A/N: Like I need to be starting another story.
Inspired partially by my own life and the lives of people I know, here is a slice-of-life romance. I wanted to try a genre I've never done before! Most chapters will probably be mini-chapters, 1,000 words or less (really emphasizing the 'slice' part, I guess XP)
It's Cheesy, But...
I'm staring. Oh my Hylia, I'm staring so hard and she's going to notice it any second now. But maybe she'll just think I'm staring like any regular ol' Wheaton And Pita worker waiting for the customer to order already. Unless I'm blushing like I feel like I am. Then she might notice it's not that kind of stare.
She's got long, golden hair in a thick braid draped over her shoulder, wearing a white linen summer dress and leather sandals, a blue braided bracelet on one slender wrist, and I can't help but think she looks like the Goddess herself.
She lowers her gaze from the menu, and I dash away to the sink, nearly tripping on my own feet in the process. My buddy Groose reaches out as though to catch me, but I'm already disappearing to the back section of the serving area.
There aren't any dishes in the sink for me to clean. So I stand there, hearing her talking and Groose throwing some joke back at her. Oh Hylia, he's flirting with her now. I can hear his tone turn all smooth though I can't hear the exact words. It's my self-appointed duty to save customers from his clumsy flirtations but all I can do is peek my head around the corner.
She has that same smile they all have when Groose unleashes his womanizing tactics: polite but confused and uncomfortable. He's taking his time putting together the salad she ordered. With unnecessary muscle flexes thrown in for extra impressive effect.
I walk over as casually as I can manage. Don't look at her face. Oh but I can see it in the corner of my eye. As soon as Groose closes the lid on the salad, I snatch it away from him and hold it out for her to take.
"Ignore the pompadour," I say, flashing a nervous smile.
Her blue eyes meet mine. I can't see a hint of makeup, yet the color of her eyes stands out beautifully. The corners of them crinkle as she smiles for real. At me. I almost drop the salad. "Thanks." She gives a small wave as she turns to leave, and I manage a wave back.
As soon as she walks out the door, I'm tugging on Groose's sleeve. "That girl -?" I ask.
He's used to my shortened manner of speaking and understands that I'm asking who she was. He doesn't even look up from the olives he's refilling. "Dude, she's been coming here for a while now."
That means she'll probably be back again. I'm standing at the counter, foot tapping nervously, thinking of her perfect golden braid and striking blue eyes, when Groose starts laughing. I look at him in confusion.
"You're into her, aren't you?" The way I wildly look around and awkwardly fail to say anything coherent makes him laugh more. "Called it!"
I punch him in the arm before escaping to the sink once more.
I don't see her again for a few months. But I look for her every day. Groose reassures me that she still stops by and that I'm just unlucky with my shifts. I start to wonder if maybe I imagined how amazing she looked, imagined how her smile made my heart do funny things.
But then I catch a glance of her one day as I'm leaving work, and I stop in my tracks.
Yep.
I've fallen for this girl.