The campus coffee shop was so much nicer when it was night time.

Amarilla sat at a table alone but for her laptop, a mass of books opened to various pages and a grande single shot hazelnut mocha taking up the remaining available space in front of the student. She was typing away, manicured nails making a clickity clickity sound as they struck the keys of the laptop. Every so often the rhythmic clicking would stop abruptly, and instead the finger would trail its way down the page of a book or two before resuming its journey on the keyboard. Since it was after nine on a Friday, the coffee shop was almost entirely abandoned save for Amarilla, two other patrons and a very bored looking barista behind the counter who, in between scrubbing the counter for the fiftieth time and checking to make sure absolutely everything was stocked, snuck the occasional glance at the hard working pink haired girl. She didn't notice. Her brown eyes were focused on the lit screen in front of her as she checked over her most recently typed paragraph. While not the deciding factor in her grade, the essay she worked so diligently on would boost her current grade considerably if she did well. She paused long enough to push a stray strand of hair behind her ear and smooth a few wrinkles in her floral patterned skirt before gazing at her table.

The books sprawled out before her, a tundra of words and theories. She sighed, taking a deep drink of her coffee. Most college students found Fridays to be a release, a day when the school year could be forgotten if but for a few hours. Amarilla had no such luxury. Another sigh escaped her lips, and she switched her browser from her essay to an online forum. After scrolling aimlessly through for a few minutes, she opened another tab. Perhaps someone has sent her an email in the last fifteen minutes since she had previously checked. Finding her inbox empty, she continued to float about the internet until she jerked upwards, realizing that once again, she had become distracted.

No. No distractions. Essay time. Being a Knight ate into her homework time, and only by taking a night off from being a crusader for justice could she hope to save her GPA for the semester. Her financial aid depended on it.

But this essay wasn't going to pass or fail her. She could still get a decent grade. And besides, she had been working on it for so long...

It was no good. Now that her brain was beginning to protest, there was no getting back to writing. She stood, gathering her books and shutting off her laptop. The barista noticed her beginning to leave, and took the opportunity to clean the tables nearby. As he was making sure every little spot imaginable was off the table next to her, Amarilla took a step backwards and bumped into him.

She whirled, saying "Oh! I'm so sorry!" just as he straightened, smiling lopsidedly.

"No, I'm sorry. I was in the way."

There was five of six minutes of idle chatter while Amarilla finished gathering her things. Her books and laptop stowed away in her backpack, she smiled sweetly as the barista took her coffee cup. "Thank you." He nodded and turned to place it on the counter as she said "Have a good night." He turned quickly, trying to stammer out something to keep her from leaving just yet. But she was already out the door, humming to herself cheerfully. He sighed, and went back to work. Oh well, sixth time's a charm right?

Amarilla walked home, bouncing slightly in her step.

Word Count: 620