Hot Chocolate for hot beverage contest

"Are you sure you don't wanna go with us Saphire?" Edgar sat on the edge of the arm chair, staring down at me. My eyes flickered around the room and I pulled my blanket tigter around me.

"I'd love to but I'm not feeling well." I widened my eyes and pursed my lips, giving him that innocent look.

Liar liar, pants on fire. Emily's voice echoed in my head and I looked over to her, giving me that all knowing smirk. For the oldest of the group she sure could be immature sometimes. Just because she knew it all she didn't have to be such a know it all.

"Alright. See ya." He stood up from the chair, still staring through me. I smiled and gave them a little wave as the 5 left. As soon as they were gone I sighed happily, lying back in my chair. Reaching behind my chair, I wrapped my hand around could ceramic cup, conveniently hidden on the end table against the wall, behind my chair. I threaded my fingers through the handle and shivered slightly. It was the dead of winter and it was nearly frozen in the unheated room. I brought the cup into my lap and stared into it. The dark brown liquid, still cold, swirled gently as I rocked the cup back and forth. Hot chocolate was one of my few comforts in this world. Back when we mutants were locked in that damned government compound they gave us few luxuries. Anything that could melt, Evo would put on someone's arms while they were asleep and melt so gummies of any sort were banned. Muffins, cupcakes, cakes and other things normal little kids liked made messes and no one wanted to spend extra time cleaning up after us. But hot chocolate was the one thing they entrusted us with. It was still a rare occurrence, maybe once a month or when management changed and they tried to make good with us but it was always good. The others, being older, having tasted such things before, didn't think much of it but to me it was chocolate gold. I loved everything about it, to the point the others laughed and my little hot chocolate ritual.

I chuckled as I stared at the cup, silently reminiscing. I raised it to my nose and took in a deep breath. It was a power I had just discovered and planned to never tell the others. It wasn't useful and they wouldn't care. I was still the weakest of the group. I released the breath and the cup bubbled as it boiled briefly before cooling to just a simmer. I winced slightly at the slight burn of the heat and quickly cooled the area around my hands. The steam rose up all around my face and tickled my nose. A slight layer of dampness covered me giving me a satisfyingly sticky feeling. Step one of my ritual was enjoying the steam. I tilted my chin upward, letting it drift around my neck and warm me, shielding me from the blistering cold. Perfect. Time for step two.

I took another deep breath and the scent filled my nose. Oh how I loved chocolate. My eyes fluttered closed as I basked in the euphoric sensation of the smell engulfing you. Dark chocolate with the slightest hints of caramel, it was beautiful. This was my second favorite part.

This next part was what the others found the weirdest. I brought the cup slowly up to my closed lips and pressed it against them. I smiled small as the heat surged through me. I almost could have forgotten it was winter completely having all this heat emanating into me. Slowly I parted my lips and rested the rim of the mug against the inside of my lip. Step four.

Ever so slightly I tilted the cup upward and the first droplets of hot chocolate cascaded into my mouth. I took in a sharp intake of breath, slurping a good mouthful of the delicious liquid. It was a fact no one believe but slurping amplifies taste and I wanted to enjoy this as much as possible. I closed my eyes, focusing just on the taste. I'd had this cup sitting in that chair for an hour, waiting for everyone to leave so I could have my private time yet it was still as good as possible. The caramel sauce which I'm sure had been settled at the bottom had been nicely stirred up and melted by my breath and added a great sweet kick to my concoction. I'd added a melted square of chocolate as well all adding up to the perfect cup of hot chocolate. I swirled the mixture in my mouth, letting it tickle and warm my gums before slowly swallowing. This is when you really tasted it and it was perfect. I felt it the entire way, running down my cold throat and finally landing into the pit of my stomach. This definitely was the pinnacle of the process and the reason it could take me a full hour to drink one mug. I loudly took in another mouthful, again savoring it slowly before letting it trickle down my throat.

After a few more times repeating this process I looked down into the nearly empty cup. There was a nice layer of chocolate caramel ooze slowly dribbling around in the bottom. Step 5 and this would be complete.

I tilted my head back and brought the cup with me, watching with one eyes as the mixture slowly made its way towards me, dripping ever so slowly. Finally it reached my mouth, coating my teeth and gums. I smirked to myself and wiggled my tongue around, savoring every bit of it. This little pleasure happened to come from those extra rare moments someone would leave a bottle of chocolate syrup or something around and I, having the sweet tooth I do, would suck the remainder of the chocolate from the bottle until someone took it from me. I was a kid, what can I say. Now I just love how it feels, how nostalgic it makes me. I love how it gives me the illusion I had a normal childhood. But as the cup sits before me empty I heave a heavy sigh, realizing that I didn't have a normal childhood and those peaceful times, much like a cup of hot chocolate, all abruptly end.