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The next day after the banquet was Sunday, no school or work for either Diego or Elias. On Monday, after school, was the first time they'd seen each other. Diego arrived there first like always and presented Elias with his apron and name tag with a smile. Diego didn't want to smile when he saw Elias this time though, he just wanted to tell him everything. Over the months both Diego and Elias had talked about things, embarrassing, things. But there was a certain line the two of them never crossed when sharing things of their past. Diego knew telling Elias would be crossing that line, and he could never do it. The day was just calming down after being open for a few hours, and then Olivia showed up. 

Olivia was more casual this time, wearing jeans and a designer t-shirt, her bag still dangled from the crook of her arm. She took a general look at the place before deciding on an empty table in the back. Elias was working the front and watched as she took out a book and started reading.

Throughout the next few weeks, Olivia would do the same thing every day. She would come in, find a table, and read or do schoolwork. Occasionally she would talk to Elias about whatever her mind would think of, just to talk to him. Sometimes it'd be about school, and others it'd be about her grandma's cookie recipe. 

But one day, Olivia read as Elias and Diego finished up with the few people there, and then when everyone was gone she got up and walked to the counter. 

"Diego, would you mind tidying up the back?" Elias told Diego, nodding he'd handle Olivia. Diego walked into the back room just as Olivia reached Elias. 

"Elias I think we need to talk," Oliva said, Elias put down the rag he was using to clean the counter and motioned for Olivia to follow him outside. 

It wasn't too cold out that day, an occasional breeze blew by that would cause you to shake, but it was manageable. Elias turned to Olivia, who was trying to manage the breeze without a jacket. 

"What did you want to say?" Elias asked, he was tired of having her show up. It was like she was mocking him, just like she always would. Except for this time, he actually cared about the thing she was mocking. The shop has brought a new meaning to his life, brought new people. 

"I think we both know that eventually we will get married," Olivia began, she didn't want to continue, "-and I was talking to my parents and they say we need to start acting like it." Olivia couldn't stand to look at Elias, the pure thought of having to marry him someday haunted her since she was born. Elias was just as distraught over the idea as Olivia, he couldn't marry her. 

"Your parents are shitheads who wouldn't know a thing about love if it stuck them up the ass." Elias snarled, the same went for his parents. He thought back to the other night, as he watched Diego and Olivia talk, and he sat alone. He didn't want to admit to anything, just the pure thought of telling Olivia anything disgusted him. 

"I don't see why you're so upset, you get to marry me. A lot of guys wish they could do that-" Olivia began to say when Elias cut her off, 

"Because I can't marry you, Olivia!" Elias yelled, "the one thing I've held true my whole life is that I want to marry for love, not some business move." Elias just couldn't stop himself, Olivia just scoffed. How dare he say the words both of them had been thinking. 

"Well, who do you love so much that you're willing to give up marrying me for?" Olivia asked, she knew the answer yet couldn't say it. 

Elias thought back to the way he held Diego's hand when he shook it, how he just wanted to keep holding it. How jealous he felt, watching Diego so much as sit next to Olivia. How happy he feels when he sees Diego bring him his apron every day. He just couldn't say it. Olivia watched as Elias stood silent, she knew too, she just wanted to hear him say it. 

"Who Elias?" Olivia asked, this time yelling a bit louder. 

"Diego, Olivia, I like Diego." Elias snapped, regretting the moment he opened his lips. Finally, he was able to feel his heart, pounding in his chest, Elias started feeling sick. Olivia let out a small laugh, shocked Elias had actually told her. 

Olivia and Elias were allowed to date, the one shared rule their parents never actually told them, but heavily implied, was that none of them were to be long lasting relationships. This is why the most either of them dated, were dates for things like school or business events. Olivia decided to use that rule to its fullest by bringing a new guy to every event, but Elias always went alone. 

"Well Elias, have fun telling your parents that you're planning on marrying Diego. I'm sure they'll love hearing how little money he has." Olivia hissed and then turned around to walk back inside, but Elias grabbed her arm.

"If you say one word to either of our parents or Diego, I will personally be the cause of your funeral," Elias whispered, meaning every word. Olivia smirked and went inside, leaving Elias alone in the parking lot. 

Olivia grabbed her stuff from the table in the back and was about to leave when Diego came out from the back. 

"Diego," Olivia said as she walked closer to the counter, and then looking over her shoulder to see Elias still standing outside before continuing, "You're gonna start liking me, or I tell Elias how you feel." She said, her breath slipping out between each word. Diego couldn't let Elias know how he felt, and Olivia knew it. 

Diego was scared, he couldn't let Olivia tell Elias, so he slowly nodded his head.

"You won't be telling Elias a thing, you understand?" Diego told Olivia, to which she replied, "yes" with her signature smile never leaving her face. Olivia gave a little look around the shop and then left Diego at the counter. Elias was waiting outside her car when she came outside,

"You didn't say anything while you were in there?" Elias asked, trying to sound threatening, but was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. 

"No idiot, I would never," Olivia told him, then got in her car and drove away. 

Elias waited until his heart rate went back to normal before walking back to the door. Diego continued working inside, wiping off knives and replacing old stale bread. Elias watched as Diego worked, and felt sick again. Diego could never find out how he felt, Olivia was right, they would eventually get married. Elias knew there wasn't anything he could do to stop the inevitable, just that he can prolong it. Elias watched Diego work, the way Diego's body would move in perfect motion. Taking his time to watch every edge of Diego's body, knowing he'd probably never be able to watch him this way again. Elias watched, wanting to walk inside and never leave. Elias felt frozen at the moment, finally, he was able to give in to his temptations and watch Diego's curly brown hair bounce in sync with the rest of his body. At the banquet, he couldn't look at Diego like this, his family would've known something was up. But he was able to indulge in a small glance, every now and then. But now, he was able to take in everything, from the way Diego breathed in every few seconds to the way his hands moved. But he couldn't stay in that moment forever, no matter how hard he tried. 

Inside, Diego's head had thousands of thoughts running rampant in his head. None of them coming together to make sense. The one thought that he couldn't get rid of was Olivia, how could she just come in there and tell him what to do? Diego couldn't stop moving, couldn't stop working. The anxiety slowly made it's way to his head, grabbing his brain and wouldn't let go. Forcing his heart to start pumping, and not letting it stop. His face started to sweat, and his stomach started to wrap around itself. Olivia seemed so nice at the banquet and now threatened to tell Elias something that would ruin whatever kinda relationship they had. Diego couldn't stop working or thinking, no matter how hard he tried.