Chlorine

On Friday, Alice was lucky that she had no classes, she had full time on Java Jive so she could earn more money. It was eight in the morning when she clocked in, the Java Jive was almost crowded with the pre-coffee students from her campus. Getting ready on her post, she already got several take away orders from those restless coffee addicts.

After six days working as barista, Alice slowly being well-adjusted about the long line of orders and she was pretty good at it. Luckily, the rush hour only occurred for an hour and after nine, the testy customers dispersed from the coffee shop. There were still take-in customers who were mostly students, lounged on their tables, enjoying their Friday morning with laptop on. After the rush hour, Alice could breathe and relax for a bit, she just served the last incoming customer and she really needed a coffee for herself too.

As another entry bell chimed, Alice saw no other than Gustav Ricci walked in by himself, hoisting his backpack on his shoulder. Today, he wore a plain white t-shirt under his Sigma’s jacket and worn out jeans with a beanie sat on his head. Gustav always could pull off something casual into a fantastic look, sometimes Alice wonder how he could look like as if he just jumped out from man’s magazine.

Gustav sat on the stool and put his backpack on the counter bar while he’s checking his smartphone. Alice approached him as she noticed his stubble grew fast into a visible thin beard. Hearing her step, brought Gustav to lift up his head, “Hey, can I get a cup of…, oh Alice!” when he caught Alice’s eyes, his eyes lit up and smiled at her. “I forgot you’re working here… it’s nice to see you here!” his dimple came into sight.

“Yeah, I have no class today so it’s a full-time work here. What can I get for you?” Alice looked happy with her pearly whites on show.

“Cool! Well, can I have black coffee and egg on toast?” he ordered as Alice scribbled down on her notes, giving his order to the back. Alice readied the coffee maker and brewed the coffee just what Gustav wanted meanwhile Gustav watched her in delight. Alice was undoubtedly cute with her Java Jive’s khaki apron. She pulled up her cute wavy hair into a high bun that showed her baby hairs fell on her long neck. Gustav couldn’t help but notice she put a bit make up on her face, he scarcely found Alice with any make up on because she always went natural with it.

When his coffee was done, Alice put the steamy cup on his counter carefully while Gustav crooked a smile to her, he was observing her face that looked similar with Anita. Gustav agreed that both of the sisters were equally beautiful. While Anita had her matured and high-fashion look, gorgeous to herself, Alice had this innocent look that reminded him of a doe, also beautiful in her way. Gustav only grinned.

“What?” Alice noticed the unusual grin he gave to her that made her chuckle.

“Nothing.” He shook his head, “Anyway, I never catch where are you from.” He sipped his black coffee and heard a bell rang from the back kitchen, indicating his order was done. Alice strolled to the back and got his egg on toast.

“North from here, ever heard of Reeslock?” Alice put the plate of food on his counter.

“There’s a town named Reeslock around here?” He inquired with amazed look while Alice just chuckled. Every time she met new people, they hardly knew about her hometown, but she couldn’t blame them, Reeslock was a bit desolated from big cities and the only notable place at Reeslock was Grizzly Falls, and only a few people from big cities would know about the beautiful falls.

“Seven hour drive from here, a place where Wal-Mart is like a big mall there which is like fifteen minutes from my home by the way.”

Gustav grimaced at her comment, “So you really are like small town girl goes to big city, pursuing a degree. I thought you were from New York or California because surely Anita doesn’t look like she came from a small town with her cycle of friends and her choice of outfits.”

“What do you mean our choice of outfits?” Alice put a hand on his hips and arched an eyebrow, looked a bit offended. What’s wrong with her outfit? She’s sure she chose to be as casual as it got.

“No, no… that’s not what I mean. I mean, Anita looked like a New Yorker with her fashionable clothes and her branded stuff.” Gustav explained as he stabbed the egg with his fork and brought it to his mouth.

“Oh, Anita always loves fashion since she hit the puberty. She always follows the trend and stuff, I guess?”

“Well honestly, you two look seriously beautiful, that’s what I’m trying to say.” He grinned from ear to ear making Alice laughed lightly.

“Gustav Ricci, are you complementing my sister or flirting with me?” she laughed, an earthly laugh that made Gustav grew fond of.

“Maybe a bit flirting wouldn’t hurt, Angel Face.” He winked and it gave butterflies on Alice stomach. If only she never learned about Gustav’s harboring feelings for Anita, she would take the compliment and his pet names to heart, Alice could only snickered at him.

“So how about you? Where are you from?” Alice questioned while she wiped the cups with dry cloth.

“I’m from around here actually, my house is like one hour drive from here, it’s the most crowded part of this big city. I used to live in New York which is believe it or not, isn’t as great as most people think.” Gustav shrugged and sipped his coffee again until it was almost empty.

“I know, I have an aunt living there, I spent Thanksgiving in New York last year. For a small town girl like me, New York is too crowded and stressing, y’know.” Alice explained and offered a refill for Gustav which he gladly took.

“Indeed.” He agreed, gesturing his cup.

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An hour later, Alice served the incoming customers while entertaining Gustav with her company. She learned that he loved drawing comics, pizzas, ethnic food and beer pongs. When holiday came, he would get back to his house because her mom’s cooking was far better than any food in the campus compared. Gustav had two older brothers and no sisters, he was a self-proclaimed romantic guy because of his Italian blood. Alice sighed, Anita would be the lucky one to get Gustav as her boyfriend.

And now, Gustav were in the middle of describing his weird phase in high school when he was a total comic nerd and people made fun of them, he wasn’t being bullied but people liked to call him a nerd. He was in the middle of nerd and jock, because of his obsession of comics, he was also active in swimming club.

She loved listening to Gustav’s story, she loved watching his eyes dilated and lightened up when he talked about his passion in comic. He even gave his comic doodle of Alice’s version as superhero, his doodle was cute and it resembled her face in his art style. Damn, each second being with Gustav, made Alice fell harder for him. He would be the death of her.

Alice noticed another jingle from entry bell, when she turned she saw Ryder was approaching her with a smirk playing on his face. Alice groaned inwardly.

Spotting Ryder coming in, Gustav gave Ryder a brotherly hug and patted the sling on his hand, they chatted animatedly as Ryder picked a seat next to Gustav.

“Alice, can I have tuna sandwich and americano please?” Ryder winked and then began to rummage his backpack. Alice pursued a smile and then took his order. While brewing Ryder’s coffee, she listened to their conversation that involved Ryder’s current PT session, swimming match, and random party at some chapter house.

When Ryder’s coffee’s done, she poured it slowly into his cup. Ryder thanked Alice for his coffee and let out two notebooks, as usual he wanted Alice to copy the notes from his course. It was almost her lunch break, so she took the notebooks from Ryder.

“When’s your lunch break?” Gustav asked chewing the last piece of his toast. Alice glance to her watch telling him that she would be having the break in ten minutes. “Great, you gotta have some coffee with us then.” He grimaced patting the seat next to him and Alice agreed with light chuckle.

In the remaining time, Alice was serving at her post, brewing the orders. Gustav and Ryder were having their boys’ conversation which Alice could overhear. They were talking about girls and from the corner of her eyes, Alice saw Gustav hid his reddening cheeks with his manly laugh when Ryder mentioned about Anita. Alice bit down her lip, couldn’t help but feeling jealous of Anita. Anita admitted that Gustav was attractive and Alice was sure that Anita would date him with a heartbeat if she knew about Gustav’s feeling.

On the other way, Ryder was boasting about his night with some girl from Zeta house. Alice turned her head to Ryder who was actually smirking when he mentioned about the girl. Alice rolled her eyes and was still wondering why he didn’t ask his girlfriend to help him with his condition instead.

When it’s time for her lunch break, Alice folded her khaki apron and then walked out from her counter to where Ryder and Gustav sat. Alice made herself a cup of earl grey tea and sandwich and ate it next to Gustav.

“Hey, don’t forget about my notebook, okay?” Ryder reminded making Alice glared to him.

“Why don’t you just ask your lovely Zeta girlfriend to do it?” she snapped, Gustav snorted at her comment and held his laughter.

“What? I don’t even have a girlfriend.” Ryder objected.

“Oh right, I mean the girl you’ve been sleeping with! Why don’t you get her to do your notes and spoon-feed you? Why me?”

Alice could see Ryder clenched his jaw meanwhile Gustav pursued his lips into a thin line holding back his laughter. Gustav grabbed Alice’s hand and inched his face that instantly giving her a mild heart attack with his closeness.

“I told you, it’s a casual thing, no strings attached. I think you should stop pestering him about it or else you want the hell breaks loose. She’s off limits.” He whispered and smiled to her.

“What do you mean?” Alice pressed still not satisfied. She just didn’t understand why of all the girls Ryder had been ‘familiar’ with, he asked Alice to do all of it. Alice knew it was her fault that Ryder got into accident but it didn’t mean she needed to babysit him.

“Just do my notes, Waterville.” Ryder muttered under his breath and then sipped his americano.

Alice scoffed in disdain and then started to copy the notes. Alice was relieved that Ryder chose to eat sandwich instead of some pasta or soup because it required her help. Finishing her light lunch and Ryder’s notes, she began to clean up.

“Oh by the way, Alice… Sigma is having this small party at our house tonight. It would be cool if you come.” Gustav suggested when Alice got up from her seat.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m not really into parties…” sure as hell, Alice remembered the last party she got was at Omicron’s and it’s embarrassing as hell, she didn’t want to repeat what happened at Omicron’s. Alice was a self-proclaimed social awkward, she wasn’t comfortable with new crowds and it took a long time to warm up. She didn’t want to go, but she did want to see Gustav at the party.

“Oh come on, it won’t be bad. I promise. You just need to show up. The party would be suck without you, right, Ry?” Gustav said as he elbowed Ryder on his side, only followed by Ryder light scoff.

“I think I’ll pass, but thanks anyway.” Her smile betrayed her because damn, she really wanted to go but she wasn’t comfortable with big new crowd. All she wanted was only being with Gustav, she could have some more time talking with him. He was so easy and fun to talk with, it made Alice liked him more.

Gustav frowned and pouted, “please? With cherry on top? It’s a fresher’s week party for Sigma, you’re a freshman and you really need to mingle there. I promise there will be no throw-somebody-into-the-water involved.” Gustav could read her face, Alice looked down embarrassed. “Come on, I won’t let any assholes near you, I’ll be by your side all night.” He pressed.

Sighing in defeat, she responded, “fine.” With that Gustav gave Alice his Cheshire’s cat grin and ruffled her already messy bun playfully, followed by Alice’s protest. Sometimes, Alice questioned herself, why did people try so hard to get into these frat parties? Alice didn’t see anything but just a big waste of time and money. She thought high school already had bunch of useless parties, and now in college the parties got even worse. She was never a big fan of big parties.

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