Gradual Love

Chapter 2

'Hi'

Tingles are now being shot up, down, up, down, up, and back down through my spine. Making me curve my back so much I was almost standing straight up, as if I was someone's puppet, being held up by a single piece of very tough string.

'H-hi' I finally found the sudden courage for words to be said to this sensational human being stood in front of me. His face, glowing in the summer sunset light. His eyes as blue as opals. His hair as perfectly golden and fluffy as could be. His lips, nothing like I've ever seen before; immaculate. I couldn't help but stare at all of him. My eyes just moving in every direction, eyeing him like a hawk.

'Sofia?'

My eyebrows abruptly shot up, giving off a partial expression of confusion. He took the hint and smiled before adding on:

'Well Mia's already gone inside. Would you like to stay out here in the rain or would you rather come inside?' He said with a cheeky grin on his face.

I was so embarrassed. I hadn't even noticed that my best friend left me hanging like this.

A smile left my face before shifting my body towards the door, taking his kind invitation to go to the other side of it.

Just before I had the chance to step over into the other side, he placed his hand against the doorframe, looking down at me with the most greedy eyes I had ever seen.

We stood there, gazing at each other, before the silence was broken by a question.

'I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Jj. Jj Maybank. Pleased to meet you cupcake.'

As he said this in a subtle manner, I felt my hand being moved towards his luscious lips. His luscious lips. After gently kissing the back of my hand, my stomach flips itself inside out and my teeth start to display themselves to him.

' What are you smiling so fondly at- ' JJ asks me whilst still in control of his cheeky side grin.

'I.. I.. Nothing.' I reply, feeling humiliated and embarrassed.

'Oh come on, Sofia. Tell me.'

'We should go inside.' I say with a sudden burst of confidence and a devious smirk. 

*In Sofia's head*

I'm not going to do this anymore. No more holding on to the foil past. It's time for me to finally move on and not be hung up on some guy from my past. I'm going to be the bold, confident woman my mum always wanted me to be and go after what I want. I just hope the thing I want doesn't end up running away and not taking a second look at me.

After going inside of The Wreck, a restaurant one of the other pogues' family owns,  I saw everyone at the table turn around to see me standing there, stiff as a board.

I feel JJ's hand gently rub against my back reassuringly.

I think to myself: come on Sofia, no problem. Like I told myself before, storing, bold, confident woman.

'Hi everyone! I'm Sofia, Mias friend'

Every single person sat around the middle table stood up to greet me.

Leaving JJ's touch behind and walking forward, the group gathers around me to meet me and to get to know a little 'bout me.

'I'm JohnB'

'I'm Pope'

'I'm Kiara. People call me Kie. I'm actually the  daughter of the people who own this place.' She smiles warmly.

There was only one person who was left sat at the table. A blonde girl.

'Hi' I slide my head to the side to try and make eye contact with her. She looks at me sourly before rolling her eyes, crossing her arms and turning her head to face the other end of the room.

' Rude- ' mumbling under my breath so no one could hear.

'Yeah she's like that sometimes.' Pope exclaimed.

'Hey. Dude she's still my lady so watch what you say.' JohnB pushes the side of Popes arm and walks back to the table. Back to the ignorant blonde sitting there. I mean, who would want that as a lady.

I turn to look at JJ. He was rubbing the back of his head with one of his arms.

I look back and see Tami eating away at the lobster.

A giggle leaves my mouth as everyone heads back to sit down.

Before I could go sit next to the girl I had all my faith in, the girl I trusted with my whole life and the girl I came with, I see that the only available seat was next to JJ.

Shit.

I sat down and gave JJ a rolled smile.

'Sofia, what would you like to eat?' Asks Pope.

'She's capable of ordering for herself, Pope.' Maybank snaps back at him.

Pope raises his hands as if he was surrendering. I pretended as if I didn't hear a thing. God knows what has gotten into this boy that made him act that way.

'JJ, don't be rude. Pope was only trying to be nice to our new friend!' Kie says with a firm sharpness in her voice.

'I'm not being rude I'm stating the obvious. She's a strong woman after all.' JJ adds on but this time turning to look at me with a grin slapped across his perfect face.

Wait-
Did he say what I think he said? Was I talking out loud earlier when I was giving myself a pep talk?!

'Umm I need to use the ladies room.. excuse me-' I run off before anyone had the chance to stop me.

I close the stall door and suddenly here a familiar voice.

'Sofia?'

'Go away! I don't want to talk to you!' I say, not knowing who it really was.

'I'm not going anywhere.'

'Leave! I don't want to talk to anyone!'

I hear the handle open and look up to see majestic blue eyes staring into mine.

'Talk to me, Sofia-'

I couldn't help myself at this point. I had never felt this much attraction to someone I knew nothing about. I knew I would regret this in the long run...