On Saturday, I sat in the lunchroom on my break when a text came through.

Ben: What are you doing after work?

My eyes narrowed as I typed a response.

Me: Eating then sleeping.

Ben: What if we watched a movie, had dinner together, and then you went home to sleep?

A drum pounded in my chest as I typed my reply.

Me: Are you asking me on a date?

Ben: Not exactly...

And my heart sank, heat overcoming my face. While everything during the week screamed 'he likes you! He totally likes you!' obviously, I had been wrong to jump to the conclusion.

Just because I was falling head over heels for his sharp jawline, the way he sometimes pressed his lips together as he thought deeply, and the little freckle gracing the corner of his mouth on his left cheek didn't mean his feelings towards me were in any way romantic.

Just because we held hands that time walking around Hyde Park...

But before I could continue thrashing my confidence with my never-ending self-doubt, a couple more texts came through, lighting up the screen I held limply in my hand.

Ben: Some of my friends are coming.

Ben: They have insisted on meeting you.

Meeting me...

Does that mean that he... talks about me to others?

My stomach knotted and I tried to think of ways out of it, biting my lip as I stared at my phone. I certainly wasn't ready to meet his friends, but, at the same time... I wondered how he'd treat me in front of them. It may give me some clarity on where we stood.

Suddenly, another text came through when I hadn't replied.

Ben: What do you think?

Me: What movie?

Ben: >.> A good one?

I stifled a giggle as I read his emoji. I could hardly imagine him typing it.

Me: Oh. Have you seen it?

Ben: No.

Me: Then how do you know it's good?

Ben: I just do.

Me: I'm not agreeing to see a movie before knowing what it is.

Ben: Fine. It's Homecoming.

Me: Spiderman?

Ben: Do you have something against Marvel?

Me: Not exactly... Just didn't peg you as the type...

Ben: Am I not a teenage boy?

Me: Debatable...

But then he didn't respond. The three dots appeared and disappeared, until they didn't show up at all.

Yet as I started to wonder if I had messed things up with my comment, my boss called into the back room, "Olivia, your break is up."

Sighing, I slipped my phone into my bag and went back to work.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

After a couple of hours of ringing up orders, recommending novels, and tidying stock in the backroom, I got to have my final break for the day.

I immediately pulled out my phone and ran off to the centre's bathroom, glancing at my texts as I sat on the toilet.

Ben: You're so mean sometimes :(

Ben: So will you come?

Ben: Olivia?

Ben: You must have gone back to work. I'll wait for your response...

Smiling at the fact that I hadn't upset him with my joke and things were back to normal between us, I quickly typed a reply before getting off the toilet.

Me: Okay, if you insist.

When I got back to the store, I hid in the backroom for the rest of my break, waiting for Ben's responses. He didn't take long... almost as if he was waiting for me.

Ben: I do.

Ben: Pick you up from work?

Me: I'll meet you there.

Ben: But I want to get some alone time with you first...

I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth creeping up. I was sure if anyone saw me right now, they'd wonder why I was impersonating the Cheshire Cat.

Me: I have to get changed out of my uniform.

Ben: I can wait for you outside of your home...

Ben: Unless you'd prefer I don't know where you live?

If I was smoother, I would have waited... let him get nervous about what I'd say back. But before my brain could catch up, my fingers flew across the screen and hit send on my reply.

Me: I'll see you at 5pm then. Break is up.

I slipped my phone back into my bag and returned to work, a little jump in my step now.

My boss gave me a couple of questionable glances but, thankfully, never said anything.

Not that I would have cared. Nothing could have shaken my mood.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

After we pulled down the roller door, gave the store a quick tidy, we grabbed our bags and headed out.

"See you tomorrow, Olivia. Good work today," my boss said as she locked the door.

"Thanks Patrica!" I turned around, searching for him, my face falling as I realised he wasn't here.

The sting burned my eyes, but before I could begin to wonder what happened, my phone buzzed in my bag.

Pulling it out, my heart thudded in my chest as his name filled my screen. As I swiped open his message, I fully expected him to find a text saying he wasn't coming anymore. But...

Ben: You're very unobservant, you know.

Ben: But I do like the uniform.

I spun around, my eyes quickly gazing the empty mall for him. And there he was. Leaning against the neighbouring shop, a grin spread across my face as I hurried over.

His eyes straight away looked me up and down, taking me in.

"I like the ponytail."

I glared at him. "I know you're being mean now."

"I'm actually being genuine. Just like I was about your uniform."

Tugging at the hem of my shirt, I spun on my heel, hiding my crimson face from him. "Yes. Sure," I muttered. "Let's just go." I began walking, partly grumpy, but partly pleased.

We made small talk on the walk back to my place, about my day and his, until we stood in front of my building.

"This is where you live?" he asked as I fumbled for my key.

"Yes. Why?"

"It's a very busy street..."

I shrugged. "Best I can afford without living too far out and without housemates."

He sighed, discontent marring his expression.

"Too shabby for your liking? Don't worry. I won't be long." I felt a little dejected by his judgement though.

"It's not that. I just... I'm worried about your safety."

I rolled my eyes as I finally pulled my key from my bag. "I'm from Australia, where everything is trying to kill you. I think I can survive some people." Opening the door I turned to him. "Want to come up?" I asked.

He smirked. "Maybe another time. But hurry."

After a short nod, I closed the door and raced up the stairs to my studio, stripping out of my clothes as quickly as I could and sifting through my wardrobe.

Jeans or a dress... I pondered. Would the latter seem desperate? It will be cold in the cinema. But what if me being cold makes him sit closer or maybe pop his arm around me?

So I went for the dress, pairing it with a jacket and boots to ensure I had some warmth just in case. Then I ducked into the bathroom, touching up my makeup, shaking out my hair, and curling the strands so it didn't have the 'I had my hair up all day' dent in it.

Ensuring the curling wand was turned off at the wall, I set it down, spritzed on some perfume, grabbed my bag, and headed back down the stairs, in one of the quickest outfit changes and freshen ups I had done in my life. I didn't want to keep him waiting longer, questioning if he liked me enough to put up with my poor living accommodations. Surely by now he was figuring out I was not quite the catch.

But as I opened my front door, I found him still there, leaning against the brick wall like he was in a photoshoot. However, as I was checking him out, he kicked off the wall, and his eyes glanced over me for the second time today.

"You look beautiful," he whispered, sending a mob of kangaroos bouncing through my stomach (totally bypassing the usual butterflies).

His hand found mine and we began walking towards the underground.

He surely likes me... right? I wondered the whole way to the tube.