Caffeine never hurt anyone(Ricardo)

[Whitney Marshall]

Whitney groaned as she rolled over in her bed and the bright light from the sun hit her face. She had forgotten to close the blind again and now the beams from the sun were giving her a headache. Well she couldn't really blame her headache on the sun, she could mostly blame it on the alcohol she had the night before. She reached her arm over her head and grabbed the alarm clock off her night stand. 1:47. It was already 1:47 and she was still in bed. Its not like she had any plans for the day though so what did she care?

After laying in bed for a while trying to get rid of the horrible pain that was in her head she decided just laying there wasn't going to help. She slowly pushed her blankets off her and walked down the hall to the bathroom. After taking a 25 minute shower she brushed her teeth and walked back down the hall. She quickly stopped in Paige's room to see if she was there, but not to her surprise she wasn't. Her parents were probably at work which meant she was home alone. Well there was always Eileen, the maid.

Whitney took aPair of Jeans out of her closet and put it on. It was one of the little things she owned that was not designer. She put on a pair yellow flip flops that matched her shirt and looked at herself in her full length mirror. UGH, she really needed some make up, but didn't want to put any on. She grabbed her eyeliner and her mascara off her dresser and applied some. That was good enough.

Whitney walked into her Kitchen as she pulled her hair up into a pony tail letting the shorter strands fall around her face. She opened up her refrigerator only to find uncooked food. "Damn." she said to herself as she shut the door. She was in no mood to make something so she decided she would go hungry. She grabbed some money off the counter and shoved it into her purse as she headed out the door.

Whitney walked into Java Jazz and as she walked into the coffee place she put her sunglasses on her head. She walked towards the register and ordered her usually, a carmel machiatto. She took a 20 out of her coach purse and got her change and drink and then headed towards a table in the back. She usually liked to be alone while she was drinking her coffee, but lately she had been spending a lot of time alone and she really wouldnt mind some company. Actually she would love some company.

[Ricardo Moore.]

Coffee. The world’s most substantial, succulent drink in the world – well, perhaps to the people lounging in the Java Jazz, that is. The atmosphere presented in the shop happened to be one of the more relaxing atmospheres in the city to date. The smell of coffee wafted in every which way the air would allow it to go. The chairs, tables, couches, and lounging chairs were placed significantly for ones pleasure; the Starbucks feel wasn’t present tonight. A group of kids encircled a table in the far corner of the coffee shop, each leaning over the other to catch a glimpse of the younger boy’s laptop.

A line had sullenly formed – it seemed – over night and many were impatiently tapping their feet awaiting their luscious and most precious coffee. Where they were heading was only a mystery; a mystery many would try blatantly to solve in their head, but never speak a word. It appeared everyone had some place to be, a posse to antagonize or a purpose of being there; however, he had no principle at all. He wasn’t even positive he had a purpose in life as of late. Ricardo happened to find himself crossing the threshold into another world that didn’t as much as beckon, but welcomed him warmly.

He sat with his legs uncrossed and stretched bordering on widely open. An arm rested serenely on the arm rest of one of the lounging chairs and another rested on his leg; digits drummed impatiently on his leg. His cerulean hues bore intently into the posse seated across from him; neither eye wavering nor did the lids blink. The posse intrigued him so for whatever reason that was not his own. A perplexed smirk played dangerously at the corners of his fine mouth as his own mind wordlessly condemned them to whatever hell he felt they should grace with their presence.

A young girl appeared almost suddenly placing a small cup of coffee on the table, her fixation directed towards Ricardo, but he paid the woman no mind. As she began to leave, Ricardo shot his hand forward, digits wrapping around her wrist and with his gaze never leaving the posse he said, “Thank you,” and released her arm. He felt the need to thank the young woman for he felt sympathy towards her; any other night he would willingly have flirted with her, and he assumed that’s precisely the reason she brought him his coffee. The hypothesis for this sort of assumption could only be proven because no other customer in the coffee shop was receiving the treatment Ricardo was.

As his thoughts consumed him, he felt a presence beside him and with a casual glance found the young woman had never left him and was now clearing her throat for his attention. Women… he thought as he unwillingly turned his attention the woman. She smiled sheepishly down at him and twirled a piece of platinum blonde hair in her finger. Perhaps she’s mute, his thoughts continued as he patiently and politely stared back at her. Or perhaps… and in that moment, Ricardo pushed himself from the chair and gathered the girl in his embrace, cupping her chin with his large hand and smiled down at her. After a moment of holding her like this, he waited for no reply, bent down and whispered softly in her ear, “I’m dangerous, love. Be careful.”

He released her and let out a malicious chuckle to prove his point only to let his smile fall into a smirk as he watched the dumb bimbo retreat to her safety. “That’s what you get, love, for interrupting my observing hour,” he snorted at her clearly aware she couldn’t possibly hear him; but nevertheless, he returned his faithful gaze back to the posse of boys, daring anyone to come along and bother him again.

[Whitney Marshall]

Whitney sat staring off into space, playing with the now empty coffee cup. Her life couldn't possibly be more screwed up at the moment. She and her parents weren't getting along very well at the moment, but that wasn't anything new. They never got along. Her mother was always telling her to do better in school and she hadn't talked to her father since last Christmas. Then there was her Step-dad. Well lets just say that Whitney hated the guys guts. Then there was the whole Austin thing. She hated the fact that she was dwelling on Austin. She told herself she wasn't going to. But she couldn't help it. They had been together all through high school and now after four years they were done.

Whitney was trying to move on. She was trying to get over Austin as best as she could. And getting over someone for her meant going to a club every night, getting totally wasted and then hooking up with some random guy who had no self pride. Thats exactly what she had been doing for the past week. To tell you the truth it was getting a little old. But for some reason getting totally drunk and having meaningless sex helped her heal.

Whitney finally came out of her gaze and scanned the coffee shop. She saw a group of boys around another boy who had a lap top. She never knew why people came to coffee shops to do work or write or whatever people did on their lap tops when they brought them to a coffee shop. Why couldn't you just do that stuff at your own house? Why did you need to bring it to a coffee shop? It was just weird. Whitney moved her eyes from the group of boys and spotted someone she knew very well. Ricardo Moore.

Ahhh Ricardo Moore. He had to be one of Whitney's best guy friends. They met way back in middle school and have been friends ever since. Somewhere along the way Whitney started to develop feelings for the guy, but she never told anyone because of Austin. But now that she and Austin were done....Whitney watched him as some girl brought him a cup of coffee. Obviously the girl wanted to do a little flirting and thats why she bought him coffee. Were people really that desperate to get with a guy that they would buy him some coffee. She found it a little ridiculous as she watched him flirt with a different girl. Whitney decided that she wanted to join in on the fun. She got up and walked over to the counter. "Hi, can you give that guy over there." she said pointing to Ricardo "Some coffee. Give him anything that you think a guy would like." She said as she took ten dollars out of her purse and handed it to the girl behind the counter. "And make sure you tell him its from me." she said with a smile as she walked back to her seat. She smiled to herself as the girl behind the counter brought a cup of coffee out and set it at the table where Ricardo was sitting. She watched as the lady explained that a girl had bought the beverage for him and pointed over at Whitney, showing him who it was that had bought it.

[Ricardo Moore.]

The boy wasn’t oblivious to much; however, it may seem as if he was what with his current situation staring down a pack of hooligans, but never under estimate the odd and awkward. Ricardo, in fact, had ears with such a keen sense of hearing it flabbergasted even himself. Oh, the things he heard that weren’t meant for his ears. He chuckled quietly to himself as he listened to the woman at the register and how sardonic she sounded whilst keeping a calm demeanor.

At least she has composure, he thought to himself as a hand reached beside and picked up the coffee. “Ah, black coffee,” he mused to himself and turned to get a glance of the young female who only wanted what he did not. He fingered the cup gently in his hand and a cynical smirk became plastered on his features. No denying it now: the girl was attractive, and he was assured she knew it as well; however, the difference between the mute blonde and the derisive female presented before him now was the kick of spice she had in her.

Standing, he took long, yet slow strides in her direction; his attention on the hooligans was lost now, perhaps he could blame it on the young woman, but how well would that go over? He felt no remorse whatsoever blowing off the bimbo blonde for this young lady apparently needed the black coffee, even looked the part as well.

Sliding up to her, the smirk vanished into a smile, and suavely he spoke, “I believe this is yours,” he said waving his free hand in front of the cup of coffee as if he was Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune. He glanced at the synthetic cup before gazing back at the girl. “You look like the type of girl who gambles for a black cup off coffee. No sugar essential,” he added, speaking the last three words slowly, lacing them with a debonair type accent. Grinning, Ricardo stole a seat across from Whitney and slid the cup her way, “I should be the one buying you stuff. What’s up?”

[Whitney Marshall]

After Whitney had her fun she watched Ricardo as he talked to more girls. He sure was the ladies man. Why was she always attracted to guy like that? First Austin, now Ricardo. Of coarse she didnt really know if Ricardo had ever been in a serious relationship before. Maybe he could be a ladies man and commit to someone without hurting them, unlike Austin. Whitney was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Ricardo and watched him as he sat across from her. “I should be the one buying you stuff.” Whitney smiled at him. "Hey, do i look that desperate that you think that you should be the one buying me things?" Maybe she did look desperate, because well she was. She wanted a boyfriend so bad. Someone that would just love her and care for her. But isnt that what everyone wants? Someone to love them. She wasnt saying that Ricardo was the one, but he did have boyfriend potential. And boyfriend potential was a good thing a very good thing.

"Whats Up?" Whitney let out a small laugh at this statement. She really didnt think that he would want to hear her whole entire sob story. "Not much. I couldnt get a hold of Katherine and Austin and i arent together anymore so i thought i would come and hang out here. How about you?" She was so glad that Ricardo was here because she really didnt like to hang out by herself. Whitney was the type of person who was always talking. She always needed someone to talk to. And when you are alone you cant talk. Well you could but that would just be weird.

[Ricardo Moore.]

The male hadn’t been speaking about his should be actions because of the expression of desperation that adorned Whitney’s features, but if that’s what she wanted to go for than sure. In reality, Ricardo was just referring to common etiquette and what not. Though his parents were rarely around now a days, they had been when he was younger and during those years they’d focused most of their attention to raising a decent child; one who knew what to say, how to act, and of course how to treat women. “Well, I can’t let a beautiful woman such as yourself come out of pocket, now can I?” The inquiry was of the rhetorical sort, but Ricardo paused in order to give her an answer before he continued on, “Now what kind of man would that make me look like?” He cued a brow at the second question and then shook his head as if the very idea of it all had been crazy talk.

His expression returned to solemn as Whitney began to continue on. Ricardo somehow managed to block out the small buzz of chatter that had suddenly risen around him, whilst casting aside the various thoughts that had been wafting around through that head of his. Total attention upon Whit, Ricky leaned across the table in order to close some of the gap that lay between them. Elbows upon the smooth surface before him, the senior mainly nodded as she spoke, taking in every unsaid detail, “My day just got better.” No, he wasn’t speaking of her misfortune about the break-up with Austin, but about the fact that she’d just made a guest appearance within the café. Ricardo nodded knowingly, sending both his condolences and overall sympathy with a simple movement of his head and neck. “Do you actually enjoy being single?”