How To Find Your Future

6 - Bro Time

Charlie

It's been a week since I first went into the bakery. It's been six days since I offered to help Olivia.

I've also been trying to not visit the bakery so that I can give her time to think about the offer. But, I've been in here almost every day after school. It's been the same ritual. I walk in, a guy about a year older than me greets me, I buy some fudge - I've been trying different ones each day but my favorite one is still the Cherry Chocolate one. I sit at the table closest to the employee door, start my homework and wait for Olivia.

One thing I've noticed since being here is that she's very much a people person. She's always smiling and happy to everyone, even the grumpy ones. She can talk forever with anyone about the smallest of topics and make it seem huge.

I also think she's head over heels for her co-worker.

Everytime they're working together up front she steals as many glances at him as she can. Everytime he talks to her, her face lights up. She can never say no to him and she seems more stiff around him than anyone else.

"I'll see you on Saturday?" the guy asks as he gets up from the till.

I glance over at them and try to seem not interested.

The grin that had just been present on Olivia's face is wiped off. "I don't work on Saturday."

Nick frowns. "Why not?"

"I asked for the day off to have a girls day with Naomi."

Nick nods. "Then I'll see you Monday?"

"Yeah!"

I turn and focus on my homework as they both walk to the employee door. Their conversation reaches me before disappearing with them into the backroom. It's not often that they walk out together, but I guess it's slow enough that she doesn't need to stay up here.

I can't help but feel a little disappointed that she isn't up here.

"Are you spying on me?"

I jump in my chair. "What?"

I turn around and find her piercing blue eyes staring at me.

"You're here after school every day now and you don't leave until ten minutes before closing times. Or, you leave after me."

I gulp. "It's not like that."

She raises an eyebrow. "Then what is it like? Because it sure seems like you're stalking me."

I sling my arm over the back of the chair as I turn to fully face her. "I'm um... I've just discovered that this is a really good place to study." I point towards my open math book.

Somehow her brow goes higher. She crosses her arms. "Did you know you're a really bad liar?"

I shake my head.

"So what's the real reason?"

I sigh. If I tell her I'm sure it'll make me look more like a stalker. But if I lie again I think she'll see through it. "I'm waiting to hear whether or not you're going to take my offer up."

She rolls her eyes and sighs. "Why is everyone so concerned about my future?"

I shrug. That seems to be the wrong response though as she seems to get more upset.

She pinches the bridge of her nose. "Can you leave please?"

"But-"

She holds her finger up. "Nope. I don't want to hear about the offer. If I want to take you up on it I will find you."