Butterflies

It was lunch now. I was sitting eating the last piece of the swirl of sugary donuts I had as Flowers and I giggled in the cafeteria, as she scanned my phone.

"How did you get a place like this, it looks gorgeous, I would have died to get just trying to get something like this when I moved to Paramount the first time," she said.

"A friend of a friend," I peeked my words at her. She pouted her lips, as she purred.

"It's always, those with associates that get priority," she spoke with slight friendly envy. She handed me my phone. "Remind me to update your address on the system, okay." I nodded and smiled.

"I think…"

"So, what you beautiful ladies up to?" George scooped over beside me and broke my chain of thought. The three of us had become lunch buddies so I wasn't shocked when he just took a sit beside me. As time passed, I came to enjoy their company and friendship. Lunchtime was always the party of the threes and relish that.

This new form of work friendship I had was something I always looked forward to during the day. Flowers was always cheerful and energetic, always putting away the work stress and problems aside. While George was always the goofy one soon seemed o have all the information that Flowers needed.

Flowers was the type to talk about our favorite shows and get your favorite celebrities' autographs. George would always be the one to tease that would never happen and her expectations were too high, which would cause her to become rebellious and act out on him. Sometimes I would be caught in the middle, but I didn't seem to mind.

Over the recent days, I have come to the conclusion that these moments remind me of my better self. Jada and Peter would love these two, and probably be jealous even. Yet I couldn't help but think they would be happy knowing I had friends to keep my company at work as well.

"Oh my god," Flowers spoke as if something awful had happened.

"What?" As my eyes sputter on her and George. I saw her staring at his plate.

"Is that the Devil's Food Cake," she asked as her mouth watered.

"Yes," George sang, taking a bite to tease her apparently. I smiled.

"Shit, I told that damn chef to tell me when he was baking," she cursed under her breath as she stood up. "I'll be back," she puffed, walking away with a heavy foot.

"Seriously," I said as turned to face George. Knowing all too well that he did that intentionally.

"Oh yeah," he answered as we both chuckled. We stared at each other for a couple of moments before breaking our gaze. I cast my eyes on my phone, pretending to be doing something. I felt him bump into me with his shoulder, and I looked up curiously.

"Want to try some?" He nudge his plate toward me, as he placed a fork of it in his mouth. I watch his lips devour the chocolate hues which oozed the creams to deep sensual browns, leaving bits at the corners of his mouth. He then used his tongue to swipe those warm textures. For a moment they seemed to have locked in my heart and soul.

I darted my glance over his shoulder.

"No, I'm fine." I quickly spoke, wondering if was because I really didn't want any to taste, or if it was because of how I felt.

"Really," he pushes the plate a little bit further toward me. "It tastes great," I gave a thin smile as my mind drifted to his lips.

"Just try a piece?" He offered, taking a piece with his fork. I took it, staring at the dark richness. I hesitated and sniff it.

"Why are you smelling it? Just eat it!" He exclaimed exasperatedly, and I suddenly did.

At first, I wasn't too sure. The rich chocolate flavor and dense texture it had. It was definitely 'devilishly' chocolatey, with its richly dense fudginess, and moister. It was a bit messy, as I used my own tongue to remove the few crumbles off my lips. I then realise, a smile was growing on his face and for some reason, a smile was mirrored on mine.

"I wonder if they have more?" I asked. Looking at his glassy shade of blue.

"I don't think so, Flowers will make sure of that," I hummed in disappointment, still tasting that chocolatey richness. "But I know here we could get a lot more," he peachy said.

"Where?" I gave him a curious look. I braced my face in my hand, almost leaning on him. He pretended to look at the ceiling as if he was pondering.

"Although, come to think of it. I shouldn't tell this to so many strangers." I laughed at him, knowing he was referring to his ultimate demise by Flowers. I spun my face to check if Flowers was nearby.

"I promise… I won't tell a soul," I calmly talk as if I was whispering. He leaned a bit closer, our shoulders touching.

"Sure?" He asked and I hummed, shaking my head.

George cocked an eyebrow. His dark brown hair was swept gracefully to the side, untamed and yet lavished styled, kind of in a way. His eyes chiseled at me as if he was trying to read my thoughts. I could clearly see his slightly tan fair-skinned, being so close, I thought it made him look more attractive. Despite sitting, he was still tall, and handsome.

He stared at me intently, never once looking away. It was almost unnerving, but for once I didn't care, it only meant that I could stare right back at him. A small voice in the back of my head said I should retreat, but I don't want to. Not until he answered me.

"Aha!" I heard Flowers say as she stumbled back into her seat. Immediately we broke away. I sat up straight, twisting my phone in my hand, and observe George taking the last bite of his cake. All of a sudden, I felt as were two high schoolers, hiding our intentions from the public eye. I felt crushed that Flowers had returned. Then I felt like why should I?

There was something about George that I still purely struggled with, I wonder if these feelings were kind of in the way. My mind was still trying to get the right judgment, the honest kind. I did like the interest I had and enjoyed the sparking that came along with it too. But George was my friend. That one, that I had a gentle admiration for.

I bite my lips as I observed Flowers wallowing into her cake as if she hadn't had one for ages. Her eyes looked at me.

"Soraya, you want some?" She offered.

"Oh no… do not let me interrupt your divine conquest." I gave her a refusal wave. I guess my rejection was like a blessing as she went on to devour the cake, with a huge smile on her face.

Without foretelling me, George gently placed his over my hands. I turned to look at him. His touch felt like magic like I needed it to keep going. It was a new kind of energy. A spark from him to me, as he took my phone. I didn't resist and I just observed as he placed his phone number on the dial screen and save it underneath his name. He handed it back to me and smiled, as he stood.

"If you're still interested, I could show you this evening," he politely said. He looked at Flowers with her stuffed mouth, who was wondering all this time what was happening. "See you around little petal, I some data that needs encrypting," Flowers nodded and with that, he left.

I looked at the number, and I memorized it slightly. I quickly looked at Flowers, who was eyeing me like I did something.

"What?" I gasped.

"Nothing," she swirled her fork in her mouth as if she was eating ice cream. "Unless… that was something."

I exhaled and turned my head and placed a hand on my cheek to hide away the blush. I myself didn't know if it was something.

*******

I woke up from my stupor to realize that I had been staring at my phone for a couple of minutes, wondering if I should. I took a bubble out of Jada's book and did the unthinkable. I manage to text, 'I'll meet you in the lobby… and then you can show me where,' With a smiling emoji at the end.

I then turn the phone upside down, trying to remove my anxiety from staring at it. Then the haywires crossed inside of my head. 'Was that too much? Maybe I'll meet you in the lobby, was what I should have sent. Why did I send that smiling emoji?' I felt like I was crumbling. I looked up only to see Flowers, busily typing away.

I took in a deep breath and I began to compile some documents to file away, as we did every evening.

"So… you finally decided?" I turned to face Flowers, confused. She perked both her hands underneath her chin and looked at me like a spoiled puppy.

"Ugh…?"

"Come on," she slapped one of her hands on the table slightly. "I saw you and George. Did he finally ask you out? This has been going on for the last couple of weeks. He comes and sits, him choosing his words wisely, and you listening keenly." I swore my stomach tighten and my mouth dropped.

"Don't give me that look," she playful pointed her finger at me. "He asked you out on a date today didn't he, and you just answered him. Now you won't even tell me," she whined.

"Date! It's not a date! It was more of…," I paused remembering it was our cake secret. A date, it was more of… I couldn't even find the words myself. Was this a date? He didn't ask me deliberately, but the aspect of it made me think more.

"Yeah… right," she turned to pout and type on her computer hatefully.

"Flowers," I said pleading. She grunted a bit.

"He just simply showing me… somewhere, a place. I could get something," I said shyly. She stopped to look at me. "I'm serious." She shook her head at me.

"And you took almost three hours just to decide on that?"

"Well… I…" My thoughts spun as I thought about him again. Trying not to blush. I would be actually spending time alone with him, away from Flowers and everyone else. Honestly, I didn't know what was going to happen. I felt caught up in my feelings. Undeniably he was handsome, plus I had been having these unfamiliar feelings, for what seemed like ages. Helplessly, felt like I had a crush.

"Oh, you like him," Flowers sang like bird. I sighed and patted the papers in my hand and placed them where they were supposed to go. Probably seeing my red face and flickering hesitation.

"You do…," she sang like a bird again when I didn't answer her. "Why didn't you say something?"

"Because you would be looking at me like … with butterflies in your eyes." She purred and rolled her eyes.

"Yea… But if you were unsure, about George. I could have given you insight about him. Since I've known him for quite some time." I lean in inquisitively towards her and spatted my eyes.

"In what ways…? Intimately as well, because that's what I am interested in," her eye widened and her face turned red. I grinned. "Flowers, no offensive. I know what it's like when someone tells you about another person. Giving that you would first-hand knowledge," I said to her as I lean back into my chair looking at the ceiling.

"But all of that is just… discourse. If you know what I mean," turning my eyes to see her expression, as she listened to me. "If I'm supposed to get to know a person I want first-hand experience. It allows me to understand, why and how the person acts the way they do. Especially if we are… intimate."

"Gosh, you're so grounded… but you definitely know what," she squirmed. "Either way, he's a nice guy." She played with her keyboards. "You and George should go out… I hope you have fun," she giggled.

I pinched her on the shoulder, for her tease and she patted my hand away. We both took a moment to laugh as I returned to staring at my laptop screen. I just sat there browsing, whatever I could, waiting for the time to scream that my working hours were over.