Chapter 8: VIII

Chapter 8: Coffee and Conversations

The café near the arts building was quiet, just as Riley had predicted. Its large windows let in the afternoon sunlight, casting a warm glow over the wooden tables and mismatched chairs. Soft acoustic music played in the background, mingling with the faint hum of a coffee grinder.

Riley arrived ten minutes early, her nerves making her restless. She ordered an iced latte and found a table tucked into a cozy corner. It was perfect—close enough to the counter to avoid feeling isolated but far enough from the busier tables to allow for focus.

She pulled out her notebook and laptop, arranging them neatly on the table to keep her hands busy. The door jingled, and she looked up to see Elena walking in, her hair pulled into a loose braid and her tote bag slung over one shoulder.

Riley’s breath caught. She looked effortlessly beautiful, and Riley had to remind herself to appear composed.

“Hey,” Elena greeted as she approached, her smile as warm as the sunlight streaming through the window.

“Hey,” Riley replied, standing slightly before sitting again as Elena took the seat across from her.

Elena set her bag down and glanced around. “This place is nice. I’ve walked past it a dozen times but never came in.”

“I like it because it’s quiet,” Riley said, gesturing to the setup. “And the coffee’s good.”

Elena smiled. “Well, that’s all the endorsement I need.” She stood and ordered a drink before returning to the table with a steaming cappuccino.

“So,” Elena began, pulling out her notebook and flipping to a blank page. “I’ve been thinking about how we should structure our analysis for Euphoria. It might help if we focus on a couple of key characters and how their development reflects the themes we’re exploring.”

“That makes sense,” Riley said, nodding. “Do you have specific characters in mind?”

Elena tapped her pen against her notebook. “I was thinking about Rue and Cassie. Their stories offer a lot of depth and contrast—Rue with her struggles with addiction and identity, and Cassie with her search for validation and self-worth.”

Riley scribbled a note in her notebook. “We could tie those themes to broader societal issues, like mental health and societal expectations. It’d give the analysis a strong foundation.”

Elena’s eyes lit up. “Exactly. And we can use specific episodes as case studies to back up our points.”

They settled into a rhythm, exchanging ideas and jotting down notes. The conversation flowed easily, and the initial awkwardness melted away.

---

After about an hour of focused discussion, the conversation began to drift.

Elena leaned back, stretching slightly. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect to enjoy this project so much. Usually, group assignments feel like pulling teeth.”

Riley chuckled. “I know what you mean. But I guess it helps when your partner actually shows up prepared.”

“True,” Elena said, smiling. She took a sip of her cappuccino before glancing at Riley. “You’re…really organized. Were you always like that?”

Riley hesitated for a moment before answering. “Kind of. I mean, I’ve always liked having a plan. It keeps me grounded.”

Elena nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good trait to have. Honestly, I wish I had more of that in high school. I was always so scattered, trying to juggle a million things at once.”

Riley’s pulse quickened at the mention of high school, but she kept her expression neutral. “You seemed to handle it pretty well. You were always so…put together.”

Elena laughed softly. “That’s generous of you to say. Trust me, I was a mess half the time.”

There was a pause, and then Elena’s gaze lingered on Riley. She tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing as if she were piecing together a puzzle.

“You know,” Elena began slowly, “you look really different now. I mean, in a good way. Not that you didn’t look good before, but…”

Riley’s heart skipped a beat. “Before?” she echoed, her voice carefully measured.

Elena blinked, realizing her slip. She hesitated, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “I just meant…back in high school. You…stood out in your own way.”

Riley raised an eyebrow. “I stood out?”

Elena looked away briefly, taking a sip of her drink to buy herself time. “I mean, not in a bad way. You were quiet, but there was something about you… I don’t know, it’s hard to explain.”

Riley’s chest tightened, a mix of surprise and curiosity flooding her. “I didn’t think you noticed me in high school.”

Elena’s blush deepened. “I noticed more than you probably think. You were…different. And different always stood out to me.”

Riley didn’t know what to say. The revelation that Elena had noticed her—really noticed her—back then was both thrilling and overwhelming.

Elena cleared her throat, clearly eager to move past her accidental confession. “Anyway, we should probably decide on a schedule for our next few meetings. The project deadline isn’t that far off.”

“Right,” Riley said, refocusing. “I’m free most evenings and weekends. What about you?”

Elena glanced at her phone’s calendar. “Evenings work for me too. How about we aim for twice a week? That should give us enough time to cover everything without rushing.”

“Sounds good,” Riley agreed.

They quickly finalized their schedule, and soon after, Elena gathered her things.

“This was a good start,” Elena said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “I’ll see you Wednesday?”

“Wednesday,” Riley confirmed, watching as Elena walked away.

---

As Riley sat in the now-quiet café, Elena’s words replayed in her mind.

"I noticed more than you probably think."

For years, Riley had assumed she was invisible to Elena, just another face in the crowd. But now, she knew differently. Elena had seen her—had remembered her—and that knowledge sparked a flicker of hope that Riley hadn’t dared to feel before.

Across campus, Elena walked briskly toward her dorm, her thoughts racing.

She hadn’t meant to say so much, but seeing Riley again—this new, confident version of her—had thrown her off balance. She couldn’t deny the attraction she felt now, but more than that, she was intrigued by the Riley she’d known in high school and the Riley sitting across from her today.

There’s more to her than meets the eye, Elena thought, her curiosity growing.