Clock in || Securitywaiter

7

"When we get in there I need you two to act normal, please don't try to embarrass me, Ness might think it's funny, but I won't "
"What would we even do to embarrass you?" Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure you'll find something, just please refrain from going through with it"
"Okay, we get it, can we go inside now?"
"Hold on"

Mike fixed his hair in the sun visor mirror, Vanessa sighed dramatically, Abby giggled.

"Does he like you?"
"As a friend? Sure"
"But not more than that?" She folded her arms.
"I don't know, why?"
"Just be careful, I don't want you getting hurt over some guy"
"Well I don't plan on saying anything to him, ever, so don't worry about it," Mike got out of the car, Vanessa and Abby shared a look.

"You're not gonna be boyfriends?" Abby followed him out, frowning.
"I don't know"
"You should be, Ness likes you!"
"We don't know that"

Abby hugged him.

"Don't be sad, Ness definitely likes you, you've known Jeremy and Vanessa longer but you're the closest to him"
"I..I guess, but that doesn't mean he like likes me"
"Ask him if he likes boys," Mike's eyes widened.
"Woah, no way I'm doing that"
"Then I'll ask him"
"That's even worse, please don't"
"How will you get a boyfriend if you don't do anything?"
"I guess I'll just be lonely forever then"

Abby pulled away from the hug, shaking her head, she grabbed his hand, pulling him towards Sparky's.

"We're going inside"

~

"I don't see him," Mike began to worry, fidgeting with his sleeves.
"There he is, NESS- NESS HI!" Abby jumped up and down, waving at him.

Ness looked a little embarrassed, the place was full of regulars, all knowing him by name, so all eyes were on him, he shyly waved to Abby and Mike.

"You didn't have to yell Abs, this place isn't that big," Mike sighed.

Vanessa laughed quietly, looking in between Mike and Ness as Ness made his way over.

"Hey"
"Hi, sorry about Abby, she got excited"
"It's okay, I mean it didn't feel like it in the moment, but I'm over it now..probably," he placed his hands on his hips.
"Uhm, hi," Vanessa made her presence known, Ness looked at her confused.
"Hi?..are you with them?"
"Yeah, they brought me here to meet you actually, I'm Vanessa," she put out her hand, Ness shook it.
"To meet me? Why?"
"I think you're special to them, at least that's what I've gathered"
"Special huh?" He turned to Mike.
"Can we just get a table please?"

Ness led them to a booth, Mike made sure he sat on the outside so he was closest to Ness.

"What can I get for you guys today?" Mike opened his mouth to say something.
"Not you, I already know what you want sugar, what about you two?" He clicked his pen.
"I'll have an unsweetened raspberry iced tea"
"Gotcha, Abby?"
"Orange soda"
"No milkshake? Surprising"
"I don't think I want one today, how do you know Mike's order already?"
"He gets the same thing every time, drink and all..well I'll be back with your drinks, I'll give you guys some time to think about what you want"

Mike watched Ness walk away with a small smile on his face, that was the first time Ness had ever used a pet name for him, he found himself not minding it at all.

"Is that a normal thing?"
"Huh?"
"Sugar, does he call you that normally?"
"No, maybe it was an accident"
"Be in denial all you want, but I think he might like you"
"Maybe he's just like that," he shrugged, even though he's never been able to clock when someone was flirting with him.
"Your brother has zero hope in him"
"I do have hope, hope that Ness won't take long with our drinks," he smiled.
"Why are you so weird?"
"It's probably from all the trauma"
"To your head or what?" Mike glared at her.

~

"There you are sugar, uh..I was wondering.." Mike looked up at Ness, the taller finished setting down their plates.
"..do you maybe want to come over to my place this weekend?"
"Really?"
"Yeah..do you not want to?"
"No I do, I was waiting for you to ask actually"
"You were? Shoot, I'm sorry, I get self conscious about having people over, but I want you to meet my cat, I think he'll really like you"
"I can watch Abby," Vanessa offered.
"What! But I want to meet Smudge," she whined.

Vanessa leaned over and whispered something to her, Abby's pout turned into a smile, she nodded quickly.

"Uhm, I'll meet him some other time, you go with Ness," Vanessa nudged Mike encouragingly.
"Okay, yeah..is Sunday okay?"
"It's perfect, I'll call you about the time"
"I'll be waiting"
"I won't keep you long," Ness smiled at him before going to wait another table.

Mike felt his heart beating quickly in his chest, and the way his whole face felt like it was on fire, was this what it felt like to have a gigantic crush on someone? He felt kinda dumb, just smiling to himself while thinking about Ness, they were just going to hang out, it wasn't a date, Ness was going to show him his cat, not his flirting skills, get it together Mike.

"He definitely likes you"
"Could you drop it please?"

~

He sat by the phone, checking the time every five seconds, Abby sat at the table, watching him as she ate dinner, she found the expressions he made entertaining. Mike started to wonder if Ness would even call, maybe he forgot? Or what if something bad happened and he couldn't-

Ring ring

He quickly grabbed the phone, putting it up to his ear.

"Hello?"
"Hey Mike, sorry about the wait, I had to talk to my boss about something"
"That's alright, I wasn't waiting by the phone or anything"
"Sure, so about the time, it's Sunday, and I know you have work the next day, so I was thinking three?"
"I can do that, I'll just have to call Vanessa"
"Okay..so Vanessa, she isn't like your best friend now is she?"
"Why?"
"I don't know.."
"You want to know if you're my best friend?"
"Maybe"
"You know I don't think I see any room on the list, but I think I could squeeze you in in the acquaintances category"
"Oh fuck you"
"Language Daniels"
"God why did you have to use one of my many names?" Ness groaned.
"It's funny"
"I'm sure it is, to you"
"It really is"
"I'm not letting you meet my cat tomorrow"
"No- please, fine, you're my best friend"
"Ever?"
"Yes, ever"

He heard Ness giggle on the other end, he couldn't help but smile.

"I win"
"I hope you know that you didn't actually have to bribe me into saying it, you really are my best friend"
"Thanks..you're mine too"