We Took A Chance

Today is my first full day at the cafe and I'm a bit nervous. Ezra was nice enough to print me a cheat sheet for putting together all the different sandwiches and coffees. Thankfully I didn't need it as I was asked to work the register.

"That will be £6.00." I tell the lady in front of me who's struggling to look through her purse and manage the 2 year old in her arms. I smile sweetly at the little girl with the green eyes and cherub face. I then hear the bell above the cafe's door ring and turn my head to see those blue eyes scan the place quickly. I suddenly feel a lump in my throat and my heart begins to race.
"Miss... Miss!" the lady's call brings me out of my thoughts. She's handing me the money and I notice her daughter is waving to Niall who is in line behind her mom. As I'm giving her the change, I notice that Niall is making funny faces at the toddler. It makes me smile and I'm glad that Niall got her to settle down while her mom grabbed her coffee and sandwich.
"Well, well... Didn't know you worked here." Niall tells me as he approaches the counter. He's accompanied by another guy who's really tan and muscular.
"And I didn't know you shopped here." I smile and lean on my hands against the counter.
"Actually it's my first time. Probably the first of many." a slight smile displays on his face.
"Well, what can I get you?" I ask and wait for his response as he contemplates the menu behind me.
"I'll have peppermint tea. Rob?" he turns back to his friend who replies, "Large coffee."
"Ok, that will be £5.00." I turn to Jane who's already making their orders as Niall takes out his wallet. He hands me a credit card and our hands brush slightly. It makes me wonder if he did it on purpose.
"So, Zoe, what time is your lunch?" Niall asks me when I hand him his card and receipt.
"Not until 1." I notice instead of putting his card and receipt away he's keeping it in his hands and is nervously playing with them.
"Do you care to have lunch with me?" his hopeful eyes look up and meet mine waiting in response.
"Um, I don't know..." I hesitate as I'm not usually one to go anywhere with people. Socially awkward over here, remember?
"Oh come on, Zoe. Don't forget I splashed muddy water all over you. This is me making it up to you." Even though his words sounded confident, his hands still playing with the card and receipt showed otherwise. If anyone was to be nervous it had to be me.
"Umm.. Ok, yes." My heart began to race at the thrill of accepting Niall's offer. Not only do I have to go out and be social, I have to do it with a popstar.
"Ok, I'll be here at 1 on the dot." He assured and rapidly tapped the counter with the pads of his fingers. He seemed, dare I sat it, excited.

-.-.-

It was a busy morning here, and I couldn't help but glance at the clock often. It's not that I was eager to go to lunch with Niall. I was more dreading it than anything. Niall seems like a nice guy and all, but I can see him getting bored with me pretty quickly. I know I'll turn beet red once we run out of things to talk about and the awkward silence sets in. Is it too late to call him and cancel?

With perfect timing, I see Niall walk in the cafe interrupting my fantasy of cancelling. This time he's alone and I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. I'm wiping down the counters as a courtesy for Jane who will cover me over my 1 hour lunch. Niall approaches with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, a smile so big that his rosy cheeks must hurt.

"Ready?" he asked leaning on his left foot.
"Yes, let me just tell my coworker." I disappear to the back where Jane is folding the freshly washed aprons into a neat pile.
"Jane, I'm going on lunch." I inform, she already knew that was her cue for covering the register.
"Ok, good luck on your lunch date." she winks at me and begins to walk to the front.

Lunch... date?

I followed Niall to his black sedan where he opened the passenger door for me. I see he cleaned up his car well after I left it muddy and wet.

"I already chose where to go, I hope you don't mind." Niall says once he's behind the wheel. His seatbelt making a loud click when he fastened it.
"I don't mind. I don't know London at all yet. I've only ever been around the uni, the cafe, and a couple of shops." I admit knowing I probably sound pathetic.
"Well, we'll have to change that." he looks towards me and gives me an assuring smile. He wasn't wearing sunglasses and I could clearly appreciate the blue in his eyes.
"We'll?" I question what he said, not knowing how to take it.
"Yeah, me and you. I can show you around." he chirped as he looked out onto the busy road. "Well, that is if you want." his words now showing a bit of caution.
"Oh, well we'll see. I know you must be a busy man." I stated as I looked at him lick his lips.
"Well, sometimes." he responded, I'm not sure if this is going to go well.

After a quick 10 minutes, we pulled up into a restaurant called La Dolce Vita. It was Italian, I could tell by the name. The outside was stone with moss carpetting the walls and there was an Italian flag flying freely. We walked up to the entrance where the hostess asked for the reservation name.

"Dan Price." Niall responded and I wondered why he used a different name. We were soon ushered into a booth furthest from the entrance. This also seemed weird to me. The waitress handed us the menu and took our drink order before leaving us to ourselves. Niall ordered a beer and I ordered a glass of merlot.

"Why did you give a different name?" I questioned in a quiet manner even though no one was around.
"So paparazzi doesn't know ahead of time that I'll be here." he shrugs and continues to look at the menu.
"I guess that's why we're away from the door and windows." I state trying to imagine what a life like this was like. Always trying hard to not be recognized or papped.
"That's right. Have you decided what to eat?" he asks closing his menu and setting it aside. His hands clasp together over the table and his smile plastered on his face.
"I'm pretty sure I'm going with fettuccini alfredo with shrimp. You?" I put my menu down and look towards him. His eyes hardly left mine since leaving the cafe and I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.
"Pizza margherita." Just then the waitress comes back with Niall's beer and a bottle of merlot which she proceeds to pour into my glass. She takes our order and soon we're left alone again.
"Why did you decide to study in London?" Niall inquired leaning his chest on the edge of the table.
"Well, it's a long story." I start, not sure what all I'm willing to reveal.
"I have time." he gave me an assuring smile.
"Ok, well, I just finished my bachelor's degree and was offered a spot at UCL to do my Master's there. It's a new program they're trying out and wanted some foreign students to attend. I was initially torn on coming but I ended up accepting. I had to get away." I can't believe I'm telling this guy my story.
"What did you need to get away from?" Niall questioned my reasons and I wasn't sure on divulging my personal life. I did it anyway because I felt lonely in London. My only friend was Leah and she was thousands of miles away.
I sighed before continuing, "My parents. They recently divorced and they, especially my mom, have made the experience a terrible one. She was always texting me complaining and I felt emotionally drained by it all. I know a divorce is never a walk on the park but I just... I don't know." I look down at my hands where I'm fidgetting with my fingers. I was unsure why I'd told Niall all of that or what I wanted his response to be.
"I'm sorry, Zoe. I know the feeling, my parents divorced when I was a young child. It took many years to assimilate that change in my life." I could tell the memories pained him. His once lively eyes now looking at his hands, just like I was looking at mine. We stayed in silence but it was far an awkward one.

At that moment, the waitress brought our food and I realized I must have been starving. The food looked so good I didn't hesitate to take a big bite despite it being piping hot.
I never thought I'd say this, but my lunch with Niall was the least awkward outing I've had with someone lately. It wasn't hard to keep the conversation going with him. He always had something to add and he laughed at my lame jokes like I was Will Farrell or something. By the end of lunch, I felt much more at ease with him that I actually considered accepting his offer of showing me around London.

"I had a great lunch with you, Zoe." Niall said as we entered the cafe. His hands messing with his keys making them clink together.
"Me, too, Niall. Thanks for treating me to lunch. I'll pay next time." I wasn't all too comfortable being paid for, especially at an expensive place.
"Ok, next time." he places a hand on my upper arm and leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek. "I have to go, but I really enjoyed today."
"Me, too bye." I stand there as he goes out into the cool London street and turn on my heel.
I guess being Niall's friend wouldn't be that bad.

Notes

Niall <3<3<3

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