Clarity

Hot Coffee

Miranda woke up the day before the first day of school. The first thing she did was go to the Capricorn Lounge, where most of the students in the boarding school went to hang out.

“Hey, Miranda,” yawned her long time best friend Lani from behind the Lounge’s counter where she worked.

Miranda smiled cheerfully. “Goid morning, Lani. How are you this morning?”

“Tired,” she groaned as her sleepy eyes tried to stay open. “Your usual black coffee with absolutely no sweetener?”

“And a bagel, please.”

“Fine.”

“What’s wrong, Lani? Aren’t you excited? The first semester starts tomorrow and we’re gonna be seniors! Not to mention your best friend was elected Capricorn’s new school president,” she practically sang the last part.

“Please, Miranda,” she rolled her eyes as she prepared Miranda’s breakfast. “Save the cheeriness for someone who can actually stand getting up at 4:30 in the morning. They changed my hours since they want to start opening earlier for student who want to come here before school starts.”

“I know, that’s why I came here first thing to wish you a good morning!”

Lani passed Miranda’s coffee and bagel over. “Here, have a nice day.”

Something told Miranda she didn’t really mean that, but she knew Lani loved her. They’d been best friends since they first came to Capricorn in seventh grade. They were roommates each year until now. All seniors were now officially allowed to live in their own separate dorms, so long as they could afford it. Lani and Miranda both agreed it’d be best if they learned to live without each other for once.

As Miranda was planning out how her first meeting with the school board would go tomorrow, she didn’t realize she was walking on a wet floor that had just been mopped and slid on her designer heels. The bagel and hot coffee went flying as she fell to the floor. She landed on her back and hit banged head on the hard tile, knocking her unconscious.

‘Hola, torpe, are you alright?’ a voice echoed in her head.

Miranda’s eyes slowly blinked open. The image of deep, brown eyes on the face of a handsome, tan, man whom was speaking Spanish to her. He was the most beautiful person she’d ever seen. Miranda groaned. “Are you an angel?”

“No, torpe, I’m just the man you spilt your hot coffee all over when you tripped.”

Miranda eyes widened. She sat up and felt a sharp pain in her head. “Ouch!” She put a hand to her head and rubbed the spot that hurt.

“Don’t move so quick. You might have a concussion,” he told her. She turned red as he put a gentle hand behind her back to steady her. She looked into his eyes again and felt her heart begin to beat faster.

“Miranda! I was so worried! Are you okay?” Lani stood over her.

“Besides her clumsiness, I think she’ll be alright,” he stood up and walked away without another word.

Miranda watched him walk away as she still sat stupidly on the wet floor. Her mouth was gaped open and her green eyes remained wide. She couldn’t believe what had just happened.

“Miranda, what’s wrong?” Lani asked as she forcefully stood her up. She waved a hand in her face to get her attention. “Miranda! Answer me! Oh, god! You don’t have amnesia, do you?”

Miranda closed her mouth and turned back to Lani. “Uh..what?”

“Oh! I knew it! You don’t know who I am or where you are! Come on! I’m taking you to the nurse!”

Miranda took her arm from Lani’s tight grasp. “Lani, stop! I’m fine!”

Lani breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”

“What happened?” Miranda finally asked.

“You tripped and spilt your coffee all over that guys lap then you banged your head and got knocked out!”

“Was the guy okay?”

“I guess, he was okay enough to help you out.”

Miranda kicked herself for not thanking him or getting his name. “What’s his name?”

“I don’t know. He must be new because I’ve never seen him around here before. But are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I better go get ready for tomorrow.”

“Maybe you should sit down and eat something first.”

“No, I’m not that hungry anymore…”