A few weeks past and Luke and Cara went on a few more dates. Their second official date was where I was an awkward third wheel. Ashton was meant to come but he got told he had to work and he was desperate for the money so he chose that over spending an evening with us. To be honest, I don't blame him. Luke and Cara are always all over each other and it's uncomfortable to watch. Sometimes I wish Ashton and I hadn't set them up together.
Ashton text me the morning after Luke and Cara's first date, asking if I wanted to 'meet him'. He hated using the word 'date' but he'd practically admitted that's what it was. It had been a few weeks since I agreed and we still hadn't 'met' each other.
I finished school for the day and decided that I'd walk to town and do a bit of shopping. I liked shopping alone because it meant I could spend as much time as I wanted in each shop, unlike when Cara shopped with me. I'd literally get two seconds to look at the things I wanted and the rest of our time would be spent on Cara flirting with the guys in the shops. Even when she was with Josh, it didn't stop Cara looking at what else was on offer.
After about 2 hours of shopping, I called it a day. I'd already spent enough money and I was starting to get tired. I paid for the last few items I'd decided to buy, a new dress and a pair of jeans, then I started the walk home. The heat was crazy, making the walk down the road with the amount of bags I was carrying a battle.
I approached the hotel where Ashton worked and where I usually went to the gym. I hadn't planned to stop here but I wasn't hurting anyone by seeing if Ashton was working. It was 50/50 chance if he was there or not. Plus, if he was working, it meant I could stop for a rest before I walked the rest of the way home.
I walked through the entrance of the hotel, people gave me strange looks because I was still in my uniform and I was struggling to carry all the bags full of the things I'd bought. Well at least I think that's what they were looking at.
I trudged through queue of people who were hanging around in the entrance, trying not to knock anyone out with my bags. I walked down the short corridor that connected the entrance and the bar, still fighting with my bags. I was shocked that no one offered to help me. The staff were usually so helpful here. Maybe it was because they knew I wasn't staying here.
I walked into the area where Ashton worked. It wasn't a room as such, the corridor that I walked down ended here and opened up to an area full of tables. The bar wasn't dark like it was the night I spent here when my parents were celebrating with their colleagues. It was now well lit from the big windows and glass doors that opened up into a small beer garden.
I slowly walked over to the bar, placing my bags on the floor next to me. The tables and booths that were scattered around weren't busy and I couldn't see anyone who worked here. I looked around but I still couldn't see anyone. Ashton obviously wasn't working today. I let out a deep sigh. I was a little bit gutted that Ashton wasn't here, I liked spending time with him. This also meant that I couldn't have a break before I walked home.
I bent down to pick up all my bags when I heard the sound of glasses clinking together. I raised my head to see Ashton walking through the doors that led to outside. He was carrying a try full of empty beer glasses. He was wearing his usual black shirt and black pants.
I let go of my bags and sat on the bar stool that was next to me. Ashton seemed to be in his own little world and hadn't noticed me. He knelt down behind the bar, disappearing from my sight. I lent forward, resting my elbow on the bar and my chin on my hand. I let out a big sigh, trying to make it obvious I was there.
"Can I help?" Ashton shouted from behind the bar, still kneeling down.
"I'm waiting for my date," I said as seriously as I could.
