When I arrived at the

cafe

, my mystery date wasn't there. I mean maybe she was, but she never approached me. I stood around flipping between checking my phone and examining the guests, until eventually I grew anxious about loitering in the cafe without buying anything. It didn't look like the barista cared all that much, but I personally hold myself to these weird standards. Don't like going to a cafe and not buying at least a

coffee

.

Usually six was too late for caffeine, but with tonight's formal I wasn't planning on adhering to the normal rules. "A coffee, please," I said to the barista who was reading a book about the

Creative Class

. He looked up slowly, like he was stuck in mud. Suddenly I changed my mind about the coffee. I remembered that Shawn had a bunch of

Red Bull

at his place. Plus I didn't want to yellow my teeth before the dance.

Instead I got an Italian Soda. I didn't even sit down to enjoy it, I was going to take it to go while walking to Shawn's when I heard someone behind me while I was grabbing a plastic straw.

"Soren? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting ready for the formal?"