New day. New Life. Her eyes snapped open with a smile as she stretched with a sleepy yawn. Today was something definitely different, she could feel it in her veins. Quickly she jumped out of bed and got ready for college. With a cheese sandwich in her small hand and a blue sling bag on her shoulder, she soon set off with a kiss too greet her parent’s welcoming of the day.

     When she reached college, she greeted people, known or not with a sweet smile which everyone returned awkwardly, wondering what’s up with her today.
       Each class she went to, had a certain amount of concentration which did not waver at the slightest distraction and bought the topic right back at the helpless professors’ lips the moment other try to create a disturbance.  Luck has it that today not once did she cross paths with Sam and her burly looking gang nor did she see Angeline shining bright in the dull looking crowd for she was focused in her own happiness. As for her program which went pretty well as she didn’t have to keep referring to the thick bound maroon book for guidance which was filled by the previous Ashley’s for the future ones.

     Soon after her last lecture got over, but yet she stayed back, writing extra notes, highlighting important points. Some one comes and stands in front of her, inspecting what she was doing.

      “Hello, Ashton! I see you are still in your disguise.” She says without even having the simple need to look up. Ashton was in the same disguise as yesterday. Huge nerd glasses, badly made freckles, flattened hair glistening as the artificial light hit them. And let’s not forget the dear little, prominent mole he had on his dimple. But for today he was wearing a beanie... He pushed his spectacles back. “I had to... Otherwise you know what would happen, don’t you?” He admits and Cassandra knew exactly what he meant by.
           By standing far, she could get a glimpse on what would happen. Repetition is all what it would take.

      “So why are you here?” She still did not look up but  she was smiling as her dimple  grew deeper. Deeper than Ash’s could ever have. “I’m here to ask you whether you still on?” Her brow raised “I did not understand… What do you mean?” Ashton bit his tongue. He had forgotten, of course.
           Cassandra is a simple lass and it would take time for her to understand the language of the dudes. “Umm… I mean are you today? I mean to my house?” “Yeah! I said I would, right?.... That I would come.” He nods but she still does not look up to see the handsome face hidden by the stupid make up. “Ok then I shall see ya later.” And he walks away, leaving a trail of the faint fragrance of the perfume he had used this morning.

   In the afternoon, Cassandra was in the café, doing her job of taking the orders, serving her customers the best and then clearing the unoccupied used tables. She was so busy that she did not hear Richard the cashier calling her name “Casey! Casey!” His voice echoed with a thick American accent and everyone except her turned to the loud voice. He sighed before going to her to shake her from her deep, pit less thoughts she had fallen into. “Huh?” She looked at Richard with a blank face who in return gave a smile.
       “I think you were dreaming of me again.” He chuckled. She rolled her eyes at him. Why does he love pulling her leg so much?

   Back in the serious tone, he said: “Anyways you got to do me a favour.  You got to deliver these packages to these respective addresses.”
        When Cassandra caught a glance at the tiny card, her face fell. The first one was still okay, it was quite close to her house. But the second pointed to Ashton’s manor. She couldn’t let him know of her job or things were bound to get out of hand.

    Sam will come and annoy and bully the hell out of her and Ash would probably refuse to teach her only because he would know that she had come from a very lowly background. “Ri-Richard, I can’t go.” She said pale-faced. ”Casey, you got to. You know what happened to our delivery guy. He broke his upper jaw and there is no one who could do a better job compared to you… Please.” He begged. “Uh- huh, Ok!” She gave in with a sigh of uncertainty. “Good! Now go!”  He ordered as he grabbed the duster from her hand and gave her two huge plastic bags instead, a bit heavier on one side.
        But she could balance for her books were heavier than this... “Thank you, Casey! I think I owe you another date.” He says with a charming smile not forgetting a wink. “But I-“ and walks off before she could even protest.
        Really? Does he think everything is solved with one simple date? Is that the only way to repay small debts left? Cause he owes her so many of them anyways but she’s not the girl to accept them. And he does not seem to register that little fact in his small brain of his.
       She angrily untied the tight mini apron which was wrapped around her narrow waist, making her way back home. Who the hell does he really think he is?

             Truthfully he is the son of the owner of this famous café. Just a year back, he started college and he needed a part time job. He wanted to work in the near-by mechanic shop but the burly man over there gave him a small test which he failed in and he and his group who were tall and muscular than the owner himself, laughed at his weakness. Mr White, Richard’s father felt so sorry for his son that he was offered the job of a cashier which Richard reluctantly took. His grandfather had just expired leaving him another shop of his own. Luckily it was a rust antique shop which had its wares hidden and unknown to mankind, quite close to ‘Coffee Bean Love’

    Rumours spread between the employed in the café joint that he had a huge crush on Cassandra and was meaning to take her out and change the true inner her. And when this fell into the ears of Cassandra. All she felt like doing is stabbing Richard in the heart and ripping it apart with her teeth. Quite a gruesome sight, right? But Richard knew nothing what was going around him and kept trying to his luck  for her approval of finally getting to go out with her which is never gonna happen in a  million years. Wait, actually it would happen as Cassandra would say it, probably in his dreams.

     Cassandra adjusted her glasses as she had just removed them in the café so no one could recognise her but it just made her half blind instead. She delivered one package to the house quite close to hers with a graceful smile and her eyes sparkling with warmth. Miss Jones, a widow but a nice old lady decided that the girl was well-mannered, one of the first youngsters she had seen so nicely maintained, invited her in for some mint choco cookies as she would do well for some company for her children had left her, all alone. 
        Cassandra politely refused as she did not wish to be late but the lady insisted so she came in. But only for some time as she did not want to keep Ashton waiting. Miss Jones offered her a seat on the huge red arm chair while she herself sat on a rocking one by the fire hearth.

     She had a beautiful yet fair complexion. A wrinkled skin but looked soft and smooth complimented her sweet nature. Her grey hair was overflowing down her shoulders as she let the loose and her smile gave more warmth compared to the one in the hearth. She must have been really beautiful when she was young and must’ve captured many young hearts at that time. She was tall for her age, maybe it was her posture, maybe her actual height. Who knows?

      “So dear, what your name?” The nice lady asked her as she offered some cookies that she baked today. They were piping hot. Cassandra picked a small one with a smile as she answered politely. “Cassandra, Ma’am.” And she takes a bite. Mm mm…. The cookies were amazing as the chocolate lava ran down her throat leaving a trail of hot but cool taste of mint. Cassandra had fallen in love with them in the first bite.

       “How are they, dear?” She gave another of her smiles. “Amazing, Ma’am.” She complimented, the cloud of unbelievability of the taste being so amazing hung on. “Ma’am, can you teach me to bake these?” “Oh, sure why not? Some way of company… Why? I would gladly pass the recipe on to you… You know my two children love them so much. Anyways they are going to visit me in a few weeks. Would you like to help me?” She asked with some hope which radiated out hard, a feeling Cassandra could hardly miss. Miss Jones did want some company really badly.
        “Ma’am I would really be honoured.” Cassandra said with a smile as Miss Jones lit up, as happy as a Christmas tree.

       “That would be wonderful, dear… But wait, first you must tell me where you live?” “Ma’am I just live across the streets.” “Oh, is that your house?... Oh, this is so hilarious. We are neighbours since so long and we had no clue about it till now… Ah, God, that felt really good. Haven’t had a good laugh for so long…. Oh, I have to tell you. You don’t have to call me ma’am. I would rather have you call me Agatha. It would make me feel better. Immediately Cassandra protested. “Ma’am, I am sorry. I can’t do that. It would mean disrespect to my elders.” That took Miss Jones by surprise.
        If anyone else would be in her place, they would love to call this old hag by her name plus no one has ever been so kind to her.  But she added softly. “At least would you call me Miss Jones?” Cassandra nodded, feeling quite guilty at the fact that she just burst out.

         And her eyes spot the time on the grandfather clock. It was 5:15. Oh, She was were late. She didn’t even realise that time had flown so swiftly, not waiting for any one. “Ummm… Miss Jones, I need to go. I’m getting late for my tuition.” She asked permission to leave, in a hurried manner. Miss Jones apologised and walked her to the door. “Bye, dear!”

       Cassandra bid Miss Jones good bye with a sweet smile. Before she could shut the door, Cassandra turned and shouted. “Miss Jones! I think I would love to give you some company everyday.” She added a smile, slightly hoping that her sweet alluring offer would not be rejected. “Well, why not?... Dear, you can come any time you want.” She assured. And Cassandra waved goodbye as the door banged shut. At least this was a million times better than going on the date with Richard. Actually, infinite times better.