Fried Burrito

n I n E

Before clocking into work, I decided to linger by the pretzel place to "bump" into Jace. I truly felt awful with the way my brothers had treated him the other day and I knew it was partially my fault. I had to apologize. I prayed that the warm sugary treat would ease any tension that may have been left.

"It had to be," I whispered to myself before letting out an anxious sigh.

I felt good and ready about my apology pretzel until I saw the barista himself walking towards me with an unreadable expression on his face. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as my body began to become unbearably itchy. Suddenly, I couldn't face him.

I dropped the pretzel and ran across the corridor into my job, not even bothering to spare a look behind me. Once I made it inside, I couldn't help but feel a little sad. My once evolving relationship with Jace had sputtered out quicker than my dad's cheap fireworks on the 4th of July. 

Such a shame, I really saw myself going somewhere with him... I think.

_______

"I love how you continue to look absolutely adorable even when it's clear you're embarrassed, Caden," A random but familiar voice cut into my deep thoughts about what kind of drink I wanted with my pizza.

My head flicked around to meet the eyes of the boy I had been trying to avoid yet apologize to at the same time. He was flashing an amused smile and a twenty dollar bill in front of me and I couldn't deny the swoon my heart was going through. This boy was weird but it was the type of weird that you couldn't help but like.

"Can I buy your pizza for you?" he questioned.

"I don't know, can you?" I joked as a way to reminisce about our first moment together.

Jace smiled wider when he laughed at me while his eyes shone brightly.

"May I buy your pizza for you?"

"Thank you but, I got it." I waved my twenty dollar bill in the air for emphasis.

"No, I insist, beautiful," he pushed. "It'll help me cope with yesterday's events."

Oh brother.

"About that-"
"Don't even apologize to me, I  know that wasn't your fault," Jace cut in with another smile.

"Okay," I smiled back.

"So, let me treat you just once, please?"

"Alright, Jace, whatever floats your boat," I sighed playfully.

"You do my darling, you do."

"Cute," I chuckled as he paid for my pizza. "Even though I'm far from a liquid, it makes sense."

"Hush!" he blushed before lightly pulling me to the side. "So where should we go for our second hangout?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, you're off work right? It's 5:30."

"Who said I was leaving?" I said as a smile found a way onto my face.

The thought of being with Jace all afternoon didn't make me want to cringe.

"I did."

And just like that, another moment was ruined by my overprotective brothers. I barely even made it outside so I don't even know how they could've seen me!

"CJ what are you doing here?" I sighed with closed eyes.

"Picking you up from work," he replied while eyeing Jace down.

The atmosphere was extremely uncomfortable between us and I couldn't help but want to feel like I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide.

"I drove here today with a freaking escort from you and the rest of the idiots in my car so what you're saying doesn't make any sense."

"It makes perfect sense Caden. Obviously, I came to ride back with you once again to make sure you don't interact with any more fools."

"Whatever. Just give me five minutes."

"Caden-"

"Five minutes!"

CJ sighed of defeat and left Jace and me alone in the middle of the mall. He stood a few feet away from us at the pretzel booth while he watched us with hawk eyes until a girl caught his attention. He instantly started a conversation with her as if she were an old friend while the girl showed a clear interest in my brother.

Ew.

The shudder that passed through me was overpowering but it was soon replaced with a smile because of the new window of opportunity I was given to fly through.

"Run," I told Jace as I made a break for the door.

"What? Why?"

"Just do it!"

And we were off. We ran and ran until we reached my car. The other idiots weren't anywhere to be found so our getaway was pretty clean. When we were halfway out of the mall parking lot, I realized something crucial and sad.

I dropped my fifteen dollar pizza.