Chapter 3:

I blinked once. Then twice. I'm not dreaming. Quickly moving round my table, I approached him and poked him. He's real.

"Hello to you too?" He raised his eyebrows in amusement, a half smile hanging on his lips. I blinked again. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind him being here. Actually, I love that he is here but it is kind of surprising because he moved when I was eighteen. I remember crying so hard and ending up with a fever because it made me so mad. Basically, that was five years ago so we only talked on phone since then. We updated eachother on everything though. I told him about how I moved here too to start a life of my own. Was that how he found me?

"How? How are you here?" I asked and he pulled me in for a hug, locking me in his arms. I could feel my heartbeat accelerate. I hope he can't feel that. I raised my arms and wrapped my arm around his back.

"I'm here because I missed you, silly. And this not how to welcome guests" he said and pulled away from the hug, smiling at me. I chuckled and rolled my eyes like I can't feel a thousand butterflies in my stomach right now.

"I mean, how did you find me?" I asked and his dark eyes shifted over my head. I looked behind me and found Alyssa leaning on the counter, her silk dark hair swept over her left shoulder. A smile danced on her lips. Isn't her hair supposed to be tucked in an hair net? When did that happen? I raised an eyebrow.

"There isn't exactly one Joel's Kitchen around here" he answered, looking back at me.

"Who is this, Cam?" She asked in a teasing voice.

"This is--" I started but was cut off by Paula who whistled as her eyes landed on him.

I mean, I can't blame them. He's wearing a light green shirt--first two buttons undone-- over a pair of dark blue jeans and black Crocs. He's dressed like he came for a stroll. His hair is neatly swept back as always and to be very honest, the pictures of himself he sent did no justification of how much he had grown.

His face was neat apart from the light pencil mustache right above his lips. Lord, those lips-- No! Stop! I cleared my throat, preparing to re-introduce him before Stacy, Adam and Brad walked in, hollering with teasing smiles.

"And who is this hombre atractivo {hot looking man}?" Paula said, walking around the counter to drape her arm over my shoulder, not taking her eyes off Jerry. She does that alot-- input Spanish words in her sentences-- it's an habit that we have all gotten used to. I think I'm even picking up a few words.

"That question would have been answered if I didn't keep being cut off" I glared at her and she chuckled.

"Mi Mala {My bad}. What is his name?" She asked.

"Jerry. He's my bestfriend" Unfortunately not more than. I sighed. "Jerry, these are my co-workers" I gestured and Alyssa smacked her tongue.

"That is not how a proper introduction is done" Adam shook his head at me and stretched his hand out to Jerry for a shake.
Jerry took is hand with a chuckle. "I'm Adam and I thought you might have been Eve for a second there" he flirted and I narrowed my eyes at him playfully. You see....Adam swings with both sides.

"I'm flattered" Jerry chuckled and they let go of each other's hands. Everybody else's introduction started to flow in.

"Alyssa"

"Brad"

"Stacy"

"Paula" She dragged tucking an invisible strand of hair behind her ear. Was that supposed to be seductive?

I locked my arm in his and pouted at Alyssa. She vigorously shook her head. "No. I'm not doing it" she said stepping back from the counter.

"Please" I begged and she narrowed her eyes at me. She knows what I'm begging for, a break from work so she can't fill in for me. If I'm being honest, she is my only friend at Joel's. The other coworkers are not enemies or something though, we just don't click much when we're alone. It's kind of like that neighbor that you always say hi to whenever you're leaving your house. It doesn't mean you're friends with them, right? Well, maybe I just have a complicate meaning to friendship.

"An hour" she said and I nodded with a big smile. I removed my hairnet, releasing my hair before dragging Jerry with me out of Joel's. Lucky for me, my honey curly hair didn't get stuck like it usually did.

"So...I see you have a lot of new friends here and you're adjusting just fine" he said and I bit my lower lip. Not really.

"I mean....not entirely." I answered as we passed by Tattoos and Hair, thankfully he wasn't outside. We should sit at the park.

"Not entirely?" He questioned and I nodded. He dug his hands in his pockets and let out a sigh. "Right"

"I mean. Maybe I will, later on but for now I don't think so yet" Let's not even talk about horrible my morning was.

"You'll get there" he assured and I smile at him. He smiled back.

In ten minutes,-- which we spent catching up on eachother's lives like we already haven't done that-- we got to the children's park.

I guided us to a bench and we sat down. I stretched my legs and let out a groan. "I like to come here whenever I have nothing else to do. I like to come here and sketch" I looked at him and entangled out fingers. Maybe I should just tell him. It's not that hard. Okay it is. What if I loose our friendship because he doesn't feel the same way?

"I have something to tell you" We both said at the same time, causing us to pause and burst in a fit of laughter.

I stopped and curiousity kicked in. "You go first" He paused and released a breath. Is it the same thing? Does he want to tell me how much he likes me ? Is he moving here? Or moving out of the country? Did he get a big opportunity? Did something happen? Did--

"I'm going to get married"

I should have applied for a job at a circus. I would make the perfect clown.

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07/04/2023