Help a girl out.

Chapter Seven.

Jessie's POV.

We’re now watching 'London has fallen'. After having watched the first movie in the series beforehand, I’m trying real hard to concentrate on the TV, but all my mind seems to want to think about is the fact that Liam called me cute. Or at least he said I look cute in my hoodies and stuff. But isn’t that kind of the same thing? Aargh! My mind is going a million miles per hour, and I can’t seem to concentrate at all! This is so stupid, he just called me cute, it was a friendly compliment. Actually, I’m still kind of surprised that he even noticed that I always wear the same things in the first place, or even notice me at all! I’m always just there, not saying much. Sure I’m a little shy, but mostly I just don’t talk when I have nothing to say. I don’t feel the need to participate in a conversation if it doesn't interest me. Not that I’m rude, my dad raised me well, so I always answer when spoken too, and of course I say thank you when needed, but like in high school. All the fuzz and the teen dramas. It had nothing to do with me, so I didn’t engage. A lot of people mistake that for shyness, but honestly, I’m just kind of boring. 

“Jess? Earth to Jess!” I look to my side and see Liam looking at me with a smirk, and I get the sense that he has been talking to me for a while.. Argh stupid thoughts! “I thought you had seen this movie before, you were staring so intensely at the screen, I was afraid it would blow up..” He laughs.. “Sorry…” I let out a little laugh “..I guess I was kind of in the zone.. What were you saying?” I try to recover. “I’m getting hungry, I just asked if you want to order a pizza or something?” Actually I am kind of hungry. “Sure, I could eat.. But you have to order though, I don’t know what’s good around here..” I answer. “No problem..” He says, getting his phone out of his pocket. “Extra cheese, right?” He asks, without taking his eyes off his phone. “Yes please! Oh, and no pineapple, pleeease! Fruit does not belong on pizza!” I say matter of factly! “Oh, and can we get fries too?” He chuckles at my enthusiasm, “Sure, Peanut, we can have fries too. But I’m paying, since I just came here and intruded on your night.” He gives me a pointed look at the end, daring me to say otherwise, “You didn’t intrude, but thank you” I smile, and he continues to place the order on his phone..

*****

It’s been 5 five days since the night Liam came over. Since then, he’s been coming over two more times, escaping when Lily has been over to hang out with Marc. OK, I know they’re not really ‘hanging out’, but come on, it’s my brother, I really don’t want to think about him in whatever it is they are doing… Today is my fourth shift at the diner, and also the first shift without Lily here. Today it’s just me and Bob, who manages the kitchen. There’s no one here, except for a group of three guys sitting at a booth. They’ve been here on every one of my shifts, and I remember Lily telling me that a lot of the guests here are regulars, including them. “Hi guys. What can I get for you today?” I ask with a smile as I stop at their table. “Hey.. um..” one of the guys looks at my name tag and smiles at me “Jessie… Can we get three burgers with a side of fries, and cokes for all of us.” He’s really good looking, and my smile gets bigger. “Sure, be right up.” I say starting to leave. “Aren’t you going to write that down?” He asks, stopping me in my tracks. I smile at him and look around at the otherwise empty diner. “I think I’ll remember.” I give him a wink and go deliver the order to Bob. 

When I come out of the kitchen, the same guy is at the counter waiting for me. “You forgot something for your order?” I ask, “No.. I just got to thinking that it was kind of unfair that I know your name, but that you don’t know mine.. It’s Julian.” He answers. “Well it’s nice to meet you Julian..” I smile. “So… Are you attending college here?” He asks, leaning on the counter towards me. “Yeah, I start on Monday actually..” “Great, guess we’ll see more of each other there then..” He sends me a wink, and I feel my heart picking up speed. Before I can answer He’s back in the booth with his friends. Was he flirting with me? Me? No, no that can’t be… Could it?

*****

I get home, and it’s not long before Lily gets here to hang out. She texted me while I was at the diner, asking if I wanted to hang out. “So what? Not hanging out with my brother tonight?” I ask as she joins me on my couch. “Nah.. I wanted to hear how your first shift alone went, and also, I told you, I’m not interested in dating anyone right now. It’s just casual, and three times in one week is getting too comfortable for me.. I don’t want your brother to get any ideas..” She almost sighs. “But hey, tell me how it went, was it okay?” she asks, trying to move on from the subject of her and my brother, and I’ll let her, for now anyway. I know there’s more between them than she wants to let on, and I know my brother, he’s totally smitten with this girl, but I’m gonna let it rest for now. “Yeah, it was good. No trouble or anything, actually it was really slow today.” I say. “Actually I have to ask you something..” I continue “You know that group of guys that comes around the diner almost every day. They are around our age, and always sit at booth 4.” I ask. “Oh yeah, that’s Aiden, Julian and Chris.. What about them?” “I think maybe Julian flirted with me today!” I say, feeling kind of ridiculous. Lily raises her brows, and gets all excited.. “Really! Oh my god girl, what did he say?” She squeals. I tell her all about the short conversation I had with him. “...I’m just not sure if he was just being nice or if it was flirting..” “Girl, he was totally flirting with you! And also, why wouldn’t he? Look at you! You are a total knockout.” She pauses for a second. “So? Are you gonna go out with him?” she asks. “Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. It’s not like he asked me out or even for my number.. I don’t even know him.” I say. “Well, duh! Dummy.. That’s the whole point of going on a date, so you can get to know each other.. From what I know of him, he’s a good guy. You should go for it!” Lily looks at me with a smile that reaches her eyes. A date? I’ve never been on a date. Hell, I haven’t even kissed a guy before. How the hell am I going to do this?? I feel a little panicked. Relax Jess! Like you just told Lily, he hasn’t asked you out! There’s no need to freak out.. Not yet anyway!