Coffee Shop [BxB] ✔

Chapter 6

   I looked down to him, eyes wide with shock and incredulity. I didn't think he'd say it so bluntly! I mean, he could've hinted at his realization that I liked him but he just flat-out asked me. Curiosity? Could he be eager to hear my answer because he likes me back? Maybe he wants an answer so he can turn me down. It could go both ways.

   When I met his eyes, they didn't seem chided or disgusted. My guess was that he was simply curious and a sigh escaped my lips. I hadn't noticed the tension and silence between us until now.. I cleared my throat.

   "What if I said yes?" I asked quietly, turning my head to the side. I felt his arms fall from around my neck, so I decided to look back over to him. His shimmering hazel eyes were soft with consideration. He didn't look angry but he wasn't smiling either.

   His hands raised and cupped my cheeks, his thumbs rubbing the skin right under my eyes. He leant upwards and gently kissed the corner of my mouth. "Ashton." he called quietly. I tilted my head expectantly.

   "I like you too, trust me." he started, obviously hesitant to continue. "but... I-I'm sorry, I can't be with you right now." I felt my heart squeeze a little but I managed to keep my act together. His voice was so sweet and fragile... It's unlike him to speak this way.

   "Please understand where I'm coming from when I say this; I-I feel like it's all happening a little bit early. I don't want to rush anything, you know?" Harvey explained, a pink blush creeping back onto his freckled cheeks. He glanced to the side and looked back at me with determination laced into his gaze.

   "Though, I do plan on kissing you more in the future."

_____

   Well, the past few days have been casual, I guess. I'd go to college and take my classes, do homework and finish small projects when I get home, call Harvey to check up on him and I eventually go to work. Things between Harvey and me are only slightly awkward now but we just laugh it off with something sly to break the heavy atmosphere.

   Ever since the day we kissed, I found him staring at me whilst I made coffee for the customers. He'd sputter out nearly incoherent words if he got caught; which happened a few times already. I thought it was a bit cute of him to get so flustered. I guess that day really made an impact on him. I hope the change was postitive.

   "U-Um, Ashton." I heard from my left. I turned to Harvey, whom was fiddling with his shirt as if he were nervous. He then raised his hand and pointed to his chin, signalling that there was something on my face. I wiped it off with the back of my rubber glove-covered hand, looking at it to find that it was just a sprinkle from one of the cupcakes I'd previously served. Yeah, I can be a little clumsy at times. I guess that's just one of my quirks.

   "Thanks. Hey, how about we meet up this weekend?" I asked him, flicking it away from my hand. Before he could even reply, a figure bumped into me and a coy giggle emanated from my left. I turned over to the sound and found Kate with two coffees in her hands.

   "I gave him your address the other day, since I found it in the system that listed all of the workers~" Kate winked at me, nudging my hip with hers. Ugh.. She's flirting again.

   "How?" I asked, giving her an incredulous look. She just shrugged and told me that he visited earlier the day before yesterday, asking for my location. I felt my heart warm so I turned back to Harvey, who was now looking away with downcast eyes.

   "And, I think he'd love to come over and fu--" I quickly covered her mouth with my hand and swatted her away as if she were a pesky fly. "Hehehe, oh well! All thanks to me, you guys can finally make out in private!" she chimed as she scurried to the front counter to serve the warm beverages.

   "Um! Ashton, I... I'd like to come over but I'm worried about my little sister being alone." Harvey stammered, catching my attention quite easily. Well, I have a plan that could fix that.

___

   "Woah, and you said my house was awesome. Look at yours!" I looked around his large livingroom with astonishment. There were dolls stuffed in an open toybox and a plastic playhouse in the corner of the room. I'm guessing that's his sister's.

   "What? No, haha... It's not as big as yours." Harvey chuckled, strolling forward and slipping the sneakers off his feet. Ah, I guess I should take my shoes off too. As I bent down, I found that he'd placed his shoes next to a smaller pair.

   They were sparkly blue slip-ons with a giant plastic flower on the front of each shoe. I slipped mine off and gently placed them next to Harvey's. For some reason, this made me smile a lot more than it should've.

   "Bubby, is that you?" a soft voice came from the carpet-covered stairs to my right. I turned my head to find a small girl with a pastel blue dress on and white fluffy bunny slippers on her feet. Her eyes were hazel and her short hair was a dark brown - like Harvey's.

   "Hey!" Harvey grinned, kneeling down and opening his arms invitingly. She dashed down the stairs and threw herself into her older brother's arms. I watched in awe, unmoving from my position.

   "I missed you!" she yelled, her high voice slightly ringing in my ears. He laughed and wholeheartedly reciprocated her statement. I knelt down along with them and looked at Harvey with a smile. Before he could return my smile, I was already pressing my lips against his cheek. Once I pulled away, I was able to watch his face light up a saturated red.

   Then he stood up and slowly let go of his little sister. He shot me a look that secretly said, 'you can kiss me more but only when we're alone.'

   "Ashton, this is Audrie, my little sis. Audrie, this is my... Uh, best friend." he shot me an apologetic look as he said "best friend." I understood why he said it though. This is his sister we're in front of. We have to be appropriate, even though I already kissed him next to her.

   For some reason I still felt dissatisfied when he said I was just a friend.

   End Of Chapter 6