It’s never that easy

What am I going to do? I’m in love with the most popular and most attractive guy I have ever known. I can’t do anything about it! The only thing I can do is admire from afar. There’s no way I will be able to talk to him, get to know him. Not little old me. I’m not worth as much as he is. But surely, he must know. The amount of times me and my friend Gemma blush and laugh when near him, especially at work. Oh yeah that’s another thing. I work with him at the local coffee shop in my town. Can it get any more awkward? I guess it can… I’m currently at work and he looks so cute. I stop to pick up some more cutlery and plates but turning around towards the kitchen, someone stuck out their foot causing me to fall flat on my face. Lying on the floor I could feel my face burn with embarrassment. I didn’t know what to do and just sat there with cold coffee running down my body from the fall. It was all in my hair and all over my clothes. I quickly got up off the floor and pretended nothing had happened and I just casually picked up the rubble and headed towards the kitchen. That's when it got worse. He only bumped into me and asked if I was okay. But I was too embarrassed to say anything and went straight into the kitchen ignoring him. Oh, what am I supposed to do? I cannot wait to get home, have a nice, warm, soothing bath and put my feet up to watch movies for the night and forget this day had ever happened. I'm sure it will be a better day tomorrow. Luckily the coffee shop has a shower for me to get cleaned up. An hour had passed, and it was finally time for me to go home, thank god. I went to the back of the coffee shop and grabbed my black leather jacket and headed for the front door. I turned towards Gemma to say goodbye when I bumped into him again. This needs to stop from happening. "Oh, sorry. I'm off home so I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Gemma," I shouted across the old oak wood tables towards the counter where Gemma was standing. She waved me a goodbye replying that she will be coming around tonight rather than seeing me in the morning. I headed towards the car park when suddenly I had this tap on my right shoulder. I slowly turned around to see the tall, dark haired guy that had tripped me up in the coffee shop. "Sorry. But I wanted to check that you were okay, you know because of what happened earlier." "Yeah, I'm perfectly fine thank you. It's happened to me many times in the past. So, don't worry about it, honestly. All I want is to get home and relax," I calmly said to him even though I was embarrassed. "Oh, okay, well can I at least buy you a drink for what happened?" "Erm...sure. I'm not really a drinking person so why not stop by in the coffee shop one day and I'll take my break." "Yeah sure. I'll come tomorrow if that's okay with you." "Yeah, no problems here," I said while giving him my cheeky smile. "Okay, see you tomorrow then." And after that little conversation, we both turned away. He walked towards the town centre and I headed towards my little, silver car that my mum dropped off earlier. Oh, what a day. It's not usually that hectic. Maybe it's because of the deal we have on, the weather or even the football. Who knows? All I know is that I hope it never happens again. It was the most embarrassing day of my life. Firstly, I was late for work because I missed the bus after dropping off my Car at the garage, I had to miss the football game to cover Steph’s shifts, my top was on the wrong way around, and I got tripped up which made me so embarrassed. But the worst of it all is he saw the whole thing. Not exactly what I needed when I was trying to impress. Oh, what to do? Well at least the customer came and offered a drink for tripping me up. It's got to be in sympathy because of the way I looked when he did trip me up. Can't be anything more. Can it? Oh, I don't know. I'm getting way too ahead of myself. We shall see what happens when he turns up tomorrow. Might as well try something when nothing is going to happen with the man of my dreams. I parked up and went straight to the bathroom to run my bath when the doorbell went. I headed towards the door with the dog barking like mad. I opened it to find Gemma. "Hey, you’re early?" "Yeah, Jamie let me go early cos we had died down a bit so no point of Jamie, Steph and I there really." Jamie is the guy I've been going on about, which makes it worse as he's the manager of the coffee shop too. Not the greatest idea really, liking the guy who can at any time fire you but hey, the heart wants what the heart wants. "Oh, and another thing, you need to ring Jamie." "Why?" "He never said. Just asked me to tell you. Do it now. I'm intrigued." "Okay, okay. Let me get my phone." I went upstairs to get my phone and noticed there were five missed calls from Jamie. I wonder what's so important. Bet it's just about one of my shifts. I dialled his phone and waited for him to answer and when he did I just froze. "Keira...you there?" "Oh yeah sorry something happened then. What's up? What's so important?" "Oh...erm... I wanted to check that you’re okay from earlier. You rushed away before I could speak to you." "Yeah had to get home...mum's not very well." I had to make some kind of excuse, I couldn't let him know I was embarrassed. "Oh, hope she's okay too then. Just a question. Can you do tomorrow morning instead of the afternoon? Would do me a massive favour. Nathan’s called in sick and can't do it." See, knew it would be about my shifts. That's all he rings me for. This is why I'm not bothering anymore. I'm just going to have fun from now on. "Sure thing. I'll be there early and open up if you want me to?" "No need, come at nine I'll be in with you tomorrow." Oh, great so he's going to be with me all morning. Yeah cos that’s not going to be awkward at all during the day. Help me now. "Okay I'll see you at nine then." “Okay. Thanks. You still okay with the retreat on Saturday?” “Yeah, we shall meet you there.” “Well, I thought I’d hire a minibus for us all to go together.” “Yeah okay. Shall talk to you about it tomorrow.” “Okay. Night Keira.” “Night.” With that I hung up the phone before he could say anything else. I can't stay on the phone for long with him otherwise it'll just make it worse for me. I walked back down the stairs to Gemma sat on the sofa with the dog. I laid next to her with my head on her legs. "Well, it wasn't even that important. Just wanted me to have a shift change to tomorrow morning instead. He also mentioned about having a minibus for Saturday, so we can all go down together." "Seems fair. You'll be working with Steph and Nathan then tomorrow?" "Nope, Nathan's ill and he never mentioned Steph. Why? Is Steph supposed to be working in morning cos he said he's going to be there?" "Yeah was supposed to be Steph in the morning and Jamie was supposed to be with us in the afternoon." "Oh, so basically he doesn't trust me too much then to be supervising me. Bet it was because of today’s incident." "Nah, it can't be because of that." "Well...what else could it be?" Gemma just sat there shaking her head at me. "Well, I don't know then." "You stopping over tonight? Don't want to be on my own tonight." "Yeah sure if you cook me tea." She giggled at me. "Okay, deal."                                                                                                           I went for my bath before I decided to cook for us both. What is it with baths making you so relaxed? Every thought I have in my mind has all gone. I never want to leave this bath. It'll all come back to me if I do. Well I best get out otherwise I won’t hear the end of Gemma being hungry. Oh, how she makes me laugh. I'm so glad to have a best friend like her. "Okay what you want to eat?" "Surprise me." "Okay." I walked into my white, clean kitchen which wasn't clean this morning. Must have been Gemma, the dogs not that clever. I started up the oven to put in chicken and veg pies and started on the veg to go with it. We enjoyed our girly night in watching films, gossiping and just our usual being stupid. Then around two in the morning I realised I had to be up by six, so I went to bed leaving Gemma to do what she wanted. *** I have never felt so rough in my life like I do this morning. How much did I even drink? Doesn't help that I didn't sleep very well either. I'm going to look great for work then. Jamie's not going to be impressed. I'm going to have to make sure that I look decent enough that it doesn't make me look hungover. Let’s have a go then, this is going to be fun. I walked in just two minutes before I was supposed to be there luckily. I woke up at seven instead of six which wasn't the best idea. I won’t be drinking that much again when I'm in work the next day. All down to Gemma of course, she’s the bad influence. I don’t drink like that when I’m on my own. I noticed there was no Steph. I'll ask Jamie, it's the only way I'll find answers. But even he wasn't about. I went into the back to hang my coat and bag up when I overheard Jamie on the phone talking to someone. "I don't know...I've tried everything. She won’t even look at me. How am I going to ask her out if she won’t even look at me? It's hard enough working with her when she doesn't even talk to me. I want to get to know her better. Maybe this retreat will work tomorrow. I'll have to try though won't I otherwise I'll always be wondering. Thanks man, I'll see you tonight for drinks. Okay see later." Hmmm...Now who’s that about? I had to walk into the room otherwise he'll walk through and wonder if I overheard. I walked in giving him a mini smile while I hung up my things. I grabbed my apron and walked back out into the coffee shop to start cleaning the place before we opened at half past. But after hearing that I'm always going to wonder now. Why did I have to go there and then? I texted Gemma to tell her to come to work early so I could talk to her about this. It's going to be in my mind all day now. "Hey. So, it's just us two today? I've moved Steph to this afternoon with Gemma. Hope that's okay with you?" "Yeah why wouldn't it be?" "It wouldn't. I was just checking." "Why?” “I’ve got something to do this afternoon, so I needed to be on the morning shift.” “Okay…well I'm going to finish cleaning up before the customers arrive. Would be nice to have help." I gave him a massive grin hoping he'd take a hint but have it as a joke. I stuck in my iPod so that I could clean quicker. I might as well while he's doing whatever he's doing in the kitchen. I dunked my hand and cloth into the soapy water and started dancing and cleaning to the beat of my music. I really can get going when I'm in my music zone. I finished my last table and was about to wash the floor when I turned around and noticed Jamie standing there watching me. "What?" "Do you do this every time I let you open up the shop? You've definitely got some moves on you," he said starting to laugh. "Yeah I do as a matter of fact. Makes me work quicker." "Well next time, just stick your iPod into the station if that's the case." "Oh okay. I will do. Thanks." After I had finished with the floor I opened the door to let it dry out a bit. There was another ten minutes before opening time so hopefully it will be dry by then seeing it was such a lovely day again. The day seemed to go really fast with us being so hectic again. I didn't even notice the lad that tripped me up had walked in until it was nearly time for me to leave or even Gemma for that matter. I walked up to the lad wondering what to say. "Hi. Never noticed you had walked in. Sorry. As you can see we've been a bit busy this morning." "Hey. No worries. Hopefully you can have a break soon, so we can talk?" "Actually, I finish in half an hour if you wanted to go somewhere else?" "Yeah sure. But first we should introduce ourselves, since we didn't have time yesterday. I'm Mark," he said holding out his hand. "Keira." I said shaking his hand. His skin was so soft. I said I would come and find him in the local pub nearby as I needed to finish up here and talk to Gemma. Finally, when I had chance I found Gemma and talked to her about what I had heard. Even she is wondering about what he meant but we both think it may be about Steph. She's one of these stunners who everyone loved, even if they didn't speak to her. I then told her about Mark and that we're meeting up for a drink in the pub, which of course she went crazy about the news of me going out with a lad. "Can I ask a massive favour?" "Sure." "Can I stop at yours for a few days until I can find my own place? Mum's driving me mad." "Yeah course you can. You know you can stop for however long you want. I have the spare room which is going spare," I said laughing. "Okay. Cool. Thanks Hun." "No worries...anyway best be going. I'll see you tonight then?" "Yeah sure thing. Have fun." I walked out from the back after picking up my gear and headed towards the door. When yet again I bumped into Jamie. "You off?" "Yep. I'll see you Monday. I can't stay if that's what you were going to ask. Got someone to meet." "Oh okay. See you Monday then." I overheard him ask Gemma who I was off to meet and she told him I was meeting a guy I had met yesterday. But why on earth will he want to know that? Oh well. I'm going to go enjoy my time with Mark. Might as well since nothing is going to happen with Jamie and never know Mark might be a lovely guy. And that is exactly what he was. We had an amazing time in the pub, talking about our lives and just a load of rubbish really. He asked if I wanted to go around town with him but with me having to get up early tomorrow I decided against it. But I got his number and decided to go out with him when I got back. This retreat is a whole week. Something about how we can make the shop better and team bonding. We said our goodbyes and I headed for home, ringing Gemma to see if she was home yet. She was. We chatted while I drove home, how Mark was a lovely guy and that we exchanged numbers. I told her we were going to meet when we got back from the retreat and that I needed her to come with me, which she agreed with. I hung up the phone with her as I was just around the corner from home. “Hey.” “In my room.” I walked upstairs to Gemma’s room, walking into her with her pyjamas on and a face mask. “Hey, where’s mine?” “In the bathroom.” “Back soon,” I replied walking into the bathroom putting my pyjamas on before adding the mask to my face. “So, it went well then?” “Yeah I think so. Early yet. We shall see once we come back.” “Fair enough. No more thoughts on Jamie?” “Don’t be daft. He’s always going to be in my mind, somewhere.” We both started giggling when Gemma’s timer went off for her to take the mask off. She went to take it off while I relaxed on her bed waiting for mine to harden. She walked back in looking beautiful as ever and started on her packing. “I’ll help you if you help me with mine?” “Sure. I need to make sure what clothes you’re putting in.” “Oi! It’s not that bad.” “Yeah sure!” “Yes, I’m sure. I had a massive clear out the other week.” We finished packing Gemma’s. You’d have thought we was going for a month from all the stuff she has packed. All I want is seven-day outfits and night outfits, bedclothes, swimwear and gym wear. I heard there’s a pool and a gym at the hotel we’re staying at. We walked into my room and grabbed my suitcase out of the cupboard. We got the essentials such as underwear, towels and toiletries together, put them in. Next is the hardest what to wear for the days there. We went through my closet and chucked all the possibilities on the bed. “Definitely your red and black dresses for the nights. Some shorts. Definitely these tops for the days.” She said picking up my beach tops to go over my bikini. “But I’ll be showing my bras off!” “That’s the point. Just make sure you have your bikini on most of the time then you can have these on. You never know who maybe there. Don’t forget there are going to be another five shops there.” She said winking at me. “Fine put them in. Put some of my strap tops in too though please. For the times we’re going to be sat in a room and have to be formal-ish.” “Fine. You’re no fun.” “Right I want a few bikinis, then don’t I?” “Yes. That’s the Keira I know.” “Get my red lace one, the light blue one and the pink one.” “Do you want to borrow my costume? You know the one that has the line in between the boobs and the pants?” “Yeah I’ll borrow that one off you.” “Sorted then.” “Let’s have some fun while we're on this. No drama?” “No drama.” “Right, bed then. Six okay with you? Jamie’s picking us up around eight to make sure we get there for ten.” “Yep. Come bound on me that’ll get me up.” “Night Gem.” “Night.”