Jasmine's POV -

"So this be will be your room, Jazz," my best friend Alexia says, showing me the blue and black themed room.

"Thanks for everything, Al," I reply with a smile as I put down my bags on the blue queen sized bed.

I study in the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and trust me they have great dorms, but it's our trimester break. So, everyone's gone back to their home. I, like always, had intended to go back to India.

But, Al's cousin was falling short of a bridesmaid and I was called in for the last minute replacement. So, that's how I ended up living with my best friend.

"Oreo!"

"Where is it?" I ask Al while looking around.

Yup, I LOVE Oreo.

"Not here. I just knew you'll come back to life as soon as you would hear its name," Al replies with a smirk.

"You are a devil," I reply with a pout.

"Well that makes sense because you are Satan. Anyways, I am really excited for this break! You are staying back in San Diego, my cousin's getting married, my brother's coming back from New York and Jayden will be here too," Al replies, excitedly.

"You do know I have been practically studying in San Diego since the past six years."

"Well, it's different. Now you are going to live here!"

"Lexi, lower down your excitement or the house's going to come down, sweetie," Mrs. Lancaster says, entering the room.

Al and her mom are really alike. Al's the spitting image of her mom. Both have blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. But Al's a bit short, provided you consider 5'3" short.

"Afternoon, Mrs. L," I greet Mrs. Lancaster, but as all Lancasters, she's a hugger too.

Let me tell you one thing, hugging runs in their family.

"Good afternoon, honey. I am so glad you are going to stay this summer with us, Jazz. We are going to do lots of baking and gardening. My daughter's home!" Mrs. L says, cheerfully.

You see the resemblance between Al and Mrs. L? No? Then I think you are just cranky for not having your daily cup of coffee.

"Mom, you do know you have me - your daughter always around the house," Al replies with a pointed look.

"No offence, honey, but you do know you almost burned down the house?"

"That was one time and that doesn't prove anything," Al scoffs as she turns to face me.

"Besides, Jazz is the clumsy one out of us."

"What? Me? Clumsy? As if," I roll my eyes in denial, but luck's never on my side.

So I trip over air. Yes, people you heard me I tripped over 'air'. I groan as I get up from the floor. Falling face first twenty times a day is not easy. It requires talent, okay?

Do you think I might get my name in the Guinness Book Of World Records? After all my talent should be recognized. You can't find people tripping over air so easily.

"Did you see that, mom?" Al asks, pointing to me and my little fiasco.

"That honey is called talent," Mrs. L replies with a smirk as we high five each other.

Mrs. L is really a cool mom and a good friend of my mamma too.

"That's not fair you are my mother and you are my best friend," Al whines like a little kid while we laugh.

"Well I will be going now. I have to get some books from my dorm."

"Books? You already have enough and seriously live a little Jazz," Al says as her mother shakes her head in disbelief at her daughter and goes away.

"Books and some packets of Oreo."

"I knew something was up. Okay, you can go and get your stuff. But be back soon, my brother's coming home today."

"Thanks for telling me... the hundredth time."

"Heyy... I am just excited, okay?" Al replies as she sticks her tongue out and slams the door shut.

That's my mature best friend.

It takes one roughly half an hour to reach the UCSD campus from Al's house. However, I got a bit carried away while hunting for my favorite books and before I knew two hours had already passed. Right now, I am on my way back to Al's house with merely fifteen books in my bag.

Merely fifteen? You are such a nerd.

Shut up!!

I scream at my inner voice before my thoughts are directed in another direction. You know that feeling when you just keep walking and keep walking and then you start contemplating your life.

Yeah, I was doing that when I realized in all the packing I hadn't had a cup of coffee. Don't judge me, I have OCD. It is very serious.

Sighing, I look around, when I spot a small but beautiful cafe. As the aroma of coffee drags me into the cafe, I realize it's actually much bigger from inside.

I take a 360 degree turn and see many people sitting around and chatting with each other. The cafe has a beautiful wooden work and a really comfortable, relaxing environment. What a lovely atmosphere coffee creates! Have I told you how much I love coffee?

Inhaling the sweet bitter odour of coffee, I look up to see the barista. His back is facing me, but damn I can still see his muscular built. This better be truth or I am blaming it on lack of coffee for being so hormonal.

The barista turns towards me, his dark ocean blue eyes gazing at me before he starts taking another order. He has jet black hair, tousled on one side and let's not talk about his height and chiseled features.

I wonder how some guys are able to carry out the dishelved look. If I try it, it looks as good and neat as a sparrow's nest. No offence to sparrows or the citizens of those countries who regard sparrow as a national bird.

Might as well put a disclaimer on it?

Yeah, but these days nobody reads it.

I snap out of my thoughts and realize the barista was staring at me. I look around and see it was already my turn. I quickly order a cup of coffee, before I embarrassed myself more and trust me if you know me, you must be knowing I do a very good job at embarrassing myself.

While the barista makes my coffee, I sit down and open Pinterest on my phone. This app is my bae! I scroll down through the notifications, pin some minion jokes and zodiac information. Oh and by the way I am a Leo. High five to all the Leos! Wait nobody can hear me.

Glad to know you use your brain at times because most of the time I am the only one doing my work while the brain gets to slack around.

You are my inner voice. You are supposed to guide me onto the right path, buddy.

Before I could continue my internal battle, my order was ready. As I was about to take it, another person grabs it. Yes, he grabbed my coffee.

I turn around to glare at the person. He has brown neatly gelled to one side hair and emerald green eyes and a really sharp jawline. He is also tall, but the barista beats him by two - three inches I guess. Honestly, the Coffee Stealer would look more cute if he smiled rather than frown.

Why am I checking out everyone today?

Why was he frowning and glaring at me?

Why was he holding my cup of coffee?

Your priorities amaze me.
My inner voice replies, sarcastically.

"This is my cup of coffee," the Coffee Stealer says while looking at me.

"Actually it's mine," I reply while narrowing my eyes at the coffee stealer.

"Actually, you both ordered the same coffee at the same time. So, I thought the first one should go to the Miss here," the barista says, interfering between the Coffee Stealer and me.

"Well, I am in a hurry. So, I'll take this," the man says as he looks at me and the barista.

And some people wonder why chivalry's dead, I think as I roll my eyes.

However, when I look back at the man aka the Coffee Stealer, his face becomes red, I am not sure whether it's because of anger or embarrassment.

"I said it aloud, didn't I?" I ask the barista, who gives me a small apologetic smile.

See what I told you earlier, no one needs to take the trouble to embarass me, I do a great job at it myself.

"Okay, see here, dude," I say as I keep my hand on the Coffee Stealer's shoulder.

"I have three words for you: LET IT GO."

"What?"

"Let it go, let it go,
Can't hold it back anymore.
Let it go, let it go,
Turn away and slam the door.
Let it go.
Let it go."

Yes, I just sang a part of Let It Go, while emphasizing on the 'go' in the middle of a cafe.

The Coffee Stealer gives me the whacko look, before muttering some profanities and slamming the door.

"Somebody took the 'turn away and slam the door' literally," the barista replies as we both start laughing.

"Thanks for the help," he further says as he starts to make my coffee.

"What help?"

"Technically, you could have fought too. But you didn't and handled it well. So, thank you," he says, flashing me a million dollar smile.

"Well, it was really nobody's fault. I guess it was just destiny," I reply, smiling back.

Yeah, very mature of you Jazz to blame it on Destiny Brooks. I know she's mean, but this is low even for you.

I-What?

"Here's your coffee, Miss," the barista says, handing me my cup of coffee and thus putting an end to my internal talk.

As I was about to pay him, he stops me. I frown at his action and look at him.

"It's on me."

"No, you don't have to."

"But I want to. Today's my first day at the job and causing a scene wouldn't have been good. So, it's my way of thanking you."

"You already thanked me," I point out, but he didn't budge and honestly a free coffee doesn't hurt to drink.

"Are you new here? Haven't seen you around?"

"Yes, I just moved to San Diego from New York. By the way, I am Xander Lennox," he replies.

"Nice to meet you, Xander. I am Jasmine Arora and welcome to San Diego."

"Thanks Jassmine."

"Well, I should be going now or it will get late."

"See you around. Bye," Xander replies, before busying himself in his work.

I exit the cafe with two things on my mind - my coffee and

Hot Barista?

Noooo.

Coffee Stealer?

No and before you suggest something like that I'll tell you the other thing is this cafe. I think I just found a great place to hang out.
______________________________________________________________________________

Hey guys!!

So, what do you fellas think of Jasmine?

Most importantly was this chapter humorous? Did it match your expectations?

I am going to try to update this book regularly. Keyword 'try'.

Till the next update, keep shining ;)

- Love Addy :)