HIM

2. Lunch and Dinner

I stuff my face with the 10 piece chicken McNuggets I've just ordered and watch as Caleb calmly dips his first nugget into some barbecue sauce. I can't quite control myself when it comes to fast food, especially chicken nuggets. They're just...irresistible!

"Why you takin' so long? Eat the damn chicken!" I say playfully, shoving his box of chicken nuggets closer to him. "We'll be here all day at the pace you're eating."

He chuckles and bites his chicken nugget and starts chewing, a crumb falling onto the table. "If you haven't noticed, we still have 45 minutes left of our lunch break. And frankly, I'm really not feeling this whole work thing today. I don't know, something about PJ day is making me just want to sleep."

We went out to McDonald's around 12:00 for lunch and it's now 12:15. We go to Mcdonalds about once a week, which isn't very healthy but it's really close to where we work, and sometimes our schedules are just so busy that it's the easiest thing to do. I could go on a Mcdonald's detox, but I....I can't say no to chicken nuggets. Self-control? Don't know her.

"Sucks for you, 'cause it's your job to be there. Plus, we have a lot to do today! So we should get going as soon as possible." I exclaim thinking about the hundred things I have to get done before 5:00. Just the thought of how behind I'm getting gives me a pang of anxiety.

"Blah blah blah." He says with his mouth full, another crumb falling onto the table. Pretty soon, there's going to be an entire pile of crumbs that he'll probably just sweep onto the floor.

No wonder why restaurants have pest problems.

I sigh impatiently and wait for him as he finishes up.

***

"Hey, Enny," Caleb says, poking his head through my office door. "I'm gonna head home now, text me when you're done with your date. And of course, if anything is going wrong, I'll be there right away."

I smile. "Okay, thank you. I will. Have a good night, I'll see you later."

"Bye."

"Bye."

He closes the door, and I watch as he walks to the elevator, glancing over his shoulder and looking one last time in my direction. My over-protective friend. What a guy. I ask myself this constantly, but how did I find him? Of all the people in the world who I could have met, I somehow met Caleb, and he has a genuine heart, a good work ethic, and is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. But right now, he's still looking in my direction.

I quickly run out of my office. "I'll be fine, Stupid! Just go home!"

A blush creeps upon his face, and he looks down before stepping into the elevator. He sticks his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants and smiles at me just as the doors close. I look at the clock that hangs on the wall of my office. 4:45 pm. Only a few more minutes. I'm giddy with excitement. Henry was always the type of person to look over people like me during high school, and I'm pumped that he finally noticed me. Yes, it's under some unconventional circumstances, but I'm willing to give this a shot. My life is pretty monotonous these days, so I'm open to inviting some spice into it.

I walk to the bathroom, noticing that at least half of upper management is still in the building. They should go home and get some rest. When I leave, they usually leave, so luckily I'm leaving pretty early today. They all glance up when I walk near the elevator, trying to see if they should leave yet. Their eyes follow me and I feel bad when I walk past the elevator doors and they all slouch down a little more and turn their eyes back to their computer screens. Ah, my amazing employees...

I look at my reflection in the mirror, and see that my hair looks a bit messy and -- OH MY GOD I'M STILL WEARING PAJAMAS!

I run out of the bathroom and look at the clock again. 4:48. I contemplate running home and changing, but there's no way that I can make it home, change into a new outfit and make it back in under 12 minutes. I silently curse under my breath, wishing that it hadn't been Pj day, and I sulk back to my desk. I'm either going to have to go on a date in my Pj's or just straight up cancel it; which is something that I do not want to do.

My phone rings on my desk, vibrating loudly, and I see that it's Caleb. His contact photo pops up on my screen. It's one that I took of him last summer when we went to the beach together. He looks so at peace.

"Hello?" I say.

"You're such an idiot, Enny." He says and I can practically see him shaking his head in disappointment...but for what?

"Uh-I know, but why are you calling me to tell me that?"

"You are seriously going to owe me one after this. I'll be back in 3." And then he hangs up. What the hell? I swear, if he's bringing me new clothes, I am honestly going to love him forever.

I pace back and forth in my office, watching as the clock slowly but surely ticks until 3 minutes have passed. I look at the elevator and see the number rising, and I walk out to wait.

"You guys can go home," I say loudly so that everybody can hear me. "I'll be leaving soon anyways. You did an amazing job today, good work. The new update is on schedule and will be released tomorrow. I'll see you all on Monday!"

They smile and start shoving papers into their bags.

A loud ding sounds, signaling that the elevator is here. The door opens and reveals Caleb standing there with a plastic bag in his hands, holding what looks like my favorite dress.

He steps out of the elevator and 6 other people step in, nodding their heads at Caleb as they pass.

"Have a goodnight guys," he says to them and then turns to me. He hands me the plastic bag, and I look inside. I almost scream when I see that he has in fact brought me my favorite dress. It's all black, and it's the only one I own that fits my small and skinny body without making it look like I'm wearing a trash bag.

"Oh my god, I love you, Caleb!" I exclaim, wrapping my arms around his muscular body. He hugs me back briefly before stepping back.

"Love you too, Bugsy." He says. "but you better get going, you've only got 9 minutes and I'm pretty sure I saw him walking up the street when my cab drove by. The guy has a very distinctive, albeit cocky, walk. You can't miss it."

Bugsy is the name that Caleb gave me when we were 5. He says that I looked like a bug since my eyes used to be really big and out of proportion to my face. At first, I was really annoyed when he called me that, but eventually, I warmed up to it. He doesn't really call me it much anymore, just on some rare occasions.

"Shit," I say. "Thank you so much!" I run to the bathroom and quickly change out of my Pj's and into the dress. I struggle with the zipper a bit, but it's a good thing I'm fairly flexible and can reach around my own body to pull the zipper the rest of the way up. Only 3 more minutes pass, and I have to run back to my office to grab my stuff. When I walk back out, I run into Henry. Literally.

"Oh, jeez, hey," I say, taking a step back. His blonde hair is gelled to the side and he looks very mature, very much unlike how he used to present himself in high school. His black suit is well fitted to his body, and he holds a single red rose in his hands.

"Hey, gorgeous." He says with a smile on his face, extending the rose to me. I blush furiously as my small hands take the bright red rose. Nobody has ever called me that. "Ready to go?"

I nod my head, and shut my office door, making sure to switch the lights off. We walk to the elevator, and I press the call button.

"Don't be shy." He says to me. "Just imagine we were back in high school. Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself."

"Okay." I begin.

CALEB'S P.O.V

That asshole.