My mission

After AP English, I didn't see Matt Harper again.

Where he had disappeared off to, I don't know. But what I do know, is that I'm determined to find wherever he is and question his disappearance.

Now during lunch break, I decide to go where I found him last.

Behind the field.

"Hey Alex you coming for lunch or what?!" Mia asks as I head towards the opposite direction of the cafeteria.

"I'll meet you there!" I shout. "Just have to do something first." I whisper to myself.

I got to the field and he wasn't there. That's odd because that's where he usually comes to smoke everyday.

I walked back into the school and directly to the boys toilet.

He isn't there either.

A couple of girls were giving me odd looks as I came out but I just ignored them.

I finally walk back to the classroom as I forgot my bag there and when I entered, I saw Matt Harper sleeping by his chair. His head was on his table so I couldn't see his face.

I walked right to him and stopped in front of him

"What do you want Dalton?" Came his gruff voice.

what?

"How'd you know it was me?" I fold my hands together and he puts his head up.

His hair is rough like he put his hands through them a lot, his blue eyes darker than usual, his face tired, and he looked like he hasn't slept in days.

"It's only you that has the guts to come near me."

"Really?" I asked shocked.

"What do you want?" He asks again but this time, a little harsh.

"What happened?"

"With what?"

"Where were you? You didn't come to school for weeks, you-"

"I didn't know I had to tell you my whereabouts " He interuppts me.

"It's not about you telling me, it's about me getting worried about your absence-"

"No one told you to worry about me."

"Excuse me?"

"Dalton, I didn't tell you to fuss over me or worry about me or even talk to me."

"You make me worry! No matter how, you just do. I don't know what's it about you that worries me, but I just can't worry about someone who-"

"If you know you don't want to worry about me, " He stands "Then just stay out of it." He says coldly, then walks past me.

I'm just going to pretend that didn't happen.

I take a deep breath before I turn to look at him.

"Is it true? Is it me?" I ask and he stops right at the door.

"What's it this time?" He says with a sigh.

"Am I your coffee? Is that why you are avoiding me?" I ask in a rush.

He finally turns to me with a confused look.

"Wha-"

"The last time, you said you have had too much coffee and you are addicted to it."

"So?" He cocks an eyebrow.

"You said you had to get away from it. That's how you can get over it." I pause. "Is it me? Are you addicted to me? Is that why you are avoiding me?"

He stayed quiet for a while looking at me as if he was reading me.

"And if I say yes?" He finally says and I shake my head.

"I don't want to be your coffee." I pause. I was expecting to see confusion, shock, rage, or any kind of reaction on his face but it remained blank so I continued.

"It isn't." He says and turns to open the door but I stop him.

"You once said your coffee represents your life. Well, I don't want it."

He stops again and looks up as if saying a silent prayer before turning to me.

"And?" He questions.

"I want to be the cream to your coffee." This time, I did see a reaction on his face.

Amusement.

"What?" He asks.

"I want to be the one that sweetens your bitter life." I pause. "I want to make your coffee creamy."

He doesn't say anything for a while and he just stares at me.

What I thought was amusement vanished in an instant leaving a cold looking Matt glaring at me.

"Thank you very much, but I think I like my coffee the way it is." He says and walks out.

"Damn it!!" I grunt immediately the door slams shut.

I sigh and sit down on the nearest chair.

Just because he said no doesn't mean I'd stop. In fact, this was rarely the beginning.

I'm Alexis Dalton.

No one can avoid me for that long.

...

"So you told him that?" Mia asks shocked.

After school, I decided to tell Mia about all that happened.

"Yeah."

"What did he say?" She asks again.

"He said he likes his coffee just the way it is."

"Really?"

"Yeah." We were on our way home. Alec was trailing behind us with his best friend Henry.

"So you're just going to give up?" She asks and I scoff.

"Don't you know me? I'm Alexis Dalton. He can avoid me all he wants, but that doesn't mean I will."

"I know you Alex, and I also know Matt Harper. He's not like other guys you know. Other guys wants your attention, this guy avoids it. He likes to be by himself and hates attention. And besides, he's a cold hearted boy. His glare could literally kill you."

"And that's what intrigues me. I want to see what's beneath all that coldness."

"What if it's more coldness?"

"We'll just have to find out."

"Do you like him?" She suddenly asks and I shrug.

"I find him attractive if that's what you mean."

"He is a walking hot demon." She agrees.

"See?" I point out. "And again, he challenges me. Something about him challenges me. And you know I love myself a good challenge."

"Oh don't I?" She breathes out.

"Just call it a-" I search for the right word. "A mission. My mission. Just say, it's my mission to find out more about Matt Harper. To see what's really beneath his cold attitude and the reason behind it."

"Only you Alexis, only you."

"I know right. Besides, don't you want to know what's making him harsh or cold?" I gently push her.

"Actually, no I don't. Because I do not want to get murdered early. What if he's a murderer, or a serial killer? And anyone who gets close to him also gets on his kill-list?" I shake my head at her wild imagination.

"C'mon Mia don't be like that." I say as I kick a nearby stone away.

"It could be true!" She argues.

"Just let loose okay? C'mon, a serial killer? Seriously?"

"Don't question my imagination." She warns and I laugh.

We get to my house and I open up for us to enter.

"You want something to drink?" I ask Jane as I walk to the kitchen.

"A glass of water maybe." She replies.

"Come get it yourself!" I shout and she glares as she walks in.

"Prick."

"I love you too." I laugh.

Alec comes in, gets a box of juice and walks upstairs but not before ruffling my hair.

"Hey little sis."

"Fuck off." I smack his hand away and he laughs.

"Hey Alex, Mia." Henry greets us.

"Hi"

"Hey." We both say at the same time.

"So does he know?" I ask Mia as soon as they left the kitchen.

"What do you mean?" She takes a sip from her water.

"Does my brother know you like him?"

She spits out the water in her mouth and looks at me shocked.

"What?" I ask her.

"How did you know?"

"C'mon it's obvious. The way you look at him, the way your eyes light up when you talk about him, and the other day, you asked me about how I'd feel if you dated him."

"I didn't know you noticed." She sets her glass down.

"I do. Now does he know?"

"He doesn't. I can't tell him."

"Why?"

"I'm scared I'll be rejected."

Oh.

"Listen, my brother may be a dick sometimes, he may be stupid sometimes but he'd be a total asshole if he rejects you."

She chuckles.

"I mean c'mon! Look at you! I could literally turn gay for you!"

"But you have your eyes on someone else." She points out.

"Unfortunately. But you get my point. You are a goddess okay?" I pause. "And if the asshead does reject you, I'd chop his dick off."

"You sound like you don't like him."

"He really pisses me off." I say. "But he's not the only guy out there. There other guys out there who would love to date you."

"But he's the one I want." She mutters.

"I'm sure he is but you just have to let go."

"You're talking as if he has already rejected me." She chuckles nervously.

"No no no. Shoot your shot darling. Let's see if he's dumb enough to miss it."

"Thanks." She smiles.

"You could also date me if it doesn't work out." I suggest

"You wish." She rolls her eyes.

"I know you want to but no worries." I move close to her and whisper. "I'm here if you want a quickie."

"Fuck off."

"Yeah, I know you want to." I wink at her and she laughs.

"Yeah yeah."

"C'mon. Let's go brainstorm on our homework."

"After you m'lady." She gestures with her hand and we both walk out of the kitchen.