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What was she apologizing for? What did she have to do with our species being destined to slit each other's throats?

I did the only right thing, turned away, hurried down the stairs, and quickly walked to my car.

Motion

Christopher Tyng

Ever since I was a student, caffeine had been a good way to knock my fellow students out of the race for coveted places. But that was only a side effect, because the main reason for my growing caffeine consumption, which in some cases even provoked my transformation, was the pressure of not being good enough.

How was I supposed to get through university with top grades – which, mind you, I needed for my law scholarship – when I was tired half the time?

Exhausted, I entered Lola's Diner and breathed in the subtle smell of coffee beans.

“A Frappuccino with soy milk, no sugar, and a pinch of cinnamon.”

Always those wealthy students who ordered exquisite things that weren't available here, and that Lola somehow managed to make happen anyway.

Wait...

I froze in the doorway. But before I could turn around and leave, Vivienna Westcode had already spotted me.

The expression on her model face was nothing new. Condescending and cold.

“Ugh,” she huffed. “Why are you everywhere?”

She sounded as uninterested in me as I was in her.

Lola, the elderly African American woman in the apron, pushed her coffee across the counter. Her raised eyebrows spoke volumes.

Vivienna reached for the coffee and took a sip, but grimaced as if she were in pain.

“I said no sugar! And a Frappuccino is supposed to be cold! Not hot!” she hissed and turned back to the counter. But Lola had already disappeared with a smile on her lips.

“Ugh, God!”

Vivienna looked at her drink with disgust.

I doubted she didn't like sugar. She was just very careful about her figure.

“Grace, tell your boss to get a hearing aid!” she shouted across the diner, and I actually spotted Grace, who was serving a few girls from the basketball team, who spotted me and waved.

I waved back.

“Basketball isn't a sport for women, Emely. You should know that.”

Annoyed, I looked at Vivienna.

It was a mystery to me why I hadn't exploded yet. It was as if I had become more resistant to her nastiness over the last few weeks. And in fact, I had bigger problems.

“Why are you so spiteful, Vivienna?”

I stepped closer.

She raised both eyebrows, came closer as well, and you could feel the students around us turning to look at us, but luckily no one from the pack was here.

“How dare you talk to me,” Vivienna hissed, as if she hadn't harassed me first. “By the way, very cute, you and the lawyer.” She put on a fake smile. “Maybe she's looking for a dog to walk.”

“Your jokes aren't funny, Vivienna.”