Lost And Found

6. I need to punch something

"Good Morning Leona!" Isaac said as she walked up to him.

"Morning Isaac." Leona said handing him a menu and putting another one on the empty space across from him. "I'll go get your coffees."

She turned to walk away but Isaac called her back, handing her both the menu's back.

"I'll have the special, and just one coffee. Chandler isn't coming in today."

She tried to hide her disappointment and nodded going to get his coffee ready.

*

"Why didn't Chandler come today?" Leona finally asked Isaac just as he stood to leave.

He smiled and shook his head in amusement. "I was waiting for you to ask me that, you held out for longer than I expected. I'm not really sure why, he just said he had something to do."

She nodded and turned to leave.

"I can tell he's grown on you, the guy's pretty persistent. Do you think you're ready to give him a chance?" Isaac asked making her stop and turn back to face him.

"I don't know.... I don't know if he's genuine or just looking to hook up." She said honestly. Vulnerability had never been her strong suit, but she needed some sort of assurance.

"Leona, he's been coming here everyday for the past two weeks, taking longer than a normal person to finish a simple breakfast and continuously asking you to dinner. Does that sound like someone who's after a one time hook up?"

"No?" She asked, uncertainty lacing the word.

"No." Isaac said. "Want his numbers?"

"Uhm." She wasn't sure if she did. What would she do with it? Okay so obviously call him, but then say what?

Isaac saw her hesitation and took a napkin and pen from the table. He took out his phone and scrolled through some contacts and wrote Chandler's down.

"Here." He said handing it to her. "You decide what to do with it."

She took it and stared at him as he left. Nia walked up beside her and smiled.

"And?" She asked.

"He gave me Chandler's number." Leona said.

"And?" Nia asked again.

"And what?"

"Aren't you going to call him?" She asked, hand on her hips.

"What would I say though? Hey Chandler, you not coming in today made me realize that I actually do want to go to dinner with you?" Leona asked sarcastically.

"Yes!" Nia almost shouted.

"Yes?" Leona asked confused.

"Yes Leona, that's exactly what you say. He's asked you to go out with him fourteen times and he got turned down each time. I think he deserves to be asked out too."

"I don't think I can do that." Leona said with a sigh.

"But I definitely can." Nia said grabbing the napkin and running towards the back while typing the number on her phone, pressing dial and putting it on loud speaker. Leona caught up to her and tried to grab the phone but stopped when it was answered.

"Hello." Chandler's voice came through. Both Leona and Nia didn't say anything and just stared at the phone.

"Hello?" He repeated.

Nia motioned to Leona to talk but she shook her head declining.

"Hello!" He said for the third time stopping their silent argument.

"Hey! Is this Chandler?" Nia asked giving up on trying to get Leona to talk.

"Yep, the one and only."

"Okay great. It's Nia."

"Oh hey Nia. Whats up?" He asked casually.

"So we noticed that you weren't here this morning." Nia said slowly as if questioning her choice of words. Leona face palmed in embarrassment.

"Yeah, I sort of had something to.. Wait! Did you say we? Leona missed me didn't she? That's how she got my numbers. She asked Isaac! Finally!" He said not containing his excitement.

Leona groaned and rolled her eyes. The sound not going unheard by Chandler.

"Is she there with you?" He asked Nia.

Nia looked at Leona and smiled smugly while Leona shook her head pleading with her not to say yes.

"Yes she is." She said cheerfully. "And she really wants you to take her out to dinner tonight but she won't say it because, well you know how she is."

"I do indeed." Chandler said and Leona could tell that he was smiling, she smiled too. "I'll pick you up at seven Leona. Okay?"

Leona kept quiet. Unable to make up the words to answer him.

"Leona come on!" Nia said urging her to say something.

"Okay." She said softly but it was loud enough to be heard.

"Great." Chandler said excitedly. "Send me your address. I'll be wearing my best suit!"

"You better be." Nia said before hanging up.

"My girl's got a date!" Nia said excitedly. "Hurry up and let's get home to get you looking like a star!" She clapped her hands and walked back into the restaurant.

Leona rolled her eyes. "I need to punch something."

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