Carmen's POV
I had known Tobi and Josh for ages now. Ever since I was little we'd all go out and play football or just run around and be kids. Around the age of eight, my parents packed up and left London to go to New York for a job offer. That never stopped us from talking too much on the phone with each other.
I finally moved back to London to go to a University there. I managed to get into the same uni as Josh and Tobi. Later I met Lewis and we also became quite close. Today, I now stood in a merchandise room with Lewis, my third best guy friend, and Freya, my best girl friend.
Freya was in Dubai with Josh so Lewis and I were just cracking jokes like we normally did and talked throughout the whole day while, of course, doing the packages. As I laughed, I remembered about how I had a crush on him since uni, but always pushed it to the back of my head.
I felt like I'd ruin out friendship and if it didn't work, I'd have to be in an awkward room with him for hours. We decided to go get a bit to eat at Nando's for lunch. I had always liked our little lunch 'dates'.
"I'll pay this time." He said fast. We always rushed out that sentence before the other person. I sighed angrily. He smirked like the prick he is then he looked at me smiling. I felt my heart melt as I scowled at him, raising my eyebrow. Over the years I has mastered how to act like I didn't absolutely love him.
When we arrived, he went to order and pay while I got the drinks and sat down at an empty table. I glanced at him from time to time while he placed my picky order. I had a good side view of him. I glanced at the cashier flirting with him, but he was clueless of it. When he eventually said bye to her, she looked confused. I guessed from how he reacted.
"You know she was flirting with you, right?"
"What?"
"The cashier was flirting with you. Why don't you get her number? She was cute." If I didn't have the balls to ask him out, someone should be happy with him.
"Oh...no. I'm good, Car." He said.
"Okay, I'm just saying." I said raising my hands in defeat. "She was good girlfriend material."
"I have someone else in mind."
"Ooh, whose the lucky lady?"
"Ah, that's the hard part. We're friends and....I feel I'd ruin our friendship."
"Oh...."
"I know, I know. How fucking cleché can you get?"
"No, no. I just...wanna help you out."
"You don't have to, Carmen. I'm fine on my own if I don't have the nerve to ask her out."
"Oh don't think like that. Well, is she single? That'd make it easier."
"Yeah, she is."
"Okay, so you don't have to worry about one thing."
"Really good fact, Car."
"I got you, babe." I joked with him. I called my friends names like that. I mostly called him 'Lew' than his full name.
"So, since we discussed my relationship status, it's only fair that we talked about yours."
"I don't- I don't have anyone." I said closing my eyes and shaking my head. It was like someone else when I said that though. I sounded so sad about it. When I opened my eyes he looked at me with sympathy. I fucking hated it and he knew it.
"I'm-"
"Lewis, I feel it's just fucking sad to me I'm 23 with no one for me. No one to go home to. Just a fucking cold, depressing flat."
He sighed. "I didn't mean to hit a nerve, Farre." He called my last name when he was serious.
"I know you didn't and I didn't mean to say it like that." I said drinking my cherry coke to swallow the knot in my throat. He just looked at me for a minute.
"How's Hallie doing?" He asked. Hallie was my eight year old sister.
"Last time I checked, great. Good grades and everything."
"That's good. I assume your parents are good too."
"Yeah, yeah. Still together, so that's good."
"Yeah, are they coming to three year event?"
"Oh, shit!" I yelled a bit too loud. "I forgot to tell them." I said snatching my phone to text them.
Lewis' POV
I looked at her for awhile as she hurriedly texted her mum about the details of the event. Her eyebrows knitted together as she tried to remember everything.
"Sorry, I don't usually do that and I apologize." She said with a light smile tugging at her lips.
"Nah, it's fine." Things started to get better after we both got food and ate. The conversation got a little more interesting. We started talking about how Josh was thinking about doing a podcast.
"Ooh, that's interesting."
"Yeah, it's different."
"Yes, but, again, interesting. I think a lot of people would like that."
"I guess."
"Ah. At least a couple episodes, right? I don't think he'd fuck up that bad."
"No, not that bad."
"Why are you so quiet around me?"
"Because I'm scared I might say something stupid to scare you away."
I laughed quietly at him. "There isn't much you could do to scare me away." Before I continued to push as to why he said that, he asked if we were ready.
"Sure." I said with a bright smile. I didn't know really why he said that, but I guessed he didn't want to be asked. We quickly got back to the house to get back to work.
