Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors Page B

going to say that it was open to national and international entries because it could have been. I mean, nowhere on the rules did it say that you couldn't mail in an entry from Tasmania. You need to get The Boys to write letters of recommendation. Oh, I know what else. You can come with me tonight to my Life Drawing class. The teacher doesn't charge for the first visit. Then you can add that to activities."
    "I can't draw. You know that."
    "Who cares? Katrina, you've just got to play the game."
    "Whatcha doing?" Vincent stood over us.
    I shoved the checklist back into my pocket. "Nothing," I said.
    He knelt, greeting me with his usual chlorine freshness. "Hey, sorry I didn't call you back. I was really tired when I got home last night. It was kind of a big day, you know?"
    "We saw you on channel seven," Elizabeth said, her mouth full of sandwich.
    "I was on channel five too. And CNN and FOX." He shook his head. "I still can't believe it. One day I'm worried about paying for college. The next day I've got a full scholarship."
    I forced a smile. I should have thrown my arms around him, should have jumped up and down like a baboon. Vincent had saved someone's life and had been rewarded beyond his wildest dreams. But all I could think about was that stupid Java Heaven coffee cup.
    Elizabeth elbowed me. "Tell him."
    "Stop it."
    "Tell him."
    "Tell me what?" Vincent sat against the wall.
    Elizabeth leaned across my knees and got right in his face. "We saw you, Vincent Hawk. We saw you holding that cup. You know how Katrina feels about Java Heaven. You've totally hurt her feelings."
    Vincent shifted his weight. He looked away. He shifted again because guilt can be very uncomfortable. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Katrina. I didn't buy that cup of coffee and I didn't drink it. You know I wouldn't do that."
    "Then why were you holding it?" I asked.
    "It was Heidi's cup. She asked me to hold it while she fixed her ponytail and then she walked off. I handed it to the camera guy right after the interview started."
    "Oh." I had gotten so angry after seeing him holding that cup that I hadn't watched the whole interview. "What about the Vincent Mocha? Can he use your name like that?
    You should tell him that he can't use your name."
    "Well..." Vincent looked away for a moment. "I didn't know anything about that drink, but I'm not sure it's such a bad thing, Katrina. Ten percent of the profits will go to the swim team. We need new lane dividers and new timers." He frowned. "It's just a stupid drink."
    I stiffened. "It's more than that. Mr. Darling is trying to close us down. Your name will help him make more money. And..." I didn't want to admit how bad things were.
    Vincent knew what it was like to be poor, but Elizabeth didn't have a clue. Anyway, I'd been raised to believe that money matters were personal. It was embarrassing too.
    Every day we worked and worked, only to sink deeper and deeper into debt.
    Vincent nudged me. "Don't be mad. What can I do?"
    Despite his calm, steady voice, all my worries burst to the surface. Like an out-of-body experience, I watched myself from across the room, painfully aware that I was acting like a pouty child. But I couldn't stop.
    "I want you to hate Java Heaven as much as I do. That's what I want. You're my friend, not Heidi's. I want you to help us, not them."
    Vincent Hawk, best friend since the fourth grade, smiled sweetly. "I'll always be your friend. If you want me to do something for Anna's, I will."
    "If I come up with a special drink, will you help serve it and maybe sign some cups?"
    "Yeah, of course."
    Of course. He was still the same old Vincent. Heidi could trick him into holding her stupid cup of coffee, but she'd never be his best friend. I felt a million times better.
    The bell rang. Vincent wandered off. Elizabeth tossed her garbage, then pulled the checklist from my pocket. "What are you doing?" I asked.
    She clicked her pen. "You said you were going to create a special drink,