When We Met

nine

|Donovan|

I pass through the doors separating the hallway and hide behind the pillar, my hand resting on my chest.

Jesus Christ.

What is this guy doing to me? Why does his presence accelerate my heart pace?

I head back inside the cuisinart and handover the order to Gerry, the cook of the diner. Laila skips her way to me and squeals as soon as she reads the order.

"I love this person already. He went for the chef's choice. Yay!" She exclaims and starts dancing like a lunatic. I roll my eyes at her.

"How long, Gerry?" I ask, jumping on a seat beside the oven.

"Fifteen minutes. You can hang around till then, if you like." He replies, adding three eggs to the mixture in a large pan.

"No, it's fine. I'll wait."

I watch Gerry and Laila work their asses off, even though I know that they enjoy every bit of it whole heartedly.

Gina scurries past us with two plates settled on her arm. It's a busy night. I'd really need a drink once I get back home.

The moment I consider hopping in the loo, Maddie bursts through the doors. Over excited, much?

"It's fate! I saw him in the hallway! He was looking for you!" She pulls at my arm and leads us out of the cuisinart.

"You saw who?" I ask, although I know the answer very well.

"That hot bartender. The one you danced with at the club."

"His name is Dylan Martin."

"Oohhhh!!! You already know his name?! So, are you two finally hooking up?"

"Jesus, no! Miss Madeline? Please stop making bizarre assumptions, for Christ's sake."

"Then how do you know his name?"

Right. I didn't tell her about the coffee deal. What should I do now?

"Well, we ran into each other at the supermarket. I told you, didn't I?"

That isn't a lie either. We actually ran into each other at the cereal counter.

"Um, I guess you mentioned it. Anyway, chuck it! So, go and meet him! I bet he was looking for you."

"a) He doesn't know that I work here, so he can't possibly be looking for me. And b) I met him already."

"What?! When?"

"Well, I took his order."

"Aww, romance at its best!! What did he order? You?"

"Ew, gross. Just shut up already, Madeline!"

"You love him so much!"

"Jesus Christ."

One thing that I find really annoying about Madeline is that she doesn't know how to simmer down her excitement.  She has a tendency of acting on her impulse. But the worst part is that she never regrets her impulsivity.

"Hey? If you don't like me bugging you all the time, then you can just say it." She nudges me with her elbow.

"What are you talking about?" I eye her with confusion.

"Well, I know I can be pretty exasperating sometimes. So, I'm giving you the ultimatum of flipping me off whenever I start getting on to your very last nerve."

"You're on my last nerve every freaking time." I joke.

"Aww, but I know that you love me. So, I call it a truce. See you later, loser!!" With this, she saunters off. I shake my head at her retreating figure and start chuckling.