I watched Tia flip another guy for the fifth time and was starting to believe that nobody could beat her. So I sighed, closing my eyes and thinking about what movie will Tia pick out for tonight. God, I hope it is not another black-and-white movie.

 

"Wow, you look bored," I opened my eye, looking up at a girl dressed in a white uniform that Tia wears with a white belt holding it close. Her hair was black and pulled back into a high ponytail. She had freckles that were scattered around he pale face. She had round blue eyes that fit her round face perfectly. I guess she was pretty tall by the way I was craning my neck to meet her eyes. She raises her perfectly shaped eyebrow at me because I just have been staring at her.

 

"Oh, um, sorry," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. The girl looked down, staring at my violin case, and she smirked, sitting in the chair next to me.

 

"So, what brings you here?" She said.

 

"Oh, um, I can with my best friend," I said, pointing at Tia, flipping another male onto the mat with a loud thud. The girl looked over at Tia and gasped loudly, earning a couple of looks before looking at me with a big smile.

 

"So you're Steven! I was waiting for you to show up at the gym," She said.

 

"Um, I'm sorry. Who are you?" I asked, tilting my head.

 

"Oh shoot, sorry. How rude of me. My name is Nicole. Nicole Post," Nicole said, reaching out her hand, and my heart stopped. I remember Tia told me that Caleb's cousin had just joined their gym. I never thought that I was going to meet her. Let alone be pretty. God, why are the people in his family so good-looking? So I slowly reached up, grabbing Nicole's hand and shaking it lightly.

 

"H- hi. i- it's nice to meet you," I said, letting my nerves take over as I pulled my hand back.

 

"Hey, you don't have to be nervous around me. I don't bite. Unless you want me to," She said, and I almost fell out of my chair.

 

"W- What," I said, and she burst into laughter.

 

"I- I'm sorry you were just too easy," She said, calming herself down.

 

"Oh, I see," I said.

 

"Tia told me that you were this super talented musician but super shy, so I thought if I messed with you a bit, you would come out of your shell, but I guess  I went a bit too far. Sorry," She said, rubbing the back of her neck.

 

"N- no, it is just that I haven't had a girl flirt with me before," I said.

 

"I thought since you are a musician, you had to beat the girls off with the stick," She said, leaning forward in her chair.

 

"Well, it is pretty easy to keep the girls away when you tell them you're gay," I said, and Nicole laughed again.

 

"Oh really?" She said, smirking.

 

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

 

"Is there anyone you like?" she said, and thankfully Tia came in to save the day.

 

"Hey Nicole, the longer you stay here, I would add on ten laps," Tia said, placing her hands on her hip.

 

"But I wanted to get to know Steven," Nicole pouted at Tia.

 

"And you can get to know him after practice. Now let's go," Tia said.

 

"Fine," Nicole said, getting up from the chair and looking back, giving me a small wink before following Tia back to the group practicing some form of blocking.

 

I sighed and grabbed my violin so nobody would take it. So I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my Instagram. I should have paid attention cause I ran into a wall falling on my butt and dropping my violin and phone on the ground.

 

"Holy crap, are you okay?" I heard and looked up, and the wall I ran into was a guy. He reached down, offering me his hand. I took his large hands, and he pulled me up. Once he was sure I was okay, he went to pick up my violin and phone, handing them to me with a smile. He was tall and had brown curly hair tied back and piercing green eyes.

 

"Thanks. Sorry that I ran into you," I said.

 

"No, I'm sorry. Are you alright?" He said.

 

"Y- yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say the same for my phone," I said, looking at my phone with a large crack on it. The guy looked down and grabbed my wrist, stepping closer to me.

 

"Oh my god, I'm sorry. Let me fix it," He said.

 

"Uh, it is fine. I am not crying over it, and besides, it is not your fault I bumped into you, remember?" I said, pulling my wrist away from my grasp.

 

"Okay, but at least let me pay for the screen," He said. Wow, this guy was persistent.

 

"No thanks, I would just feel bad you were paying for my mistakes," I said.

 

"Okay, how about this? I can take you to get it fixed, and you let me take you out for lunch?" He asked, giving me a crooked smile. I'm sorry, did this guy ask me out? No, he can't. He probably just felt bad for breaking my phone. I mean, he isn't bad looking, but it is a mistake. Right?

 

I'm sorry. What is going on here?" I asked.

"I am asking you out," He said.

"Like on a date?" I asked.

"Yeah," He said, rubbing the back of his neck. 

"Oh, um, I don't think so," I said, taking a step back.

 

"Wow, you are playing hard to get, huh? How about something light like coffee?" he said.

 

"I don't drink coffee," I said bluntly. This guy was starting to give me a weird vibe because he wouldn't take no for an answer.

 

"Tony!" I heard someone call out. I looked over and saw Nicole sprinting toward the two of us. Nico jumped into Tony's arms before leaning in again to place a big kiss on his lips.

 

"Steven, this is my boyfriend Tony," Nicole said, and I felt my blood go cold. The guy that was hitting on me was dating Nicole. Wow, okay, this is messy. I need to get as far away from this guy as possible.

 

"Well, it was nice meeting you. I gotta go," I said, walking out of the building, not giving Nicole to say anything.

 

Once outside, I ran a hand through my messy brown hair, looking around before walking to the diner down the road. I walked into the diner, and I winced at the sound of someone calling 

my name.

 

"Stevie! You made it!" I looked at my sister running over to me, giving me a tight hug before pulling away and giving me a bright smile.

 

"Hey, Nina," I said.

 

"Come in, sit at the counter. I will be right back," She said, running back to the table she had deserted. I chuckled, walked to the counter, and slid onto the stool to have a cup of soda placed in front of me. I looked up and smiled because it was the diner's owner, Mr. Jones.

 

"Thanks," I said, placing my violin case on the counter.

 

"It has been a while since you been here, Steven," Mr. Jones said gruffly. Mr. Jones was a big tall man with a bald head and a trimmed black beard. If he had an eye patch, he reminded me of nick fury from the avengers because his personality seemed to match Nick Fury. He can command a room without a problem and takes crap from nobody. 

But despite everything, he was straightforward to talk to, even though he gave me short responses or slight nods.

 

"Well yeah, I have been working on my music," I said, grabbing a straw and beginning to unwrap it.

 

"Is that so? I thought you would be too busy getting ready to go to a party. You were invited to be among the most popular guys in school?" Mr. Jones said, making me choke on my soda.

 

"H- how do you know about that?" I asked, and the older male leaned back, crossing his large arms over his muscled chest.

 

"Well, your sister doesn't know the meaning of secret," He said, shrugging his shoulders.

 

"I find that very rude I can keep a secret," Nina said, slipping onto the stool next to me, glaring at Mr. Jones, but the older male only shrugged, walking off.

 

"Don't you have work to do?" I asked.

 

"Nah, I only have one table, and I already sent it into the kitchen. What about you? I thought you were at Tia's gym?" She said, and I groaned, forgetting I hadn't told Tia where I was going before leaving. So I pulled out my newly cracked phone and texted Tia that I would be waiting for her at the diner and that I would explain why I left later. I looked at Nina; she was staring at my phone, especially the crack, before looking at me, waiting for a response.

 

"Don't ask," I said, sliding my phone into my back pocket.

 

"fine, but I find it hurtful that you would tell your best friend instead of your SISTER," Nina huffed, crossing her arms and pouting at me.

 

"God, fine, I ran into some guy, and it cracked," I said, taking a long sip of my soda.

 

"Did he apologize?" Nina asked.

 

"Oh yeah, he apologized, among other things," Nina stared at me, wanting me to elaborate more. "The guy asked me out," I said, and Nina gasped.

 

"What did you say? Please tell me you said yes?" Nina asked with excitement, making me let out a scoff.

 

"Oh, get this. He has a girlfriend," I said.

 

"And how do you know this?' Nina asked.

 

"His girlfriend walked up to the two of us, kissing him," I said.

 

"Wow," Nina said.

 

"Oh, it gets worst. The girlfriend is the new girl that joined Tia's team, and she is Caleb's cousin," I said, and Nina's mouth and chin were on the floor.

 

"That is messy," She said.

 

"Yup, I cannot make this up," I said.

 

"Stevie, did you tell her?" Nina asked.

 

"Heck no, I was too uncomfortable and embarrassed to say anything. I only wanted to get out of there," I said, finishing my soda.

 

"Well, maybe you tell her," Nina said.

 

"That seems like a stupid idea," I said.

"Why?" Nina asked.

"Because I am starting problems, and I don't like conflict," I said 

 

"Well, maybe you shouldn't say anything," Mr. Jones said, approaching us with a new soda replacing my cup.

 

"You think?" I asked, and the older man nodded.

 

"Really, Mr. Jones? You know that this guy is working an angle," Nina said.

 

"An angle?' I said, sometimes my sister is weird.

 

"You know when a guy is approaching you with a hidden agenda," Nina said.

 

"Well, I know for one that he won't be able to play a game with me," I said.

 

"That's good, Steven," Mr. Jones said.

 

"Thanks," I said, giving him a bright smile.

 

"I still think you should tell the girlfriend," Nina said, rubbing her chin.

 

"And what is that going to solve?" I asked.

 

"Well, she would break up the jerk and be happy," Nina said.

 

"Well, I would be happy if you got the food for your table. They look hungry," Mr. Jones said.

 

"Oh, sugar! Okay, I am going," Nina said, slipping out of the booth and running into the kitchen.

 

"I swear that girl," Mr. Jones said, crossing his arms.

 

"Do you think I should tell her?" I asked Mr. Jones.

 

"Listen, Steven. I will not tell you what you should or shouldn't do. You are a smart kid to know the right choice," Mr. Jones said before walking out into the kitchen.

 

You know, sometimes I hate when he talks like that. It feels like I am talking to Yoda. Now I know how Luke Skywalker felt. So I started to weigh the pros and cons of telling Nicole about her boyfriend, and there were more cons than pros. Maybe I should keep this to myself. What could go wrong, right?