Walmart ⇒ L.H.

06-Venus

Chapter Six

Saturday

This past week has been a blur of iced lattes, awkward work shifts with Jake, slowly building nerves, and texts and phones calls with none other than Walmart Luke.

I feel like I'm slowly getting to know Luke more and more, and I'm hoping that will help our date tonight. All I want is for it not to be awkward. Hell, I really like Luke. I'm just not very comfortable around people I like, I guess. I get really nervous, and end up shutting down to the person. I hope that will change with Luke though, I don't want him to think I'm a completely different person in the flesh than over the phone.

Over the past few days we've been texting and calling, and he even dropped by the cafe again when I was working on Thursday. He still didn't buy anything though; he really is keeping up with the whole Lava Java joke.

When Luke came in, Jake got really tense. He's been really weird around me ever since Luke asked me out in the cafe. I've never thought about the fact that maybe he could like me as more than a friend, but now I'm thinking that maybe it's possible. At least that's what Chanel says.

My phone pulls me from my thoughts as it vibrates next to me on my carpet. I put down the pale pink nail polish and reach for my phone.

Chanel: "I'm picking you up in 15, be ready."

Chanel's picking me up to bring me shopping for the date tonight. Of course, I'd already reminded her that I didn't even know where we were going and Luke wouldn't tell me, so I didn't even know what kind of clothes to wear. She'd disregarded this on the fact that she feels obligated to have a part in the relationship because she was the one who made me call him in the first place.

Basically, she's forcing me to go.

My phone suddenly vibrates again.

Walmart Luke: "hey, just a hint;-) you might want to wear something nice tonight"

I quickly type a reply.

Venus: "still not gonna tell me where the heck we're going, huh? what if i wear sweats and an old tshirt?"

Walmart Luke: "youd look great, but regret it instantly, i promise u. see u later x"

I blush at his comment, he can be such a flirt around me. It makes me feel special though, so I don't mind.

I answer him quickly and send Chanel a text letting her know that I'll be ready, and we need to be fancy for tonight. That should get her excited.

I get dressed in high-waisted light denim shorts and a black tank top with a red plaid flannel over the top. I roll the sleeves up to account for the warm weather, and grab my white converse before heading downstairs.

Dad and Daren are in deep discussion about something in the kitchen, hand gestures and all. Except dad's waving around a slice of watermelon in one of his hands.

I drop my shoes on the ground loudly and take a seat on the bottom stair, before proceeding to untangle the laces.

"Oh hey, little sis," Daren says, smiling at me from atop the kitchen island counter. "Where are you going?"

"Shopping with Chanel. And don't call me that," I remind him for the thousandth time, but I smile back because I really do miss him.

"Shopping for what?" Dad chimes in, raising an eyebrow and wiping watermelon juice from his chin with his pinky finger.

"Yeah, and who's Chanel?" Oh, right. Daren wasn't here when I got my job.

"A friend from work." I ignore my dad's question and finish tying my right shoe.