"Heather when you're done there can you get table 10?" Treenie called from her place at the register.

Heather glanced briefly at her boss then finished placing the last muffin in the box of a dozen, she quickly grabbed a marker and scribbled a 12 on the lid before handing it to the woman waiting.

Her white tennis shoes squeaked on the tile floor as she grabbed her notepad and a pen, heading towards the table nearest the windows. She rounded her boss and owner of Treenies Treats and looked up at the customer.

He was hunched over his school book, his white-blonde hair falling forward over his forehead, Drake.

She immediately turned on her heel hurrying back behind the counter.

"I can't," she said quickly.

"Can't what?" Treenie asked smiling at an older woman as she handed out her change.

"Table ten," she glanced over her shoulder at him again nervously shifting from one foot to the other.

"Yeah?"

"It's Drake Mannon, please I can't take his order."

"Exboyfriend?"

"No."

"Crush?"

"No," she said again pushing a few wispy strands of black hair off her face.

"What then?" Treenie asked, turning to give Heather her full attention.

"He has harassed and bullied me for years. If he sees me working here, taking his order it will only get worse."

"You're working hard to save up for college it's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I know but..."

"Heather, I'm too busy for this right now just go get the order. Please?"

She gave a small nod as Treenie turned her attention to a customer. Taking a long deep breath she turned and slowly walked to the table. She stopped to his right, glancing at his school books and notepads taking up the table, he had rolled up the sleeves on his green sweater revealing a tattoo on his inner forearm.

"Welcome to Treenies, can I take your order?" She asked quickly hoping to sound cheerful.

He paused in his writing slowly lifting his head and turning towards her, his green eyes meeting hers.
She waited for a smart remark, a cold taunting joke, something hurtful to make her feel less than human.
He took in her appearance from her white tennis shoes, light blue skinny Jean's, black shirt and red apron, her black hair in a loose messy bun, and her black-framed glasses sliding down her nose because they were a touch too big.

"Uh, just....a coffee, please."

"Cream or sugar?" She offered.

"Black is fine," he replied turning back to his books.

She backed up then hurried to fulfill his order, it was odd seeing him alone without his girlfriend or hoards of brainwashed idiots who found his cruel jokes funny.

She got his coffee then hurried to get it to his table, as she approached she couldn't help the nerves creeping up waiting for him to start his snide remarks about her family's lack of wealth.
Her hands were shaking as she carefully set the cup on the edge of the table sliding it towards him.
He didn't look up and reached for the small cup, his hand closing around hers and she froze.

He looked up then slowly, his dark green eyes so piercing and sharp.

"Can I get you anything else?" She asked not moving.

"No, thank you."

She pulled her hands free stumbling away and scurrying back to behind the counter and burying herself in work.

She was able to stay busy enough she didn't have to check on him again but her eyes wandered. There was no denying he was gorgeous but the years of his torment made her immune to his looks and there was no doubt he was struggling with something.

"Tell your friend we close in five," Treenie said from the kitchen.

Heather glanced at her from where she stood wiping off the counter and gave a nod.

"Hey, uhm....we close in five," she said gently.

"Okay, thanks." He replied not looking up.

She stepped forward to gather his empty cup and he finally spoke.

"I'm failing English," he said.

She paused and took a deep breath, he was a smart guy she wasn't sure why he never applied himself more.

"My breaks are at 4 and 6...stop by tomorrow," she said.

He looked up at her clearly surprised and she was too. She didn't know why she offered.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks.....Heather." it was the first time he used her real name.

The next day he showed up promptly at 4 and he stayed until closing and together they began working on his overall grade.
They barely spoke but not once did a harsh word or cruel joke pass his lips. In fact, Heather began to see a new side of him and realized when he wanted to he could be quite gentle and patient.

Soon it became an after school ritual, she would walk to work, and by the time she was ready for her first break he was parking his car.
She would meet him at table ten with a black coffee and a tea for her and they would begin.
They rarely spoke about anything other than whatever project they were working on but slowly she learned about him.
Every day a little more of him cracked open to let her see inside.
She learned his mother died when he was six, his favorite color was grey and his dad expected too much of him.
Over the next two weeks, a sort of truce blossomed between them and even the torment at school ceased.
They redid a few writing prompts, they worked on a book report and he began writing a sonnet for extra credit.

Then finally they got their grades she passed all her classes and could barely contain herself as she wiped down counters waiting to hear how he did.
Then at four o'clock his car parked out front.

"There's your boy," Treenie teased.

Heather shook her head as she hopped back and forth on the balls of her feet watching him.

He was solemn as he climbed from his car, his backpack hanging off one shoulder a crinkled white paper in one hand.
He opened the door barely looking at her as she held her breath.
Treenie peeked up from her latest romance novel.

"I...I'm sorry...Heather," he said heavily.

Her heart sank as if she herself had failed.

"I...I really wanted one hundred," he said.

"Oh.....Drake."

"But I'm going to have to settle...for ninety-seven!" He cried lifting the paper so she could see the big bold red letters.

She screamed at the same time he dropped his bag and opened his arms, a hug. He was waiting for a hug. She hesitated a split second before launching herself against his chest and he laughed lifting her feet off the ground for a minute.

"I can't believe it!" She exclaimed when she was planted in front of him.

"I can, it's because of you. It's all because of you," he said.

He reached out pushing some hair from her face and leaning forward, she caught his arms stopping his pursuit of her lips.

"Drake," she said quickly.

He kissed her leaning in the last few inches before she could protest anymore, and it was heaven.

Sinful, sweet, glorious heaven. She melted against him before she could stop herself and he deepened the kiss. He overwhelmed her senses, he tasted like cinnamon gum and toothpaste, he smelled like fresh pine and his shoulders were so broad, his arms so strong.

The bell above the door rang and he pulled back just slightly and then a voice spoke and just like that the warm, safe haven they had inside the coffee shop was gone.

"What the hell?" A voice called out.

She froze and her smile was gone instantly, a cold sensation washing over her. Liam, Drakes's best friend, and fellow tormentor.

She tried to back out of his arms, tried to gain some distance, and for a second Drake held on.

"Wait, Heather..." He whispered so only she could hear him.

She pulled free and he slowly turned towards Liam as well as a few other goons from school.

"This is where you've been sneaking to every day? This is who you left Lindsey for? The queen of salvation army?" Liam demanded.

Hearing he broke up with Lindsey was news to Heather but she wasn't about to assume it was for her.

"Just....shut up," Drake said.

He bent to pick up his backpack slinging it over one shoulder.

"Man, I hope you're coming here for more than the coffee," Liam said.

Drake glanced over his shoulder at her and she backed further away whatever he said next she didn't want to be included in.

"You know me....always looking for the next best thing," he said with a shrug.

"Next maybe I don't know about the best."

She saw him wince and then give a small nod.

"Hope she was worth it," one of the goons teased.

"She was," he replied quietly.

The group busted into hoots and hollers and whistling and he managed a small smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Alright man how about you ditch the charity case and we get out of this hell hole," Liam said.

"Yeah, just give me a second."

His friends paraded out the door leaving them alone, suddenly the coffee shop seemed to empty, too quiet, too intimate. She looked behind her but Treenie was gone.

"Heather..." he started.

"Don't, please just get out."

"Don't listen to them, they're assholes," he tried.

"You've said worse," she pointed out.

"That was before," he defended.

"It's okay Drake, I understand. You don't owe me anything, it was one kiss. You've got an image to uphold and guys like you and girls like me....it doesn't work."

He didn't reply and deep down she didn't expect him too. He had what he wanted now and there wasn't a reason to keep the charade of them being friendly going.

"I don't want it to be like this," he said.

"Why did you break up with Lindsey?" She asked, needing to know.

"I...I don't know."

"Get out," she repeated turning around and pretending to stack the paper menus.

She was aware of him standing there behind her, hovering, waiting, and anticipating something but she didn't move and after a few long seconds, she relented and did as she asked.

She didn't move until she was sure he was gone then she turned to stare out the door.

She winced as memories hit her like a tidal wave, for a few days she had allowed herself to believe things could be different.
Now she felt stupid, they were too different for it to ever be anything real.

Over the next two weeks she didn't see him, he didn't come into the coffee shop and he managed to avoid her at school. She hated herself for being disappointed.

She was finishing her late shift and getting ready to close the coffee shop when she heard the knock on the glass.
She jumped and nearly knocked over the bucket of water she was using to mop floors. Glancing up she saw him.

Standing on the sidewalk one hand on the glass door she had locked five minutes prior, the closed sign swinging on the flimsy from his knock.

She waited a minute, debates ignoring him but she couldn't. She walked across the squeaky clean floor and unlocked the door, stepping back so he could enter.

"The coffee shop is closed, " she said.

"I didn't come for the coffee."

"Then what do you want?"

"You, I came here for you."

She scoffed and turned walking back to her abandoned mop, she finished without a word.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" He asked.

"I don't have anything to say to you, you used me and then you made me look like an idiot for falling for you."

"No, I didn't use you. I'm sorry I panicked when the guys found out about us. I never wanted to hurt you."

She started setting the chairs on the tables and after a second he joined her and began to help.

"You've done nothing but hurt and bully me for years, I don't know why I thought this was different."

"Because I love you, I have always loved you. I don't remember when I didn't love you but you were so...uninterested in me. You were the only girl in school that didn't even glance my way and it drove me insane. At least when I bullied you...you paid attention, " he trailed off and ran a hand through his hair.

"That's a sucky excuse and you know it."

"It's not an excuse it's true. Remember back when we were 12 and Mindy Perez had that birthday party? We played spin the bottle in the basement and when it was my turn I got you. Any girl at that party would have traded with you and you...shot me down the guys picked on me for weeks and...I liked you so much. So, I started doing anything I could to get your attention."

She paused as the memory of that party crept up on her, she could smell the newly hung drywall of the basement, feel the heat from the furnace she sat beside on the carpeted floor. Her heart had skipped a beat when he got her and she panicked and decided to play it cool. Maybe she had gone a little too far.

"I had forgotten about that, " she admitted softly.

"I didn't."

"That doesn't make picking on me for years okay, " she pointed out.

"I know, and I'm sorry.  I came here to study because I was failing and I just...wanted to be near you even if you didn't notice me."

"Why did you break up with Lindsey?" She asked again.

"She wasn't you."

"She's thin, she beautiful, she's popular, she has money she..."

"She is, she's all that but she's not you."

She gripped the back of the chair in front of her, noticing now that as they spoke they had slowly put every chair on the table except this one. Only one more chair left, placed between them.

"I love you, Hannah." He said with a heavy sigh.

Then he slowly turned, ready to leave he headed for the door.

"I love you too, " she said softly.

He paused, turning back towards her. She walked around the chair and walked towards him.

"I'm sorry, " he said again as she moved closer.

"Just shut up, " she replied gripping his shirt she pulled him closer.

His lips collided with hers for the second time and just like the first time it was perfect.

Nothing mattered but the two of them, here and now. They're story began in this coffee shop but it wasn't going to end there.