Coffee Break (Part 3)

             Two months into her first semester, Ceta found herself more lost than she’d been on her first day of class. In the library that evening, she switched back and forth between more than 200 pages of reading assignments, trying to regain her rapidly declining attention. Letters blurred together. She blinked repeatedly trying to clear them. ​

          Occasionally, the elevator hummed in the background and dinged upon arrival. Whenever she heard it, Ceta stopped reading, welcoming the short distraction. Throughout the evening, she broke focus several times to see strangers lugging heavy backpacks, filtering into the back of the library. But eventually, noises faded into the background and she stopped checking.    
 
            “Yooo!” a voice called out.
 
           Ceta looked up to see Que approaching wearing loose fitting shorts and a neon, Nike t-shirt he refused to get rid of. 
 
            “Shh!” whispered Ceta, putting her finger to her lips with a smirk. Que hunched his shoulders and placed his hand over his mouth as if to hide his otherwise ostentatious presence. 
 
            “How was class?” asked Ceta putting down her highlighter and crossing her arms. 
 
            “It was straight,” said Que, eyebrows raised. “uh huh, you thought, I wasn’t gonna make it tonight, but I told you, I’m getting it together,” he said placing his hand over his heart.
 
            “What you working on, counselor?” he asked with his hands rested under his chin, elbows on the two-toned, wooden table. 
 
            “Same stuff every time, outlining my life away,” said Ceta checking her wristwatch. Actually, you’re just in time for my break,” she said.
 
            “Good, ‘cause I need a cigarette.” responded Que. Ceta gathered a small pocketbook and a lanyard, leaving the rest of her items sprawled across the table. 
 
            Once outside, they sat on large grey cement blocks behind the somewhat gothic building, the only area on campus with any greenery in an otherwise barren landscape. Together they watched neighborhood teens skateboarding through campus. Moths colonized underneath the lamp posts. Que lit his cigarette, breaking their silence with the gentle flick of his lighter.
 
            Doesn’t that ruin your palette?” Ceta asked swatting her hand frantically in front of her face. 
 
            “If it’s ruined, I’m in good company.” He swung his feet back and forth, taking a drag, careful to blow it away from where they sat. 
 
            “So, can I retain you as counsel yet?” he asked roughly massaging her shoulders. 
 
            “Not even close, but it’s fine,” she said with a tired smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. 
 
            “That’s it? Thought you’d have more to say than that. Sounded way more exciting a couple months ago. You barely talk about it at all anymore…it’s kinda weird.” he said. 
 
            “It’s just… a lot of work, and I’m trying to catch up. Doesn’t feel possible, but…” Ceta’s voice trailed off as she shrugged her shoulders unsure of whether to continue. 
 
            “You got this, you’re smart,” he said as he grabbed her tightly for a hug and kissed her forehead. Ceta nuzzled into his chest smiling and nodded. 
 
            “I gotta ask you for a favor,” said Que, arms still wrapping Ceta in captivity. “I need you to watch Mikey this Friday. I took over Jennifer’s shift, so I’ll be closing, and my mom got plans.”
 
            “Oh? What’s she up to?” asked Ceta. Que gave her an irritated stare with his mouth twisted. Ceta decided not to press further. 
 
            “I didn’t mean to spring this on you; I know you’re busy. But Ms. Sandra hasn’t been feeling well, and I don’t trust anybody else,” he said.
 
            Ceta contemplated all the readings she had yet to start and breathed heavily, closing her eyes. 
 
            “Fine…I’ll watch him. That is, if he doesn’t mind being totally ignored for a few hours while I study.”
 
            “Make him work on his vocabulary list, that’s good enough for me. Thank you,” he said elongating his last word. “I promise this is a one-time thing,” he finished before taking another drag of his cigarette.  
 
            In the distance, Ceta heard her name being called. She squinted to see Xandria waiving Ceta down with Gregg trailing behind. 
 
            “Ceta! We didn’t know you were here. You should join us, we got a study room, 288C,” Xandria shouted as she approached, Gregg nodded in agreement. They both appeared strangely congenial considering that they’d given her a mere tight-lipped smile and a head nod just hours earlier in the café. Ceta hesitated and looked to Que who shooed her on in approval. 
 
            “Nah, it’s fine. I really gotta focus. I’m behind ----”
 
            “We all are,” Gregg interrupted. “Come on, we got some 2L outlines,” he motioned for her. “Your friend is welcome too, what’s your name?” he asked smiling at Que widely. Que introduced himself between puffs. 
 
            “I’ll be up in a minute,” said Ceta smiling sweetly. 
 
            Satisfied with their persuasiveness, Xandria and Gregg crossed through the other side of the courtyard murmuring amongst themselves in the direction of the library. 
 
            “Here I am thinking you’re working hard, and look at you ---- a social butterfly,” Que said standing to rub his cigarette on the pavement before tucking it behind his ear. 
 
            “Yeah, right,” said Ceta, shortening the distance between their bodies. “Those are not my friends. They barely like each other. They must think you’re cute or something,” she said smiling. Que laughed and shook his head, wrapping his slender arms around her waist. 
 
            “why bother with 'em then?” he asked.
 
            “You heard them ---- outlines.”