Coffee Dragons (Andi)

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt was in the midst of searching for someplace to just sit and write. And maybe get a good cup of coffee, Yes the teen was addicted to coffee and since he had moved he had yet to find someplace with good coffee that suited his tastes. He knew wherever he went had to have a good atmosphere where he could write in peace and not be disturbed. So he took his car and decided to drive through the town of Pilot Ridge to see if he could find anyplace that might have some good coffee.

Driving down one of the streets Matt knew that he was I the right area as he could smell the coffee from here. Pulling into one of the parking spots he made his way to the little cafe which had the name of Kali's. He walked into the place with his notebook and some pens, and walked up to the counter and silently ordering a coffee with only milk. Matt knew he was a bit odd only putting milk into his coffee, but he also knew that she put way to much sugar in hers for his liking. Shaking his head fondly at the thought of his sister he paid for his coffee and made his way over to a table to sit, taking his notebook along with him.

Soon enough he was lost in the words that he was writing. Surprisingly he was writing a story about how a male turned into a dragon and had fire breath. Normally he didn't branch into fantasy, but he sort of liked the idea of turning into a dragon. Smiling he looked up as the bell above the door rang and someone walked in. Looking down at his cup he realized that he was out of coffee. This was something that must be fixed he thought. So he went over to the counter and waited on the girl in front of him to choose what she wanted to drink.

[Andi Thalis]

She had woken up with the worst headache.

After doing some odd hours of homework, finally meeting her roommates, and then sneaking out to cause trouble among the populous, she had woken up with a pounding behind her eyes, making her vision blurry, and a sour taste in her mouth. That normally happened after Andi used her powers too much; it was also why her palms were burning. She had gotten dressed in a His Infernal Majesty shirt over jeans and her boots, pulling on her jacket at the last minute before riding into town.

Now she walked into Kali’s Kafe, needing a shot of some of the strong stuff. She walked to the front of the counter and smiled at the person behind the counter. “I’ll have a café mocha, extra chocolate, lots of whipped cream, please,” she asked nicely, pulling out bills to pay for the sultry drink. Once she had it in her hand, she took a sip as she turned, almost knocking into the person behind her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she said apologetically, even though she hadn’t spilled on him. She looked up from her drink, up the other person’s torso, into dark brown eyes, almost the same shade as her own. “Um…hi there…” she said lamely.

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt watched as the person in front of him, who was a bit smaller then him, ordered a large chocolate concoction of whipped cream and almost pure sugar. Silently watching her as she paid he tried not to stare too much. The drink was literally topped with whipped cream. Smiling at the thought of how his sister would like the coffee chocolate concoction he filed away the name of it for later. Of course he would be bringing Dani here. It was only logical.

When the person paid and turned around, quite quickly, he was afraid that he was not really paying attention and was surprised at the smaller girl bumping into him. Quickly he looked down at her and smiled, making an That's okay motion with his hand. He knew he was quite tall and often got in the way. Dani had said so enough times herself for the thought to become equally apparent to him.

Looking down at the girl Matt nodded and slowly formed the words on his mouth. He really was not a fan of talking, but in this situation he found it necessary to talk. “Hello.” With that one word he smiled at her and made sure she was alright before he moved to get another refill on his plain coffee with a bit of creamer. Smiling at the girl as he returned to his table he looked up at her and wondered if she wanted to join him. Silently he pushed the chair that was across from him out with his foot. He may not talk much but the intentions were apparent. He gave the girl an easy smile letting her know that if she wanted to join him then it was fine with him.

[Andi Thalis]

He waved his hand in a motion she understood out of the corner of her eye, still gazing up at the tall stranger. He was at least four, five inches taller than her, with dark hair and those eyes…not to mention his smile. “Hello,” he replied, still again with that smile as he walked past her, getting another refill of his own coffee. She turned when he did walk past her, seemingly to keep him in her sights, as she absently sipped her chocolate sugar death trap.

He walked past her again and she turned, her eyes glued to him. The guy was gorgeous. She stood there like a fool until she noticed the movement of the chair being pushed out, his eyes on her and a smile on his face that beckoned for her to approach. So she moved her feet, going from standing like an idiot in front of the counter to take the chair across from the big guy’s.

She slid into her seat, keeping her eyes on her coffee as she set it on the table. “I’m sorry for running into you,” she told him, glancing up at him from beneath her dark lashes. “I should have paid more attention.” She looked back down at her coffee, one hand coming up to brush a stray brunette curl off her shoulder. “My name’s Andi. And yours?”

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt honestly had not noticed the girl's stare, he was too absorbed in his notebook, and drinking his coffee. When he had set it back down at the table he noticed her watching him and gave another easy smile, though this time a bit more forthright. He sat down and waited for her arrival which he knew was coming. Going back to his notebook, writing down the few ideas that had popped up Matt could tell that the girl was approaching.

Watching her come over Matt smiled. It seemed the girl had taken up his offer. So instead of standing there and just watching him it made him more comfortable to actually have her sit in front of him. That way it would be less awkward for the other customers too. Matt watched as she approached keeping his easy sile on his face. Watching as she sat down opposite him he was made aware of the fact that they never broke eye contact. That in itself made Matt blush a little, Since moving to Pilot Ridge he really didn't know anybody and was shy enough to keep himself hidden from the world. He knew that transferring for senior year was not a good thing, and he would have to suffer the consequences, but his sister was worth it.

Matt listened as the girl sat down and started talking to him. When she apologized again he shook his head with an easy smile. He wasn't offended in the slightest. He knew he was almost always in the way. He did have a tendency to hover... Dani had called that out about him many times. He had just grown accustomed to not being noticed in some ways. As she started saying she should have paid more attention he shook his head. It really was fine. He was used to it. The girl then proceeded to introduce herself as Andi. Matt nodded at her after a brief pondering of what it stood for. No immediate name came to mind but that wouldn't stop him from using the name in the future. When she asked his he reluctantly spoke again, soft and low, “Matt.” Hopefully she wouldn't be asking to many questions. Mat did not know how much talking he could take.

[Andi Thalis]

So, he was the strong and silent type. Andi should have known. She sighed and closed her eyes, looking down at her coffee as she used the little straw to draw designs in her whipped cream and chocolate coffee. “Matt,” was all he said, and his voice made goosebumps appear on her arms under the leather of her jacket. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to make him speak more than one word every five minutes!

Looking at him, she noticed the notebook he was writing in. It was ordinary, just a plain notebook one might take class notes in, but his writing was beautiful, his handwriting calling to her tactile senses. Grinning at the focus he showed that bundle of paper and wire, she slid her coffee away from her hands and pretended to do something with her fingers before snatching the book, leaning back in her chair while flipping the pages.

Her eyes were reading the words even as she spoke. “Since you seem to be so interested in this, let’s play a game,” she said, smiling at him, that impish sparkle in her eyes. “How about we have a nice, normal human conversation, and I’ll give this back to you after we’re done, ‘kay? Oh, by the way, awesome story. I really like it.” She closed the book and set it on her lap, twining her fingers together and leaning forward in her chair again.

“We have a deal, Matt?”

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt watched as the girl sitting across from him sighed a heavy sigh and closed her eyes. Had he done something to offend her? She looked almost as if she was shivering for some reason. Was she cold? She should have more of her coffee then. Shaking his slightly in amusement he began writing a silly little story about a cat. It was pure fluff really but it wasn't as if anyone was going to see it. He always threw anything he wrote away after he wrote it. It really was something that he knew was unique to him. Others would just keep the writing to themselves or show it to others. Matt was the opposite. He threw Everything away. It wasn't good enough to be shown to anyone else. Shaking his head with a slight chuckle he looked back over at the girl sitting across from him who was seemingly thinking. He could leave her alone to think. He would.

Matt took a sip of the coffee that he so loved. In all he liked this cafe. It gave off the sort of feel that he liked and the atmosphere was perfect for the writing he did. Smiling a little at the thought he knew he would be a frequent visitor here. Nothing that the girl pushed away her coffee Matt set down his pen and waited for her to talk. If she was going to talk then he was going to give her his full attention. It was rude not to. He watched as she was plotting something.

Before he could react she took the notebook out of his hands and was flipping through it.One could see him visiblay pale as she took it. What did she want it for? There wasn't anything interesting in there only story ideas and a few chapters. Blushing immensly he bit his bottom lip and looked over at her, eyes wondering why she had taken it and why she was flipping through it. There wasn't anything that would be of use to her. He coudnt imagine what she wanted it for.

When Andi started talking Matt listened intently blushing even more as she started reading. People weren't supposed to read what was in that notebook. It was sort of like a journal.. Only it was full of stories and ideas that Matt was not comfortable sharing with the world. Listening to the girl he started blushing more, if that was possible, and slowly nodded at her words. He really didn't like talking but if that is what is takes to get his notebook back he figured he should at least try. Looking at her he really wondered why exactly she had taken an interest in him. He wasn't anything special. All he was doing was writing a bit and sitting here enjoying his coffee. With a solemn look on his face slowed nodded. His eyes trailed to her lap where his notebook was sitting. He really wanted it back. He had just thought of the villain's last name. Sighing he looked over at her in slight annoyance and replied with a soft, barely head, “fine.”

[Andi Thalis]

His face paled faster than bleach leaching the color out of her favorite shirt after she made her deal, and a small grin favored her lips as she took another drink of coffee. The sugar was helping with her headache, seeing as her head had stopped pounding and her palms were cool now. When he gave his agreement, Andi smiled wider and set the notebook on the table with her hand atop it, letting him see his prize without grabbing it. As it was, the book started glowing as she put a little of her power into it.

“If you try to take this away, I’ll make it burn a little,” she told him, winking. “I have the power to blow stuff up, so don’t try anything sneaky.” The book’s glow dimmed a little. “Now, my first question; what is your last name? I haven’t seen you at the private school, so you must be one of the public high school kids.”

She took another sip of her coffee and let her fingers play with the edges of the notebook. She hadn’t been lying when she had told him that his story was interesting; truth be told, Andi loved a good book or novel or story filled with fantasy and romance and all that mushy stuff.

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt watched as the girl made a face that seem to say she was enjoying this immensely. Looking down he was aware that she was drinking more of her coffee and was just watching him in general. Honestly he didn't understand what she wanted with him. Watching with wide eyes he looked as she placed her hand over his book and it started glowing. It was almost as if she was baiting him. Sighing he just looked down and saw that she was keeping it withing arms distance of her, but not enough for him to grab it. Why was she putting him through this?

Matt's eyes widened as she threatened to burn the notebook of which held his thoughts. When she just out and told him she had the power blow things up he sighed. She was meta wasn't she? He really shouldn't be surprised. There were a lot of people at Dani's school. When she warned him not to be sneaky he just couldn't help but chuckle. He wouldn't think about it. After all his book was at stake. When the books glow dimmed Matt sighed. She was serious about this whole conversation hing. Well two could play at that game. Smirking only a smidge Matt listened to her question and sighed. “ Waylan. My little sis goes to Hammel. Senior year at Pilot Ridge for me. Moved.” There that was more then enough talking for one day. Matt took another sip of his coffee. Just what exactly constituted as a “normal human conversation?”

Matt looked at her playing with the edge of the notebook. Thinking again how she had read it he blushed. People really weren't supposed to read his writing. He did throw everything away for a reason. Matt did want to be an author, but he really didn't think he was good enough. In fact that was part of the reason he threw everything away. Only his English teacher back in their hometown knew about his writing skills. Even then he had covered it up with his soccer skills. He rather be the “jock” then the “writer” . Here in pilot Ridge though, he could be both. And of course keep an eye on his sister.

[Andi Thalis]

She hadn’t really expected him to actually go along with her game. Rather, she had expected him to stand, snatch his book away, and run, judging from the pallor of his face and that light in his eyes. Other people who would know her would have told her that she was being mean, baiting a shy boy like Matt with his book, but in all honesty, she was merely being friendly, in her own way. She just didn’t know how to act…like, really friendly.

“Waylan. My little sis goes to Hammel. Senior year at Pilot Ridge for me. Moved.” was all he said, which made Andi smile.

“I go to Hammel too, and I’ve heard that name being spoken around,” she told him, sipping the last bit of her coffee. “It’s my senior year of school too, so we’re kinda in the same boat, ya know?” She chuckled and shook her head, chocolate curls on her shoulders.

“Anyway, what are your hobbies? I know writing is one of them,” she asked, looking him over. “Hm, you look like a sports kinda guy…” She tapped her lip with a finger, trying to place him. “Either you do football, basketball, or soccer.”

[Matthew Waylan]

Honestly if one had told Matt that he could get up and take his notebook and leave he might have. Might being the term to focus on. On one hand he would take it in a heartbeat, in the other it was just plain rude to do that. He didn't like being rude... it just wasn't in him. Sighing he looked back at his coffee that was dwindling again. Did girls normally steal his book and hold them hostage? Matt was not sure on the semantics of conversation in today's youth. He figured it was just normal, even if he didn't like it.

Apparently his answer was satisfactory enough for her as she smiled with his answer. He nodded. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard. All he had to do was keep his answers short and to the point. Other wise he might end up talking a little too much. He sincerely hoped Andi would not drag this conversation on.

As he heard that she went to Hammel, he nodded. The next part of her sentence made him heave a great sigh and put his head in his hands. It was not a good thing if she knew his sister. That meant that Dani had either a) pranked her or b) pranked someone close to her. Matt knew that it was not a good thing to have his last name known around campus. Looking up at her his attitude a bit stand offish he grimaced as he spoke, “ I am sorry for whatever havoc my sister has wreaked upon you and or your immediate friends. I apologize on her behalf.” He waited for her to continue with her words and still sighed again. What had Dani gotten herself into? Just nodding at the same boat thing he sighed. Was he going to have to clean up another mess?

Matt sighed when she asked about his hobbies. Looking down he realized he really didn't have anything other then writing soccer and his sister. He chuckled when she assumed he was a sports person. Looking at her he smiled before couching into his hand slightly. “ One of those three.” He chuckled she never said he had to say which one. “ You figure it out.” He wasn't going to give her an easy time if she was holding his book hostage. Nope, it just didn't work like that.

[Andi Thalis]

He apologized for whatever his sister had done, and Andi laughed. It was the kind of laugh that made you look over in curiosity to see what the person was laughing about, then casually look away; not overly loud, but something to look at. “Your sister hasn’t done anything to me, Matt,” she said, grinning at the way he had dropped his head into his hands. Being an only child, she didn’t know anything of the sort siblings did, but this was too funny. “I make it a point to know all the troublemakers’ names, so it’s all good.”

Now, he just made it into a game. She smirked and looked him over with eyes more chocolate than green, analyzing his build and choosing one of the three sports options. He didn’t look like he played basketball, for all that he had the height for it. His shoulders weren’t that broad, so football was out. That left…“Soccer,” she mused. “You like to play soccer.

“I like to play soccer from time to time too,” she told him, fiddling with the notebook pages again. “It’s good cardio exercise. Now, what’s your favorite color? Mine’s red, it’s bold and passionate like me.” She winked with her last words, her spiciness matching the smile she had on her face.

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt looked over at the girl that was laughing at him. He honestly did not see what there was to laugh about. His sister was famous back at his old town for getting in trouble and not respecting authority. Matt sighed at the thought of some of the things she had pulled. He was sure his face must be at least three different shade of red by now. Sighing he listened to her as she was explaining that his sister had not done anything to her and or her friends. Sighing he muttered and winced as she continued on with the trouble maker part. What sort of trouble was Dani getting into anyway? Sighing he realized there would have to be serious talk and staring later. “ That doesn't make me feel any better” He mumbled after her last statement.

Matt watched and blushed a bit as her eyes gazed over him. In all actuality it was making him a bit uncomfortable, but he was the one who told her to figure it out. Sighing he looked down at his cup and realized it was empty once again. To try and ignore her eyes on him his mind wandered about a possible plot for his dragon story. Maybe his father was a sorcerer or maybe because of his power he has lived in isolation. Matt contemplated the ideas that were popping up. Some of them might work and others might not. He only came out of this daze when she had her guess and said it aloud. Matt smiled as she guess correctly nodding at it, to show her she was correct.

Matt just nodded as she continued to tell him that she herself sometimes played soccer. Shaking his head with an bemused look he just raised an eyebrow at the cardio workout session. Dang it she was fiddling with his notebook again. Why did she feel like it was good to torture him? Shaking his head she just looked at her as she went from sports topics to colors. Sighing he reluctantly answered her question. “ Green.” Matt knew that she was teasing him yet again with the wink that accompanied her words. He really was starting to develop a headache. “Simple.” That way she couldn't ask why his favorite color was green. It just was.

[Andi Thalis]

Andi could sense a change in the boy, noting the flush of his face and the tenseness in his shoulders. She was making him uncomfortable, and she didn’t want that. She sighed and leaned over to throw away her cup in the nearest trashcan, feeling her fun mood slip away. For all of the five years she had lived here, she didn’t have a non-powered friend, and now that she had the opportunity to meet one, she wasn’t being a very good influence.

Keeping the emotion from her eyes, she slid his notebook back towards him, the glow from the book coming back to make her fingers glimmer before disappearing. “I think you’ve had enough for today,” she said, keeping the disappointment from her tone but barely succeeding. “Thank you for answering my questions, and I’m sorry that I made you uncomfortable.”

Noting his empty coffee cup, she grabbed that instead and, as a favor to him, got up and refilled it for him, just the way she noticed when they had first bumped into each other. She sat again across him and put the cup where he could reach it, her fingers lingering before pulling back to rest in her lap. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled again.

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt watched as Andi's mood shifted a bit. Gone was the mischievousness that had been in her eyes since she had first bumped into him. He watched silent still as she moved and through away her cup, that was once full of a chocolate sugar concoction. He really did wonder what was wrong. He knew that she was someone who was almost always full of life just room the way she had acted. What had he done to make her act like this?

Matt watched as she silently pushed his notebook back towards him. He watched as the glow that had been surrounding the book dimmed, seemingly with the emotion in the girls eyes. He watched as the glow faded and dimmed into her hand and smiled. Gently he took the notebook back from her and opened it slightly to one of the blank pages. He just listened with a soft smile as she apologized or her behavior. She seemed... sad. Matt shook his head almost exasperated. What had he done to make her act like this? When she apologized again he looked down at his book and smiled slightly. “ its okay” he said in a voice that surprised even him. He may prefer to be silent most of the time but in actuality she had done nothing wrong and she shouldn't feel bad. After all, she had apologized and returned his book. No Harm, no foul hmm?

Matt watched slightly as she got up again and refilled his coffee. Taking the time to write out a silly little story about a witch who happened to bump into a knight in the tavern he chuckled. In the story even though they had gotten off to a rough start they had become friends, all over a little spat about nothing important. He quickly finished it and set it in front o her as she set down his coffee. Smiling up at her as she was still standing, he motioned for her to sit and read the story. At the end of the story he had written a small note;

“I am sorry too, I just do not like talking much. Would you care to converse on paper instead? I just am not much of a talker. There is nothing you have to be sorry for. In actuality, my sister might have done that same thing. No, scratch that. This is something she would definitely do. Now of course she would scold me for making a girl sad. So cheer up k?”