Hot Chocolate and Cookies

Sammy Reader:

"Hey Oliver," I say, smiling and giving him a big hug.

"Hey Sammy," Oliver replies, smiling back and giving me an even bigger hug.

Oliver Oakmen is my oldest and dearest friend. Practically growing up together, we always went to one another's special events, always cheering one another up when we really needed it, and even once were each other's date to a dance last year.

It's later in the day, around five in the evening I think. The yellow sun is now setting, turning a bright, burning orange color along with the sky. Oliver and I are meeting at Coco's Mountain, a local cafe where we often hang out to talk with one another or even just to see one another.

Coco's Moutain is a special cafe, one with a second story. On the first floor of Coco's are a bunch of green tables and chairs. The floor is covered in green and white titles and hanging above everything are lights covered in a transparent, green sphere. Located in the far back of the restaurant is the cash register, and near the cash register is the display case showcasing all of Coco's freshly-baked treats and the giant, gold-covered coffee machine responsible for making the coffee and hot chocolate everyone like. Near the side of the store, with the window that displays Coco's Mountain's logo, a mountain with a steaming cup of coffee on top, is a curved staircase leading to the second floor. The second floor of Coco is very different from the first. Instead of green tables and chairs, there is living room furniture, such as a sofa, cushioned chairs, and even a rug.

"Do you want to try for the second floor," Oliver asks while we wait in line.

"No," I reply with a shake of my head. "It's late in the day. Chances are it's already full of people. Let's grab some chairs outside. I could use some fresh air."

"Sure. You go and grab the seats. I'll wait here and order. Do you want anything specific?"

"Not really. Just some hot chocolate and cookies."

"Got it."

Oliver and I nod our heads before splitting ways. Luckily for me, I'm able to find an empty table with two chairs easily. While I secured our seats, Oliver comes out with two cups of hot chocolates and a box of cookies.

"So what's up," Oliver asks, dipping a chocolate-chip cookie into his hot chocolate and then taking a large bite. "You said you need my help with something."

"Yeah," I say, ignoring the cookies and just taking a sip of my drink. "I kind of do. You see, there are some problems at the company I'm working at right now."

"Working at," Oliver repeats with chocolate-covered teeth. "Wait, you mean Newman's Chemical? I thought you were only interning there. Since when did you actually start working there?"

"Working at," I say with a shake of my head. "Interning at, the point is, there a slight problem going on at Newman's Chemical, and I could really use your help."

"Sure. What's going on?"

"Listen, Oliver," I start, whispering and leaning in. "Chemicals at Newman's Chemicals have been going missing for a while now. Everyone thinks the chemicals have been stolen. Even Mr. Newman thinks so himself.

Oliver must have sensed things are getting serious. He stops drinking his hot chocolate and wipes his mouth.

"Anyway," I go on, "I want to know the chemicals are really being stolen, and if so, then by who. That's why I want to stake out the company tonight."

"What," Oliver shouts, almost knocking his drink over.

As he does that, people notices and starts to look at us.

"Sorry about that," Oliver says while laughing. "My fault! My fault. Sorry."

He clears his throat before whispering and leaning in.

"Sammy," he starts, "You cannot do this. This is insane. I mean, this is literally insane. There are no other words to describe this insane plan of yours."

"I know Oliver," I say, "But it's not like there's anything else we can do."

"Wait what," Oliver says, scouting back, the legs of his chairs scrapping against the sidewalk. "What do you mean by 'we'? Okay, for one, I never agree to help you in your evil scheme. Second, just go to the police. Tell them about this, and they can help."

He crosses his arms and looks me right in the eyes.

I let out a sigh before letting my hands catch my falling head.

"Sammy," Oliver says, "You can't do this."

"You've already said that," I say, lifting my head while letting my hands fall. "But Oliver, I can't just stand by and do nothing. The company needs me. Besides, talking to the polices will take too long. It's not like there's any solid evidence, and even if there is, it will still take too long. By the time the police start investigating, Mr. Newman could have already let 50 people go. Oliver, I can save those 50 people by doing this. We can save those 50 people."

Oliver just stares at me with a weird look. He doesn't say anything so I figure he trying to let everything sink in before figuring out what to say next. Wanting to give Oliver a minute or two, I sit back. During the minute or two, he drinks a lot of hot chocolate.

"Okay," he says after one large gulp. "I give it some thought."

"No kidding," I think, looking at the near-empty cup.

"And I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't, but okay. I'll help you."

He sighs and finishes the last of his hot chocolate. As soon as I hear the word help, I feel a burst of energy. I jump from my chair and give Oliver a massive hug.

"Thank you," I say, "Thank you! Thank you! Ah, I knew I could count on you!"

Oliver Oakmen:

As Sammy hugs me and screams, I see the people around us turning toward us. Even a few people inside have taken notice.

"Nothing to see here," I say. "Nothing to see here. Okay. Okay. Okay. Sammy, this is starting to get embarrassing. Get off of me. Seriously, get off of me."

I pry Sammy off of me and tell her to sit back down.

"Thank you," she says again.

"Don't thank me yet," I say. "Before we can do this, there's something we need to talk about."

"Oh, really. What's that?"

"We need to change."

"Change," Sammy repeats.

"Yes, change. We're not exactly wearing the right clothing for a late-night stakeout."

As soon as I finish talking, Sammy looks down at what she's wearing. Meanwhile, I look down at what I'm wearing: a light-blue, loose-fitting, short-sleeve shirt with a pair of sand-color work shorts.

"As I said, these aren't exactly the right clothing. If we're really going to do this, and I mean really, really going to do this, then we need to change first."

"Yeah, okay," Sammy says with a nod of her head.

Quickly finishing our drinks and cookies, we throw away the empty cups and trays and head for my mustang. I drop Sammy off at her house before driving to mine. Heading inside, I grab my backpack and empty it out of notebooks and other school supplies. I then replace them with some bottles of water and a few candy bars. Looking through my closet, I pick out the darkest jackets and pants I have before getting in my car and driving back to Sammy's.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," I think as I drive.