Always

Chapter 3

LISSA

        After work the following days Mae would come to my flat and we would "hang out". I was rather awkward but she didn't mind. She was starting to become my friend whether I liked it or not. I did enjoy her presence because I wasn't alone and she liked to small talk and watch TV. Gradually I was becoming more comfortable around this hyper girl. I could open up to her, but not with everything. Some things would never change.

        She had told me that she lived in a flat near mine that was practically identical so she didn't need a tour. Mae invited me to her house often after classes and she was probably the only one in the world that had seen me laugh or smile in the past 2 years. She was satisfied at her ability to make me -the emotionless girl I am- giggle and grin. Mae was not just the bubbly crazy typical person I thought she would be. She told me that she had moved from America and left behind her family and friends for a better and new life. That explained why she had a different accent. That was one of the very rare times that Mae looked upset.

        "You wanna have a girl's night out with me this Friday and go to the club and then watch a bunch of movies at my place?" Mae asked one Wednesday after a particularly hard sessions of self-defense(the second Wednesday of self-defense). I nodded to her proposal. She giddily clapped before we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways since I lived on the South side of the complexes and she lived on the north. I sat in the parking lot a moment longer and stared off in space for a little while.

        I thought back to earlier in class;

        "Ok just for the fun of it we are going to have a competition." said Harry.

        "We will rank you and your partner by how well you perform in your self defense." The whole class's attention was on them now, Niall continued. " No favorites and no bribing us." The entire class laughed.

        Suddenly someone tapped on the glass to my car. Niall. He gave me an amused look as I rolled down the window.

        "Yes?" I asked him nervously but kept my tone neutral so it wouldn't show. I hoped he wouldn't mention my odd space gazing.

        "Well I saw your car was still here and I hadn't gotten to talk to you after the class," he usually would stop me before I left to ask a question or tell me something, Harry had talked with Niall and I occasionally. We were friends you could say. "and I was wondering if.... If you had plans this Friday." I was taken by surprise and accidentally honked my horn. I let out a little screech. Niall deeply chuckled and cleared his throat.

        "I, well... I don't know. Why do you ask?" I was momentarily flustered. I should have said no and that I had plans with Mae but something stopped me.

        "I was thinking we could do something together maybe eat out." he said equally as nervous as I was but he couldn't hide it like I could. I sighed.

        "Sorry I'm going to the club with Mae, she insists-" Niall cut me off.

        "Then i'll meet you there." he said with a grin and walked away before I could protest. I mentally scolded myself. Mae would be disappointed if she found out that I only went to meet up with Niall. And I didn't want any of my other classmates to think I was just trying to get one of the instructors to favor me. I was certain that our meeting at the club would only be casual. I nodded my head in agreement with myself and headed off to my flat to get ready for another day of work.

        I wore a cream blouse today paired with a floral pair of leggings and black flats with my hair in a teased ponytail. Today I felt more casual. I had found the leggings in the back of my wardrobe after digging through it. Usually I just picked out the regular white blouse with a black skirt and heels. But, with Mae around me I was starting to feel almost... colorful. I didn't wear any mascara either. I felt that I didn't need it.

        Madrid greeted me at the office after quickly finishing up a phone call. He looked surprised.

        "Wow you look different today!" Madrid exclaimed. I made a small grin. I sat down in the plush swivel chair situated in my cubicle. I started to fill out some paperwork that was as boring as ever when Madrid took the papers away from me.

        "What's up with you?" he asked curiously. I sighed and told him more about the self-defense classes. I had already told him I was taking them but I hadn't told him about the instructors and my fellow classmates yet. He was intrigued by my story even though I thought it was extremely boring. When I mentioned Niall's invitation to hang out on Friday he gave me a funny look. It was foreign to my eyes. He also liked my outfit today and told me he preferred me not wearing makeup.

        As the day wore on I finished paperwork and chatted with Madrid the whole while. He didn't like the boredom that came with this job, but jst like me he did it for the money. Although being in each other's company made it less boring.

        Finally the day was over. I got my bag together and checked my phone as I walked to the elevator. I pressed the button the same time as my boss, Mr. Letts. During the brief moment our fingers touched I felt the warmth of his hand. I quickly retracted my hand at the odd sensation.

        "Excuse me." I said firmly as the elevator opened.

        "After you." he said in his deep voice. I didn't think anyone's voice could go that low. He wasn't even that much older than me. I hadn't asked him of course, but judging by his sharp and strikingly handsome face that had a slight stubble I estimated he was about 26. He wore expensive suits each day at the office and was the definition of rich. But, he didn't talk much so I didn't know much about him.

        "I haven't left this early in a long time, being the boss and all." he laughed lightly and I joined him. Work humor was about all the humor we had around here. I didn't think that Mr. Letts talked to his employees, maybe I was wrong. We stayed silent as the elevator took us from the 13th floor, which I worked in, to the lobby. Once we reached the lobby and the elevator doors opened Mr. Letts gestured for me to exit first.

        "Thank you, Mr. Letts." I said, walking out to the lobby tensely. I could feel his eyes on my leggings. I didn't know the boss had wandering eyes too! I groaned inwardly.

        "Please, call me David, Lissa." I was surprised that he wanted me to call him by his first name and that he called me Lissa. I was slightly disturbed. With a nod in his direction I walked off to my flat.