He bobbed his head in understanding “Right. Well then you’ll have plenty college experiences. Were your first two years not interesting?” He asked, his name called right after hers and they sought a seat.
Lottie trailed after him as he moved to find a seat and sat down opposite. “My first two years had interesting points although actual studying is a bore most of the time. There were some pretty good parties and they really liven up a boring weekend between the preparation, the party and the hang over. I don’t have any stories are epic as the coke ad sadly, there was the day Susan Lande set fire to her hair while attempting to heat up some water for an experiment, that was pretty exciting at the time.”
“Yea, I think that’s what my parents were hoping for. Worse comes to worse, I have a fancy piece of paper that showed I paid a lot for school,” she giggled, failing to put on her own proper adult face. “Really? I’m sure you’re very good at whatever you decided to study, or at least you’re very passionate about it. What is it that you study?”
“I’m studying chemistry and yes I think probably more passionate than super good at it. I can certainly do enough to get through although they make us start to specialise this year so that’s another round of headaches. Why I can’t just keep with the nice broad subject I’ll never know.”
“Neither really,” Cade said with a shake of his head. “If you wanted someone to pat you on the head and say poor, poor Lottie, I’m afraid you’re out of luck with me. Granted, it sucks. But since the start of your trip was, even by your own admission, unexpected, what were you expecting?” He nodded his head, in agreement with her assessment; although it was pretty clear she wasn’t going to do either.
“Gee thanks,” she sneered at the poor Lottie remark. “I just didn’t expect to come back ready to start the new year to be faced with this. I’ll get it sorted though, one way or another.” She turned her head away as a plan began to formulate and she really needed to speak to Ben and see just how friendly he was feeling towards her. If they combined their skills her problem would quickly be solved. “I’ll leave you to your no doubt busy day now,” she smirked, feeling far more optimistic suddenly.
Damian laughed and shook his head. “I said it was the same, I didn’t say it was impressive. Believe me, I’ve had very good coffee before. I was just appreciating the fact that I can count on things in Verona to be the same as when I left.”
“Been away long then?” she asked quickly. “I wouldn’t think mediocre coffee shops last all that long but maybe I’m wrong.”
Alessia chuckled and shook her head but her smile remained. “It wasn’t but I guess it could be. Especially with vodka involved as I do enjoy a good drink. How about we get a few bottles to make it even more interesting?”
“Several bottles of vodka and this becomes far more than a game of twenty questions. It becomes some sort of interrogation which is really not what it started out as,” Lottie pointed out. “I don’t think I could convince anyone of my innocence or otherwise in that state.”
“Ugh, why is it so cold,” Sebastian muttered to himself, pulling his jacket tighter around him and hunching a little as he typed. He should have brought a scarf with him. He didn’t think it would be so cold in the coffee shop. “Hm?” Someone had stopped near him, and he looked up. “Oh, um, no, that seat isn’t taken.”
Lottie glanced down at the man, shaking her head slightly as she heard him muttering about the cold but there weren’t any other free tables and she decided he would probably leave quite soon if he was that cold. “Thanks,” she muttered as she slid into the seat opposite and put down her coffee. “Maybe you should get a refill,” she added, nodding towards his cup. “It might heat you up.”
“I am a florist!” Daisy beamed excitedly, giggling a little. “My parents wanted me to get a college education first before jumping into a career, so that’s what I did! I mean, not like the degree really helped too much, but I also took a couple of intro business classes to help with learning how to manage a shop.”
Lottie nodded in understanding. “Makes sense. You’ll always have that degree to fall back on,” she added in a proper grown up, serious voice. “My parents were very insistent I go to college too although my mother wasn’t so sure about my choice of course.” Lottie’s parents had quickly worked out why she wanted to do chemistry and while her dad fully supported it her mother had been against it initially.
“Are you in your first year?” He asked “That’s exciting, I remember going to university for the first time. Are you living on campus?” He asked, when he had flown the coop he’d been so excited to get out of being a child and to start being an adult – or, more appropriately, an old child who made poor decisions regarding schooling vs alcohol.
Lottie shook her head quickly at the questions. “No I’m going into my third year. I’ve just been away for pretty much all the summer, well just before summer officially started hence my issue with my professor.” Hearing her name she stepped forward to collect her coffee before returning to him. “I don’t live on campus, I’ve got an apartment about twenty minutes away so close enough to roll in but far enough away to be separate.”
He liked hearing her laugh, it sounded very pure. “Good, I need to know there’s people I can trust in my local cafes.” He chuckled “I would love to catch a pepsi – although how about I get my own and you repay me in your company?” he suggested “I’d like to hear more about your experiences – I’ve told you mine so you need to hare yours.” He asked with a smile
Lottie shrugged with a grin at the change of offer. “Your choice,” she said, stepping aside to let him order for himself. “You want to hear more about what experiences? You’ve already heard my university woes and the semester hasn’t really started.”
Lottie's wild adventure 