Chapter 6 Five: Taleen

The fact that I enjoy studying biology is making this paper a lot easier for me to write. I'm supposed to submit it in three days, and I'm almost done with it. It's been two days since the barbecue party and luckily, my face isn't bruised.

I take a sip of my coffee and crack my fingers while making a circular motion with my head to relieve my neck a bit before returning to my paper. Mondays aren't my favourite, to be honest. I have lectures from nine to three then I have a five-hour shift from six to eleven. It's currently four and I think have around an hour and fifteen minutes left to get myself to work.

"Isn't it a pleasant surprise?" I look up from my laptop screen and the corners of my mouth turn up. Why am I happy to see him? Maybe it's because he is a sweet guy. "Mind if I sit with you?" he requests and I nod, motioning for him with an open hand to take the seat in front of me.

"How have you been?" I ask Josh, glancing at him. White suits him. The t-shirt isn't tight on his body, but it's not loose either; it looks perfect. Such a sweet sight to the eyes, if you ask me.

"I should be asking you that, you're the one who got hit with a ball," he speaks with a light chuckle, causing me to giggle in response.

"I'm good. As you can see no swelling or bruises," I assure him, taking another sip from my coffee. "What brings you here? Following me?" I playfully smirk.

"I love the coffee of this place, but maybe you've got a new stalker. You never know." So, he has a sense of humour; something extra to make him likeable. However, Josh isn't going to be the one who would make me change my plans. Yes, he's agreeable, likeable, and even handsome, but these are not enough characteristics to make me change my point of view about dating.

"I come here regularly, how haven't I seen you before?" I tilt my head to the side as I talk to him.

"I think I've seen you here before. Maybe once or twice. You're so focused when you're doing something. You probably don't notice anyone around you," he says with a shrug.

"How would you know that about me?" I close my laptop screen after saving the paper to pay more attention to him. This conversation is quite interesting. I rest my chin on the palm of my hand and give him my full attention, ready to hear the character analysis he has run on me.

"As a matter of fact, before saying anything to you when I first saw you here, I was standing in front of you for more than fifteen seconds, yet you didn't notice," he informs me and I slowly nod with a small smile on my lips.

"I guess I'll have to take care of my surroundings from now on," I note, my eyes not darting away from him as I talk. I look at my wrist and mentally sigh in relief when I find the hair tie around it. I pull my hair up in a ponytail and I make sure not to wrap the hair tie three times, so it won't give me a headache afterwards.

"Your hair looks nice when it's pulled up." Josh compliments me and I decide to joke around.

"Are you implying that it looks bad when it's down?" I raise one eyebrow as I shoot accusing stares in his direction.

His eyes go wide in less than a second. "No! I didn't mean it like that! You look beautiful either way. It's just that your face looks structured when it's pulled up, but that doesn't mean that having it down gives you a double chin or something..." I try my best to control the laughter I'm attempting to suppress, and I finally give in.

"God!" I laugh, throwing my head back. "You should've seen your face! I can easily mess with you." I continue laughing as I talk, and I see him sending glares at me.

"You're mean." He huffs and all I do is cunningly grin in his direction. "What are your plans for today?" he asks after regaining his posture.

"I have to be at work at six," I say, checking the time on my phone. It's quarter to five.

"You work? What do you do?" he wonders.

"I'm just a waitress. I work at Valerio's restaurant," I state with a simple shrug, not finding whatever I do interesting enough.

"That posh Italian place?" he wonders, and I nod my head in response.

"I can drive you if you want." He offers and I debate whether to agree or not. Is he just being his normal friendly self, or does he have other intentions in mind? I'm honestly rooting for the former because I have no desire in dealing with the latter. "I don't plan on abducting you or anything," he jokes, making me roll my eyes playfully at him.

"Fine, you can drive me." I accept, seeing no harm in that.

"We still have time. We can go get ice cream." He makes a suggestion that I'm definitely fond of. Who says no to ice cream? I see him stand up and I do the same. I start collecting my stuff and he picks my backpack off the ground, handing it to me to put my things in it. I cannot believe this, but part of me is looking forward to this mini outing.