nine

"Oh hey Mia, you work only on weekends right?" Nathan asks resting his elbow on the table.

"No, I work from Thursdays to Sundays, Why?" I ask popping a fry into my mouth.

"I was thinking if you'd like to go to this cafe I just found with me?" He asks and I act like I'm thinking but I'm free tomorrow so I'm going for sure.

"Only if you ask me with a nice pickup line. Maybe call it a date." I say smiling and he laughs.

"Alright, let's call it a date." Jim shakes his head at the two of us.

"Yes, a nice pickup line and the deal is sealed." I wink again smiling. Why do I smile so much?

"I might not be some photographer but I can picture you and me together." He says smiling and I blush because of how adorable the line was and also because of his dimples.

"I give in, this one was way cuter than the 'I lost mine' one." I notice Sam rolling his eyes and then looking down picking at his food.

Ah, I see he wants a pickup line too.

"Hey Sam, you seem a bit lost." I ask and he looks up at me keeping the fork down.

"N-No, why?"

"No I mean Heaven is a long way from here." I smile cheekily and he blushes looking away and then proceeds to cough.

"Can you stop flirting please?" Jim laughs heartily.

"Eat." I pass my platter to Jim since he didn't get himself one. Jim smiles before heartily eating the fries and burger. He looks happy whenever he's eating good.

I can eat at home.

"Lunch will be over in like 5 minutes, why aren't you eating Sam?" I ask and Nathan voices out a 'yeah' in realization.

"Oh, I don't feel like it, I wasn't that hungry either." He says softly but I doubt.

"You sure?" I ask him slowly so only he could hear and he nods but then shakes his head and I smile, handing him an energy bar from my bag.

"Have it, atleast you won't feel weak." He takes the bar from my hand immediately opening it.

"Wasn't hungry, my ass." He grins with a mouthful of the bar.

"If you want to eat nice food, just tell me, I'll pack you a lunch, I'm good at cooking." I pat his head getting off and Jim looks at me with puzzled eyes. How did his parents even leave him alone for a second when he looks like a lost little duckling? I want to keep him in my pocket.

"What?" I ask smiling at his face and big eyes.

"Let's have dinner at your place with Sam and Nathan", he says finally after gulping down the huge bite of the burger. I think over it for a minute before replying.

"Sounds good to me. What about you boys?" Nathan shrugs happily and I find Sam a little hesitant. Sighing I decide to take up matters in my hand.

"Okay, Sam, honeybun, you come earlier than these idiots, I gotta tell you a secret." I say the last part a little clearer to tease Jim. Sam laughs and nods when Jim headlocks me.

-

"Alright, tell me everything now," I say placing a couple of energy bars in front of Sam on my coffee table. He quickly grabs one and I open my packet of gummies. I inhale his scent deeply before sitting down. Wow.

"I, yesterday, I was really relieved that you finally decided to talk to me. I thought you thought I was some weird creepy guy and would never talk to me." He says and the genuine fear in his voice makes my heart clench. He's such a sweet person, why would somebody think that?

"No, I was just nervous you'd think I was creepy." I pop two more gummies in my mouth.

"Okay maybe you were a little creepy." He jokes and I throw a small cusion at him.

"No seriously, I was in a better mood compared to the last one month so when I got home and did that again, I immediately regretted it thinking of the handshake." I gesture with my hand for him to continue.

"Then there no bandages at my place so I panicked looking at the blood, the cut yesterday was a little deeper so I was really scared."

"Why do you do it if it hurts you that much?" He pats the seat next to him and I obey.

"Because it's all I can think of, because my head, my heart, my place feels so empty, it's almost scary." He says laying his head on my shoulder. He needs someone to lean on.

"You can always learn to make friends. Just be careful of the ones you choose."

"I'm very awkward in new environments plus the language barrier isn't doing any justice."

"Why'd you transfer here then?"

"My mom had to move out and my dad didn't have a lot of money so I got here from a scholarship instead of taking money from any of them."

"You're so brave. You're also very talented." I pat his head again and he laughs a little.

"Sam is a good boy." I say laughing and he laughs along. I gently remove his head from my shoulder to get up.

"You've been on an empty stomach since morning, let's get something other than energybars in your system."

"What are you making?"

"What do you want me to?" I ask peeping into the refrigerator.

"A sandwich." My head pops out at that and I give him a nose scrunch smile.

"That's easy, Jim likes sandwiches too. Let's make some for the two of them too."

"Can I help?" He asks standing up with his hands behind his back.

"Sure."

-

It's been forty-five minutes past six which was originally the time Jim and Nathan should have arrived. He's never late. I can feel my palms sweat. Jim hasn't responded to any of my texts or calls and to say I'm worried is an understatement. Last time he did this, I found him passed out in his car. My worries vanish as soon as his text appears on my lockscreen which is also a picture of Jim and me in a museum.

YOU: Jimi where r u

YOU: Jimi i is worried

YOU: YOU JUST WAIT

YOU: I'LL SHIMMY SHIMY KOKOTHROW YOU OFF A CLIFF

YOU: so u won't reply

JIMY: JUST GIVE ME TWO MINUTES BABY

JIMY: I'M COMINGJFHKSFHSK

I leave his texts on read and blow my hair out of my face. Sam sighs sitting on the couch.

"Did he say something?" He asks biting his nails and I nod passing a hand through my hair.

"Yeah, he's coming in two minutes." I say pacing in the room.

"Calm down, your pacing is giving me anxiety." He says chuckling a little. I'm sure he's fine, probably just running late. I'm sure nothing happened.