Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

Max starts to chuckle. Ghost joins in. I can’t help but laugh, too.

That girl is a Hurricane.

***

12:40 pm.

I better get a move on if I want to get lunch in time.

The sub shop down the street sells the most delicious and freshest subs. They actually cut the meat right in front of you and their t urkey is always moist.

Nik didn’t say no to turkey so I guess he likes it. He looked a little shocked when I made the cupcake offering. He looked even more shocked that I offered to get him lunch, but I figure if we’re going to be friends, I’m the one who’ll have to make the initial effort. Once we’re at a comfortable stage, I’m sure he’ll open up more, but already he fascinates me. I can’t seem to keep away. I want to know more about him.

Max and Trick like me. I know this because they make no effort to hide it. And I like them right back.

Ghost, on the other hand, hates my frickin’ guts. I’m not sure why but I can tell he doesn’t trust me.

Silvio is working the counter at the sub shop like always. He is an animated Italian and always really loud.

Slightly balding, he does what good men do and shaves it short rather than comb it over.

Silvio likes me because I eat. He always tells me to get a cookie with my sub and much to his delight I almost always do.

Silvio smiles with his normal greeting, “Buongiorno Principessa! What my get you today?” Silvio’s English isn’t perfect.

I say, “Hi Silvio, you’re looking good today! I need two of my regulars. ”

He raises his brows at me, smiles big and claps loud. He responds, “Oh, very good gehl. I love you mangia! You get cookie, too. ” This was not a request.

I chuckle at his antics and say, “You better make that two cookies. I’m taking lunch to a friend today. ”

Understanding dawns on his face and he ups the dramatic hand movements with, “Ahh, this is a good. Friends make a laugh when mangia together!”

I bite my lip to stop my laugh; after two years of knowing Silvio his English could’ve quite possibly gotten worse.

Two subs and cookies in hand, I wave goodbye to Silvio and walk over to The White Rabbit.

The door to Nik’s office is closed; I check the clock in the hall: 1:05pm

I’m juggling quite a bit of food but luckily the door handle is a lever, not a round one.

Balancing the food on my lifted leg, I use my hip to push down the lever, I hear the latch open, and I walk backwards through the door.

I state ,“Whoa! That wasn’t as easy as I made it look. Here is your sub, Monsieur. ” I turn and see Nik at his desk, eyes wide. There is also a very pretty woman sitting opposite him.

Eeeek!

Luckily,

Pretty Woman wears an easy smile.

She stands and offers kindly, “Here, let me help you. ” She takes the subs and cookies out of my hands and puts them on the edge of the desk.

I sputter, “Oh, thank you so much. I’m so sorry to bother you. I thought the meeting was over. ” I shoot Nik an apologetic smile

“That’s fine,” she says, “We were just finishing up and I was just about to ask Nik where he got those delicious cupcakes from. ”

Nik clears his throat and walks over to me. He stands so close to me my shoulder is in the crook of his arm. He explains, “Well, actually, Tina made those. ”