Fried Burrito

s I x

"Caden! You didn't answer my question!" Daph squawked at me for the billionth time. "You're killing us here. How do you two know each other?"

I just sat back in my chair and watched Jace concentrate on putting whip cream on a much younger girl's frozen drink who'd been attempting to create a conversation with him instead of answering the dozens of questions flying at me from both Lena and Daph. 

He interacted with the girl candidly just before handing her the cheap drink. She flashed him a bright smile, handed him her phone, but instead of putting in his information, I found him staring at me from behind the counter in anticipation like he wanted me to say or do something to interfere... As if he and I were in a place to claim each other as significant others in front of other people and as if we didn't just have our first proper conversation together yesterday.

After a couple of seconds of wordless stares from Jace, he smiled lightly at the girl and shook his head before pointing over at me while his mouth produced words I wasn't able to hear due to my distance. She turned around and genuinely smiled at me rather than projecting envy or jealousy onto me.

"You've got a good one there, hold onto him," she said to me once she left the shop.

Curious as to what she meant, I got up and made my way over to him instead of continuing my intense-- and slightly stalker-ish-- stare in his direction.

"Hello, beautiful," Jace greeted me with expectancy and warmth, which made me wonder what he could've been up to.

"Why didn't you give that girl your number?"

"Excuse me?"

"It was clear she was flirting with you..."

"I told her that the one girl I wanted in my life had already latched me onto her, despite the fact that we were barely friends and barely talked. I told her that I didn't want this special girl to feel like she had to compete with anyone else for a spot that's clearly always going to be hers."

I found myself looking back into the eyes of the boy who had taken an unbelievably tight hold on me, thinking he could be the kind of different that was good for me... the kind of different that I not only wanted but, the kind of different I deserved.

I couldn't tell him that just yet because I was sure I was jumping to all sorts of conclusions. I still didn't know anything about him and he barely knew me. How could I confess or act on any feelings when I didn't know if I was feeling the right things for the right reasons? 

"Well... That was a bad idea. Why would I have a spot in your heart when you don't know if you have a spot in mine?" I questioned as a way to avoid coming off as too interested in the semi-stranger.

Jace smiled at me slyly, leaning forward just enough for me to notice the sparkle in his eyes and the faint scent of dark roast coffee radiating off of his body.

"Who said I was referring to you, Caden?"

Realizing I was caught in an awkward position, I felt my cheeks heat up to the temperature of the sun. I had verbally jumped to yet another conclusion when that was the last thing I was trying to do.

Geez, give me a horrible guy, I can turn him down in an instant without question but give me a good guy, I'll just psych myself out and get embarrassed like a little kid.

I wasn't a little kid so I had no business acting like one. I had to get out of here before anything could get any worse.

I said the first thing that came to my head: "Good day to you sir," and began to disappear from Jace's sight.

After the words left my mouth, he watched me leave in a hurry, all hot and itchy from our interaction. Lena and Daph followed me out shortly, silently questioning my sudden actions. I was about to get in my car and drive away at the speed of light but Jace somehow beat me to it. The smile on his face was evidently large—and adorable— as he stared down at me with a billion emotions pouring out of his presence.

"It'll only be a good day if you go out with me later," he stated while I felt myself starting to panic.

He was so persistent it killed me.

"I don't know about that."

"You don't know?"

"No."

"So let me help you. I know you're just as curious about me as I am about you, it'll be a great chance to finally get to know each other. There's no reason for you not to say yes."

I couldn't help but laugh. 

"Now I know dating doesn't work like this... You.. Deciding my decisions for me so.. impulsively."

"Someone's just keen on jumping to conclusions today!" he exclaimed as his fingers pinched my cheek. "Who said we were dating? We're not dating, Caden... At least not yet. It can be two people hanging out, completely casual. We don't have to call it anything."

Why was he being so reasonable?

Why couldn't he come out and say something sexist or a stupid pick up line to hint at how good my body looks?

Ugh!

Two people getting to know each other? Who said I wanted to get to know him?

What if I actually did get to know him, start to like him, and get my heart broken in the end? I'm not ready for that kind of impulsive spontaneity everyone's been raving about yet I still want it.

I turned back to Lena and Daph for assistance in making my final decision and even though I hadn't told them about Jace yet, they both pushed for me to say "yes" seeing as he was able to earn more than an eye roll or a threatening statement involving my brothers from me.

"What time do you get off work?"

"Three o' clock."

"That's early."

"Well it is nine o clock now and I don't need to work a traditional eight hours at a coffee shop people barely come to."

"Okay well..."

'Well?"

His eyes found mine in such a way that made me want to give up all my games and confusion. They sparkled with curiosity and wonder and I wanted to be the reason why they shone like that... I think. I'm not sure, I'm still trying to figure things out.

"I guess I can meet you back here when you're done."

"Great," he sighed contently. "Can we take your car?"

"I thought you were keen on driving to places."

"I didn't feel like driving this morning," he replied with a smirk on his face as he waited for me to recognize his use of my line from our conversation at the mall the other day.

"Seriously?" I chuckled back, not being able to hold back my smiles any longer.

"Seriously. I have to get back now but, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, later."

And then he smiled at me for a couple of seconds before turning around and leaving me behind with my friends in the summer air.

"So now do you want to tell us what's going on?" Daph pushed the second I let out an anxious breath.

"Not really."

"Too bad," Lena interrupted while grabbing my arm. "You're going to tell us anyway."

"You should've known that question was rhetorical, Cad!" Daph chuckled as they began to drag me away.

Before I knew it, I was driving around town with my best friends gushing about the persistently creepy yet cute coffee barista who had taken an interest in me that made me feel like I was better than someone who would've been used for a one night stand or anything demeaning to the female species. For once, I felt like associating with some strange guy would be a good thing and that I could come walking out on top rather than down under.