.barely time wasted

[Zola Palmer]

"Leaving so soon?"

A question often asked but never left the young woman in a dire need to answer. They all got the same answer anyway, "Sorry but I had only planned on this being a one night thing. Wouldn't want to overstay my welcome." She flashed a quick smile at the man, someone certainly way too gorgeous to be caring about how long she stayed. It would had also seemed that way had she not poked into that mind of his the night before. Zo was sure she could have drowned in those insecurities that he hid. Such a shame too... The ebony mutant really did hope she'd have a "buddy" for when she was bored.

She lifted her shirt over her head, pulling it back over her slender frame after buttoning up her jeans. "We never finished our conv-" Internally, she cringed, cutting him short. "You know? That's exactly why I've added my number to your phone. That way, we could continue the conversation later." Zola hoped to leave without having a full conversation about the future but apparently he wouldn't let it be. He was lonely, she got that... but he could try being clingy and lonely in his lonesome? Or at least with someone other than her.

Zo then grabbed the rest of her stuff after slipping on her shoes. She noticed him go after his phone and frankly she didn't care because now she was finally out the door and he'd finally realize that her number was never really added. "That was painful..." Mumbling to herself as she headed downtown. The Brit figured if she was to spend a taxi ride back to campus with a hangover, she might as well do it with coffee in her system.

Which was why she headed to the nearest coffee spot, only to order herself a hot mocha latte. When her order had finally been placed down, someone else picked it up. Maybe mistaken it for their order... maybe not. Either way she'd need them to put it back down. "You picked up the wrong one, love. That one is mine."

[Felix Nicholas]

Coffee.
Long had it been Felix's crutch after a long night of modifying radio equipment, compiling a new playlist or cramming for an exam.
Times had changed, nights were still on occasion spent entangled in wires and surrounded by tools, but franticly studying had been replaced by arranging study plans for students, working out lesson plans. Felix was still very much a fledgling in the role of teacher,
and he hadn't quite found his footing yet in balancing the more responsible work area of his life with the radio station; Well he supposed they had become one and the same, but he still needed to try and avoid burning the candle at both ends.

The teacher gave a small yawn, stifling it with the back of his hand as he waited patiently for his usual order, caramel latte, to be presented before him. The coffee shop's staff had learnt his order off by heart, which was perhaps a show of both their customer service skill and the frequency Felix visited the establishment. He pulled his jacket sleeve back, noting the time, before slipping his hands into his pockets; I was about an hour before the scheduled start of his first class, hopefully leaving enough time for the teacher to get to the Academy and for the much needed caffeine to shake the feeling of a short amount of sleep.
A coffee cup was suddenly placed on the counter, Felix snapping his gaze to the steaming beverage; It was his usual size, and it had been placed near enough in front of him. With a bright smile, Felix reached forward and plucked up the drink, only to abruptly stop as someone addressed him.

He blinked over at the young woman, before offering her his trademark warm, slightly goofy grin. "Sorry to disappoint you, Miss, but I'm afraid this is-" He went to remove the lid, which stuck, and when Felix applied a touch more force it suddenly dislodged,
the sudden movement spraying coffee over his jacket. He gave a violent flinch, although thankfully his winter coat was thick enough to prevent the liquid from burning his skin. "Damn... Oh-" He glanced down at the damage, dripping coffee. It didn't exactly smell like a caramel latte... He cast the female an embarrassed look. "This is a mocha... ... I'll um, get you another one."

[Zola Palmer]

"Sorry to disappoint you, Miss, but I'm afraid this is-"

Blind and also lacking what they call "senses", but yet he was attractive. Okay, so cute and stupid. Right. Which seemed to be the current theme here in Kalispell. Something Zola had taken note of a while back. "Oh," She quickly took a step back, not wanting to get a single stain on her jacket. Blinking, she eyed the damage done and couldn't help but to slightly smirk at his sudden discovery that, that was indeed, her drink.

Moving to get more than enough napkins, she chuckled, humoring him. "At least someone has grasped the concept of chivalry when they make a mistake." The napkins were handed to him as she took it upon herself to grab the open cup, just in case. She had no idea of what he was capable of and the last thing she needed was for him to slip on the floor causing it to get on her. Coffee was often difficult to get out.

After dumping the spilled cup into the trash, she heard them call out his drink, causing her to smirk. The Brit grabbed his drink instead, cupping it with both hands. "You know, love. I think I'll try this one instead. Something tells me that you spilling my drink is a sign. No point in going against Fate, right?" Without hesitation, she smiled while taking a sip of the hot caramel latte. "It's not mocha... but it's pretty good. Thanks." She winked at him before taking a quick seat at the nearest table.

[Felix Nicholas]

Felix took the napkins gratefully, dabbing and wiping at the coffee stain seeping into his jacket. He blamed his lack of sleep on his little coffee misjudgement, thankful that at least none of the beverage had gotten onto the poor young woman whose drink he'd nearly stolen.
"I'm so sorry!" He smiled apologetically, before gesturing to the girl behind the coffee counter, casting her the same smile and pointing towards the coffee cup. "Another, if that's okay. I'll pay-" He then paused as the young woman instead casually took his, throwing him a playful comment combined with a wink. How effortlessly she played the situation left Felix momentarily silent, watching her slide her way onto a seat, before he gave an amused chuckle. He moped himself up as best he could, before deciding that his jacket for now was beyond salvaging. He removed it, draping it over one arm.

The replacement drink was on the counter in rapid time, the teacher paying for it, before his gaze shifted to the stranger's table; He had some time before the Academy required his presence, and having only recently returned to Kalispell, Felix was eager to bond with the town's new inhabitants. He cast the young woman a warm, inviting smile, before making his way over to her table, taking hold of the back of a free chair. "Mind if I join you?" He asked politely. "Least I can do after making a fool of myself... Dazzle you with my company." He didn't out right recognise the female as being a college student at the Academy, but then memorising the entire student body wouldn't be an easy task.

[Zola Palmer]

Her smile never truly left even after she heard him apologize to the barista. There was humor there; When people felt the need to apologize. Sure, Zola apologized but hardly meant any of it and when she did it was for kicks and giggles. They worked at a coffee shop, she was sure they were used to this happening all the time. They'd be just fine.

Zo's eyes shifted towards the empty chair and back up at the man. She smiled, ever so slightly as she sat up a bit more in her seat. The drink met her lips once more, taking a sip as she compared her options of letting him join her. "Well let's hope that dazzling me makes me forget about you just making a fool of yourself." Chuckling, she gestured towards the seat. "I don't see why not," Her hand lifted the latte. "You did buy me a drink after all." Even though it had been a replacement to her original one.

There. See? Zola could be nice and why not, right? She just dealt with the longest night ever, someone took her latte by mistake and now that someone replaced it... Not to mention that someone happened to be quite the looker. There were no real faults here.

After taking another sip, the Brit eyed him, now curious. "Do you live around here? I mean, you know - the downtown area?"

[Felix Nicholas]

Felix was nothing if not polite, and that extended to everyone he came across; He could see little need in being rude or inconsiderate, it wasn't in his nature, especially when he was the one at fault. He cast the young woman a fairly sheepish grin at her comment, running a hand through his hair with his free hand. "I do that often, I'm warning you now," He joked, pulling the chair out from under the table and seating himself down. He began to put his laptop bag down and unzip his jacket, giving a soft hum and casting the young woman a bright smile when she questioned him. "Oh... Well, to be honest I used to go to school here," He answered her question casually, although took care not to mention the Academy directly; He didn't know this young woman's opinion on mutants, and although Felix was far from ashamed of what he was, if he could avoid unnecessary confrontation then he would. He placed his jacket over the back of the chair and pulled off his gloves, giving a small shrug of his shoulders. "Life then dragged me away, but this place has a habit of pulling you back in." He gave a light laugh, before taking hold of the warming drink in his hands, letting it fend the cold off the Montana cold from his skin. "Oh... I'm Felix, by the way. Felix Nicholas."

He didn't expect her to recognise him, and thankfully would be glad if she didn't; Being the son of major player in the hotel industry often came with connotations he'd rather avoid, even if when applied to him the usual stereotypes were generally untrue.
"So, what brings you to the town of Kalispell?" He asked politely, bringing the drink to his lips; It was different, but not too bad...
Perhaps he should venture from his usual choices more often. "From your accent, if you don't mind me saying, you must have lived in Britain for a time?"

[Zola Palmer]

Chuckling, her lips curled against the brim of her coffee, closing her eyes if for a split second to enjoy everything that was caffeine. She'd need it too, considering the long night she had before hand. "Oh." Her brows lifted slightly as she casually gathered the information.

She placed her coffee on the table as she flashed him a casual smile, "So I've heard. I probably haven't been here as long as you but I tend to hear this town is something of a magnet." For people like her. The last bit she left out and only because she could grab the mental hint. The Academy.

"Felix..." The Brit repeated as she lifted a hand towards her company in hopes to get a friendly shake. "Nice to meet you, Felix. I'm Zola, Zola Palmer." The question that came next caused Zola to think of her response but that didn't allow her to shy away from the answer she wanted to give. "Oh did my accent give it away that easily?" Chuckling, she brushed her joke off. "You would be correct. Was moved there as a little girl to live with my aunt and decided to deal with a new surrounding once I started Uni." She smirked, "Starting to like it here: Convenient location, a cozy town and the people here aren't too hard on the eyes." Her brown eyes stayed on him as she continued.

"Besides, I hear this state is the perfect mutant playground." Without much hesitation she went back to her drink, not really worried with who heard her or what her new company would think of it. In a way, it was as if she did just to get a reaction.