my faaav thing to see ^^ ☀︎

Sam comes out of the office with an unreadable expression just in time. I don't know what I would have said to Dakota or what he would have said to me but all I know is I'm glad for the interruption.

My problems with expressing emotion doesn't stop at just the vocalizing aspect. Sometimes I start to believe that I have a hard time feeling certain emotions at all.

Not to mention I've only known Dakota for a very short time and I get the feeling that he's the type to jump into everything headfirst whilst I am the type to wait it out and weigh the consequences. I'm happy for a budding friendship and I'm trying my best to not assume he wants something different. I could be reading everything all wrong; this wouldn't be the first time.

"How did it go?" I step away from the counter and widen the distance between her brother and I as she approaches us slowly. I ignore the small smirk on her lips as she looks between the two of us.

"Well..." A slow grin spreads across his naturally pretty features, "Amelia said I can start right now if you'd like since it's a slow day and you can show me the ropes without worrying about customers." She chuckles.

"Really?" I ask excitedly, "Yeah, I'm so down! I can start by teaching you how to work the register. Have you ever been a cashier anywhere before?" I ask her, happiness bubbling up at the thought of having a coworker to hang out with and relate to.

Sam presses her lips together as she approaches the register, inspecting it, while Dakota leans against the counter watching us with a bored expression. I roll my eyes at him and he catches this, shooting me a What the heck glance to which I respond with a dramatized smile and look back at Sam.

"I have but this looks like an older model. Could you run me through it really quick? I'm a fast learner." She grins happily as she looks at me expectantly.

"Yeah sure it actually works more like a calculator than a modern POS system. All you have to do is - "

"How long is your shift?" Dakota interrupts me, cocking his head to the side as he spins his keys around his finger.

I sigh, looking at him sideways while Sam gives him a death glare. "Why?" I ask him curiously.

Dakota looks between his sister and I. "You two will need a ride home, right?"

"Yeah but you don't have to take me home." I tell him nervously. People doing good deeds for me makes me feel oddly uncomfortable because I somehow feel that I'm a horrible inconvenience. "I'll just ask Amelia."

"No you won't." Samantha nudges me with her elbow. "We're taking you home and that's final."

"Oh no we aren't." Dakota scoffs, "I am. I am taking Lillian home." He crosses his arms over his chest and gives her a stern look.

"You're both taking me home so stop arguing." I laugh before focusing on Dakota, "I get off at four so you can come get us then, okay?"

His lips purse slightly as he looks at his sister with distaste. "Yeah okay. See you later. Don't let her burn the place down." He snorts, his sister sticking her tongue out at him.

"See you." I tell him, watching him as he turns and walks out the door, giving me one last glance before leaving.

As soon as he disappears from the sidewalk, Sam releases a sigh. "Finally, he's gone."

I chuckle, shaking my head at her. "Needed a break from him?"

She nods with wide eyes. "More than you know. Dakota is kind of like a really strong and slightly sour flavor. He's fun at first but, as time goes on, he becomes a huge pain and I can't bear him." Her posture fails and she sinks against the counter with her cheek in her hand.

"I have yet to experience such pain but you'll be the first to know when it happens." I laugh, opening a drawer and pulling out a new name tag for Sam. Walking to the computer, I type in her name and quickly print it out, shoving the paper it into the slot and handing it to her. "There you go. You are officially official." I wink.

She smiles, pinning it to her romper. "Thanks. It's kinda weird that you smelled it Samantha instead of Sam."

"Oh sorry, I can change it." I rush with a nervous chuckle.

She pauses before shaking her head. "No I actually think I like it. But you're the only one that's allowed to call me Samantha." She grins at me.

"Deal." I nod once with a laugh. "Now how about that cash register lesson?"

"I'm so ready to be a professional book store clerk just like you." She gushes dramatically.

"Oh shut up." I mumble causing her to chuckle.

"So..." She starts, sighing as she stares down at the old register. "Where do we start?"

✰✰✰

By the time four rolls around, Sam is even more happy than she was when she first came in this morning and it seems that she's almost sad to be leaving her new job.

I watch her as her brows furrow further and further as she tries to remember the organization system we use. Giving her the easiest section, the cookbook selection, was probably the best idea considering she's still having a hard time with it after working on it for an hour.

"You sure you don't need any help?" I stop behind her as I pass the row she's in and peek over her shoulder.

"Ah!" She jumps slightly by my sudden question among the silent rows of books. "Oh..." She laughs, holding her hand to her chest. "I think I'm okay for now. Just trying to get the hang of it and do it right. By the way, Dakota texted me ten minutes ago and said he's here." She smirks evilly when I gasp.

"Sam!" I watch as she laughs to herself. "Why didn't you tell me he was here?"

She shrugs, pulling out her phone. "I wanted to see how long he'd wait before texting me an angry message. So far, there's been none. He must really like you if he's willing to wait out in the heat like that." She snorts, shoving her phone back into her bra. I'm guessing her romper has no pockets so no judgment here.

"Well then I'm going to clock us out and I'll meet you out there, okay? We can finish this up tomorrow morning." I tell her before walking off and trotting down the stairs to the first floor. Having no elevator hasn't turned out to be so bad. I feel pretty fit already from walking up and down the stairs so much but I will, no doubt, be sore tomorrow.

"Heading out?" Amelia asks me over the top of her glasses. I nod in response, jogging over and tapping a few times to clock both Sam and I out. I'm not supposed to know her code but I made it for her so there's no avoiding it.

"Yeah Sam's twin brother is here to pick us up." I tell her.

She nods I understanding, pulling her glasses off. "How is Sam working out? Is she catching on quickly? She seems like a sweet girl. A little nervous but sweet nonetheless." Amelia chuckles as she speaks in a low voice.

"She's doing great, honestly. She's a fast learner just like she said and she's determined to do things the right way the first time and that's extremely helpful." I smile just as I hear footsteps coming down the flight of stairs, Sam appearing soon after.

"Lillian tells me you're doing a fine job. Keep it up." Amelia nods to Sam before heading back to the office leaving Sam with a pleased grin.

"You said that?" She asks me with a laugh, pushing the door open as the bell rings over our heads.

I pull my small backpack strap over my shoulder and give her a smile. "I said you're doing better than fine. I said you're doing great."

"Well thanks, boss." She says with an obnoxious smile and I roll my eyes playfully.

As soon as Dakota sees me, his slouched posture straightens and I hope he doesn't think I didn't see him glance briefly into the rear view mirror at himself before casually crossing his arms over his chest. We approach slowly, me sitting in the back while I allow Sam to take the front.

"Are you buckled up, children?" Dakota calls way too loudly and a few people passing by on the sidewalk look at him with an off expression and quickening their pace.

"No, I never wear a seatbelt." Sam mumbles grumpily.

"I have mine on, dad." I catch his amused smile in the mirror as Sam looks back with a disgusted look on her face. "I just wanted to see your reactions." I chuckle.

"I mean, hey, you can call me dad anytime." He winks at me, placing on a pair of sunglasses and starting the engine.

I roll my eyes at him for the umpteenth time. "Shut up and drive."

He laughs to himself before looking over at his unamused sister who looks slightly embarrassed but mostly disgusted.

On the short trip to our neighborhood, none of us say a thing. Maybe because Dakota is playing super moody music and it's just getting my thoughts rolling or maybe it's just because we're all too lazy to try and force a conversation through the blasting wind. Not that I mind seeing as I find silent car rides very comfortable depending on who I'm with.

When we pull up to their beautiful home, Sam immediately gives me a goodbye hug, thanks me again for the recommendation, and literally runs over next door to Winter's house. I watch as the front door opens and the apparently long awaited embrace happens on his front porch. I look away as she gives him a sweet kiss. I hear him laugh before the door closes and I'm left alone with Dakota in the driveway.

We sit there in silence for a moment; me in the back and him chilling in the driver's seat with his dark tinted glasses concealing his eyes.

"So..." I begin, "Are you dropping me off or...what's the plan here?" I ask him, unbuckling my seatbelt. When he doesn't say anything, I sigh, climbing through the space between the driver and passenger seats.

"Hey you." Dakota looks over at me with a lighthearted smile as I settle into the seat. I feel his eyes on me while I lean forward and pull my backpack off and place it in my lap.

"Hello." I play along with a small laugh. "What's up? Did you not hear me?" I ask him, his sunglasses staring back at me blankly.

Dakota shakes his head slightly. "No, I did. I was just thinking about what to say. I mean I was thinking that maybe we could hang out here for a little while and watch a movie or something? But then I started thinking that you just went to work and you're probably tired so I wasn't going to ask." He tells me, pulling the glasses off and tossing them into the center console carelessly.

My fingers play with the straps of my backpack as I think about his offer. "I think that sounds like fun. I'm not too tired so don't worry about that. I just need to be back by about six because I have a dinner with my dad tonight." I inform him, earning a smile from him.

"Okay, cool." He grabs his keys and gracefully climbs out of the Jeep. "Just enough time to watch a movie."

"True." I tell him as I follow him through the front door, the familiar smell of his home enveloping me.

"My mom and dad are out going on errands so it's just you and I. If you're not comfortable with that, I get it." He turns around looking at me sensitively as he awaits my reply.

"That's fine as long as you don't try anything." I joke but deep down I'm dead serious.

I think he's senses this but plays it off and says, "Me? Never."

"I know, the idea is unbelievably shocking." I say sarcastically, kicking off my shoes at the front door and dropping my back gently next to them.

He chuckles behind me and, as I turn, I catch him watching me fix my socks with an amused expression. "Take a picture, it lasts longer."

"Oh I have." He responds so nonchalantly that I almost don't do a double take, my mouth opening slightly to say something but it's too late and he's already off in the direction of the kitchen.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I rush after him, walking through the opening of the kitchen to see him tearing the plastic off of a brown package of popcorn kernels with his teeth.

He spits a bit of plastic out. "What?"

I sigh, leaning against the marble countertops. "You said you've taken photos of me?"

"Oh yeah." He chuckles, popping the bag into the microwave and pressing a button. "Yeah I have. Why do you ask?"

My lips part as I search for words. "That's not normal." I stare, baffled. "And it's so random."

"Are you creeped out?" He asks me. "Because I can just delete them."

"No." I say quickly to avoid an awkward conversation. "I'm just wondering when the heck you had the opportunity."

"Do you really want to know?" Dakota asks me with raised brows. "I can show them to you if you want."

My lips purse slightly as I cross my arms, my cheeks burning at the thought of Dakota having candid photos of me in his phone without my knowledge. "Yes. You can't really blame me for being curious."

"Suit yourself. Come here." He tells me, pulling his iPhone from his khaki shorts pocket and unlocking it. I stop beside him, looking down at his hands as he clicks his photos app.

I pretend not to notice a few random selfies as he casually scrolls past them. I get the feeling that he's going agonizingly slow on purpose because. I have to admit, he takes some pretty good photos. And I'm not just talking about the attractive selfies, I mean pictures of everything and every one of his family members. They all look candid so when his thumb stops scrolling and he lands on a section of three photos of me, I'm not that weirded out by it.

"You like photography?" I ask him, my own hands reaching over to take his phone from him and get a closer look.

Dakota shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I guess so."

"You guess so?" I breathe a laugh as I stare at one of the three photos of me. The colors and shadows and highlights have obviously been edited but not just edited but edited to perfection.

In the photo, I'm in the elevator with my head leaned against the wall, my eyes staring at the wall blankly. My hair is down and curly, my glasses perched on my nose as I sit with my legs bent and my arms resting atop my knees.

I peer down at the phone as I inspect the detail and thought put into the photo. "What made you think to take a picture?" I inquire with genuine curiosity, swiping right to see the other two photos that look similar to the first except my head is in different positions.

I feel him stop with his chest to my back as he peers over my shoulder. "I don't know. I guess the situation was tense and you looked so calm and I could tell you were calculating a way out of there even though you knew there was nothing we could do." He laughs.

I scroll back down and suddenly stop at a bright photo of me from Dakota and Sam's birthday. I feel completely in awe and baffled by the beautiful articulate detail. Again, I'm looking off to the side which isn't surprising considering he snuck this photo while we were talking. The huge grin on my face as I was captured mid laugh brings a smile to my lips. "Wow. These are beautiful." I tell him quietly as I scroll through the photos, each one even more gorgeous than the last.

I freeze, lowering the phone, when Dakota's arms snake around my waist as he hugs me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. "Thank you but those photos would be nothing if you weren't as beautiful as you are."

My face turns red as I force myself to relax. The hug honestly feels platonic but, with Dakota, I never know. "Thank you and...you're welcome." I laugh as he steps away slowly.

We both stay quiet for a moment, my heart racing slightly. "Ready for some popcorn? You can pick the movie." He offers with a crooked grin.

I release a too airy laugh. "Okay."

"You okay?" He asks with with a raised brow.

"Yeah, I'm good." I'm confused.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Just thinking about how much you're going to regret letting me pick the movie." I laugh. You are the center of everything that makes my heart work hard and my logical mind not work hard enough.