Okay, here we go... I'm a little nervous about this one. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think. :)
"So…" he begins. "How are you?"
"I'm good," I lie. "Have a seat."
"Don't mind if I do," he smiles and sits down next to me, opposite Tawni. I do not think he notices her, though. He looks me over. "It's been a while."
"It has," I agree. The past year and a half felt like eternity, but now that I look back, it feels like I left yesterday. I glance around the familiar room. Nothing has changed about it. Getting used to my old life, where everything will be the same, will be a major change for me personally. I will have to take care of myself. I will have to think about others again. That scares me.
"You look great," he compliments.
"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself, Cooper," I smile. It felt unforced, natural. He smiles back, igniting warmth deep inside, and, no, no way. Not butterflies. I cannot have butterflies in my stomach, can I? The last time I had butterflies…
"Thanks, Sonshine." It is weird, falling back into the same routine, the same habits. Albeit easy, considering I lived for two years forming all of those habits, but I am not used to it anymore. The nickname he used for me made me smile every time. It was reserved for him, only him. My parents used to call me that when I was little. On anyone else's tongue it would sound uncomfortable. On his, it made me feel special. It made me feel wanted. It made me feel loved.
"So how are you?" I ask after a slightly awkward pause.
"I'm great now," he grins, not fully realizing what he says. Once he does, he blushes and looks away. The butterflies start flapping their wings even harder. Those jerks. "How long have you been back for?"
"Not even an hour. We're just getting dinner on our way from the airport," I tell him. This is when he acknowledges Tawni.
"That's awesome. Hey, Tawni," he greets her, waving slightly.
"Pooper," she scoffs. I laugh harder than I have laughed in ages. She smirks. "What are you doing here?"
"I like to come here often," he explains. "It's one of my favorite restaurants."
"Um, Tawni," Mel interjects. "Could I take your order before I get fired?" she asks gently.
"I'll have the same," she barks, eyeing Chad.
"Do you want to join us?" I offer, ignoring Tawni's disapproving stare. She shifts her now expectant gaze to Chad.
"I'd love to, but I can't. I was actually just leaving," he explains.
"Oh," I say, nodding slightly. That is a disappointment, to say the least. Seeing him was much easier than I originally imagined. Granted, it was awkward, but it aroused a warm and comforting feeling deep inside of me. Was it admiration? Was it happiness? I guess I am a little rusty at feeling and identifying emotions.
Tawni glares at him with an intensity so fierce I am surprised that he did not turn to ash on the spot.
"But I can stay for a little longer. I just can't eat, I'm full," he concludes.
"Okay," I say eagerly. Oh, no. Was I too eager? Am I scaring him off? "So, um, how are things at the Falls?"
"I'd say it ended well, but yeah, it was cancelled," he explains grimly.
"Oh, really? I'm sorry," I apologize. He shrugs.
"I've come to terms with it. It could be worse." Strange. The Falls were his baby. The one thing he cared about. I remember worrying that the Falls meant more to him than I did. Clearly, I had nothing to worry about.
"So what are you doing now?" I query. Tawni shifts nervously in her seat, catching my suspicious eye.
"I'm on So Random! now," he chuckles. I freeze. The guy I love more than anything in the world who also destroyed my entire life will be working in close proximity with me every single day. My best friend knew but it must have escaped her mind to tell me. No, I can tell by the look on her face she remembered. I realize now why I should not have missed feelings. They are confusing. I have no idea how I should be feeling right now. Scared? Excited? Joyful? Betrayed? Hurt? My thoughts are interrupted by none other than the greatest actor of our generation. "Have you been watching any TV back in Wisconsin?"
"I haven't had the time," I shrug. That much is true, between the situations I put myself in and work, I did not have much free time. Both occupations were so demanding and so consuming, but they were what I wanted. I wanted to take my mind off of everything else. I needed it.
"Wow, short stack," he smiles. Another special nickname, one I had forgotten about entirely. Now I was really craving pancakes. Maybe drowning the butterflies in syrup would make them go away. "Television was your life, and now you don't even watch it?"
"It wasn't my life," I argue. He looks at me pointedly. "Okay, it was a pretty big part of it considering my job, but once I went back, I didn't need it anymore." I did not want to be reminded of you on every channel.
"How long are you going to be in Hollywood for?" he wonders. I shrug again. Hopefully forever, but knowing me, I might not make it through the week.
"I've moved out here, so who knows?" I laugh.
"Really?" he clarifies eagerly.
"Yep, I start working at So Random! next Monday," I smile. Flattery, eagerness, what is he playing at? Does he really still love me like Tawni said? She could have been mistaken. I will not get my hopes up about that. We are just friends, right?
"That's great!" he cheers. I can feel my smile widen. I can feel. What a great thought. I can feel. About time I can feel again.
"I'm excited. But please, don't tell anyone. I want it to be a total secret. A surprise. To everyone," I plead. He nods, zipping and locking his lips. He tosses the key over his shoulder. I giggle uncontrollably. Why do his little ploys always make me laugh or smile like an idiot?
"Your secret is safe with me, Munroe," he promises. For some reason, I trust him. Force of habit?
"Good," I beam.
"Good," he smirks.
"Fine."
"Fine," he laughs, getting up. "See ya Sonny. Tawni," he nods. She smiles sardonically at him. "Peace out suckas!"
"Bye, Chad," I grin. He bows slightly before he leaves, always the gentleman. I wait until I am certain he has left the building before laying into Tawni about 'forgetting' to tell me about Chad's new job. "Tawni, why didn't you tell me Chad was working at So Random!?"
"It slipped my mind?" she offers. I glare at her.
"Okay, okay. I figured you wouldn't want to come back if you knew," she sighs. That makes sense. I might not have. Oh well, it is too late now. "But I saw the way you looked at him. The spark was back in your eye. Don't deny that you aren't feeling better." I smirk slightly. I hope he did not notice that I still love him. At the same time, though, I hope he did. It is extremely obvious, right? I mean, you would have to be a complete moron to not realize it.
"I am, I am," I sigh. "And I hate that I am."
"Look, you've got the entire week to get used to life in the city again. Then, come Monday, back to your old job. There will be a few new people, but they'll love you, I know they will. Everybody loves Sonny Munroe," she perks up. I smirk again. "I'm glad you're back, Sonny."
"I'm glad to be back," I smile broadly. It was true. For the first time in what seems like forever, I felt like I belonged. I felt like I mattered. I felt like I was happy.