I know how much you've always loved school. It isn't right that one rumor took that away from you."

"I guess it could be worse," Ada admitted as she wiped down another table. "This could have happened at the beginning of the year. I couldn't imagine having to deal with this for that long."

Ada moved over to clear the table in front of the large window and wiped a strand of her newly cut hair away from her eyes. With her improved vision, she was able to spot that all too familiar figure sitting on a patio chair on the familiar balcony. Though he held a book in his hands and though his head was pointed toward it, his gaze lingered on the coffee shop; on her.

How long Tom had been watching her, Ada didn't know. She'd had eyes on her all day that she just assumed the stares belonged to classmates. A small smile appeared on his face when their eyes connected.

"Ada?"

Crystal's voice broke a trance Ada hadn't realized she was in. She abandoned the window and his stare and went to Crystal. "Can you make me a large pepp-"

"Peppmint mocha?" Crystal guessed. "Since when do you start looking for trouble, Ada?"

"Since it started following me around," Ada replied. "Extra whipped cream."

Ada finished cleaning off the tables while Crystal made Tom's drink in a to-go cup. She finished up just as Crystal was topping the drink off with whipped cream. "More. Like, freakishly more."

Crystal put another row on, but Ada pointed upwards and did so until the whipped cream monstrosity earned a thumbs up. Crystal finished with the chocolate syrup and chocolate peppermint shavings.

"Good luck getting this across the street in one piece."

Ada winked and clutched the cup. "I'll be back in a minute."

As soon as Ada stepped foot outside the coffee shop, the melody of Tom's laughter filled the air.

"Dear God," she heard him say, but Ada was concentrating too hard to look up. "Look at that thing."

"Do you accept this peppermint mocha as your personal savior?" she joked once she made it across the street.

"I will if you managed to fit any actual coffee in there."

That would have been an easier joke to transport, just filling the cup with whipped cream, but she knew better than to toy with Tom's worship of caffeine. They both stared at each other for a moment, not seeming to know what to do.

Ada didn't want to be spotted with him in an alleyway or caught sneaking into his apartment. If they were told not to be seen alone together, she was certain those things were off limits.

"Should I just leave it here?"

A solemn look took over Tom's face before fading. "I'll come down."

He withdrew back into his apartment and Ada was left alone to stand there and wait.

Like the day before, the shops had their doors open to let the springtime breeze in and the town was putting the hanging baskets onto the street lamp posts. Everyone seemed to prep for the season that was fast approaching.

Tom appeared from around the corner, and rushed over to relieve her of her balancing act.

He looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "I wish I could invite you up," he said. "Show you the new furniture."

Ada gave him a tight-lipped smile. "I wish you could too. How's your chair and a half going?" she taunted to lighten the mood.

Tom chuckled and dragged his fingers through his hair. "Him and I aren't on speaking terms yet."

"Him?" she asked, her smile becoming more earnest.

"'Fred The Figment Of My Imagination' is his official name. I just call him Fred."

Ada shook her head. "And how is he a figment of your imagination?"

"Because there's no fucking thing as a chair and a half, that's why," he said in a thoroughly sincere and frustrated manner.

Ada laughed, powerless to help herself. His anger toward the new furniture was on another level. "We were supposed to pick out more furniture today."

"I set up appointments. Your dad is coming over in about an hour and helping me load up my old shit. Then we're supposed to meet with some people later on."

Ada's head drooped. She wasn't sure why she was disappointed in missing it, but was still happy her dad was helping him when she couldn't.

"Want me to send you pictures?"

She perked right up at the sound of that and nodded her head. "Yes, please."

"Want me to send you a picture of the whipped cream mustache?"

"Yes, please."

Tom shook his head. "I can't believe I'm going to fucking take a selfie."

"I can't believe you volunteered to take a selfie," Ada said.

His hatred for them was well known by all, making his offer truly bewildering. He hated seeing them on social media, hated seeing people take them, and hated hearing people talk about them. Selfies to him were like nails on a chalkboard.

"Are you coming in tonight?" Ada asked quietly after the selfie shock wore off.

Tom shook his head and looked down at his mocha. The whipped cream wasn't nearly as spectacular as it had been leaving the coffee shop. "Probably not. Was gonna do some painting tonight. I'd say to sneak over, but if-"

"I've got a crap ton of studying to do anyhow."

After a long, drawn-out sigh, Tom leaned against the building. "Well, this is depressing as hell. And here I was just getting used to hanging out with people instead of just being home alone night after night."

"You're not going to grow the divorce slash hipster beard again, are you?"

Tom smiled. "You didn't like it?"

Ada cocked her head and shrugged. "Actually, I kind of did. I like you clean cut and all, but the beard... I dunno."

"The beard, what?" Tom pushed.

Ada laughed nervously before tucking her hair behind her ear, which fell right back to where it was. "Had its appeal, I guess. It fit you."

"Appeal, like me?" Tom asked, his smile becoming more amused by the second.

Ada shook her head and tried her best to suppress a smile. It wasn't working in the least. "Are you trying to make me blush, Mr. Bennet?"

"Like that's hard."

Ada shot him a lazy glare. "I should get back to work."

"Yeah," Tom agreed, "I should get back to sitting in my apartment bored out of my mind."

He pushed himself off of the wall, splashing some of his mocha, and switched the drink to his right hand to wipe his left on his jeans.

"I'll see you Monday?"

Ada nodded. "See you Monday."