CHAPTER FOUR
I sunk into the cream leather interior of Martins car, letting the chill Mersey air hit my face as we drove. Martin had come to some agreement with our soon-to-be new roommate, and we were on our way to Martin's favourite restaurant to grab a bite to eat, have an introduction and let Martin and 'Hendo' catch up. I was hoping that was his nickname, and that for the sake of my faith in humanity, his parents hadn't named him that.
"You could look a little enthusiastic about tonight..", Martin muttered as he kept his eyes on the road, his teeth gripping his lips as he waited for a response.
"I am. I am. I'm just.. hungry, that's all", I tried to assure him, not even knowing the reason why a frown was present on my face or why I didn't feel upto this whole 'event' and was hoping the night would go faster than anticipated.
Martin soon pulled into a parking space on the high street, opting to leave his car out front instead of driving to the local car park.
"Come on.. he doesn't bite", Martin tried to assure me as he clambered out of the drivers seat. He wasn't what I was worrying about. In fact, I didn't know why I was worrying in the first place. I slid out of the car quickly behind Martin, making sure to firmly shut the passenger door before Martin hit the button on his keys to securely lock the vehicle.
We made our way inside the restaurant, Martin heading in first and myself trailing behind, probably lost behind Martin's height. That was one of the perks of being best friends with a guy who was six foot three - I always had someone to hide behind if situations got complicated, embarassing or all of the above.
"Where is he?", I scrambled into the booth, my short legs pushing my five foot five frame onto the leather chair, Martin sliding onto it with ease.
"He'll be here, don't you worry", Martin threw me a small smile before sitting back on the chair next to me, his blackberry occupying his hands. He began to type away violently on the keys, seemingly somewhat frustrated.
I picked up the menu, and began to scan it for something delicious. Of course, Martin would tell you that everything at his beloved Nando's was delicious, and that you could pick anything and be perfectly satisfied. However, Martin had an aquired taste for chicken, something that we'd always have in the house and something we ate more days than not, yet he still insisted we come to the one place that specialises in it.
"There he is", Martin called after I'd read the entire appertizer menu, his left hand lifting in the air to signal someone over from the other side of the room. I tried to peer over the top of the chair in front of us, but being as short as I was, it was no use. I sat back in my seat, my eyes dropping to the main course menu's of wraps and chicken breasts. Everything looked so delicious; the chicken breast fillet with fries, the peri-peri chicken and the gorgeous face that stood at the end of our table as my eyes diverted from the folded card in my hands….
"Mate, it's been too long", Martin beamed as he stood up, his arms wrapped firmly around the shoulders of the other guy. He returned the gesture, wrapping his arms around Martin tightly as they both settled into the embrace.
"It was last August, wasn't it?", The guy piped up, his accent thick and extremely noticeable amongst the Liverpudlians that had occupied the rest of the restaurant.
"I think so..", Martin nodded as they both let go, "This is Cassandra by the way. Cass, this is Jordan, or Hendo as he's known in the changing rooms".
So the famous 'Hendo'. You could say I somewhat blamed him for the fact me and Martin had the argument, yet when my eyes flickered between the cardboard menu and his face, I found myself forgiving him. He hadn't uttered a word, merely looked at me with a smile and I was already moving on.
"Just call me Cassie", I painted on a smile as I leant over to shake his hand, his eyes fixed on my face as I stared at our handshake.
"Cassie, thank you for taking me in", He beamed, the smile spread across his face completely blowing my mind. I tried to refrain from stuttering or spitting as I talked, acknowledging the fact I'd grown unbelievably nervous over the previous few moments.
He grinned again, this time Martin had his face burried in the menu. I looked at Jordan again, this time he had his face burried in the menu, only giving me chance to completely take in his astounding appearance. Maybe it was the blonde slick of hair that he'd styled himself, or his ocean blue eyes, or the fact he kept biting on his bottom lip as he focused hard on the menu. Whatever it was, I found myself regretting not taking him in sooner.
"You ready to order babe?", Martin called after a few minutes passed, my eyes quickly diverting from appreciating Jordan's face, back to the menu in quick time to hide my embarassment.
"Uhm yeah. I'll just have the flame grilled butterfly chicken breast, with chips and an orange juice", I managed to get out without a single pause, much to my delight that I hadn't stumbled over a single word and that I could now relax.
"Sweet! Jordan?", Martin quizzed as Jordan dropped his menu into the middle of the table, seemingly sure that he knew exactly what he wanted. It only made me believe that he was as big a Nando's fan as Martin was, and that my hope of cooking something other than chicken on a regular basis was now out of the window.
"Double chicken breast in a pitta with chips and an orange juice, mate", Jordan responded almost instantly, sitting back in his chair as Martin shuffled from the chair next to me before getting up to his feet.
"I'll be back in a few", Martin called before he headed off to order, leaving Jordan and I at the table together. Alone.
It was something I didn't want. I was already in a vulnerable position as it was, and the last thing I needed was to be left alone with the one guy I didn't want to be left alone with. Well, unless it were in a bedroom … No, Cassie, stop! I tried to shake my mind of the thoughts, only for them to be replaced by dirtier ones as I tried to hide my face.
"So, uhm.. I owe you one", Jordan piped up after a few minutes, his gaze locking with mine as I looked up to address him. I felt sick to my stomach, nerves riddling my entire body as the peachy colour of embrassment had now drained from my cheeks.
"For what?", I looked at Jordan, and then to the bar, then to Jordan and then to the bar. I didn't want to seem rude.
"For taking me in. I didn't expect anyone to offer like Martin did.. and I know there was a situation, but I'm just thankful that you were okay with it. Nothing could make settling in easier than being around people that know the city well so.. thanks!", He grinned at me again, this time, his teeth showing and the skin around his eyes creasing.
"Really.. it's no problem", I sent a smile back his way, hoping that was the last of the talking from him, and as much as I was appreciating his face, I wasn't appreciating what his voice, accent and way of words was doing to me..
"Are you and Martin going to the preseason party?", Jordan asked, his accent forcing him to pronounce words different, his lips curling at the words yet his eyes still stayed fixed on mine.
"I'd believe so. When is it?", I didn't fancy continuing the conversation, but like I said, I didn't want to be rude.
"Saturday night, at the Hilton", He nodded as he looked up and down, from me, to the table and back again.
"Martin hasn't mentioned it", I shrugged as I reached into my jean pocket for my mobile, trying to distract my eyes from burning holes in Jordan's face, "He best not be hiding it from me, or we will have a serious problem..". I couldn't help but laugh a little at my own remark, Jordan joining in.
"Well, we only found out about it yesterday..", Jordan muttered as I slid the mobile onto the table, "Should be a fun night though".
"What should?", Whether it was because of lack of awareness or the fact I had been staring at Jordan incessantly, I didn't noticed Martin return to the table. I put it down to the latter, knowing full well that I could barely keep my eyes off of him.
"Preseason party", Jordan informed him as Martin returned to his seated position beside me.
"Ahh yeah! You want to go?", Martin turned to me instantly, almost looking for approval as his eyes searched my face.
"Of course I want to go.. it'll be good to see your friends again", I grinned at Martin as he sat back in the chair.
"Great, we'll make a night of it then", Martin went back to looking at his menu, something he'd always done after ordering each time we'd been in that restaurant. I let my eyes fall from focusing on Martin to Jordan, who was now biting on his bottom lip again as he tapped away at the keys on his mobile.
There was something about the way he did that. It was driving me completely insane.