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Storm in a Cup of Coffee

Page 6

by Keren Or


  And all that... captivated her.

  However... every time Alex turned in her direction, Eli immediately looked down, pretending to be reading some synopsis with great interest.

  Suddenly, a young, attractive woman entered the store, asking about a book and stayed for a while talking to Alex. Eli could not hear the exchange of words, but she could note the body language of that “sassy” woman. The way she smiled at him, moving her hair from side to side, or the way she leaned over the counter, showing her breasts and displaying her assets...

  Feeling uncomfortable and superfluous, Eli tried to disappear, although at least the unpleasant situation made her understand that if she wanted Alex to notice her... she would urgently need an extreme change in look.

  Despite having turned her fifteen... Eli still looked like a child. Her wavy hair was half-pulled back, her pale face was covered with freckles from summer and the sun, her simple dress had no style: jeans, slippers, and a loose, unfeminine blouse.

  Suddenly... Eli realized something: with that careless and childlike appearance, nobody would notice her...

  No one... like Alex...

  And remembering that her mother was just then getting her hair done at the hairdresser next door, she took the opportunity to go and beg her, with determination, for a little understanding, pity, a haircut and to straighten her hair, over and over again until she surrendered. Of course... the excuse for the strange request was none other than the return to classes...

  In short... there was no time to lose and thanks to the persuasive help of the “disinterested” hairdresser, her mother finally agreed... and on the way home, she even bought her a few new clothes to complete her image as an instant adult.

  That same night, before going to sleep, Eli modelled her entire wardrobe in front of the mirror. Selecting garment by garment, she stacked everything she was throwing away in the middle of the room... getting rid of the old, worn and old-fashioned and making room for the new and the little that was being saved...

  Looking at herself with satisfaction, she admired her recently straightened hair falling over her bare shoulders, almost long enough to cover them. Her new, modern bangs gave her a special touch. Various accessories added color to her pale appearance. All in all, her improved version was... not at all bad.

  And Eileen never knew about the real purpose and the real reason for the strange request and the sudden change.

  “Wow!” said Alex in astonishment, watching her come in from his position behind the counter.

  Eli looked... delicately beautiful. Her loose, shiny hair brushed her bare shoulders. A white sleeveless blouse with little flowers was tied at her midriff, and a few centimeters below that her white jeans started, gently fitted to her sculpted waist. Finally, a pink lip gloss glow gave color to her tender lips, and a fresh, sweet scent followed her as she walked by.

  Her virginal and innocent image had left Alex... visibly stunned.

  “What a change!” he said, allowing himself to comment.

  “Ah... this... I’m going to an event...” replied Eli with her premeditated but harmless white lie. “I just came to return a movie and get another...,” she added, giving herself more time with him.

  “I like it...,” continued Alex, becoming more friendly than he should. “And do you have a name...?” he asked, showing interested in his only customer and empowered by not having anyone controlling him.

  “Eli... My name is Eli...”

  “And how old is Eli… if I may ask?”

  “Fifteen…,” she began to tremble with emotion.

  “And at fifteen… you already know what you want?”

  “No... could you recommend a good one?” replied Eli, thinking of the movies, unaware of the insinuations.

  “I could recommend many good things... but I do not think we’re talking about the same thing...” said Alex, laughing.

  Eli remained silent, feeling the blood burning her body on the inside, building up in her flushed face.

  “I don’t know what you’re referring to…”

  “Nothing.” Alex thought of leaving her alone, but quickly regretted it. “I’m only interested in knowing what young girls at your age want, that is... what do they do? Do they already do everything?”

  “I… don’t know,” Eli stammered.

  “You, for example... Would you go all the way?” continued Alex, without scruples, without compassion and apparently... with no brakes.

  Eli thought she was fainting... She could not believe all the outrageous things coming out of that man’s mouth; and because of her lack of experience in the matter, she also did not know how to respond. She had never talked about these subjects before, much less to a stranger over twenty, but at the same time his brazen attitude... made her excited.

  She liked Alex a lot, and for the first time... she felt repaid

  “Don’t ask me that, Alex... how embarrassing!” said Eli, praying for the earth to swallow her.

  “Relax, Eli... I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just that you look beautiful... and... I like women like you... pure and innocent...”

  On the other side of the counter, Eli smiled, looking at him in the eye and trembling more and more, when suddenly... she felt Alex’s masculine hand caressing hers.

  Frightened... she immediately pulled back her hand and was again paralyzed.

  She felt such confusion. On the one hand, she wanted to feel him... his caress, his skin... but on the other hand, what was happening made her hair stand on end. Unlike Alex, for Eli... everything was new.

  “Are you going out with anyone, Eli?” asked Alex, stroking her hand again.

  “No, not yet, and you?”

  “I’ve had a girlfriend... for a couple of years,” he replied in a neutral tone and with a brazen indifference.

  At that moment, Eli stopped understanding what was happening to her. How could it be that Alex could talk to her, look at her and touch her like that while having a girlfriend? When you love... you don’t do things like these, she thought. She wanted to ask him and get an explanation, but she did not have the courage to do so. She was very timid and insecure, and that whole conversation... was beyond her.

  “Saved by the bell,” she thought as the door to the store opened. Alex immediately let go of her hand, and making sure no one saw them, went to justify the salary he was being paid. Eli took the opportunity to say goodbye. Her movies could wait... First, she needed to sort out her thoughts and face her feelings about this new disappointment.

  Eli tossed and turned in bed, suffering from insomnia because of the excitement she had experienced with Alex. Her mind went over in detail what had happened that afternoon, and she thought about Alex... about how beautiful he was, about his eyes, about how he had looked at her, and about what he aroused in her when she felt his gaze. And after so much thinking... her eyes closed and her body relaxed.

  The next day classes began; a year full of activities was about to start. Eli would go back to the same school, the same friends and the same routine of a fifteen-year-old teenager. However... clearly... nothing would be the same.

  Rushing as she heard the bell, Eli left school that afternoon without waiting for anyone and without giving any explanation. The walk to the door of her building generally took fifteen minutes, but this time it took less than ten...

  Normally she had lunch alone, since Sofi had entered university, and therefore came home very late every day, and her mother was almost always late. However, that first day of school, her mother had arrived early from work and was waiting for her with the meal served. It was an unusual act that at any other time would have brightened her day, but not specifically that day... Her plans to scarf down something quickly and leave her house without having to answer anything to anyone did not work out. Eli had to resort to her creativity and invent a story to justify her goin
g out in the middle of the day dressed and made up as if she was going to a party.

  Fortunately... her mom was too tired and was about to take her siesta, so the explanations that Eli tried to sell her exhausted her and, in reality... she was not interested.

  On approaching the video store, Eli could see through the glass that Alex... was alone. Before opening the door, she fixed her hair and pulled down her dress, trying to cover more of her legs.

  On hearing the doorbell, Alex looked up and Eli tried to figure out his expression. He seemed surprised to see her, but at the same time... happy. His charming smile said it all...

  “I thought you wouldn’t come back... after escaping so fast the last time...,” said the king of the cunning.

  “I came back because my sister asked me to get a movie...,” fibbed Eli, finding a logical but tired excuse.

  Obviously checking out her legs, he said, “You look very nice in that dress...” His brazen attitude immediately excited her once again. “Turn around...,” he asked nicely, “so I can see you better...”

  Slowly, Eli turned around, obeying his wish...

  “What a beautiful body you have, Eli... compact... and tender...”

  “Thank you…”

  “You know, I like women with small breasts... the most important thing for my taste is what’s behind... and your behind... is beautiful...”

  Alex knew exactly which buttons to press to see Eli blush. His compliments flattered her, especially coming from someone as perfect as he; but she needed her time... to learn to receive them.

  Realising the direction the conversation was taking, Eli suddenly pretended to be in a hurry. She chose a science fiction movie and left to calm her heartbeats elsewhere, assuming in advance her defeat in that uneven game.

  Eli... still did not have the courage to face him...

  That week she passed by the door of Alex’s store every single day; but when she saw him busy, she always walked on. And in a way that was not typical of her, she waited patiently for the days to pass and for her moment to arrive...

  Alex was moving fast and she needed a different pace... a little slower. His unpredictable and daring attitude, his immense self-assurance and constant seduction pleased her, but at the same time... intimidated her. And in any case... Alex was already committed, wasn’t he? What could he really offer her?

  After all... they would never go to the movies together, to dinner or to dance. He would never call her to tell her that he loved her, that he missed her, or simply to hear her voice.

  Eli felt confused, overwhelmed and unprepared for what could happen between her and Alex. However... she had one thing very clear: there was no turning back.

  The last day of that week, due to reasons that Eli did not know and did not really care to know, the class outing was canceled, so she returned home earlier than usual. Deducing that in the morning the chance of finding Alex alone was greater, Eli decided to try her luck once again.

  On seeing her enter... Alex brightened up immediately and, leaving the newspaper and his boredom to one side, went to greet her.

  “Is there a strike at school allowing you to be around here at this hour?” he asked, coming from around the counter.

  “They canceled an outing and I had nothing more interesting to do... I came to get a movie...,” said Eli, resting assured that she could always use the same pretext.

  “Great... I always have something interesting to do... Do you want to join me? Come, sit here...”

  Alex passed her a chair, and the two of them sat behind the counter, where no one from outside... could see them.

  “So, Eli... Are you in love with me?” asked Alex directly, without feeling the slightest embarrassment.

  Eli stared at him, not understanding where that question had come from, and thought to herself, By any chance... could Alex be aware of my feelings? Were they so obvious? And there was I thinking all this time that I was managing to hide what I felt.

  “Did you like my caresses the other day?” continued Alex.

  His penetrating gaze weakened her, and in a moment of madness, unable to hold back her wild thoughts, Eli said, “Yes... I’m in love with you... and yes... I like to feel your caresses...”

  She was shaking all over... she needed oxygen.

  “Eli... I like you very much and I am intensely attracted to you, but I want you to understand that I... I do not mix feelings. I am reminding you that I have a girlfriend...”

  Eli heard him, but it was like watching a silent movie, where the lips move without what is said being understood. From her fifteen years it was difficult to understand that someone who does not love you finds you attractive and wants to touch you... and it was more complicated with him being already committed. The romantic movies, from which Eli got her ideas about love, did not show that... Therefore and as always, not knowing what on earth to respond... she remained silent.

  “You are very pretty... I love your white shorts. You have beautiful legs and with those shorts they are much more noticeable...”

  “Thanks...,” she said, and an internal heat took over her body.

  “Do you want me to give you a kiss?”

  What... What do I do?... I’m gonna die! Eli shouted silently in her head, and then replied out loud, “I don’t know...”

  “Would you like me to come close to you?”

  Alex made a step forward and added, “Do you want me to give you a big or a little kiss?”

  I’m fainting!!! Eli’s internal voice said to herself. But she said it again, clinging even more tightly to her chair:

  “I don’t know, Alex... I don’t know what I want...”

  With every step Alex took... her heartbeats exploded, robbing her of the little air still left in her lungs.

  Standing in front of her, Alex slowly bent down and Eli... closed her eyes, hoping to disappear...

  With each breath, Alex’s fragrance became stronger, until she... no longer smelled his aroma and instead... felt his lips...

  Tenderly Alex covered Eli’s lips with his, leaving them wet and burning with heat.

  “Stop, Alex!” Eli suddenly pulled back, unable to understand what she was feeling. “I can’t. Forgive me...,” she said, embarrassed that she could not control her fright.

  Alex casually walked away and returned to his chair. The calm look on his face and his mischievous smile expressed his amusement. He did not look at all bothered at being rejected; on the contrary... Eli’s innocence boosted his game, and her purity attracted him even more.

  For Eli, on the other hand, it was not a game; it was much more. For the first time in her life she experienced new feelings and unknown sensations that gradually... tightened the rope that tied her to him...

  The days passed and the desire to be with him and to feel him again became more and more frequent, but she could not find him by himself, and not seeing him began to hurt. Distressed, she criticized herself for having ruined and wasted the most beautiful moment of her life, promising not to commit the same stupidity again. She could still feel his wet lips pressing hers, blowing the air of an early morning... and the memory of having him so close, so present, shook her body and burned her skin.

  Eli did not know if the magic of that day would touch the strings of her heart again. However, what she sought and asked for in her daily prayer was clear.

  Eli...wasn’t giving up... yet. And the least expected day brought with it... what was most expected...

  Finally, enraged and furious, Eli entered the store to give Alex a well-deserved lecture. Fortunately... he was alone.

  The day before, she had gone with Nicole to the store to buy some books and a couple of board games. Alex, shamelessly and without the slightest tact, flattered Nicole, out of all proportion, while, as for her… he completely ignored her. The few times he spoke to her it was to offend her with
jokes at her expense, which Eli... did not find funny. Maybe it was his way of provoking jealousy, of annoying her, waking her up or a macabre plan to get what he was looking for...

  Anyhow, Eli did not remain silent. And for the first time ever, the next day she showed her claws and her voice. Alex looked at her in surprise but was also amused; it was no wonder... it was a side of Eli that he did not know yet—even she had not known this about herself before; but when he saw it he liked her... much more.

  Patient and attentive, Alex listened to the barrage. Then... he took Eli by the hand, pulling her toward him and hiding with her behind a column.

  “Sorry...,” said Alex, looking her in the eye, “I didn’t mean to offend you. You know that I like you and wouldn’t do something like that consciously... Do you forgive me?”

  “It’s okay, I forgive you...,” she breathed between one heartbeat and the next, still maintaining the expression of annoyance. “But do not treat me like that again...”

  Alex smiled once more, managing to partly calm Eli’s fury...

  At that moment, she noticed that she was trapped between him and the column, and she knew very well what was about to happen... Her heart screamed for help while her soul... screamed “come”.

  Alex took her neck in both hands and, simply, began to kiss her passionately.

  After a slight hesitation, Eli let go, ignoring her fears, trusting Alex completely. It was her first real kiss, and it was beautiful... long, insatiable, full of passion and mutual anxiety...

  Eli’s heart was beating at the speed of light and her tender body trembled in those strong arms, but she... felt safer than ever! Nothing else mattered at that moment, rules did not exist. The cold setting became a warm sphere that surrounded them both, and the consequences that act could have... were abandoned in oblivion.

 

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