He was in absolute bliss. The warmth beneath the blanket combined with his girlfriends’ warmth was just perfect for such a cold morning. It was half past six, he still had half an hour before his alarm would go off, and he had to get up. It was quite unusual for him to wake up on his own, but from time to time it would happen. And every time it happens, he would stay in bed and enjoy the quit morning, careful as to not wake her up. He would lay there for half an hour and do nothing.
Or so it would have been, if he didn’t have to wake her up today. But today was an important day, one he could afford to waste even one minute. So, he crawled slowly out of the bed to make coffee, shower, get dressed and to go over all his important learning materials. He had promised to meet a few friends before the lecture would start, to have a small study group, so that they would be able to catch up.
Normally he wouldn’t have bothered with a study group, especially this early in the morning, but he had to acknowledge that even he had trouble with keeping up lately.
So, he agreed to join them, and now he has to meet them at 8am in the library. What a pain that was. Today was supposed to be one of his less stressful days, with only two lectures, both in the afternoon, and that’s it. But no, they all had to insist on meeting the day before the lecture, which meant that his day just got a lot more cramped. At least he had a little time after the group session, so that he could catch his breath a little. But he still had to wake up early, and that’s what pissed him off the most. He already had a messed up sleeping schedule, trouble with falling asleep and an incredibly bad sleep, because he would wake up every two hours for no particular reason and has trouble with falling asleep again, that he was happy for every minute of sleep that he could get. The only silver lining was that, since he and his girlfriend got together, he slept better than he used to. Not a lot, but better, nothing the less.
Besides, he should count himself lucky, because someone in the group, Julius, that little annoying idiot, even wanted them all to meet up at 6am in order to go through the whole semester. It was only through some persuasion, threatening that he wouldn’t come, and his natural charm, that they all agreed to meet up later.
And the fact that no one wanted to learn at six o’clock.
He still couldn’t understand why they even invited that annoyance. Sure he had good grades, but he also was very, very, annoying, slimy and, most of all, a bootlicker. Alone the thought of him almost managed to ruin his morning. But only almost, because he knew that after the day is over, his girlfriend would have a few days off, and they could enjoy some quality time together. It has already been a few weeks since they last did something together, and he couldn’t wait to relax together with her.
While he was thinking about the coming days, he put on some coffee and headed into the shower.
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After his shower he went back into the kitchen to drink a coffee and eat breakfast.
His had a, like always, a coffee with two spoons of sugar and no milk, while he ate a croissant, which he brought a yesterday.
His girlfriend joined him shortly after.
She pouted herself a cup of coffee, took a toast, and took the seat opposite to him.
“Morning Sunshine, had a good sleep?” he said.
“Uhhmmmm… yes, su…yawn… re, like a baby. Never slept better.” She answered, still a little bit drowsy. “Why are you up? Aren’t the lectures in the afternoon?”
“I’m going to help a few friends study, so that they won’t fall behind in classes.” He said.
“Oh right, you mentioned something like that yesterday. “She said while drinking from her still hot coffee. ”Never thought I would see the day where you would ask for help with your studies.”
“Now wait a second there. Who said anything about me needing help? I…” was how he began before he was cut short by the glare of his girlfriend. “Yeah, ok. I admit it; I need help with my studies. Laugh all you want, mock me and scorn me and….. and…. Dammit, I am still too sleepy to finish the joke. I get back to you later.”
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“Sure, whatever.” Was all she said, before she took, again, a sip from here coffee.
After a short, calm, moment Steve started the conversation again. “How can you drink the coffee while it is still this hot? I mean seriously, I have my coffee since at least 10 minutes and I haven’t managed to take a sip. And yet here you are drinking yours like its some sort of soft drink.”
“It isn’t that hot; besides, coffee only tastes somewhat good when it is still hot.”
“Yeah, I totally agree and all of that, but I don’t want to have second degree burnings, especially in on my tongue.”
“Now you exaggerate, it isn’t hot enough to do that.” she said while rolling her eyes. A short while later she continued. “By the way, what are the plans for the next few days?”
Trying to sound as confused as possible, he asked “What do you mean?”
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After long seconds of silence, he finally couldn’t take it anymore “Ahhhhh, you really don’t let me talk bullshit anymore, you know that?”
“Nah, that’s not true. I even join in from time to time. I am just too tired to play along lately. But can I take it that you have something on your mind that you want to do?” she said between her bites.
“Wait, you were serious when you said that I could plan alone.” He answered surprised.
“Of course. So, again, what are we going to do?”
“Well, now that I can decide it is quite obvious, we…” before he could even begin to reveal his carefully crafted plan, he was interrupted by his all so loving girlfriend.
“No walking aimlessly in the city...” he wanted to ague but, “I wasn’t…” again, he was cut off midway before he could defend himself, “…And no bar tour”.
“… Are you done?” he asked a little bit annoyed.
”I just wanted to say.” She answered with a small grin on her face.
“Sure, yeah, whatever. Now to what I had actually in mind. You know that restaurant that opened just a few months back? I have a friend who works there and he said that he can get me, and another person, a table.” “Really?” she asked perplex “isn’t it really hard to get a reservation? I heard you have to reserve at least a month before to get a place.”
“I’m serious, he said so just last week. And since we haven’t been able to enjoy our alone time, and I thought we could celebrate your first days off with a little extravagance. What do you say?”
She eyed him suspiciously, not believing one word he said. “This isn’t one of your jokes where you raise expectations, only to crush them a few minutes later, right?”
“No, I am 100% serious.” He answered back while raising both his hands at shoulder height, to demonstrate his sincerity.
“And I can really trust you on this? This isn’t going to turn out like last time, where you wanted to play a prank, right?” “Yes, and no, it won’t turn out like that time, besides, it was only once and I nearly managed to get ticket for the band. Anyway, while you were reminding me of my once in a lifetime mistake, I have already sent him a message and asked.
Annnnnd here is the reply.”
She raised her eyebrow in question and asked. “And? What did he reply?”
“All green. We have a table. Friday 9pm, windows.” Steve said, beaming from ear to ear, not wanting to raise any suspicion.
“… You are lying, aren’t you?”
“… no.”
“Hahhhh, why do I still believe your bullshit?”
“Oh, come on, what gave me away?”
“I know you too good to fall for your jokes. Besides, every time you pull this kind of stupid joke, you start to overact and give yourself away.” she said, giving him her typical smile of satisfaction, she got every time she could call out his bullshit.
Letting go of his, how she put it overacted, smile he continued. “Ok, I was lying about the connections part, but we really have a table. Friday, 9pm, Window seat.”
“So, you did have a plan? Couldn’t you have just said so?”
“Could have, didn’t want to. Funnier that way.”
“Hahhh, I should have guessed that that was the answer. Not to sound ungrateful, but why didn’t you ask me before you placed a reservation? What if I had something planned that day?”
He shrunk a little bit back,” Truth be told, I hadn’t thought about that, I just assumed that you wouldn’t make any plans. And look, I was right; you didn’t make any other plans. Or did you?”
Once again, she let out a sigh,” You are lucky that I really don’t have anything planned for the weekend. But next time inform me before you make plans, especially if they involve me.”
“Well, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if you knew where we are going.” Steve tried to justify himself.
“You can at least tell me when you plan to do something, so that I can keep my schedule open.”
“Ok.” He sulked “Why do I always feel like a little kid when we ague like this? Like seriously, I could swear I regress mentally, every time you point out one of my mistakes.”
“Maybe because you are a child, just in the body of an adult.”
“That can’t be; I am at least a teen in the body of an adult.”
“…Don’t you have to get going soon?”
“What?”
“The study group?”
“Fuck, you are right. I nearly forgot, thanks.” Startled he sprung up from his chair, ate the rest of his croissant, gulped down his coffee and gave his girlfriend a kiss. “Love you Jen, see you later.”
“Love you too, have a good day.”
With this he ran towards the door slipped into his shoes, grabbed his green overcoat and left his lovely home/flat.