Olivia
"Girl," Ava looked at me like I was some alien that just dropped out of space," you're crazy." She widened her eyes for emphasis," For real. You are."
It was about 10:01pm and we had already turned the 'OPEN' sign at the front of the door to 'CLOSED'. We were in the bathroom changing from our waitress uniforms to the clothes we had worn to leave our apartment.
I scoffed, pulling my black crop-top over my head. I waited before answering Ava.
And when I did answer her, I just nodded and said to her," Okay, Ava."
Ava was a cheetah so she already had her black short dress and jean jacket over her slender body.
She put her hands on her waists dramatically and said, "I'm being serious, Liv. Like, I know you're a spontaneous person. But this spontaneity? Too crazy, Liv. Too crazy."
"You're being dramatic, Ava."
Ava huffed, "Um, well, excuse me if I'm being a little bit worried that my friend is going out with a total stranger. You don't know him from Adam, Liv!"
I sighed, rolling my eyes, but deep down loving how Ava was so protective and loyal to me," I'll get to know him today, then. He won't be a stranger by tomorrow."
"But he's a stranger today. And you're going out with him today."
"How else will he not be a stranger? When I get to know him."
"Liv-"
"-Ava?" I cut her short, " I'm fine. I really want to go out with him."
"Why?"
Huh. Why.
That was an excellent question. Why was I going out with someone whom I had just seen and talked to for less than 30 minutes?
The genuine answer was I don't know. There was just something very mysterious about him and the way he carried himself. It piqued my interest.
I couldn't say that to Ava. That I wasn't sure. That I just thought he was mysterious and I was curious. She would basically sling me over her shoulder and take me home.
She was strong like that.
So, I just said to her, "Ava, I'm pretty sure my date is waiting for me outside. Don't wanna keep him waiting. Soooo…"
I picked my black sling bag that contained my waitress uniform and padding, and started to walk away from Ava and the bathroom.
Ava would think the reason I was walking away from her was because I really didn't want to keep him waiting. But, actually, I didn't want her to see the blush creeping up my face.
Date? Did I just call him that? And why did it sound so natural?
Also what the hell was wrong with me? When did I start blushing like a schoolgirl thinking about her crush?
But because Ava was a stubborn goat, she rushed after me, grabbed my arm, and turned me to face her.
Damn. She strong.
"Date? Didn't that sound absurd to you after you said it??" She had her eyes wide.
On the contrary, Ava.
The bewildered look on her face melted to a soft one as she said, "Holy shit, Liv. You're blushing." She then gasped, "You like him!"
"I'm curious about him, Ava."
"You like him." She said again like she didn't just hear me. She slit her eyes at me," What if he's a kidnapper?"
"He's not."
"And you know that because? What's his last name?"
"His name is Andy."
"Andy what? Andy, the woman trafficker? Andy, the organ harvester?"
"Ava, snap out of it. Wha– this doesn't even make any sense! Knowing his last name doesn't make him not a kidnapper, or organ harvester, or whatever."
"So, he's a kidnapper then?"
I slapped my palm against my forehead. I wasn't winning this one with Ava.
"This conversation is over. You know how I hate to keep people waiting. I would also hate to keep Andy waiting."
With that, I started walking out, my sling bag swinging from my shoulders. Ava was walking beside me in big steps.
"Okay, give me his digits then. Just in case of anything."
"I don't have his digits yet, Ava." I shook my head as we approached the back doors of the cafè.
"Huh." Ava sounded displeased, "Guess I'll just have to get it from him then."
My palm was wrapped around the handle of the back door but I paused and gave Ava a warning look, "Ava?"
She only gave me a stronger glare, "You can't take this away from me, Liv."
I sighed because I knew there was no way in hell I was winning. I just pushed the doors open and stepped out with Ava into the cool air of the night.
There he was. Standing there under the streetlamp, legs slightly parted, hands tucked behind his back, like a soldier at ease– but his eyes, locked on me, felt anything but disciplined.
He had a black baseball cap this time around. He wore it off with a plain black t-shirt and a pair of faded baggy jeans. He topped it off with black and white baseball boots.
Simple. Impressive. Dashing.
The most beautiful thing he wore was that simple smile that stretched his lips into a thin line.
My breath caught in my throat.
Ava noticed. She looked at me like she couldn't believe me.
As we walked towards Liam, he walked towards us as well.
"Hello, facecap," I said, trying not to sound breathless.
He smiled, eyes never leaving mine, and suddenly the air between us felt too thin.
He seemed like someone who hated attention. I could tell from the caps he always wore and the way he pulled them down low.
Either he was a god that was roaming the earth or he was a criminal on the loose.
Either way, I was curious to find out exactly who he was.
He chuckled at my lame joke, "Hello, Olivia."
The way he called my name with his eyes locked on mine, did something to my cardiovascular system. And damn, was I lost in those gray eyes.
Ava cleared her throat loudly and in a dramatic manner. She got our attention. We both turned to look at her, obvious on our faces that we had completely forgotten about Ava's existence and her standing with us.
She had a frown for Andy. She pouted, then went, "Hello, to you too."
He gave a 'my-bad' look and said, "Hello.."
"Ava." She supplied.
"Ava." He nodded, "It's nice to meet you."
She gave him a suspicious look, a brow up as she stared at him, "Wish I could say the same to you."
He furrowed his brows while in my mind, I face-palmed myself. He then looked at me and I couldn't even read what was on his mind. He just gave an expressionless look.
I pursed my lips. Ava and always embarrassing me. She was annoying, loud and always too much. But damn if she didn't love me like a sister.
I leaned a bit towards him– acting like proximity with him didn't affect me– and said like I was telling him a secret, "She thinks you're an organ harvester."
He smelled like heaven.
He then let an amused look cross his face. I noticed the way he let emotions slide in and out of his face. He had very good control of that.
Ava wasn't smiling. I could tell she was trying to give off a fierce and serious look. She raised both her brows now, "Are you?"
He cocked his head to the side, and said calmly, "If I was, I wouldn't tell you now, would I?"
Since Ava was not normal in the head, that answer seemed to satisfy her. I noticed a smile almost cross her face and I could tell she had a liking for him.
"True." She nodded. She then put the screen of her phone to his face," Here, put in your digits. Just in case, you know? You abduct her, I'll be able to track you."
Andy just stared at the phone and said sarcastically, "Sure, because if I abduct Olivia, I won't get rid of that line. I'll just leave it accessible so you could come find me."
I grinned. I loved his dry wit.
I was sure Ava did too.
Ava nodded, "Yes, because getting rid of the line would mean you're a scared bitch. And you're not that, are you?"
"'Course not." He went along with her sarcasm.
She pushed her phone closer to his face and said, " Put in your digits before I change my mind about Olivia going out with you."
Andy wasted a second before he took Ava's phone and began to punch in his digits. He said as he typed, "I'm only doing this because you're the boss of Olivia, and anything you tell her to do, that's exactly what she does."
God. More sarcastic jokes.
Ava nodded, "Yes. Precisely."
He handed her phone back to her after he had finished inputting his number, " Okay, Mr Maurice."
Ava looked up at his face through slit eyes, obviously biting back a smile. I couldn't hold it in. I erupted in chuckles.
Andy's eyes migrated to my face, his eyes roaming over my facial features like he was trying to take everything about me all in. A big smile then crossed his face.
It was Ava's sharp voice that made him look away from me and at her.
"And what is your name?"
He glanced at me first before he looked back at Ava and said, "Andy?"
"Yeah, no shit. Andy the Pooh?"
Andy shook his head first, looking highly amused, "Andy Peterson."
"Huh. And you're sure that's not a fake name?"
Andy paused before he replied," If it was, Ava, I still won't tell you, would I?"
Ava nodded again, "That's true. So, I guess I'll leave you both now to get to it."
"Thank you." Andy and I said to Ava at the same time.
We looked at each other and chuckled, the smiles not leaving our faces.
Ava shook her head at us both and nodding at me, she asked, "When am I expecting you back, baby?"
"In about an hour."
Despite how much Andy intrigued me, I didn't want to stay out too late for Norah's sake. I had to be that stable parent figure for her.
"Alright. Later." Ava nudged her head at Andy, "Andy, the pooh."
He nudged his head back at her, "Mr Maurice."
I chuckled loudly again. I liked that Ava and Andy were getting along. In their own twisted way.
We both watched Ava walk away. She turned to look at us from over her right shoulder, then her eyes beamed, "Ouuu, flowers!", and she kept walking away. Not looking at us again.
Huh?
Andy closed his eyes like Ava was such a handful. He then took his right hand, which had remained behind his back, so I could see it now. He was holding a bunch of red roses, "For you." He said simply.
I gasped in surprise.
I was never a flower type of girl. But this was so sweet and made me so excited.
He looked happy at my reaction. He stuck both his hands in his pockets, "I couldn't tell if you were a flower kind of girl."
"I'm not. Usually. But, this makes me so happy, for some reason." I then looked up from the flowers to his face which had a smile on it and whispered, "Thank you."
He whispered too, "A pleasure, always."
I clutched the flowers, heart racing, "So… where are we going?"