Secrets

Awkward

Wednesday came by all too quickly. It was another sweltering day in Abu Dhabi and what better way to appreciate the unbelievable heat than to bake your skin in it?

I'd arrived at Laura and Paul's hotel rather early, agreeing to join them for breakfast. *knock knock * seconds later the door flew open, revealing Paul and his megawatt smile. "good mornin" he beamed, bringing out a huge smile of my own. "morning Paul. Good to see you" I replied stepping into their room. "likewise! It's been ages!" he said pulling me into a warm hug. I managed to nod, whilst having the life squeezed out of me. "hey you're here!" that sweet, misleading voice greeted me. "it appears so" I grinned at Laura, who returned my expression. "well let's head down there!" she exclaimed, ushering us out the door, Paul muttering something about her being unbearable when hungry. I had to agree, she was worse than me.

..............

We'd been seated at a table alongside the huge windows that looked out to the sea. It was a breath taking view.

Laura and Paul went off to grab some juices, leaving me alone at the table opting to chug down as much coffee as I could to keep me awake. I'd hardly slept again last night. And of course, as in any good love story slash break up, there has to be an awkward moment. And that had to be coming up right now.

"here Mr Hulkenberg, will this table suffice?" a waiter kindly offered the table beside ours to him. "yes, thank you" he replied gently, taking the seat opposite from my side of the table. Well shit. At least he was alone...

"would you like some more coffee miss?" the waiter turned to me after making sure Nico was comfortable. "oh yes, please. I can't drink enough of it this morning" I smiled, the waiter smiling politely back at me. He told me he would return with a fresh pot, not that I was really paying attention, I was more aware of the fact Nico was staring.

As the waiter walked away I tried my best to pretend I hadn't seen him, but the feeling of his eyes on me made me blush. Even when I was just nervous and uncomfortable.

Maybe I did the childish thing, but I pretended I'd not noticed him, yeah all 6 foot something of him. God I was an idiot but I was flustered, I didn't have time for a game plan! Thankfully the waiter came back and saved my bacon.

"here miss, I think you are drinking us out of coffee this morning" he smiled, causing me to giggle. "I probably am" I replied, receiving a nod from him as he backed away from the table.

As my eyes left his retreating form, I felt myself involuntarily glance across at Nico, who at that very moment did the same and we caught each other. I felt my face flood with blushes, Nico did a little too, but he nodded at me, smiling nervously. "g-good morning" he stuttered. My eyes left his, darting to the crisp white table cloth then back up to his icy blue eyes, "morning" I replied timidly, cursing my blushes.

"the yoghurt is beautiful Vick, you gotta grab some" Paul interrupted our brief staring competition. I tore my eyes from Nico, to see Paul sitting down opposite me, in the seat closest to the German. "oh okay, looks good. Think I will" I managed to blurt out, then jumping up from my chair, I headed over where Laura still was.

"you look like you've just seen a ghost. " Laura said, seeing me join her by the yoghurts and granola. Rabbit food really if you ask me... "um, yeah, well uh, Nico got seated at the next table to us." I stumbled over my words a little. "he said good morning" I added, my eyes looking over the food but not actually registering what I was looking at. "oh, he's coming over now" Laura said, glancing sharply over her shoulder. "oh crap really?" I asked, "don't worry, he looks far too scared to come near you. He's getting a drink" Laura narrated. This was stupid. I was old enough to speak to someone civilly. "it's okay, go sit, I want to get some food" I told her. She nodded at me in recognition and then turned to head back to our table.

I collected my Greek yoghurt, my chosen berries and was reaching up for some Cereal (one of those little boxed ones) but as my favourite wasn't on the counter, I had to reach up to the shelf above. Which, of course, was too high. I sighed, curse me and my small legs. It was too nice of a place for me to climb up on the counter to grab one, and there was no one around right now to help. Guess I'd have to leave it this time.

"do you, do you need some help?" that voice asked, the one that made every tiny hair on my body stand on end. I screwed my eyelids shut briefly wondering why fate had to do all this cliché shit to me.

"um, yeah I, I can't reach my Cereal" I replied, turning to glance at him briefly. "which one?" for Fuck sake... "Frosties..." I blushed, looking up at the Blue box with Tony the Tiger on it, feeling slightly childlike. And for the second time today. Go me...

"thanks" I said, taking the little box off him. "anytime" he replied softly. I nodded a little not knowing what to say next. "how are you?" he asked me. The pair of us loitering around, me wanting to dash away, him wanting to hold onto this moment a little longer. I shrugged automatically, "yeah..." I sighed, letting out a nervous laugh too. Still I couldn't look him in the eye. Thankfully he didn't ask me anything more, but told me my breakfast was being served back at my table. I glanced back seeing my piping hot plate of pancakes was being placed in front of my empty spot. "oh great, I'm starving" I sighed, hearing Nico chuckle lightly. "enjoy" he said, softly. I looked back to him and into his eyes for the second time, "thanks" I smiled sadly, then I turned away and eagerly headed over to the table.