Hi. This is written by 1000Years1 hope you enjoy:)
Nina
The streets of London were crowded with people, as always. I dodged everyone I came in contact with, struggling through the hordes of tourists before my eyes. Finally, after three-fourths of a mile of walking, I approached Bernie's Coffee Shop*. Sighing, I walked through the smudged glass door, hearing the familiar ring of the bell behind me.
"Ah, Nina!" My boss, Fedder, called after me as I walked back towards the kitchen. "It's about time! You're fifteen minutes late!" He scolds me as I slip my white apron over my slim frame.
"Sorry. There were a ton of tourists out there today," I reply, grabbing my notebook that I take orders with and walking in the direction of the tables.
"Don't bash the tourists! They are our customers, and might I remind you that tourism is what bought you here in the first place!" He shouted. I rolled my eyes. Fedder was a nice guy, but if you show up late, you have a world of hell at your feet.
"Actually, it was my great aunt Ellie's funeral," I reminded him. I set my notebook down and crossed my legs, resting my head in my hands.
"Well, same difference," He mutters, walking away to attend to whatever. I shut my eyes and breathe slowly.
"Neens? You okay?" My fellow waitress, Amber, asked me. I look up and she smiled. I shook my head.
"I didn't get any sleep last night," I say, getting on to my feet just as the first customer walked in. "I'll get it." She nods and goes to set more tables as I walk over to where the guy was seated.
"Hello, my name's Nina and I'll be your waitress today," I tell him. He looks over to me, and the first thing I notice is his eyes. My heart rate increases a bit, and I drop my glance to the brown shiny hard wood.
"Nice to meet you," He replies. I look up and meet his eyes for a split-second, noticing that he was smiling.
"You too. So, what can I get you to drink today?" I ask, looking at my notebook.
"Just a water, please," He replies. I nod.
"I'll be right back with that." I sped off into the kitchen. As soon as I got in, I gripped the side of the counter.
What just happened?
"Nina! Get your ass out there and serve that guy NOW!" Fedder screeched. I did a double-take before grabbing a cup, filling it with ice then with water. I raced outside the kitchen, careful not to spill the water.
"Hey, sorry about the wait," I say breathlessly as I reached the guys table. He smiled.
"No problem," He says. I meet his eyes for a split-second before his phone goes off.
"Aw, crap," He mutters. "I have to go. How much will the water be?" I smile weakly.'
"Sir, it's just water. It's free," I replied.
"It's Fabian," He corrects. There was a moment of silence, before he broke it. "Hey, are you free tonight?" My stomach drops. I want to say no, oh so badly. I have to say no. What if I fall in love with this guy? He'll only shatter me like glass.
"Yes," My mouth says. I silently kick myself as my hand has a mind of its own and writes my number on a napkin and I hand it to him. No, Nina! Remember what happened last time? I shake at the memory.
"Thanks." He flashes a smile then walks out of Bernie's, leaving my stomach twisting. I couldn't tell if it was excitement or fear.
"NINA MARTIN OPEN THE FREAKING DOOR BEFORE I- Oh, hey Neens." I opened the door that Amber had been pounding on, looking at her with a confused face.
"Hi?"
"Now, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU HAVE A DATE?" She yelled, walking past me and firmly sitting on my couch. I sighed.
"Amber, you know why." I take a seat next to her. "How did you know, anyways?"
"You know my boyfriend, Mick?" She asked. I nodded. Amber had been dating this guy named Mick for the past three weeks, and from what I could tell, she was already head over heels.
"Yes."
"Fabian is his best mate. He kept talking about this 'gorgeous American waitress he met at Bernies'. I just happen to know you, so I told him and his eyes lit up. He's right for you, Nina!" She said, grabbing my shoulders and shaking them. 'Yeah, right', I think. 'Just like Andrew was'. But I shook the thougt from my head. I was not going to think of Andrew now. Even though he was my biggest fear.
"Okay, okay. He's cute, but I've only said, like, two words to the guy!"
"Well, I'm expecting you to say more to him tonight," She said simply as she headed towards the door.
"Wait, what?" I yell.
"My house, eight-thirty. Be there," She demands, before shutting the door. I sighed, before stalking off to my bedroom and digging through my closet. I was most definately not going to dress-to-impress; I was going to look like me and that's it.
My hair fell loosely to the middle of my back, curly as usual. I was in skinny jeans, a pair of grey, velvet boots, and a strapless blue top with a white cardigan draped over it. Simple black eyeliner and mascara, blush and a swipe of purple eyeshadow. Very me-ish.
As I drew near Amber's apartment, butterflies began to dance in the pit of my stomach. Why? I blame Fabian. What am I doing to myself?
Slowly, I raised my fist and knocked on the door, getting more butterflies by the second.
