2. Coffee Date?

Mary and Zoe spent the afternoon at the library, surrounded by the comforting scent of old books and the quiet hum of studious students. Mary was engrossed in a novel she had picked out, while Zoe browsed through magazines and comics, occasionally stealing glances at Mary to see if she was ready to leave.

After a while, Zoe decided to take a quick break and headed towards the washroom. Mary continued reading, immersed in the world of her book, when she noticed someone approaching out of the corner of her eye. Looking up, she saw Ethan, a classmate she knew fairly well and had often shared friendly conversations with.

"Hey, Mary," Ethan greeted with a warm smile. "Mind if I join you for a moment?"

Mary smiled back, closing her book. "Hey, Ethan! Sure, go ahead."

Ethan sat down, looking a bit nervous but eager to talk. "So, how was your day? I saw you and Zoe at the carnival yesterday. Looked like you were having a great time."

Mary blinked in surprise. "Oh, really? How did you know we were at the carnival?"

Ethan chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I... um, saw your Instagram post. Zoe tagged you both, and I happened to see it."

Mary nodded, understanding now. "Ah, got it. Yeah, we had a blast. It was so much fun."

Ethan nodded, his smile widening. "That's great to hear. You two seem like you're really close."

Mary nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, Zoe's my best friend. We do everything together."

Ethan's expression turned thoughtful. "That's cool. Hey, I've been meaning to ask... Would you want to hang out sometime? Maybe grab coffee or go for a walk in the park?"

Mary felt a slight flutter of surprise and amusement. She knew Zoe often teased her about Ethan's interest, but hearing it directly from him was unexpected. "Sure, Ethan. I think that would be nice. I usually hang out with Zoe, though. Maybe we could all do something together."

Just then, Mary spotted Zoe returning from the washroom. She waved and smiled, grateful for the interruption.

Ethan glanced over and noticed Zoe approaching. "Oh, hey, there's Zoe. I'll catch you later, Mary." With a friendly nod, he got up and left, giving Mary a quick wave as he disappeared into the aisles of books.

Zoe reached the table and sat down, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, well, well... Look who was keeping you company, Mary."

Mary rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, stop it, Zoe. Ethan's just being friendly."

Zoe grinned knowingly. "Uh-huh, sure he is. Did he ask you out yet?"

Mary laughed, shaking her head. "No, Zoe. It was just a friendly chat."

Zoe nudged her shoulder teasingly. "Sure, Mary. Just remember, I'm onto you two."

Mary couldn't help but smile at Zoe's antics. Despite her teasing, Mary knew she could always count on Zoe to support her, whether it was navigating friendships or sharing in their adventures together.

As they gathered their things and headed out of the library, The following day at school, Mary found herself thinking about Ethan's invitation to hang out. As she walked to her locker with Zoe by her side, she couldn't help but replay their conversation from the library in her mind.

"So, Mary," Zoe teased, nudging her playfully as they stopped at Mary's locker, "are you and Ethan going to be the next power couple?"

Mary laughed, rolling her eyes at Zoe's playful teasing. "Oh, stop it, Zoe. We're just friends."

Zoe grinned mischievously. "Uh-huh, sure. Just friends who hang out at the library and get invited for coffee walks."

Mary sighed, but her smile betrayed her amusement. "Okay, maybe he's interested. But it's all still very new."

Zoe nudged her shoulder gently. "Well, that's exciting, Mary! Ethan seems nice. And who knows? Maybe this could be the start of something great."

Mary nodded thoughtfully, adjusting the books in her locker. "Yeah, maybe. It's just... different, you know?"

Zoe nodded in understanding. "I get it. Change can be a bit nerve-wracking, but it can also be really exciting. Just go with the flow and see where it takes you."

As they closed their lockers and headed to their next class, Mary felt a mix of emotions—excitement for the possibility of a new friendship with Ethan, gratitude for Zoe's unwavering support, and a touch of nervousness about what the future might hold.

Throughout the day, Mary found herself stealing glances at Ethan in class, noticing how he would smile and wave whenever their eyes met. It was both thrilling and nerve-wracking to navigate this newfound attention, but Mary appreciated Ethan's gentle approach.

At lunchtime, Mary and Zoe sat together at their usual table in the cafeteria. Zoe couldn't resist bringing up the topic again.

"So, have you talked to Ethan today?" Zoe asked with a playful grin.

Mary blushed slightly, stirring her salad thoughtfully. "Yeah, he said hi in English class."

Zoe nudged her again, teasingly. "Ooh, progress! What did you say?"

Mary chuckled, shaking her head at Zoe's persistence. "Just hi back, Zoe. Nothing exciting."

Zoe leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "You know, Mary, you should totally ask him to join us at the park this weekend. It could be fun!"

Mary considered Zoe's suggestion, feeling a mix of nerves and intrigue. "Maybe. I'll think about it."

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Mary and Zoe gathered their things and headed to their afternoon classes, the conversation about Ethan lingering in Mary's thoughts.

After school, as Mary walked out of the building, she spotted Ethan waiting by the entrance. He smiled warmly when he saw her, and Mary felt her heart skip a beat.

"Hey, Mary!" Ethan called out, waving at her.

Mary returned his smile, feeling a rush of happiness. "Hey, Ethan! What's up?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to grab a coffee after school," Ethan said casually, adjusting his backpack. "Just to chat some more, if you're free."

Mary hesitated for a moment, feeling her nerves start to surface. She glanced at Zoe, who was standing right beside her, giving her an encouraging nod. Turning back to Ethan, Mary tried to smile, though her voice wavered slightly. "I'm really sorry, Ethan, but I can't today. Maybe another time?"

Ethan's smile softened, and he nodded understandingly. "No worries, Mary. Just let me know when you're free."

Mary smiled gratefully. "Thanks for understanding, Ethan. I'll see you around."

As Mary and Zoe walked out of the building side by side, Zoe turned to Mary with a curious look. "So, what happened back there? Why'd you say no?"

Mary sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I was just nervous, Zoe. He asked me out of nowhere, and I didn't know what to say. I kind of panicked."

Zoe nudged her gently with a reassuring smile. "Well, Ethan seems like a decent guy. Maybe you could give it another shot?"

Mary considered Zoe's suggestion, feeling grateful for her friend's supportive presence. "Maybe I will. I just need to sort out how I feel."

Zoe grinned mischievously. "Alright, but we're not done discussing this, Mary."

Mary rolled her eyes playfully. "Fine, fine. We'll talk more later."

They continued walking side by side, their conversation shifting to more lighthearted topics, the bond of their friendship carrying them through the rest of the way home.

***

Rosemary and her friends were engrossed in lively conversation in the cozy living room, enjoying their tea and discussing their children's futures. Laughter and occasional nods of agreement punctuated the air as they shared stories and offered advice.

Suddenly, the front door creaked open, and Mary entered the room, her school bag slung over one shoulder. She greeted everyone warmly as she hung up her coat.

"Hi, Mom. Hi, everyone," Mary said cheerfully, joining the group in the living room.

Rosemary smiled warmly at her daughter. "Hello, Mary dear. How was your day?"

Mary shrugged off her backpack and settled into an armchair. "It was good. We had a guest speaker in history class today, and then I went to the library to study."

Mrs. Thompson, one of Rosemary's friends, leaned forward with interest. "A guest speaker? That sounds fascinating, Mary. What did they talk about?"

Mary corrected herself with a chuckle. "Oops, sorry! I meant computer science class. The speaker talked about the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning."

Rosemary nodded, intrigued. "That sounds very interesting, Mary. What did you think of it?"

As Mary recounted the speaker's discussion on computer science topics, Rosemary listened with pride, glad to have her daughter home and eager to hear about her day.

As they chatted about Mary's day and her interests, Mrs. Jenkins, one of Rosemary's friends, asked with genuine curiosity, "So, Mary, have you thought about what you might want to study in college?"

Mary paused thoughtfully, considering her response before her eyes lit up with determination. "I've actually been thinking about studying computer science."

Rosemary and her friends exchanged surprised glances, followed by smiles of encouragement.

Mrs. Thompson nodded enthusiastically. "That's a fantastic choice, Mary. It's such a rapidly growing field."

Mrs. Jenkins added, "Yes, and there are so many opportunities in technology nowadays."

Mary nodded, feeling emboldened by their support. "I love problem-solving and coding. I think computer science will let me explore those interests."

"I'm proud of you, Mary. We'll make sure to explore schools that have strong computer science programs." Rosemary murmured with a wink, her pride for Mary evident in her eyes.

After their friends departed, Rosemary tidied up the living room and started preparing dinner. As she chopped vegetables, her thoughts returned to Mary's future. She couldn't shake the idea that transferring schools might offer Mary better opportunities for college.

Rosemary glanced over at Mary, who was reviewing her notes at the dining table. "Mary, have you ever thought about exploring other schools?"

Mary looked up, surprised. "Other schools? Like transferring?"

Rosemary nodded, focusing on her cooking. "Yes, maybe a different school could provide more resources for your interests, like computer science."

Mary considered this as she closed her notebook. "I haven't really thought about it. I like my school and friends here."

Rosemary turned to face her daughter, gently stirring the ingredients in the pot. "I know, sweetheart. But sometimes change can lead to new opportunities. It's something to think about."

Mary nodded slowly, her mind swirling with possibilities. "Okay, Mom. I'll think about it."

They continued preparing dinner together, the idea of transferring schools lingering in the air as they shared a meal and discussed Mary's aspirations for the future.

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