AUTHOR'S NOTE: You guys deserve allll the chapters ! But , my fingers are deathly sore from playing guitar so I'm posting as much as I can type ~ I swear , I need to stop writing in a notebook and start typing everything ! Here , I hope you guys can love me a little again , though the real fun will begin in the next chapter , hehe .
-xoxo
Katherine Nicotra
Chapter 16: Coffee Talks
ISTELLA'S POV-
I approached Cody and tapped him on the shoulder, putting on my best brave face. He turned around and I smiled.
"Hey Stella. Ready to go?" Cody grabbed my arm lightly and led me toward the doors.
"Yeah... wait, Cody." I stopped, and Cody stopped as well. He turned to me.
"What is it?" He asked kindly. I felt a small twinge of regret but brushed it off.
"It's about what you said earlier. A-about us. I think..." I took a deep breath, and although I knew it would hurt him, I continued, "I think I'm not ready for a relationship right now. I hope you don't mind." I smiled at him timidly, and he looked at me with a soft smile. Cody wrapped his arm around me reassuringly.
"It's okay, Stella. As long as we're friends, I'm fine." Cody smiled at me. "Oh, you have to pay at the cafe, now, though," he said playfully, and I laughed.
"Alright, fair enough!" We reached the rental and got in.
"So what did Randy want?" Cody asked casually. I gritted my teeth, but maintained a casual face.
"Oh nothing much. He just wanted to set times for when we can discuss the bio, but then he said he'll think about it and tell me later," I rambled lamely.
"That's pointless," Cody said with a laugh, not noticing my complete bs.
"I know, tell me about it," I muttered as I looked out the window. We reached a parking lot and Cody pulled in.
"Well Randy can sometimes be a little weird... Here's the cafe!" Cody jumped out of the car and I followed suit. The scent of coffee was strong as we walked in.
"Alright, tell me what you want and sit down somewhere." I smiled as Cody made a thinking face.
"Weeeellllll..." he drawled. I slapped his arm and he laughed.
"Cmon Cody! Hurry up." I stood impatiently as he looked at the menu.
"Um, a large vanilla latte and a chocolate biscotti. See ya!" Cody strode off in search of seats as I walked up to the counter.
"Hello," a young woman said in a thick European accent, smiling.
"Hi," I said, returning the smile. "Can I get a large vanilla latter, a large chocolate chip frappuchino, one chocolate biscotti, and one chocolate muffin?"
"Certainly. And is that all for you today?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Your total is 20 euros, please." I reached into my purse and got out the money, handing it to her. "Thanks you, have a nice day," she said while handing me a table number.
"Thanks, you too." I walked off in search of Cody and found him by a window in a booth seat. I snickered at how creepy he looked peering out of the window. I swear a nearby lady looked as if she was debating calling the cops.
"Hey pedo," I said, giggling as he looked up at me with a confused expression.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, the way you were looking out the window made you seem semi-stalkerish... well, more so than usual." I laughed loudly at Cody's horrified expression.
"I am not stalkerish!" He exclaimed, sounding offended and worried. "If anything, people should be happy that I'm bothering to give them any notice at all, seeing how I look." He smirked in self satisfaction and I nodded solemnly.
"Yeah, I bet lots of girls like it when creepy, pedophile guys stare at them. Especially unattractive ones." I winked and sat back as Cody glared and moved his mouth like a fish gasping for air. I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing as a young lady came up to our table and set down our drinks.
"Here you go, sir, ma'am." She smiled politely, and I smiled back, nodding.
"Thank you so much-" I began.
"I AM NOT CREEPY!" The poor waitress and I jumped as Cody finally found his voice. I raised one eyebrow as he looked from me to the slightly concerned woman.
"Er, I'll just be leaving..." she mumbled.
"NO! I mean, no! Sorry for yelling," Cody apologized as the young girl winced. "I'm not creepy looking, right? I'm handsome? You would like it if I looked at you and gave you lots of attention?" The young woman took an involuntary step back, and I controlled my immense urge to laugh.
"I'm sorry, my friend is using medication for his severe head trauma from an accident. Please forgive him." I smiled charmingly at the waitress and she seemed to calm at this explanation. She smiled at me and nodded.
"Oh... that's good- I mean, that's terrible for him, but... I'd best be going now..." With that she left hastily, and I started laughing hysterically, tears streaming down my face as Cody sulked.
"Thanks, jerk face," he muttered as he moodily went to take a sip from his latte.
"Cody, be careful, that's really-" I was cut off by Cody's sharp expletives as he burned his tongue on his drink. "Hot..." I finished lamely.
"Thanks for the early warning," he shot at me, nursing his tongue.
"Today just isn't your day, my dear boy." I smirked at his wounded expression and patted him on the hand. I pulled out my phone as he said something in response. I saw that I had some missed calls and texts, and grinned as I read a text from Sean.
"Stella? Are you listening?" Cody snapped his fingers and I looked up.
"Huh?" I put my phone down and Cody smiled, his somewhat bad mood gone.
"What's got you so happy, shortie?"
"I'm not short, shut up." I sent a glare towards Cody. He smirked at the annoyance in my tone, finally finding something that irked me as much as I had irked him. "My friend Sean sent me a funny text..." I trailed off as I picked up the phone and re-read the odd text.
"Could you elaborate?" Cody asked, leaning over the table. I handed him the phone. He burst out laughing and handed the phone back to me.
"I think he'll have to find a new place to buy ladies underwear!" He kept laughing, and I joined in.
"I don't even know what was going through his head." I shook my head as I set my phone down, deciding to respond to everyone else later.
"Who pretends to be a girl, goes into Victoria's Secret, asks for a training bra, and then tries them on in the middle of the store? No wonder he got arrested!" Cody's laughter died down and he grinned.
"That's Sean for you." I sighed as I took a sip of my frappuchino.
"Hey, what were you talking to Kristen about before Ted and I came in?" He took a gulp of his lukewarm drink while I bit into my muffin.
"Oh! That was crazy..." I told Cody the story about Sean and the gay bar. For the next hour Cody and I talked easily, until my phone vibrated. I checked it and gritted my teeth as I saw 'Stephanie McMahon' flash up on my screen. Cody saw, and sent me a small smile.
"Fun. Better answer the boss lady." Cody nodded towards my phone and I pressed my lips together, answering the call.
"Hello. Istella Shapiro speaking."
"Hello Istella, it's Stephanie. I'm just calling everyone up to find out how their projects are coming along." She sounded business-like yet amiable.
"Well I got off to a rocky start, but Randy seems a bit more willing to work with me now."
"Good. Are you getting along with everyone?"
"Yeah, I guess so..." I trailed off uncertainly.
"You don't sound too confident, Istella," Stephanie said jokingly with a laugh. The earpiece of my phone was loud enough that Cody could hear everything. Within a second he snatched my phone with a mischievous smile.
"Hey! What are you-" I started to speak, but Cody held up a silencing hand.
"Hello, Steph?... This is Cody... Yes, I'm having coffee with Stella, actually... Well she was acting like she's some introvert, but she's really not... Yeah, everyone loves her! Even Randy's coming around... Of course I will, Steph... How are the kids?... Oh how cool! She's growing up pretty fast... Mhm... Well Steph, I'm going to have to let you go now because Stella and I have plans with everyone today... Yeah, she's glaring at me, too... Nice talking to you, bye." Cody handed me my phone and I set it down on the table, and then put it in my purse as an afterthought.
"Thanks, weirdo." I smiled and got up.
"You're not pissed?"
"Nope." Cody had saved my butt, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of letting him know that. "Anyways we should get going. It's three-thirty."
"Alright." Cody stood up and we left a tip before exiting the coffee shop and heading to the car. In the rental, Cody explained how the Legacy storyline helped Steph, Paul and everyone in Legacy get closer and connect. y the time we got back to the hotel, I was happier than I had been in a long time.
"Thanks Cody, I had fun. Ugh, now I have to get ready for tonight..." I groaned dramatically, and Cody grinned.
"Just wear a nice dress, nothing crazy!"
"Alright, are you going back to the hotel room?" I walked to the elevator, but Cody shook his head.
"Nah, I gotta find Ted. Kristen should be in the room, though."
"Okay, bye Cody." I smiled and waved as I got on the elevator.
"Bye shortie!" I growled as the elevator doors shut, hearing Cody's chuckle. I pushed the button for my floor and idly leaned against the wall. The elevator stopped at a lower level, and the doors opened to reveal Wade Barrett. He stepped in, smiling at me, and I returned the gesture. For some reason, though, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with the whole situation.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm writing the next chapter RIGHT NOW after I post this . I hate typing out things I already wrote , but I majorly owe you guys . Plus , I think the next chapter is interesting , hehe . The story is moving slow , I know , but things will pick up in about two to three chapters ! This is UNEDITED , so sorry for mistakes . Alright , bye !