Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

We’ve sold a bucket load of jewellery, bags, and accessories. So, even though we’re exhausted and haven’t eaten, we’re happy.

Nat’s just seen to a small group of high school girls and the exhaustion is catching up to us.

Rawr Raaawr

We both look up and there’s Nik, looking handsome as ever, holding a brown paper bag.

He looks at the state of us both, shuts the door, and locks it.

“Eat…Now. ” He says this in a voice I wouldn’t dare to question.

Nat walks over to him, puts a hand on his chest, and kisses his cheek. She beams, “You. Are. A. God!”

She takes the brown paper bag, clutches it to her chest as if it’s life saving medicine, and walks straight to the staff room.

I walk over to him with a small smile. Without saying a word, I kiss his cheek, lean my head on his chest, and hug him tightly around the waist.

He places one arm around my back, uses the other to stroke my hair and admits, “I don’t like thinking about you goin’ hungry. ”

God, his arms are nice.

I look up at him and chuckle, “It was only a few hours but I’ll admit it, I am so hungry. ” Still tight in his arms I ask, “So, what did ya bring me?”

Nik looks toward the staff room door and says, “Well actually, I got something for you, Nat, and for me. I missed lunch, too. ”

I put on the best stern voice I can muster, “And you’re worried about me not taking care of myself? Tut tut. ” I look to the staff room and sigh, “We better get in there or she’ll eat it all. ”

Natalie eats like a horse and never gains a pound. I hate her for that. In a loving, best friend way.

Untangling myself from Nik, I take his hand and lead him to the staff room. There is a small table which seats four people. Nat has already organized the food and placed three wrapped parcels and three salads in front of three of the four seats. Nik and Nat take a seat while I go over to the fridge and get us some sodas.

I take a seat and we all unwrap our huge Reuben sandwiches.

Geez Louise, this guy is perfect.

With a mouthful of sandwich I moan, “You are a God, Mr Leokov. ”

Chewing, he smiles at me.

I take the lids off all the salads and dress them. I start moving the olives in my salad to one side and notice Nik moving his cherry tomatoes to the side of his container.

“You don’t like tomatoes?” I ask.

He looks disgusted and states, “No, I don’t. I like them cooked but not raw. Mom tried to force ‘em on me when I was little but stopped when I threw up all over the dining table. ” He chuckles to himself and says wistfully, “Good times”

Nat and I chuckle with him. He looks over to my container and questions, “You don’t like olives?”

I grimace, “Yuk. No. ”

Nik leans over me to my salad container, takes it over to his, and dumps all the olives into his salad. Then he lifts his container and puts his cherry tomatoes into my salad.

Nat and I watch fascinated like. He puts down both containers, claps his hands together, and smiles a triumphant smile. “Problem solved”

I think I love you.

What the heck? Where did that come from?

Nat and Nik are chatting away about EPL Soccer and I listen in silently. I find out he barracks for Tottenham and has been known to watch the games on cable even if it means getting up at 3am.