International

Chapter 2

I woke up and got ready for work. Simple black jeans and a flowy white blouse. The best thing about working for the production company that I do is that the dress code was relaxed unless we were meeting with executives or people from corporate offices.
I straightened my hair and applied my usual winged eyeliner and bounced out of the apartment. Mila left to open the studio and Juniper was on a casting call.
I arrived at work and went through my normal day as an intern which included shadowing the business and fetched an occasional cup of coffee. As soon as work was over I rushed over to the studio to teach my class. I changed into yoga pants and a tank top. I liked teaching yoga because it gave me a chance to relax. It was work but it never felt that way.
I ended my class at 6 and rushed back to my apartment to sneak in a quick shower. By 6:45 I was ready in the little black dress that I wore on every first date. I touched up my make up and grabbed my favorite purse.
I drove to the restaurant that Joe texted me.
I arrived at 7:05 and walked in the door to the new "eclectic" restaurant that I hadn't been to yet. Before the hostess could say anything to me I spotted Joe sitting at a booth by himself, checking his phone. I casually walked over.
As he spotted me he stood up.
"Hey you look great." He said as we both sat down.
"Thank you." I responded.
Before we could say another word to each other, a waiter came over to take our drink orders. I just ordered water because I'm still 20 and not old enough to drink.
As he left we picked back up our conversation.
"So it's nice to formally meet you Rachel." Joe said to me.
"Like wise thatcherjoe was it?" I decided to joke a little.
He smiled and laughed "ah so you watch my videos." He laughed a little more to himself "do you like them?" He asked.
"I think you are really funny." I responded.
"Well since you kind of already know me, what do you do besides work in a cafe?" He asked as he picked up the water the waiter just brought him to take a sip.
"I work in a film studio as a paid intern, I am a barista around that, and I teach a yoga class." I said hoping it didn't sound too rehearsed.
"Wow I have never heard a more California answer to that question before." He laughed a little.
"Well once I moved here I decided to emerge myself in the culture."
"Where did you move here from?" He asked.
"Georgia." I responded cringing a little. I had never liked it there.
"Well I think I went to the airport there but I think that's it. Have you ever been to Europe?"
"I went to London, Paris, Switzerland, and Germany after my senior year of high school." I responded.
"Did you like it?"
"Yah I did, I'd love to go back."
Conversation flowed so easily between us. There were no awkward pauses. One of us always had something to say.
As we were finishing up dinner we got into the deeper questions.
He put down his fork and looked in my eyes "so how is a really funny gorgeous girl like yourself single still?"
I had been asked this so many times.
"Well I could ask you the same thing. Huge British youtuber, you probably have tons of girls throwing themselves at you." I turned the tables.
"Well I guess I just haven't met the right girl who makes me think 'yep this is it'". I totally understood his situation. That's how I felt for every guy I met.
He continued "alright now you have to answer the question."
"Well I have never specifically been looking for anything serious. I'm more of a play it by ear kind of girl and so whenever guys hear that they label me as a friend with benefits and move on." I kind of wanted to take back the friends with benefits part. I was never ashamed of the fact that I had sex with some of my guy friends but it probably wasn't something to disclose on a first date.
He laughed so that was a good sign "I promise I wont do that to you." He said with a smile.
"Well thank you I appreciate it."
We finished dinner and if course he insisted on paying.
He walked me back to my car. We stopped on the side walk.
He froze and I saw that he had a really pensive look on his face. I figured now he was going to tell me I was cool or whatever but he wasn't interested in me like that. I waited for him to speak.
"Look I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm going back to London on Saturday but I really like spending time with you and I want to see you again."
It wasn't what I was expecting but it was what I wanted to hear.
"Well how about we hang out tomorrow and we will just keep it casual." I offered. I really don't like getting attached to people. It never ends well. Back in high school I would always saddle myself to these people that never cared about me. I would put they're problems before my own and I never gave it a second thought. However when these people left, and they always did, they took a piece of me with them. I had only become whole a year ago when I moved out here and met Juniper and Mila. I learned how to be my own person and I didn't want to destroy that again.
"Yah ok." He said as he nervously played with his hair.
"Well I should go so my roommates don't think I'm dead." I said as I clicked the button to unlock my car.
"Ok I'll see you tomorrow." I gave him a quick hug and hopped in my car. I had to do everything in my power to leave him. He was the best first date I had ever had. He was smart and funny and original and just a sweet person. You don't always meet people like that here.
I shut the door behind me and breathed a sigh of relaxation. It was now 10 and I was already exhausted.
Juniper and Mila both ran out of their separate rooms "how did it go?" They said in unison.
"It went well but he has to go back to London on Saturday so we are just going to keep it casual. But I'm seeing him tomorrow." I was a little disappointed when I said it out loud.
"Really?" Mila gave me an 'are you kidding me' look that I knew all too well.
"Rachel I honestly don't know how you end up with these guys." Juniper said. I didn't expect her to understand because she has been dating her boyfriend Jasper since she was 19, so a year now. I know Juniper and Jasper. We tease them about their names constantly.
"You guys know I'm not really into settling down right now so maybe I do need a guy who is just going to leave in a week." I said while putting my purse on the counter and my keys on the key tree next to out door.
"What a lucky guy." Mila said with a huge sprinkle of sarcasm.
I went to my room and plopped down on the bed. I was out like a light.