never ever had I thought

Chapter 33

''You wanna make me a cocktail?'' I ask Matt. I know he loves to make drinks.

In the making of my margarita, I think it is, his mood drops a little for every second. I try everything to make it better but it's not really working. I only have one idea left I can think of. When my drink is done I take a sip and look at him with big eyes. 

''Have you ever thought about becoming a bartender, Matt?'' He looks at me with sincerely happy eyes.

''I have, but I didn't think I was good enough tho''.

I continue in the surprised and overwhelmed voice ''Why would you say that? It's the best margarita I've ever tasted!'' and the first, but I don't tell him that.

''Really?''

I answer by taking another big sip. Now he's basically jumping up and down, making even more drinks for me. It continues like that for some time. Matt making me drinks and me drinking them. Until Shawn and Lauren comes over. I'm getting a little behind, not drinking as fast as Matt's making them. So I hand Shawn one of the orange ones and Lauren a pink one.

''Lauren this is Jess. Jess this is Lauren'' Shawn takes the drink in my hand and puts it back on the table turning towards the fridge. 

''It's a beautiful eyeshadow Lauren'' I smile. She returns it, wow a gorgeous smile. ''Thank you Jess and happy birthday!''. It doesn't even bother me that she calls me by my nickname. 

''Did you by any change model for that new shop downtown?'' Lauren aks pulling her phone out from her pocket to show me. 3 pictures is on the shops Instagram. A newsletter and two pictures of me in the exact same outfit as I'm wearing now. Didn't Shawn say he told them no. 

''They're really good and I love the outfit. Do you go to the model academy in NYC?'' Lauren says.

I look up to meet Shawn's gaze and this time it's not with a smile.

''I did say no to the posters tho'' he says passing me a coke. ''Don't look so disgusted, it's 11PM and you're about to fall down the chair''. I put my hand up to prove I don't need anything to hold on too. Shawn catches by my arms before I fall backwards of the chair. I take the coke.

''No I don't model'' I tell Lauren. She takes the seat next to me.

''Then what do you do? There must be so much to do in New York?''

''I'm in high school. And I don't know about that, I find NYC pretty boring. I've always liked the more chill cities. Like Toronto, I think I'm in love...'' She looks at me confused. ''...with the city'' I finish, but she still looks like she's seen a ghost.

''How old are you today?''

''17'' Didn't Shawn tell her that? Does it matter? Maybe she doesn't think I'm old enough for Shawn. It's none of her business anyway.

''Really? You look older tho''. Lauren says and show me a meme from the netflix movie Birdbox. She only thought I looked older than I am? No judging, or whatever?

It's rare I meet someone and just click. It even took years for me and Maddie. But Lauren just seems sweet and kind all the way through. I like her. I'm so caught in our conversation I don't notice Shawn leaving the kitchen.

''How old are you btw?'' I ask Lauren, when I finish my coke.

''Just turned 19. I'm a few months older than Shawn'' she says.

Ali and Maddie walks up on us from behind and I scream.

''Relax girl and listen'' Maddie says. She song playing is 'Havana' which happens to be the song to one of the dances we did, when we took dance lessons.

''Come on Jess. We can't do it without you'' Ali beggs.

I take a deep breath, glad the alcohol has not yet left my body and threw shy Jessica all the way to Mars.

''Excuse me a few minutes Lauren'' I say and we run to the dancefloor.