Benefits - h.g

7

Danica

Kim

Be there in a few

I read her message & sighed. I locked my phone & put it faced down on the table as I slid my back down my chair.

I looked around as I watched life take place in front of me. People walking in & out of stores. Some with smiles & huge bags in their hands. Others with faces of anger or disappointment as their moms explained why they couldn't get what they desired.

I like to observe people weirdly enough. See how humans function in everyday life. How they live. How they act. How they are in their purest element. Then I was forced back into reality.

"Welcome to Café Delta. May I take your order?" I heard a voice behind me. It sounded too familiar.

I turned my head mere inches to see Hayes. He was wearing a tight white T-shirt that hugged his huge biceps & a black waist apron.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I work here," he chuckled, "I need money for things too. I mean I am a teenager."

"Oh my gosh," I face palmed.

"No one will see us here I promise," he spoke quietly.

"My best friend is coming in a few minutes so you better jet," I suggested.

"A few minutes? Perfect amount of time for us to talk about the party," he chimed & sat down in the chair across from mine.

"Agh fine. But after this, we never ever talk about that party ever again," I looked at him strictly.

He nodded his head & stared at me for a few moments.

"I wanna be serious about this though. Pure clarity. Nothing hidden," he spoke & he was actually making sense. He brought his head down & closer to my face.

"Is it wrong that I liked what we did even though we shouldn't have done it?" he asked in a whisper & that's when my head began to swirl.

I stayed silent for a lengthy period of time. Thinking of an answer to his oh so ambiguous question.

"No," I finally answered.

"Why?" he asked, quite a shocked look on his face.

I gulped hard. I knew I needed to confront the feelings I had but was too afraid to voice.

"Because I liked it too. Let's do it again," I said the last quickly, uncertain if it was a good idea.

"Really?" he gawked silently.

I nodded slowly, my eyes not breaking his eye contact.

"If you want to. I don't mind. I just can't stop thinking about you Danica," he murmured quietly & shook his head slowly, still looking into my eyes.

"I guess I can say the same," I murmured. I knew what I was saying was wrong but I knew that's what I felt.

"You know that Guesthouse just a few miles from this mall? basically on the outskirts of town," he explained.

"Yep," I nodded.

"My uncle owns it. We could go there Saturday night? Say six-ish?" he asked.

"That's fine with me," I nodded slowly.

"Good," he nodded with me. It was very awkward.

"Yeah," I tried to make the situation seem less awkward but it didn't work.

"Grier! Get back to work!" someone from the counter yelled.

"Oh crap," he chuckled & stood up, "Saturday?"

"Saturday," I assured him. Just as he left Kim came & sat down.

"Hey," she greeted me, all bubbly like a bottle of champagne.

"Hey," I greeted back.

"Sorry I'm late. My mom," she rolled her eyes.

"Say no more," I chuckled.

"Yeah. Did anything happen before I arrived?" she asked.

"Nope. Nothing at all," I lied with a smile.