Chapter Four

Of all the places in the world for Amy to pick from, she chose this place, Sunrise Cafe, today of all days. Why? She messaged me on my way to the city library we normally met for our lessons to change the venue.

I've been a regular for what, two years, almost three years and I bounced in forgetting it was 'The Sunrise cafe' with a certain hottie for a worker called Steve? I only remembered when I stepped into the place and my eyes landed on him at the counter, sexy as hell talking to a customer. Why didn't I realise sooner?

Gosh Nadia, for a straight A student, you are so dumb. You've been a regular at this place and you didn't remember your super crush works here? How dumber could you get? Our near kiss today put me on my toes.

…I can't let him see me. I'll just call Amy once I make it out the door to cancel. An outing with girls wouldn't be such a bad idea….

I turned and was almost out the door when someone called my name. 

…The she-devil…

Big mistake. I turned and my eyes landed straight at Steve's. He saw me now and we couldn't help but stare. The distance between us didn't stop the connection between us to flare up like electric sparks. My breath I didn't know I was holding came out as a sigh. 

…Gosh, he is handsome. This can't be one-sided. He must feel it too, somehow…

"Nadia, over here. Don't just stand there." A pink haired Amy called out. She tapped the seat next to hers signalling I should join her.

Tearing my gaze I hissed and went to join her. She had her booted feet crossed on the table while she sat down. She had two cups of coffee before her. 

I sat down but could still feel his eyes on me. I was happy my seat backed him because I don't know if I would do anything if I was looking at him stare at me that way. 

"Of all the places in the world, why did you choose this place? I knew changing the spot today was a bad idea." I hit her legs off the table and dropped my bag on it. 

"What's wrong with this place? It's not far from school and this is where most people I mean students hang out. I don't like the library. It's damn too quiet. It creeps me out. However, I gathered you like it here so why not? I was expecting a thank you but you're welcome anyway." Pulling the chair beside her closer, she crossed her feet on them.

"Look, I was trying to be nice and not selfish to only change spot for my comfort alone but yours too and guess what, I ordered coffee." she tapped the side of the cup which was meant for me. 

"But why today?"

"Why not? For real what's your deal?"

"Ugh…" I ran a shaky hand through my hair. "You know what? Let's start our work for the day, okay?" She just sat there not moving, instead, using her phone — tweeting. "Amy?" I called her attention. 

"Yeah?" She answered distracted. 

"Amy."

"One moment." she was giggling at God knows what. 

"Amy!" I hit a palm on the table startling her a bit and some people around us. I didn't care about them but this infuriating creature here.

"Look, I traded my best friend's happiness just to be here. It would be nice if you could maybe feign seriousness for the one hour we are going to spend here." She stared at me for sometime as if considering then pocketed her phone. "Thank you. That wasn't so hard was it? I can see you decided to do a lot to your hair."

"Wanted a little change. Wasn't feeling my black hair. So watcha gat for today?" she leaned over with her elbows placed on the table.

"Well I was thinking after our last class to do a little…"

"He's still staring." She cut in. 

"What?" I stared at her confused.

"The hot guy at the counter, he's still staring and okay… He just poured hot coffee on himself." she tsked. 

My throat suddenly became dry. I swallowed a huge lump of spit that did little to my situation. I was really tempted to look. "I don't know what you're talking about. Let's just face what we came here to do, okay?" I lied.

I brought out my books and laid them on the table. Surprisingly, she brought out hers too. 

"His eyes are burning holes into your back. He's really distracted." she said chuckling.

"I'd prefer we face more important things. Like this." I waved my textbook in her face. 

"For one, I saw the look you both exchanged when you walked in. I think everyone felt the burning intensity between you two. It would be hard not to notice. You guys dating?"

"Do you get paid to be this annoying?" 

"Trust me, It pays the best. So are you? Dating the hottie I mean?"

"No we aren't and I still don't know what you are talking about." I lowered my voice just then leaning towards her. "Was it that obvious?" 

She laughed, a snorty laugh which took me by surprise. I felt like yanking her heart out. Wiping at her eyes, she placed a hand on mine on the table. 

"Oh sweetie, as daylight. At least for those with my kind of eye. So you guys are not dating?"

"No… but we are friends until today it got awkward. We kinda almost kissed. At least that's what I thought."

"Well, I can tell he likes you."

"You think so?"

"I more than think so after watching his reactions since you sat down but it seems he doesn't know how to get it on. You. Make the move.

"Me?! Oh no. I can't. What are you even saying? I can't believe you'd even suggest that. For one, I've never asked a guy out. Let me rephrase that. I don't know how to ask a guy out or even been asked out before."

She stared at me wide eyed then a sympathetic look broke across her face. "Geez. It's really boring being a Virgin. Look, at this rate, you both will never date if one of you doesn't take up the courage to say something. I'm surprised a hottie like that is shy. He seemed trained in the field."

"Is he still staring?" I asked. She smirked at me and it made me want to slap it off her face. 

"He's not right now only because his hands are really busy. You have to ask him out."

"What would I say?"

"I don't know. Ask him out to dinner or something."

"I don't know how to go about it."

"Nadia, you really have to loosen up. Just go talk to him. Let it flow naturally. "

"I can't. I don't know what to say. I'll just embarrass myself."

"I'm not going to hear a thing you teach today until you talk to him. How's that?" She blew a bubble with the bubble gum in her mouth and I poked it with my pen. 

"Fine." I took a large gulp of my coffee. 

…I wish this was alcohol…

"You can pick a place you are comfortable with so you can relax a bit more." Amy added before I stood up and went to Steve. 

"Hey Steve. How's it going?" I said to him smiling when I stopped at the counter. Luckily, no waiting customer. 

"The usual. I see our friend turned pink."

"You know her?"

"Yeah. Been here a couple of times with her crazy pair of friends."

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach at the fact he knew her. Brushing it aside, I plunged on. "Okay. She's the Amy I've been telling you about."

"Oh, the pain the ass you've been tutoring?"

"Yup, one and only."

"Well she does fit the description of crazy perfectly." We both chuckled

I noticed something. He didn't meet my eyes as we talked. He was obviously avoiding eye contact and that surprised me. He always seemed so sure of himself. I already had my lines memorized on my short trip to the counter so I plunged on anyway. 

"I know you are busy and so I'm just going to go straight to the point. I'd be free this Friday and I was uh… wondering if uhm…we c..could maybe go out, grab a bite or something. Not like I'm saying you must or anything considering you might be busy and all that but…" I paused stopping my rambling and took a breath. "I would love for us to hang out this Friday if you are free."

He just stared at me, his mouth slightly opened. He had this shocked expression and wasn't saying anything. "Um…this is the moment where you say something before I start feeling awkward and embarrassed."

Coming out of his shock he stammered, "H..hang out like a date?"

I chuckled, "isn't that what they call it these days?" 

"No, that's not what I meant. Actually I.. I would love to."

"Why do I feel like there's a 'but' there?" 

"No, Nadia. That's not it. I would love to go out with you. I'm just really surprised you asked that's all. I really like it that you did."

I smiled inwardly at myself. "So what do you say? 6pm, Friday, The Duncans?"

"Absolutely fine with me. I'll pick you up, oh and Nadia," he called back when I backed up my steps, "be ready to be blown away. I look dashing in a suit."

"Oh my, I'm warned. So next week?"

"Absolutely." 

"Cool. I better head back to the pink barbie." I turned and made a victorious 'Yes' which Amy caught on and gave me a small salute.

…Did I really just do that?…

"So where were we?" I asked grinning from ear to ear when I joined her at the table. I really didn't feel like tutoring today.

"Anthropometrics I guess."