Chapter 5 Chapter 5

“Going to get lunch," he said, grabbing my hands and lacing his fingers through mine. He dragged me to the other side of the building and to the back stairs. A guy showed up with a box and handed it to him, and then he left. He pulled me to sit down beside him.

“Relax, it's just us and we’re just eating," he said, handing me a bottle of water and a burger. We sat silently eating. After we were finished eating and we were heading back, he grabbed my hand and leaned in close. 

“You are. really different and intriguing, and I can't help but want to get close to you," he said, tucking some stray hairs behind my ears.

“I'm not…” I started saying but he cut me off.

“I know you're not interested in a relationship. We can take it slow," he said, but I didn't answer.

When I got back to class, Nico was staring at me, but it wasn't the normal glare; like he was trying to figure me out. After class Talon caught up to me and asked for my number, which I gave him reluctantly.

I was halfway through wiping down the counter at work when my phone vibrated in my back pocket. Normally I'd ignore it, usually because half of the time it was just my mom checking in or reminding me to grab milk on the way home, but it vibrated again like two seconds later. I sighed, pulling it out.

Unknown number.

I just stared at it because I already had a feeling I knew who it was but opened the message anyway.

TALON: So this is actually your number, right, or did you give me a fake one?

I rolled my eyes; of course it was him. I leaned against the counter and typed back.

AURELIA: Depends on who's asking.

The typing bubbles popped up almost instantly.

TALON: Wow, already playing games, brainiac.

That made me laugh; I shoved the phone back in MY pocket just as Paul walked past carrying a tray stacked with burgers. The dinner rush started not long after, and the place got loud fast. Plates clinking, the grill sizzling nonstop, people talking over each other like the entire town suddenly decided they needed burgers at the same time.

About twenty minutes later, my phone vibrated again, then again. When I finally checked it during a quick break, there were three new messages waiting.

TALON: I'm starting to think you blocked me already.

TALON: That's kind of rude after I bought you like five smoothies this week.

TALON: You could at least pretend to appreciate my generosity.

I typed back.

AURELIA: I'm working genius.

The reply came back so fast it almost felt like he’d been staring at the screen waiting.

TALON: Wow, imagine having responsibilities; that couldn't be me.

I just shook my head.

AURELIA: Shouldn't you be studying or something?

TALON: Please, do you think I study?

That one made me snort a little. Before I could reply, another message popped up.

TALON: What time do you get off?

I stared at the screen for a second. Why did he want to know that?

I typed slowly.

AURELIA: Why?

The typing bubbles appeared again.

TALON: Maybe I want to get food.

TALON: Maybe I'm bored.

TALON: Maybe I just wanted to see if you'd answer.

I rolled my eyes again. 

AURELIA: I'm not ditching work to entertain you.

Another message popped up.

TALON: Good because that would make you a terrible employee.

I laughed under my breath.

AURELIA: ten

There was a short pause before his reply came through.

TALON: cool

That was it, Just cool. I stared at the screen for a second, waiting for another message, but nothing else came. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and went back to work. The rest of the shift went by pretty normally: orders, refilling drinks, cleaning tables. Honestly, I had completely forgotten about the conversation by the time ten rolled around.

I grabbed my bag from the staff room, said goodnight to my manager, and pushed open the back door into the parking lot. I started walking toward my car and then slowed down because someone was leaning against the hood of my car.

Talon.

He was standing there like it was the most normal thing in the world, scrolling through his phone with one hand shoved in the pocket of his hoodie. I stopped a few steps away and crossed my arms.

"You stalking me now?"

He looked up and grinned like that was exactly the reaction he was hoping for.

"Relax, brainiac. I said I might get food." He retorted. I nodded toward the diner behind me.

"There's literally food inside."

He shrugged and pushed himself off the hood of my car.

"Yeah, but eating alone is depressing," he said, which made me raise an eyebrow.

"You have like a hundred friends," I said, and he tilted his head.

"Yeah, but none of them are you," he said, and for a second I didn’t even know what to say to that, so I just rolled my eyes instead.

"You waited outside my job for food." I asked.

He looked at the car and then back at me. "You have a car," he said.

"Obviously, how do you think I get to school?"

"Good because I didn't feel like driving," he said. I just stared at him.

"You came here and didn't even bring your car," I asked.

He shrugged again like that made perfect sense. "My friend dropped me off," he said it so casually. I shook my head slowly.

"You're actually unbelievable," I said, and his grin got wider.

"So are we getting food, or are you just going to keep judging my life choices in this parking lot?" he asked with sarcasm. 

I sighed and unlocked my car.

"This doesn't mean we're friends," I said before getting in. 

He walked around to the passenger side. "Too late, you gave me your number," he said. 

I got into the driver's seat and started the car, and honestly, I still wasn't sure why I was letting him get in, but something about the whole situation was kind of funny and maybe just a little interesting.

I pulled out of the parking lot and glanced over at him for a second. He had the seat leaned back a little like he planned on getting comfortable, one arm resting on the window, just watching the road like he’d been riding around in my car for years.

I shook my head.

"You seriously made your friend drop you off at a diner so you could beg me for food."

He looked over at me with that lazy grin again. "I wasn't begging," he said.

"You were waiting outside my car."

"That's called dedication," he replied.

I snorted and turned onto the main road. "So where are we even going?"

"You're the one with the car," he said, shrugging. 

"Wow, super helpful."

For a minute we just drove in silence while I tried to think of somewhere that was still open.