Comfort

Crush

(1234 words)

We exited the lift, hoping to leave the awkward silence behind us. Now that I've admitted to myself, it's easier to get over the small things. However, it's still there, this stupid crush. Give it time, it can't last forever.  We made it outside again, both of our stomachs eager to eat.

"Where are we going out to eat?" I asked, like it mattered.

"Some restaurant I looked at before, it's called like Michelangelo's?  I don't remember, it has like, seafood and Italian." He replied nonchalantly.

"That sounds so good right now." I said putting my hand on my stomach.

"Damn... Why'd you have to ask?" He did the same as me, we laughed, getting into the closest taxi.

  We threw ourselves in the car, acting like idiots.

"Where to?" Our now much more cold taxi driver interrupted.

"Trevor?" I asked, recognizing his voice.

"Yeah, where to?" He repeated quickly, hoping to hide his identity but failing.

Grian told him an address again, "Hey, are you alright?" He added.

Trevor didn't respond, just started driving us there. Our light mood was now interrupted by his cold demeanor.

"Hey, you can tell us, we don't have anyone to tell. And we're just tourists, we'll be gone before you know it." I said softly.

He glanced at me with the rear-view mirror, and sighed.

"I'll tell you another day. Most likely I'll see you guys again." He smiled again, which was nice.

"No worries, just try to lighten up, yeah?" I smiled back.

  He nodded and pulled over to the sidewalk to let us out.

"We are already here?" I asked, our hotel was perfectly in sight.

"Oops, I forgot it was this close, sorry!" Grian said panicking a bit, it was quite cute. 

  Regardless of the distance, we paid him kindly and stopped wasting his time.  The restaurant had the smell of food lingering around, mixing with the smell of the salt water.  It felt like my feet automatically walked inside, like they were being controlled by my stomach.  The restaurant mimicked and Italian style, it was lovely.  It was almost too lovely, as in romantic.  I looked around, they had a wall behind the reception made of vines, looking into the dining area.  I couldn't help but notice, all the tables were two to a table, candle in the minute.  The music was like music at Olive Garden, smooth and classical. 

  Grian poked me from my thoughts, signaling we were being seated.  The hostesses all gave me a look, they all clearly assumed we were together.  I quickly turned and followed after Grian and we were seated.  I looked around at the others already seated.  There was a few couples just cooing each other. The people who eat here, aren't just couples, they are newlyweds or just plain married.  This crush might be more difficult to get over than I planned... We got seated to a booth in a dark corner, that helped a bit. The waiter put our napkins and such on the table. The booth was a deep burgundy color, the table was a rich deep cherry mahogany wood. They had a outside area too, beautiful beachfront view, for some reason no one was out there. Grian chose his seat first, being he was in front. He sat facing outside and I got to stare at all the other couples around us, sneaky prick.

The hostess lit the candle in the middle of the table, "Your waitress will be here soon, enjoy." He said with a cheery smile.

I didn't want to be here, I honestly just wanted to leave. My stomach was no longer empty, it filled with butterflies. I stared discretely at Grian as he browsed the menu, the candle was a bright white compared to the gloomy setting, lighting up all his perfect features. I realized what I was doing and wandered my eyes to the other couples. They all looked so happy together, I looked back to Grian. It seemed he didn't even want to talk to me, just get his food and go.

"Why, um, why is no one eating outside?" I asked Grian, some reason being a nervous wreck.

The waiter walked up just in time, answering before Grian could respond, "Oh! Because there is a wedding today!"

"A wedding?!" I repeated his words.

"Yeah, if you stick around, you might get a free drinks from the groom! Heard he would get a couple rounds for everyone." He set down cup holders and got out a pen and notepad, "I'm Ryan, I will be your waiter. So, anything to drink?"

"I'll just have a water with lemon." Grian stated, still hiding behind his menu.

"Me too." I said, I didn't really care, my thoughts still stuck on the marriage.

"Alright, I'll be back with your drinks and some bread." He said dashing off.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt to be blatantly ignored by Grian, regardless of this stupid crush.

"Grian, this place is, not what I was expecting..." I said, finally expressing my discomfort.

"Dude, hurry up and look at the menu. Before he gets back and we have to wait longer for our food." He complained, ignoring my comment.

I was upset but realized I never even looked at the menu, so he did have a point. This only aggravated me more.

"We get bread anyway..." I mumbled looking at the menu.

As much as I wanted to fake not knowing what I wanted forcing us to wait longer, I wanted to leave more. I gazed around a bit, but once I saw it, I knew immediately, that's what I wanted.

The waiter came around, he set down three small plates, the one in the middle he poured canola oil over the mixed herbs on that plate. It was a dip that I rarely get, and have no idea what it's called, but I know it's amazing...

He then sat down our waters, "Are you ready to order?" He asked.

"Yes, I'll have the lobster Alfredo." I smiled, ready to dive into the bread.

"And I'll have your chicken Parmesan." Grian said, also ready to devour the bread.

The waiter obviously laughed at us, who could blame him? "I have a question, actually."

Me and Grian both looked up at him, "Hmm?" I questioned cautiously, slightly biting my cheek.

"You guys aren't married," He pointed at our hands, no rings, "and you don't even seem like a couple. Why are you here?" He laughed periodically throughout saying that, clearly confused.

I glanced at Grian, he looked down at that comment, sadder then I anticipated.

"We're a couple, just not the romantic type." I lied, shrugging it off.

I felt my cheeks heat up and my heart raced, but I didn't let it show. However, I didn't dare look at Grian, his stare would pierce me.

"Ahhh, my bad... I'm sorry, I'll go get your order in." He apologized and retreated quickly, cheeks red himself. His smile was obviously forced as he left.

I ignored Grian and grabbed some bread, just happy to finally eat. He soon followed, but he was clearly contemplating on how to talk about it.

After a few bites, he spoke, "I didn't know we were dating." He joked with a iconic Grian smirk.

That damn smile, it never failed to make me want to smile back.