Calming Coffee

So here's my first story, please be nice! I know it's kind of generic, but I wanted to start simple with the kind of story that I enjoy reading. First chapter is a little slow, since I'm just introducing the characters for now, but I promise it will pick up! I already have the next couple chapters typed up, but I want to see how this is received before I post them.



I don't know what I would do without Casey. My nephew is, without a doubt, my favorite person in the world. If it weren't for him, who would have coffee waiting for me when I wake up? Well, of course there are many other reasons why I think he's a great kid, or I guess man now since he is 21, but at 7am the only thing I care about is my coffee. And he brews it like a champ. Thank god he has an 8am class, last semester I was all on my own. It was disastrous.

“Good morning James!” Who? Oh right, me. It's too early for names and being cheerful. I'm sure I mumbled something back that sounded along the lines of “good morning” what with the way Casey smiled at me and all. He really is a nice kid. Man. Whatever. At least I finally got him to stop calling me “Uncle James.” That made me feel crazy old, and I'm only 29.

“So what do you have planned for today? Going to teach the little kids anything fun? If I were you, I would just give them recess all day. Then again, that might get boring if you actually like teaching. Right? James? Jaaaaames? Dammit man, drink some of that coffee so you can be a person!” I responded with a loving death glare and a long sip of my coffee. Ohhh that is good.

“Sorry, but you know better than to talk to me when my cup is still full! And I would give the 3rd graders recess all day if I thought it wouldn't get me fired. Instead, I'm going to teach them the standard lesson plan stuff today.” I followed up with another long sip. Mmmmm.

“Do you have any plans today?” I finally asked.

“Just some classes, then I was going to meet up with Shayna and Adam before work. You remember Adam right?”

“Of course I remember Adam.” He's only been Casey's best friend since he moved to Boston. “I haven't seen him around much though. How's he doing?”

“He's been better. Still trying to find a job, but things are pretty awful right now. He's making due with freelance projects though, but all the job searching has been keeping him fairly busy. What do you want for lunch?” He stood up and started digging through the fridge. Another reason I love this kid. He makes me lunch most days!

“Turkey and cheese today, thanks! He does computer stuff, right? If he needs extra money he can check out my laptop for me. The damn thing crashed again last night, just shut off for no reason!” I morosely dropped my head onto the table. It really does suck. I need a new laptop, but I've had this one for 3 years and I got all comfortable with it. And I stupidly named it. I can't just throw out something that has a name! Hopefully Adam can fix Morgana (the laptop) so I don't have to get rid of it.

“That would be great! I'll let him know today. Did you want any leftover sweet potato salad with lunch?” You bet I do. I make a mean sweet potato salad, and now I'm craving lunch already. Alas, my mouth was full of cereal so I merely nodded to him.

With my lunch all packed and my breakfast all finished, we went our different ways and set out for the day.

It was a typical day. Life as a teacher can get pretty mundane when you hit the middle of the year and everyone is looking forward to Christmas break. Teach a little, avoid the creepy and pervy new Media teacher (seriously, why would a teacher go around groping another teacher in the middle of the day? That man is just freaky), eat my fantastic lunch, get the kids on the buses, and leave!

When I got home I checked my cell phone and had a text from Casey. 'Talked to Adam, hes coming over sat ok?' I responded that it was ok, especially since tomorrow is Saturday and I am dying to get my Morgana fixed!

I set myself up in the kitchen to grade some papers and have my late afternoon coffee, and before I knew it dinner time came around. Normally I try to cook something tasty, but with Casey gone and with my slight fear of going out by myself at night, I settled for what we had in the house. Pasta with butter and cheese. So very healthy, I know. Then all that was left for me to do was watch TV until I fell asleep. Casey had said he would be staying at Shayna's tonight, so I was all by my lonesome.

Then next morning I awoke at the weekend wakeup time of 11:00. Glorious glorious weekends! Unfortunately, my doorbell rang about 10 minutes later as I was sipping my coffee. Assuming it was just Casey forgetting his key, I answered the door all scruffy with morning hair. Oops...

“Good morning Mr. Casey's uncle! Sorry, I forgot your last name,” Adam gave a sheepish smile, “Is this a bad time?” he asked as he looked down at me. Damn, why must him and Casey both be taller than me? 5'10” is a perfectly acceptable height, and they had to go and ruin it by being 6'2”.

And how could I totally forgot Adam was coming over today and stupidly never bothered to ask what time! I cleared my throat, “Um, no no, now is fine. And you can just call me James! I'm not all that much older than you.” I kind of just stood there for a minutes until I felt a breeze. Oh shit, I forgot that I'm not wearing a shirt! I glanced at Adam and he was just smirking at me. When we made eye contact he obviously looked down at my bare chest and smiled. “Aren't you going to let me in?”

I stumbled out of the way “Of course! I'm sorry! I'm still waking up so I'm a little out of it. Would you like some coffee? It's still fresh.”

“Don't worry about it. Coffee would be great.”

“Ok, just wait here and I'll bring you come coffee and go get my laptop. Milk and sugar?”

“Black is fine.”

“Gotcha.” I hauled ass to my room, put on a shirt and grabbed my laptop, and started trying to smooth my dark brown hair. Wait, wait, what? Why do I care? I haven't cared what a guy thought of me since Jason. No no no no I will NOT think about that now. I will just go to the kitchen and get the coffee.

I brought everything to the living room and handed him the coffee. He gave a thanks, with a beaming smile that nearly stopped my heart. What. The. Hell.

“So what's the problem?” He asked while starting up my laptop.

“Poor Morgana just keeps turning off for no good reason! I'm worried every time that she just won't turn back on again.” I explained with a pout.

“Morgana? Nice name. I call mine Roxy. Let me just take a look. It might take a while so you can don't have to wait here if you have something else to do.” He named his too? That means I'm not a freak, right?

I went to shower and get dressed in real clothes and when I came back down he had news for me.

“Well, it looks like you have a nasty bug. It's a newer one, so it might take me a while to get rid of it, but I'm sure I can get it done. Can I stay here a little longer, or do you have somewhere to be?” He asked while stretching his arms and cracking his back. It took me a second before I realized I was staring where his shirt rode up a little. Uh oh. Not good. Definitely not good.

“You can stay here as long as it takes. I usually stay in on the weekends anyway.” I responded after he caught me looking at him. Oh god, why am I blushing? Must stop blushing!

“I heard from Casey that you're kind of a homebody. Why is that? I mean, you're still young, successful, and if you don't mind me saying, quite attractive. You should get out more!” Adam said with a genuinely perplexed expression.

“I just don't like going out. And I don't feel like dating. I had a terrible relationship in the past, and now I'm happy on my own.” My simple answer. Even Casey doesn't know all of the facts, and I will not talk about it to other people.

“But,”

“Would you like some lunch?” I interrupted. “There isn't much food here, but I can order a pizza.”

He obviously caught on to my attempt to avoid further questions. And like the gentleman he is, he went along with it. “Yea ok, whatever topping is fine.”

Adam went back to working on Morgana, talking a short break when the pizza came. Feeling awkward about being in a different room when there is someone over, I decided to just stay in the living room and read a book.

I woke to someone shaking me, and immediately panicked and threw the arms off and curled into a tight ball to protect myself.
“James? James?! Whoa! Calm down! It's ok, I just wanted to wake you up, it's already 6.” Who? Oh it's just Adam. I must look like a freak.

“Sorry, you just startled me a bit. Did you want some dinner?” I answered while trying to calm my heart before it exploded from residual fear.

“That's ok, Casey is coming over with some groceries and we were going to make you dinner. Are you sure you're ok? That seemed like more than just being startled.” He seemed to realize he was still leaning over me and quickly stood up.

“I'm fine, I promise. Just a bad dream.” I assured him. Too bad it was more than that.

“Alright, well, I think your computer is fine now, but let me know if it acts up again and I'll come by.”

Adam is my new hero! “Thank you so much!! Since you were here all day, would $300 be good? More would be fine, I don't know what you usually charge.”

He held his hands out in a pacifying manner, “It's ok. This one is a freebie. I can't charge you, especially after all you've done for Casey!”

“But I know you need money, and that you don't have a job yet! Let me pay you, please, I can afford it.” What is his problem? I'm just trying to help!

“Seriously, don't worry. If you want, you can recommend me to other people, but I would feel like a dirtbag if I charged you. Plus, you paid for my lunch, so that's good enough.”

I ran my hands through my hair in exasperation. “Even if I write you a check, you won't cash it, right?” He smiled and nodded. Jerk. “Alright, fine. But I will make it up to you, I promise.”

“I'm sure you will.” He said with a wink. My mind froze. How in the world did he turn that into an innuendo? Luckily Casey came home in time for me to control my blush.