Rule Number 4:
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Humans are prone to lying, trust no one, especially when it comes to feelings.
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“So let me get this straight, you’re mad because he remembered you, but only because he remembered you in the wrong way? I don’t understand you in the slightest,” Mina spoke as she cut vegetables in a swift, chef-like motion. Viola often thought she’d have made a good cook if she hadn’t chosen to go into art instead. Her cooking was some form of art in and of itself though.
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“Ah, I don’t know anymore, I was just so mad and stressed so I lashed out on him. I do feel sort of bad but it’s just that… How do you not recognize someone you see every day for three years! Bet you he doesn’t even remember my name. And I know I’ve told him because we did a group presentation in our first year and he accidentally called me Violet and then apologized,” Violet rambled, popping a sliced carrot into her mouth.
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“Well yeah, but do you remember the names of every person you’ve done assignments with? Plus didn’t you forget his name too? Please check on the pasta, make sure to salt the water,” Mina replied, eyes never leaving the cutting board. Viola hated to admit it, but she had a point. The main reason she was this worked up over such a small thing was beyond her. All she knew was that Alexander was the biggest pain she had ever encountered in her life. And she would prefer it if she never saw his face ever again.
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“Yeah, you’re right. I guess I’m just stressed. I’ll go set the table,” Viola informed, forgetting to check on the pasta as she left the kitchen.
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“Okay, so she told you she never wanted to see you again? And you’re sure you’ve done absolutely nothing to make her hate you?” It was game night at the Two Losers And A Cat-residence and the cat was asleep while the aforementioned losers waited for their frozen pizza to heat up in the oven.
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“Yeah that’s it, more or less,” Alex said, letting out a deep sigh. Only after the girl had left he’d snapped back into reality, trying to process what had happened. He’d seen her around campus and class before, but he’d never paid much attention to her. But he was sure he’d always been nice to everyone he’d ever spoken with. He just wasn’t the type to try to mess up a stranger’s day. Plus, he’d thought she was cute before she called him a dick and told him she never wanted their paths to cross again.
“Well, what’s her name? Maybe I know her from somewhere,” Drew suggested, in a way only someone who was looking at the situation from an outside point of view would.
“Uh, I don’t remember. It’s been so long since we first met, I really can’t remember. We barely ever spoke before this, she’s been in my classes but always sat so far away I couldn’t have talked to her even if I wanted to,” Alex explained, looking down at his lap where his hands rested, holding them together. He picked at a hangnail on one of his fingers.
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“Maybe that’s why she doesn’t like you? But it shouldn’t matter anyway, you can’t make everyone love you, that’s just how life is. Not everyone is going to like you and you’re not gonna like everyone you meet. Nothing you can do about it, and if you keep dwelling on it you’re just making yourself miserable,” Drew said, slapping his hand on Alex’s back. Ouch.
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Alex nodded slowly. His friend was right, of course. But it still bugged him. He didn’t want to accept it, the situation made him so uneasy and uncomfortable and… a bit mad, maybe? He didn’t usually get mad, but he just couldn’t wrap his head around why a stranger could detest him so much, despite practically having never even talked to him! It just made no sense.
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“Uh, I think I want to go get some coffee. Do you want anything?” he said suddenly, almost not even realizing he had done so. Before he could think about it, he was moving toward the door, pulling his coat on and putting his shoes on. Drew shouted something after him but he was already out the door.
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The café was the busiest during the morning and lunch hours, when people were headed to and from work and class. But now, during the evening, the place was quite empty, if not for the couple studying in silence together. Alex pushed the café door open, hearing the chime of bells over his head as he walked in. He looked around the café, trying to find traces of her. Behind the counter was a shorter girl with glasses on her face and a piercing on her eyebrow. Not the girl he was looking for. He was about to go up to the counter and ask for her but stopped. He still didn’t know her name.
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He snapped himself out of it, walking up to the counter. This time he checked the employee's name tag. Isabel. He didn’t usually go to coffee shops. Why was he here? This had been a bad idea. But he couldn’t go back to the apartment empty handed. He’d said he wanted coffee, he couldn’t return without it. Drew knew he would never stay at the coffee shop alone to drink his coffee, it made him too nervous.
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The barista’s voice was distant to his ears as she asked him what he wanted, and everything went by in a blur as he paid for his coffee and two doughnuts. Why was he so bothered by all of this? He should learn to let it go, he should really not let things like this affect him so much. Because now that he had, he had a cup of coffee in his hand at six p.m. and he would have to drink it because who gets coffee and then doesn’t drink it? And then he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night because the caffeine would keep him up at night, but why didn’t he get his drink de-caf? Should he? No, that would be too awkward, she’d already handed him his drink and it would be annoying to ask her to do it again. He was having a deep inner turmoil when he heard a new voice.
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“Isa, I thought your shift ended like thirty minutes ago, why are you still here?”
“I wouldn’t be here if someone had come here thirty minutes ago when their shift started,” the short girl- Isabel- said, annoyance laced in her voice. But the other voice. It was her.
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Alex looked to the direction he’d heard the voice coming from, hoping, but dreading, that he’d see her. But there she was. Lips twisted in a frown- she frowned a lot, he’d noticed- and eyes shining with guilt. She was wearing her apron, name tag attached. He tried to sneak a peek at it without looking like a creep. He twisted his neck a little, just enough to make out the letters on the metal plaque. Viola.
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The corners of his mouth twisted up. All of a sudden he’d realized he’d been just standing still in the shop, coffee and paper bag in hand. He must’ve looked insane. Isabel, the other girl, took off. He tried to suppress a smile as he walked up to the counter again.
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“Hi, could I get this decaf instead, please?” he said to the girl, Viola, flashing his most charming smile, and he could swear he saw her teeth wearing out as she grinded them together. He couldn’t bring himself to ask this of the other girl, but when it came to her, he didn’t mind as much. She’d caused him a headache, trying to figure out why she acted like she hated him.
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“Yes, of course, sir. Coming right up,” she told him, giving him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. He felt almost pleased, though he didn’t know why. Maybe because he felt like he’d gotten her back in some way. He wasn’t sure.
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Shortly, she came back with a new cup of coffee, trading it in with his older one. She looked annoyed, and for a second Alex thought she might’ve put regular, caffeinated coffee into his cup just to mess with him. But the more he looked at her, the less he felt like she’d be the type of person to do that. Though he had no doubt she might’ve wanted to do it.
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“Anything else I can do for you, sir?” she asked sweetly, in a way that almost fooled him and shocked him a little. But he recovered quickly. “Yeah,” he said, “I’d like to know why you hate me.”
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