Starting Over.

Chapter 16 - Meeting the girls.

I got into work the next morning and saw the flowers still there. I smiled and sat down powering up my computer.

“Good morning!” Angela’s voice broke the silence and I jumped.

“Oh! Good morning.” I said looking at her.

“I feel today, you can work alone! If you have any questions, I’m just two cubicles down.” Angela smiled.

“Ok!” I said excitedly.

“Also, some of the girls wanted to meet you.” Angela said happily.

“The girls?” I asked.

“Some of the other accountants and data processors.” Angela said and noticed my unease. “Don’t worry, they’re very nice.” She continued.

“Ok, I think that would be nice.” I said.

“Yay! I’ll see you around then, unless we meet up at break.” She said as she stared walking away. I worked as instructed how to fill out their charts and sheets. The time flew as I worked through half my stack of paperwork. I saved everything and started my mid-day data download before lunch.

“Hey I’m checking in! Things are going well?” Angela asked.

“Yes! I think everything is right and I’m sending it off.” I said.

“Amazing Ryan! I’ll send off my report that today you worked alone and didn’t amazingly well.

“Thank you! I’m happy I’m useful here.” I said as I stood.

“Ready for lunch?” Angela was more excited then me.

“Yes.” I said gathering my things. I turned and followed her out and to the cafeteria. We were slightly early and walked up grabbing a meal. We sat down and waited.

“So, how’s David?” Angela asked.

“I don’t know what you mean.” I said as the cafeteria filled with people. A couple of girls ran over and sat down. One young and blonde girl with pale skin and think black rim glasses. Another with frizzy brown hair and tanner skin sat next to her.

“You didn’t start yet did you!?” The blonde girl said.

“Ryan this is Tilly.” Angela pointed to the blonde girl. “This is Carol.” She pointed to curly hair girl.

“Hi!” They said in unison.

“They’re customers service.” Angela said to me and snickered.

“I thought you were waiting for all of us!” Another girl with bleach blonde hair and black roots pulled a chair up.

“How could we start with out you! That is Samantha, we all call her Sam. She is in the cubicle next to mine.” Angela said.

“Nice to meet all of you.” I said and they nodded.

“Ryan’s a weird name for a girl.” Sam said.

“Oh, my dad picked it. Named me after my grandfather.” I said and they stared at me. “He did it because he wanted to me to have a strong name to get through a man’s world. That’s what he always told me.” I said and they all started nodding.

“Ok, I asked her and she’s pretending nothing has ever happened.” Angela said.

“So he bought you flowers for no reason?” Tilly said in a teasing voice.

“Come on Ryan! Everyone knows you guys were together yesterday.” Sam said like I was a i***t.

“Yes, we went to lunch.” I said and stared at my meal.

“Oh! Elaborate?” Carol started to lean forward almost to hear better it seemed.

“We ate food at a restaurant.” I said poking around the salad I had picked.

“I’m sure you did. Then you stayed home for the rest of the day.” Tilly said teasingly again.

“Well?” Sam said.

“Um… we ate. Then we went to a museum.” I said and could feel my cheeks burning.

“A museum? That’s boring.” Tilly said looking at Carol.

“It was the pop culture one, we had a good time.” I said.

“So you guys left work to go on a date?” Sam asked.

“I didn’t think it was a date, but when I asked David what he thought. He said it was.” I said and the tabled squealed.

“So they are dating!” Carol said.

“The rumor is true that she’s his…” Carol started but then stopped.

“Ryan! Are you guys together? Like boyfriend and girlfriend?” Tilly said excitedly.

“Nothings been made official.” I said.

“Anytime he comes to her cubicle during training, he basically tells me to beat it.” Angela said. Everyone started to giggle.

“We should have a girls night!” Carol perked up.

“Lunch is almost over and there’s so much more to talk about.” Tilly said.

“I’m not sure if Garret will be ok with it, but I’ll see.” Sam said gathering her lunch things.

“I can’t tonight, but I can tomorrow.” I said and they looked around the table.

“I’m guessing you have plans with David tonight?” Angela said smiling.

“Yes, we have plans.” I said and the table started to whisper.

“Friday! Girls night! She can give us all the details!” Carol said.

“I’m just going to tell Garret it’s happening and he will have to deal.” Sam said.

“Are you excited? I feel like we’re more excited then you are?!” Tilly asked.

“I’m excited, it’s just this is the first time we’re meeting. So it feels weird to open up to people who are essentially strangers.” I said and they all looked at each other.

“Well now we are all friends!” Angela said and everyone nodded.

“Ok, Friday. Girls night.” I said and everyone smiled.

“Yay! Let’s start a group chat. We can coordinate which house and what to bring!” Sam said and it was the first time I had seen her excited.

“What’s your number Ryan?” Angela said pulling her phone out. I gave her to her and she started a chat. Each person messaged the chat with their name so I could add them into my phone.

“Alright! Lunch is over, let’s get back to it!” Tilly said standing up. They all started to get up and I slowly got up. A girls night with a bunch of strangers?