The next day at around twelve I made a lemon iced tea and put it in the small fridge we have behind the counter, waiting for Landon to arrive at his usual time.

I'd decided that i'd apologize to him as soon as I saw him, and that his drink would be on the house to make up for going off on him, this of course was if he would even talk to me.

The prime time for customers passed and then I was on my break and I couldn't sit still, waiting for him to walk through the door, the different scenarios of how he would look and what i would say flashing through m head; he'd probably be wearing a black t-shirt, and i'd be a mumbling mess, but he didn't.

"Liana can I talk to you?" William called from the door at the back of the shop and I sighed.

What are the odds that Landon is going to come in while i'm back there. Pretty high i'm sure.

"Sure thing." I shouted back and stood up, walking over to Rebecca, trying not to show the blush on my cheeks. "Hey if that guy from before comes in would you give him the drink that's in the fridge and let him know its on the house from me." She looked at me in confusion but nodded anyway, "Thanks."

I went into the back room and knocked on William's office door before walking in and taking a seat in the red chair across from his desk, i'd been in there a thousand times and i'd worked for William for over three years, the relationship between us was pretty casual. Really, this place felt like a second home to me sometimes - the familiar striped walls that surrounded the room and the old photos of famous people that had come in to buy a coffee splattered along the paper.

"I just wanted to check that you're still wanting this weekend off, you requested it about a month back?" He asked and I cursed, hitting my forehead. I'd been so distracted by Landon that I forgot to make sure I was off work- thank god I'd done it when we first planned the trip, otherwise I wouldn't be off this weekend.

Congrats past Liana you're way smarter than current Liana.

"Yes please, Joey is visiting for the weekend." I explained.

"That's fine, I'll ask one of the weekend girls to cover your shift for you all day." I sighed in relief, at least that was sorted. "I also just wanted to check that you're okay Liana... you've been a bit off." He said cautiously and I smiled at him in thanks, William was a great boss... well an okay boss.

Although only being in his early thirties his hair was already graying at the sides but he was still quite good looking - not really my type but if you were into the middle aged sort of look then i'm sure you'd snatch him up. He wasn't the smartest tool in the shed but he was keeping the company running really well, and he often went away visiting the other branches in different states.

"Is it Margot? How is she doing?" He asked and I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes - of course he'd ask about Margot, that little crush he's had on her since she first visited me at work always made an appearance whenever we spoke. He'd only really had a few conversations with her but his attraction to her was clear and I felt kind of bad for him - whenever Margot wanted me to have a day off she used it to her advantage, asking him herself or saying she was the cause of the day off. He couldn't say no.

The good side of that though was that a lot of the time, Margot was the reason for my sudden days off. Often i'd take the entire day off if she was having a down day just as a precaution in case it got worse after I left - i'd never forgive myself if something happened to her.

"No Margot is totally fine." I assured him with a strained smile and there's visible relief in his body as he leans back with a soft smile.

"Good, i'm glad. Do you uh... need to talk about the issue you're having?" He asked awkwardly and I tried not to cringe at his tone.

Never.

"No that's okay." I stated and again, relief is evident.

Points for pretending William, I thought to myself, shaking my head with a chuckle.

"I'm just going to go back to my break." I half asked and half told as I stood up motioning to the door and he quickly bolted up, opening it for me.

"Yes, yes, of course! Sorry! Go ahead and enjoy your break." He smiled and I nodded in thanks, "Keep up the good work!" He called after me and I didn't turn around, instead making eye contact with Rebecca who giggled and rolled her eyes as I walk over.

"He's such an awkward boss." She stated and I agree with her before making myself a drink. "You know you could probably just have the one in the fridge, that guy hasn't come back in." She tells me and I frowned, opening the door to see that the drink is still sitting there, the name Landon scrolled across the sticky note on it along with the words 'I'm sorry'.

I glance at the clock, 13:30.

He should of been in by now.

"No it's okay, he might just be running late." I told her, not looking up to her eyes in case she sees the worry coating my expression. "Just leave it there for when he comes in."

If he comes in.

.

He didn't.

The whole day I waited and watched for him to walk through the door, my apology rehearsed and prepared in my head so things weren't even more awkward between us but he never showed.

And so at the end of the shift I bent down and took out the iced tea ripping the note off and shoving it into pocket and then drinking it for myself. I ignored the pity look from Rebecca as I did.

"He probably had somewhere to be or something." I told her and she nodded but I knew she doesn't believe me.

How embarrassing was that - waiting for a guy to show up who just doesn't. I felt like I had been stood up on a date which was so stupid, we weren't dating obviously and it's not as if he said he would be coming in here everyday, I just presumed he would because there hadn't been a day that I hadn't seen him yet.

Maybe he was avoiding me.

The thought made me frown but I couldn't really blame him - who would want to come and talk to the crazy girl who shouted at you. I certainly wouldn't.

I sighed, drinking the tea quickly as if to get rid of the evidence of my failed plan but I couldn't get rid of the thought from my head.

What if he wasn't planning on coming back here.

I couldn't exactly figure out how I felt about that.

.

I stood at the terminal gate, jumping from one foot to the other as I tried to calm my body down but it didn't seem to work - I had drank far too much caffeine.

After staying up late last night watching about half a season of friends, Margot and I had crawled into bed at some time in the early hours of the morning.

That was a huge mistake.

I'd awoken thirty minutes after I was suppose to have left the apartment to pick up Joey - in my usual late fashion - and so I had literally pulled on my jeans from the day before and sprinted out the door, jumping in Margot's car and driving here like a lunatic.

Only to find out that I was half an hour early for the flight.

Apparently- knowing my habit of sleeping past alarms - Joey purposely told me the wrong time so that i'd have an extra hour, that meant my horrific driving and risking the chance of being stopped by the police were for nothing, and so to spend my time here I'd sat and had about three coffees.

Which is why I was now standing, looking like a junkie i'm sure, jittering from side to in yesterdays clothes with bed hair, waiting for my annoying little brother to walk out of the doors so I could strangle him for making me look like an idiot.

Although he had been right about the sleeping in thing.

But that wasn't the point.

I glanced at my phone again, checking the time for the fiftieth time and as I did I heard the ring go off above me, signalling the gates from baggage collection opening.

My heartbeat started to rise as my eyes shuffled through the crowd trying to search for my little brother and I groaned when I couldn't see him.

It was so like him to be the very last person out, wasn't it?

Just as I was about to go and storm in there, dragging him out, a familiar face appeared and I let out a squeal in delight, forgetting my anger and running towards the figure who cheered when he saw me.

He dropped his bags and his arms immediately engulfed me as I reached him, lifting me off the ground resulting in another squeal escaping my lips as I giggled, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Joey!" I cried, breathing in his familiar scent and I felt him doing the same, the comfort of the familiar smell easing my worries i'd had previously and calming down my jittering nerves.

"Hey there Li." He chuckled, squeezing me and I melted into his embrace.

I missed him so much.

We stay like that for a few second before I pull back and smile up at him, taking in his appearance.

It had been a few months since I had last seen him in person and he'd changed quite a bit - skype could only show so much. No longer was he the completely weedy highschooler that had left me a year ago, he had now started to bulk out a little but I knew he would never have bulging muscles or become a body builder, my little brother was a bit too slim for that... and soft.

He'd told me a few months ago that he was thinking of growing his hair longer and he had, but what he hadn't told me was that he was no deciding to style it in a 'man bun' placed on the top of his head. Surprisingly enough it suited him and I couldn't help but smile at how much of a 'student' he had become. His satchel and glasses adding to the whole geek effect of it. He really was the same little boy that i'd looked after all my life - his familiar grey eyes staring back just like my own and his overly freckled face grinning at me just reminded me of the dork that i'd looked out for, for the past eight years.

I reached up and smacked him across the back of his head, much to his surprise and irritation.

"What the hell was that for?" He whined and I gave him a pointed look, raising an eyebrow and the realization dawns on him as he gives me an innocent smile, "I was right though wasn't I? You slept in." He teased but I just scoffed and started walking away from him.

He caught up very quickly and strolled beside me. "You know i'm right."

"I see you still aren't six foot yet." I countered and he shot me a glare much to my amusement. "I don't think you're ever going to hit it."

He muttered something under his breath before throwing his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into the side of his body and I giggled.

It had been a standing joke between us that Joey could never reach six foot - he currently stood at 5"11 maybe even add a half inch but every time he measured himself he was never six foot - and it was excruciatingly hard for him to accept. Although I was shorter than him, standing at around 5"9, I didn't care, I didn't particularly want to get any taller; due to my curvy figure and slight added weight, if I was any taller i'd be afraid i'd look like a mountain or worse a man.

"Okay, okay, I'm still taller than you so don't think i'll hesitate to go around moving everything out of your reach again like last time. Don't tempt me."

I giggled at the memory and put my arm around his waist, digging my fingers into his skin, resulting in a yelp to escape from his lips.

"You know it was Margot who was more annoyed by that considering she's shorter than me." I reminded and he grinned, obviously finding himself funny.

"Where is drama queen anyway?" I rolled my eyes at him and he chuckled, "In bed I presume, wow don't I feel special."

"You're hear a few times a year, you can't honestly expect her to get out of bed every time." I joked and he joins in with my laughter as we walked to the car.

"You know i'm going to have to punish her for this."

I smirked, "Oh I know."

.

"You! I expected better from you! You're meant to be my best friend yet you allowed this betrayal to take place in my home, and you joined in no less! I have to say the disappointment is unbelievable right now, you have actually made me question the past six years of our friendship, that is how hurt I am right now."

Margot crossed her arms and glared me down as I struggled to contain my laughter.

"I'm glad you find this funny because you're the one who has to continue living with me, he gets to escape but you! Oh you are in for a world of pain!" She threatened.

"Oh come on Margot, it's your fault for not getting off your ass to greet me from the airport." Joey intercepted, walking across the kitchen towards her and she held up a wooden spoon warning him to stay back, he raised his hands in surrender and stopped advancing which made me need to laugh even more - who defended themselves with a wooden spoon? "Haven't you missed me." He gives her his puppy dog face and I knew immediately that whatever she had planned to continue ranting about wouldn't last - I was probably the only person sometimes immune to his begging face and that was only due to having to overpower it throughout my entire life.

"Yes okay I missed you, come here!" She rolled her eyes, motioning with her arms for him to come forward but he hesitated. "What?" She scowled.

"You're wet... I don't want to get wet."

The evil smirk that appeared on her face was immediate as she jumped at him, trapping him in her arms as he began to thrash.

"No!" He pleaded, looking at me, "I don't want to be wet!"

"That's what she said." Margot added, still wrestling with Joey and I chuckled at the two of them, glad she'd gotten over the water wake up call given by Joey in a spur of the moment revenge plan. It was safe to say that Margot did not respond well to being woken up by a cup of ice cold water poured over her.

"You're jokes are awful." Joey complained but hugged her none the less, "I hope a weekend here doesn't make me lose a few hundred brain cells."

I rolled my eyes and hopped off the counter, walking to the cupboard to start raking around in search of a pan to put bacon onto. "Even if you lost a few hundred cells, i'm sure you'd still outsmart both of us."

There's laughter at my comment and I continued to pull out supplies and ingredients from the shelves, preparing our breakfast. I always made a full cooked breakfast for the first morning Joey was home - it was a tradition.

I rummaged through the pile of utensils at the bottom of the cupboard and groaned when I watched the spatula slide down the back.

"For gods sake." I mumbled to myself, squatting further down and stretching into the tiny space, my fingers grazing the plastic handle of the spatula. I moved even further into the cupboard and sighed in relief when I was successful.

"Hey what's this sticking out your back pocket?" Joey asked and I shot up, banging my head off the cupboard in the process.

I let out a whine at the contact and I heard the other two wincing as I did, "Man that sounded like it was sore, sorry I didn't mean to make you jump."

"Whatever." I grumbled, rubbing my head before slowly moving completely out and standing up, "Now what were you saying?"

Joey looked down at something in his hand and my eyes widened at what he was holding, I forgot I put that in there. "Whose Landon?" He asked with a raised eyebrow and I go to explain with a lie but before I can Margot jumps up and dashes forward, grabbing the paper out his hand.

"Is it his number?" She asked me, before finally looking down and seeing the message. "Oh..." She trailed off biting her lip, "He didn't show up?"

I don't look at them, embarrassed that I had been stood up by a guy.

Wait what was I saying, I wasn't stood up - we hadn't planned anything.

But he did say that I was the only reason for him going to the coffee shop.

Then again that was before I blew the handle at him.

Damn.

"Again whose Landon? Got a boyfriend I should know about?"

Although being younger than me, Joey was very protective - I guess it came from our past and the fact that we were all each other had, bonds grow tight in the face of anguish, terror and loneliness.

"Definitely not my boyfriend." I corrected him and Margot scoffed beside me, causing me to snap my gaze to her with a glare, "He's not." I assured Joey who just looked skeptical, "He's come into the shop a few times and chatted, the apology is because I was a bit rude to him the other day."

Everyone stayed silent for a moment before Joey nodded slowly and then threw the paper in the bin, "He better be only that, otherwise i'm going to have to meet him and have a chat about what he intends to happen with my sister."

"God you sound so cliche." I teased and he chuckled much to my relief.

"You love it... if anything happens with this guy you tell me okay?" At first I think he's talking to me but then I looked up to see him watching Margot when he says it.

"I know nothing." She replied truthfully and he nods but I know he still expects to have a say in what guys I date.

I didn't want to date Landon though.

I didn't even want to talk about Landon.

Or think about him.

At all.

... Maybe.