Thank you for the support from my first story! I'm glad you enjoyed! This chapter is more about characters and backstories. The steamy stuff is towards the end...
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As promised, Adam and I arranged to see each other again. We would be going out for coffee next Saturday, since the rest of the week was packed with work and studying. It was the slowest week of my life.
I walk into the coffee shop just a few blocks away from my dorm building, and I immediately see Adam sitting by the big glass window at a two-seater table. The late afternoon sunlight shines through the window and highlighted Adam's dark, frizzy curls, giving it a shift in color. His big black eyes and long lashes, like big doe eyes, glint the sun as well. He's casual; a white t-shirt that is slightly see through, so I see the faint outline of his body, matched with a pair of jeans and his old trusty sneakers. One knee was bent so his foot rested on the other knee, and his sketchbook was laid out in front of him, with a coffee to the side.
As I approach, he immediately looks up, and that big, beautiful, goofy smile spreads across his face, with raised eyebrows.
"Hello, beautiful," he says, getting up and hugging me. His tight embrace with the scent of his cologne is intoxicating. I hug back, and kiss his cheek. We release the hug and I see he's blushing.
"Hello, handsome," I return. "I'm going to get my drink, you wait here."
"Yes, ma'am," he replies, and sits down. I love it when he calls me that. It makes me feel like authority.
With my sweet little espresso in hand, I walk back and sit across from him. He turns his sketchbook to face me.
"I got here early so I could get in some practice," he says. "I just love coffee shop settings. It helps the artistic juices flow."
"I'm glad I chose this place, then," I say, smiling. I go to admire his work.
Some potted plants, chairs, and tables scatter the pages. A few groups of people sitting nearby are on the pages as well. He even drew his own coffee cup. Finally, on the side, I see me, waiting on line for my drink, my back to Adam. I'm wearing an ankle-length sundress, which gives me some fitting form around the hips. Adam made sure to accentuate that, drawing the soft curves of my backside. He added a tiny heart to one of my ass cheeks.
I snort when I see it. "I should give you money for drawing me so hot all the time."
"I draw what I see," he says, as he usually does, and winks. Neither Adam nor I are big fans of PDA, so we figure the physicality could wait until we were alone. Or maybe we enjoy teasing each other; I certainly do.
We play footsie under the table and sip our drinks while discussing the latest comic books and graphic novels we follow.
"Did you see the art in the new King Killer?" I ask.
"Oh, jeez, yeah. They changed their artist," Adam says with scorn. "I liked the eerie, dark undertones from the first volumes."
"Hey, I kind of like it!" I defend. "It brings out a new mood to the story."
"But, consistency!" Adam whines jokingly.
I lean into him. "Maybe new things can be good things," I whisper. He raises an eyebrow, and leans in as well, challenging me.
"New things like what?" He's smirking with that big, goofy smile, when suddenly it drops. His attention is turned to the front door of the coffee shop.
"Shit."
I'm about to turn in my chair when Adam grabs my hand. "No, don't look. Maybe she didn't notice us."
"Who?" I ask.
"Adam!" I hear a girl's voice; I hope it's not who I think it is.
Jen bounces up to us as if we were the most wonderful surprise in the world. I had never met her in person, but her very presence makes me want to grind iron nails in my teeth. The cheater, the woman who broke Adam's heart. As if she deserved it in the first place.
Adam keeps his cool. He's trying his best to not make this awkward. "Hey, Jen." Short and sweet.
"I didn't expect to find you here. I was just visiting a friend at work when I wanted to stop in and get some coffee." Probably fucking him, too. "Funny how things work out!"
She has long hair dyed an unnatural purple-red. Her bangs hang just above her eyes. Her face is fully made, but some of her fake tan has started trailing off on beads of sweat down her face, revealing her light, pasty skin underneath. Her tits look fake underneath that tiny tank top, paired with booty shorts.
I was raised to be non-judgemental. I never assume anything about anyone from their appearance. Nor do I slut-shame. If someone chooses to be sexually active in a safe and consensual way, I'm all for it. Therefore, it is not her fake tan, fake hair, and fake tits that make me dislike her. She's playing stupid, acting as if she's oblivious to the fact that Adam ever had emotions. She hurt Adam. She used him. Now, please accept my apology when I say this.
The bitch looks like a total skank.
"What are you drinking? Can I sip?" Without receiving an answer, she grabs his coffee and takes a long, loud slurp. She puts it back on the table, leaving a light pink lipstick mark on the lid. "Ugh, I hate coffee."
I look at Adam, pursing my lips, eyes on fire.
Adam clears his throat and looks up at Jen with his hands folded neatly in front of him. His knuckles are white.
"Jen, if you'll excuse us, I'm on a date right now."
Jen looks at me as if she had not noticed me sitting there for the past five minutes. "Oh, hi!" She reaches out a hand for me to shake. "I'm seeing Adam, too. What's your name?"
"Too?" Adam laughs and leans back. "I told you earlier this week that I didn't want to see you anymore. I blocked your number. That's what we call a 'break-up,' Jen." She folds her arms, challenging him to say something snarky. "Unfortunately for you, some people don't enjoy sharing their partners. It may cause a break-up." Whoop, there it is.
Jen bites her lips and furrows her brows. "Then let me meet your new girlfriend." She turns to me again.
"I'm Mae," I say, smiling. "From Adam's art class. Pleasure to meet you." This time, I hold out my hand for a shake.
She snorts. "Oh, this is that girl?" My stomach drops. "Excuse me for not knowing this was a date before. I thought you were babysitting." She gets up and leaves, hips swaying side to side. She catches the eye of some high school boys.
I'll admit - I'm younger than Adam. I recently turned 19 a few months ago, while he and Jen are both 23. They're able to drink, go to clubs, all that stuff. Me, on the other hand, yeah, I'm a legal adult. But I guess I'm still a baby.
"Don't listen to a word she says," Adam reassures me. "She's a manipulative cunt who plays mind tricks."
"Then why did you ever date her in the first place?"
He takes a deep breath and leans back. "Last year, when I met her at a party, she hooked up with me. I've had dates before, but I never really felt like a guy who could just...score, you know?" He starts twiddling his thumbs. "We started going out shortly after that, and the relationship, the attention, and sex, it all intoxicated me. I didn't realize it was superficial." He's rubbing his temples, recalling painful memories. "I felt like an idiot when I found out about the cheating months later. She apologized, fucked me, and lied again. I was caught in a twisted cycle. We ended up just becoming fuckbuddies, I guess." He looks up at me. "But, after spending some time with you, it gave me the courage to officially break it off. For good."
"Adam, I'm happy for you, really." I hold his hand. "I'm glad you got out of that toxic relationship." I lean in close. "Now, was it me, or having sex with me that made you want to leave that bitch?"
He laughs. "I have to admit, it's both."
"Good," I say. "Second question: How does she know about me?"
"Uh, I've told a few people about you," Adam awkwardly replies, taking his hand away from mine to scratch his head. "Just nice stuff, like, 'Yeah, she's gorgeous, and talented, and kind, and funny.'" He pauses. "Also that you just turned 19."
I laugh, brushing off my insecurity. "Hey, I've always been told I'm mature for my age." In reality, I am pretty mature. But some people always find a way to look down on me, making me question my self-respect. Example given, my interaction with Jen just a few minutes ago.
Adam gets a serious look on his face. "Mae, I really like you. This isn't just some kind of hit-and-run. I like spending time with you, being with you..." He collects his thoughts. "I want to make sure you're comfortable with me."