013

She's just sitting there alone, twirling with her fingers and staring of into space, or someone. I don't need to look to know who it is. 

A small sigh escapes my lips and i walk down to sit opposite her, wordlessly swapping my tray of fries and ketchup that i exchanged for mayonnaise because of this exact reason for her small plate of salad and bread sticks. I hate salad but right now i don't mind waiting a few more hours till i can get home and eat proper food. Alice on the other hand breaths on fries, which makes me wonder why she's having a plate of salad to begin with.

She looks at me but doesn't say anything and just mindlessly starts dipping her fries into the mayonnaise but still i can spot the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. 

"Are you still going to keep avoiding me? "i give her a pointed look but she simply brushes it off with a shrug while chewing and dusting off her fingers like it has crumps on it. "why where you having salad? "

"the fries got finished. Apparently you had the last one, and they only had cheese burgers left " she hates cheese, anything cheese doesn't sit well with her. I nod my head in understanding. 

A moment of silence passes us and i just keep twirling my fork around the same slice of cucumber, cringing inwardly at the thought of having to put this in my mouth. 

"He keeps talking about you "she suddenly said making me cringe evidently this time already knowing who she's talking about. 

"I don't like him Alice "

"I know "she sighs "it's so frustrating, I've never had to try to get a boy to like me before " she stabs her plate with multiple fries only to have them break each time. "i really like him Lex. And i get that he's your ex and all but i just can't help it." she looks up at me with sincerity in her eyes and it makes me doubt my theory of all this just being a challenge faze to her. 

"I believe you "i grab hold of her hand giving her a light squeeze. Smiles softly at me "so are we good? "

She rolls her eyes at me and pulls her hand away from mine trying to hide the small grin threatening to give out. 

"Oh come on "i pout "i sacrificed my lunch for this! "

"I should have known. This... "she does a hand motion on the plate of half eaten fries in front of her "was just plain bribery"

I smile "it was worth the shot "

******

"No way! M&Ms all the way "Kyle exclaimed smacking his hands a bit forcefully on the table attracting the attention of most of the people in this little dinner that happens to have the best food in town. 

Kyle and i have been battering about M&Ms and gummy bears for a while now. He keeps insisting that M&Ms rule every other chocolate but that's the thing, I'm not a huge fan of chocolates which is why i find gummy bears way more appetizing than any chocolate product. Whether it be snickers or smart, or in this case M&Ms. 

I roll my eyes "you're gaining attention on yourself Kay "

"I can't believe you "he keeps shaking his head in disbelief even though there is nothing to be surprised about that. 

I can't suppress the eye roll for the, what? Fifteenth time tonight? 

I don't say anything else i just take a huge bite out of my peanut butter sandwich, closing my eyes for a brief moment while savoring the taste. 

The events of today playing over in my head. After my awkward meeting with Finn's mum today, i received a text from an unknown number asking if I'm ready for extra special tutoring lessons with a winky emoji. It didn't take two and two to figure out that it was Finn. 

I'm annoyed at Finn, annoyed at his mother and annoyed at myself. I don't have to do it if i don't want to right? 

"Lexa? "

"Huh? "i look up at Kyle to see the worry in his eyes. 

"Are you going to tell me? "

"Tell you what? "

"What we are doing here. I mean I'm not complaining but why are we really here? "

I lift up a brow, pretending not to know what he's talking about "to eat?"

He gives me a look that makes me sigh and give in. 

"I quit " I stated not looking at him. "i quit my job "i fiddle with my fingers for a while and when he still didn't say anything i turned my gaze from the half eaten sandwich that seems somehow really fascinating to him. 

There was no expression what so ever on his face "why? "

"I couldn't. "there is so many reasons why, for starters, it was never comfortable to begin with, victor already threatened to get rid of me and I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of doing that without walking away myself. Not to mention i have to work with Jim who I'm still not comfortable around everyday. 

He doesn't question me any further. "admit it Lex, you only quit because you wanted to spend more time with me "

"Yeah right, because you are just so important, i couldn't help myself" evident sarcasm rolling off my tongue.

"Your sarcasm is not appreciated McCarthy " His smirk turned into a pout making him look really cute with his lips pointing out like that. And the little heart shaped birthmark below the left side of his lower lip. "you know if you want to kiss me, you can just ask. "

"W-what! "i feel the blood rush up to my face and i pray Kyle doesn't notice the slight redness of my cheeks but when you've been friends with someone for a really long time you'll be able to notice the littlest things no matter how tanned you might be and judging by the huge smirk on his face right now i know he can tell and it only makes the heat spread farther to my ears. I didn't even notice how long I'd been staring at his lips , it's not like i want to kiss him or anything! That's just gross. 

He chuckles lightly "come on Lex, finish up "he motioned to my already forgotten sandwich "let's get out of here, there's something i want to show you "

I clear my throat and avert my eyes trying to finish up the remaining cold sandwich that i don't have an appetite for anymore but the idea of wasting shouldn't be an option at all. 

"You guys want anything else? "Molly, my coworker during weekends asks giving Kyle a once over. Molly is nineteen, graduated from Grayson's last year and currently works here most of the time. She and Kyle used to have a thing or fling or whatever you want to call it, it was nothing serious according to the both of them but judging by the way she was undressing him with her eyes, I'm starting to think maybe she still wants him. 

Did i forget to tell you? Kyle is a ladies man. Flirts with anything that breathes and it surprises me that he's not doing any of that now with obvious looking Molly. Unlike your usual high school jock, Kyle doesn't sleep around and even though he's never had a long term relationship before he actually dates, not lately though. And he's most definitely not a football player. 

"Nah we're good "he answers for us both, she lingers the tiniest bit longer before nodding and scooting away mumbling a small 'okay '

Just as i was about to stuff the last bit of peanut butter and bread in my mouth, my best friend leaned closer until his face was right in front of mine "just so you know, if you wanted me to kiss you, i definitely would "

I froze. Sitting there with my mouth hanging open and uneaten piece of sandwich lying between. 

"Come on " he stud pulling me up with him out of the small restaurant.