writing prompt #1//Not My Cup of Tea

{This is writing prompt #1, Not My Cup of Tea. It was written in fifteen minutes and thirty two seconds, with a time limit of twenty minutes. It features two exes, some tea, and a heck lot of tension.}

With sharp, attentive eyes, Charlotte watched as he stood before her in his kitchen, complete with granite counters and an island. It was even bedecked with a chandelier, making her kitchen look like trash. Charlotte's kitchen was hardly big enough for her to move around in and lacked any particular style.

James had a hard and focused look in his eyes as he bustled around, preparing Charlotte a cup of tea after she declined his offer of strong coffee. Charlotte watched his every move; every one of his movements were precise.

Charlotte wasn't one to sit casually in her ex's kitchen, allowing him to make her a cup of tea. She would much rather swim in a pool of her own vomit. But because of the unfortunate coincidence that they worked together (Charlotte worked exactly two cubicles away from James), they needed to meet up at one of their places to discuss an upcoming project.

She watched as James took out two cups from his cupboard. He filled one with water from the tap for himself and the other with boiling water for Charlotte.

"So... Charlotte, what have you been up to these past few months? No word of you."

Charlotte sharply looked at him. "Just chilling, reading, working, the usual. I don't make it a habit to call up and chat with my exes. I wouldn't want to interrupt a one-night stand." Bitterness laced her voice. "Like the last time."

James forced a chuckle as he dunked the teabag into the cup. "You always were too kind." The teabag was dragged around the cup furiously.

She knew how hard he was trying to distract her from his tea-making.

"Are you seeing anyone?"

"I really don't think that's any of your business, James," Charlotte replied coldly.

He put in a bit of sugar, and then discreetly pulled out a vial. "Of course. I shouldn't have asked. My apologies."

Her eyes were carefully trained on the vial as he quickly tipped its contents into the cup. Red and watery, it dissolved into the tea and its scent trailed to Charlotte. She smirked as James noticed her watching.

Panicked, he hurriedly tried to push the cup of tea to Charlotte and put away the vial, but he failed to do so thanks to his shaky hands. It fell and rolled over to Charlotte, who held it up so the both of them could see the label: POISON.

Charlotte pushed away the cup and said, "Sorry, not my cup of tea."

(Picture provided by Wix.com)