I dropped my gaze as I advanced towards the table. Ben, finally remembering my existence, spun around and introduced me to her kissing buddy, Rich. She then introduced me to him. Evan Wood. His name sounded perfect. We locked eyes for a brief moment while the voice in my head repeated his name.

“Hey,” he said in a dull tone.

“Hi, err Ben, can I talk to you for a moment.” I grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the table a few metres.

“Do you like him? I knew you would, he is so totally your type,” Ben started before I could get a word in. She noticed the look on my face and her expression changed. “You don’t like him?”

“Ben, that’s the bus guy. What am I suppose to do or even say to him?”

“You mean, him, Evan, he’s the bus guy you’ve been pining over. Oh wow, maybe this is fate,” Ben’s eyes widened, pointing over to him. I grabbed her finger before he noticed. She had a big grin of success on her face.

“Don’t point.”

“But that’s the bus guy,” she said.

“Stop it; you’re supposed to be helping me. How do I look? What do I even say to him, Ben?” I quickly ran my hand through my hair untangling any knots and wiped under my eyes for any mascara marks. Ben’s eyebrows knitted together. She put both hands on my shoulders and stared me in the eye. I quickly glanced at the table to see that they weren’t paying any attention to us. Although Evan’s eyes did flick over to us a few times but I was pretty sure he couldn’t hear what we were talking about.

“Firstly, calm down. Secondly, just talk to him and go with the flow. He’s a looker.” Ben winked. I rolled my eyes and went to take a step back to the table, but Ben stopped me.

“What?” I asked. She quickly tucked my hair behind my ears and then licked her thumb, and carefully patted down a loose hair. I swatted her hand away. “Ew, Stop it.”

“All done,” she smiled, flipping her hair over her shoulder and took a seat back at the table. I’m not exactly great with talking to guys, not experienced at all, most of the time I sit there with my mouth open as Ben carefully pointed out once. Well back to the blind date I mentioned before, I forgot to mention Ben spied on the whole date. She was wearing her camouflage jacket and hat, thinking I wouldn’t notice her - but I did.

I gulped as I sat in the empty chair beside him. I wasn’t impressed when he shuffled his seat a few inches away from mine. Do I smell or something?

“You look familiar,” he said. His voice echoed in my head, his low husky voice.

“Oh, I see you on my bus all the time,” I said.

“Ah, the girl at the back,” I nodded. That does make me feel better, he’s noticed me before. Wait, he knows I sit at the back. He’s noticed me before. I need to clear my head, calm down.

“I’m going to get myself a drink, would you like one?” I said to Evan. He only shook his head. I picked up my bag, heading towards the counter and ordered my drink. It would have been nice if he offered to pay for my drink, but never mind. While I waited for my drink to be poured, I glanced back at Evan. The nerves were getting the better of me so I focused on the lady making my drink. I paid for my drink and headed back to the table.

“What did you get?” Evan inspected my drink.

“Chocolate tea,” I replied, pulling the cup into my hands.

“Chocolate tea? Isn’t that hot chocolate?” He looked inside my cup to see marshmallows floating around. He nodded approving.

“I call it chocolate tea,” I responded. He grumbled and we both fell silent again.

The next ten minutes passed without significance. And the conversation with my mystery bus guy dropped before it even started. Ben had spent most of the time ogling her new fella. I took a sip of my lukewarm chocolate tea and found my eyes flickering over the top of my cup to see Evan Wood. I still couldn’t believe he is the bus guy, the one I see nearly every-day. He was sitting in his chair playing with a set of sugar sachets, not paying attention to anyone or anything. Not even me, his so-called date. I huffed and pouted my lips as he ignored me sitting there. I wanted his attention and he wasn’t giving it to me so I flicked my hair over my shoulder to see if he would turn to me, but he didn’t. Ben did, with a smirk on her face. She knows I’m not good at flirting, but I tried and didn’t succeed.

I heard a little tune being played and automatically knew it was someone’s phone, but it wasn’t mine. I saw Evan shuffle forward and pull his phone from his inside jacket pocket. He answered it.

“Hey babe,” he said. He kept his eyes on me the whole time. “Of course, I’ll be home very soon. Meet me at mine.” He sent me a wink. “Oh how sexy, I look forward to seeing it.”

I know he’s trying to tease me. But I wonder if that is his girlfriend he’s on the phone too?

“Nowhere special, just meeting my mates. Don’t worry, I’m thinking of you in that outfit. I won’t be long now.” He put the phone down and placed it back into his jacket pocket.

He glared at me, frustration behind his tired eyes. “Quit with the staring or do you want to hear the contents of my phone call.”

Taken aback by the harshness in his voice, I turned away and lowered my head. Had I been gazing too long or was I being rude? But, Evan has been very rude the moment I sat down in this seat.

I peeked over at Ben who was once again making out with Rob – no, Rich. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as I tried to tear my eyes away from them. My gaze moved slowly around the shop until they drifted back to Evan. He was observing me.

“Quit staring,” I mocked. I was surprised that I had even said that, that’s not like me. A smirk appeared on his lips and his head titled to the left slightly. It felt kind of good to play him at his own game. My lips twitched as I tried to hide a smile from appearing on my face.

I shifted in my seat again, moving my focus around the room as I continued to finish my drink. From my peripheral vision, his gaze was boring into me and unable to resist, I turned and looked straight back at his face. He was still observing me. Amusement seemed to have replaced the frustrated look he was wearing moments ago and I know he’s doing it on purpose.

“What?” I said. Evan was making it hard to start a conversation with him. I shook my head, reaching for my bag on the floor and I turned to address Ben.

“I’ve gotta go now, Ben.”

Ben pulled her gaze away from Rich to me. I could see her giving me the puppy eyes, but it wasn’t going to work. As usual, my dates always turn into disaster. I’m unsure if I feel disappointed or foolish to even believe that the mysterious bus guy would be different to what I had imagined.

“I have plans this evening,” I lied and got to my feet. She jumped up from the table, pulling me into a bear hug.

“We both know that’s a lie. I thought you liked him?” Ben whispered into my ear. I peered over her shoulder at Evan, who was still gazing at me. If he was attempting to provoke me, it was working. How could he look so good and be so … ugh! Maybe I was wrong about him this whole time.

“He’s not what I thought he was; he’s an arrogant pig, I’ll tell you all about it another day.” I replied to her. I felt her arms tighten around me before she let me go.

“You better tell me everything. I may have to give you some dating tips for the future.” She lowered her voice.

Finally pulling away from Ben’s tight embrace I swung my bag over my shoulder, facing towards the exit.

“I’ll call you later,” Ben said. “We’ll meet up at the weekend.”

I nodded.

“I think I’m going to head off too,” Evan said. “I’m getting tired of watching you two make out.” Rich leaned over the table and punched him on the arm playfully.

“It was nice meeting you,” I said shaking Rich’s hand. I gawped at Evan as he stood up. He was a lot taller than I had imagined, at least six feet. I glanced back at Ben; smiled, and turned around ready to leave when Evan grabbed my arm. My whole body froze from his sudden touch and my head snapped towards him. He let out a breath and his minty scent swept over my face.

“I’ll walk you to the bus stop,” he said. I didn’t get the chance to protest as he pulled me away from the others. I stared after Ben who returned to her seat with her full attention once again on Rich, hoping she might turn back and come to save me. But I thought wrong and now I’m left alone with Evan.

“There is no need,” I said, trying to brush him off.

“We are going the same way after all,” he said, letting go of my arm. “Let me take your bag for you?”

“Excuse me? I can carry it myself; I don’t need your help!”

“I was only offering. It looked a bit heavy for your weak little arms.” He smirked. He took the bag from my arm anyway and I tried to get it back from him. He lifted it up into the air and I jumped trying to grab it but he was too tall or he was using the fact that I was too short.

“Give it back, you pig.”

“Ahh, the little girly can’t reach her bag, shame.” He laughed. I jumped again hoping I could reach it, but it was no use. He watched me with amusement which started to annoy me. I kicked him in the shin and he dropped his arm down which I took this opportunity to snatch my bag from his grasp.

“You’re got quite a kick. The little girly isn’t so weak after all,” He grinned. He bent down to rub his shin as I tried hard to suppress a smile of achievement.

“Don’t touch my things.”

I tried to ignore him and carried on walking, he was close behind. Evan Wood is the bus guy; it’s still sinking in that this person is the one I’ve liked for a long time. I’m starting to doubt why I started to like him in the first place.

Was he really that type of person back when I saw him helping his neighbour who was a little old lady?

Did he really see me on the bus? Has he seen me more than once? Had he noticed my existence after all? All these questions swam through my mind as we walked almost side by side in silence. If I remember correctly he did say that I was the girl at the back of the bus, maybe he saw me or it was a coincidence? We arrived at the bus stop and there was no one there. I expected to see a tumble weed pass by followed by the sound of a gust of wind. We stood about two feet apart, neither one of us saying anything. I kept shuffling from one foot to the other, my hands stuck in my pockets. Even when I tried to pull them out they wouldn’t. Evan took up the activity of kicking the rubbish bin next to him which annoyed the hell out of me.

“This friggin bus better hurry up,” he cursed.

“That poor bin,” I found myself saying.

His personality did not mix well with his looks, a stereotypical bad boy attitude. I sneaked a glance at him and found he was gazing at me once again. He took a few steps towards me.

“You like to stare, don’t you?” he said, breaking the silence.

“And so do you,” I responded.

He leaned his body closer to me. His cologne smelt fruity. My hands trembled and I tried to convince myself that it was because of the cold December air.

Trying not to notice, his face was entering my personal space. I turned my head slightly as his lips touched my cheek. His fingers grasped my chin, pulling my attention to him. Shocked, I slapped his hand away and stepped back. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He gawked and started laughing. My hand came up and immediately slapped him across the face. There was an immediate burning sensation on my hand as I glanced down at it. His cheek started to swell up and a slight hand print was now visible. I didn’t know I had it in me. Go me.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had one of those,” he mocked as he lifted his hand to his cheek.

He was playing with me. He didn’t try to kiss me out of lust; he did it to get a reaction out of me. Fuming, I stomped away from him. I was not going to let him get the best of me.

The bus finally arrived. I made my way to the back far away from him as I could possibly be. He took the hint and sat a few seats across from me. My heart sank. A part of me had hoped he would come and sit next to me.

What am I thinking? I don’t want him sitting next to me. He’s bad for my blood.

After a moment he glanced over his shoulder and our eyes met. I licked my bottom lip slowly. I don’t know what came over me, but it happened. And I regretted all of two seconds. His eyes lit up as he stared intently at me. Suppressing a smile, I looked away. If he wanted to play, then I can play too.

When he got off at his stop a few minutes later, he stood on the pavement mouthing something to me. I knew exactly what he said ‘see you around, bus girl,’ then the bus drove off. I shook my head in dismay, already feeling my cheeks burning. Gazing out the back window I watched while he walked off into the distance. I turned back, inspecting my still tingling hand.

Bus girl?