"Just Friends"

Unexpected Plans

Tanner Smith

When I first saw Elijah, I thought he was just some nerd. but then, I saw the tiredness in his eyes, Those striking blue eyes, and I couldn't stop looking at him. So I told him he could go home early, and to stay there. He really did look like he needed it. So I'm sitting here at this cluttered desk thinking about this random guy I just met and get up to clean the desk up when I see Elijah picking all of his desk things up like he's planning on working while he's away.
I walk up to him.

"Hey. No. You aren't working while you are taking a break." I say, grabbing the things out of his hands back into his desk.

"Well, how am I gonna be productive then?"

"I guess you just aren't going to be productive for once, Mr. Williams."

Elijah looks up at me with an intense glare, and I look back at him with just as much enthusiasm. But those eyes distract me again, and I soften.

"He's a bit of a workaholic." The girl next to Elijah's desk pops her head up from the other side of the cubicle.

"Maddie.." He looks at the gal, and then back up at me. "s-sorry...  I guess I am a bit of a workaholic. I don't mean to though. It's just... keeping productive helps drown out other things." Elijah says. I wonder what he means by that.

He looks back down at all of his things, and at my hands. I put his work equipment back on his desk, and look at his eyes again. They really are enchanting.

"Hey Eli, wanna get something to drink after work?" a co-worker friend of Elijah's I assume walks up to us.

"Er... Jenn, I think-"

"He would love too," I respond before he could refuse.

"Who are you?" who I guess is Jenn says.

"I'm a friend of Elijah's."

"oooooh... well in that case, why don't you come with us?" Jenn asks while pointing at Eli and the other girl on the other side of the cubicle wall.

"nonononononononononononononono. H-He can't come with us. We barely even-"

"yes yes yes. he's coming with us, Eli. shush."

"Great! I would love to come with you guys. you two seem close, am I right?" I ask.

"well, actually-" Eli started, but Jenn had gotten ahead of him.

"MADDIE!! Get over here, you fucking adorable piece of shit." Apparently, the scream was unneeded, because Maddie was the girl in the cubicle next to Elijah's. 

When Maddie walks over, she hits Jenn upside the head and then leans on her and Jenn puts her arm around Maddie. Either they're in a relationship or are very close friends.

"-There's three of us. we've all known each other since middle school. couldn't live without 'em." Eli finishes his sentence.

I noticed that Maddie has a nose ring in her nostril and several tattoos snaking up her arm to her shoulder. I have to admit, it works well with her look and style.

Jenn was more on the pristine side of things. She had her hair messily thrown into a bun.  However, she was wearing a sleek black dress that fit her quite well.

Eli was tired looking and had major bags under his eyes, as mentioned. But even still, he has a slim form to him and is wearing office casual, as many do. I realized I had been staring for to long, and I look at the floor and back to Eli's face.

"Well... I guess I will see all of you later. What bar, anyway? And what time?" I question. I completely forgot to ask.

"Oh yeah! 8:00 p.m. work for you?" Jenn responds.

"Yeah sure." I say.

"And we were planning on going to a local pub. I can have Eli take you." Maddie adds.

"Oh no, that seems like a lot of trouble for you. I can't have you do that for me." I look over at Eli as I speak. He looks at me with a smile.

"No hassle at all Tanner. Not a problem." He said with a smirk.

I look at him, stunned. Did he really just agree to that?

"Okay then. All is settled. Now Eli, go home." I say.

He looks at me confused for a second, and then seemingly remembers what was happening before the unexpected plans. He grabs his laptop and walks off.
I discreetly follow him, and he sees me as he is getting into his car. I take notice of his white Sedan, and wave my hand as greeting, to make myself seem less creepy, to no avail.

"Did you follow me out here?" Eli asks.

"I guess this is what it looks like. So sure. Think what you want." Im not sure what I implied. But it made him think for a second, so I think I'm okay.

"Anyway weirdo, why did you come here? You are actually obligated to work at the moment, are you not, Mr. Smith?"

"Right. I'm taking the rest of the day off with you." I say casually.
"What." He asks, clearly annoyed and confused. "No." He refuses to spend the day with me. Clearly we do not click in personalities. "I would much rather spend my day alone very much. I have things to do.  Alone." He finishes.
"Mmmmmm.... no." I think. "I'm not going to leave you alone."
"But why!? We don't even know each other."
"Exactly."
He reluctantly agreed, and I got into the drivers seat. He was about to make me move when I put my finger on his lips to make him shush.
"I'm driving."
This time, there was no inconvenience and he got into the passengers seat.
When we made it to his apartment, he immediately crashes into bed. I sit on the couch and turn on the tv, being careful not to turn it too loud. I soon drift off to a peaceful sleep.