Enjoy!

Song Inspiration: I Could Fall in Love by Selena

Love is a tricky thing. You immediately get it from your parents… in most cases at least. If you have siblings or cousins, they become your first real friends and you by default love them.

You love many people in life but it's rare when you find someone who isn't blood that loves you.

I don't mean that cute love you see in Disney. No, I mean they love that makes your heart go crazy, your palms grow sweaty and you do the craziest things to deny it.

That's the way she makes me feel. She consumes me and doesn't even have to try. Watching her, studying her has become my favorite hobby. Those brown doe eyes shining in the sunlight, the way her button nose scrunches when she's laughing and her lips.

Shaking my head, I look and see she's looking back at me. We always do this, I look at her and then she looks back at me but we never speak.

Well… we never get the chance to speak. I still don't know what her voice sounds like but I bet it's heavenly.

"How long are you going to keep doing this?" My friend, Mike asked.

Sighing, I look away from the woman to my friend. I wasn't as bold as Mike. Mike was tall, handsome and could dance like a professional. He was married and happy.

"I can't help it." I say, picking at my now cold fries. "You don't get it, you and Tina just knew that you were meant for each other." I said, sighing again.

Mike shook his head amused. Look back over his shoulders at the woman. "I think you got a shot."

I flashed my eyes in the same direction. Seeing her and her friends talking animatedly, she was listening intently before her eyes shifted in my direction and a soft smile graced her full lips.

"I think she thinks I'm a creep." I say finally. "I don't blame her if she does."

Chuckling, Mike stood. "Grow a pair bro." He said before walking right over to her table and before I could protest he walked straight to her.

I watched as he kneels down, saying things I can't make out before she throws her head back, laughing. Goodness, she's stunning. Mike laughs before he hands her a napkin as one of her friends hands her pen from her purse.

I watch her head bob up and down while Mike keeps chatting. She looks at him, smiling before handing over the napkin. Mike stands, bows before walking back over to our table, I feel my cheeks burning by the devious smile on his face as he waved the napkin.

Mike sits tossing the napkin. "She smells so damn good, and she's witty. Definitely out of your league but she thinks your cute."

I open the napkin, my eyes tracing her fancy writing.

Hi! Your friend is funny but he said you'd never approach me and that I should take you out of your misery. I hope I don't cause that misery ;)

Mercedes Jones

971-555-7658

I look up, meeting her eyes again and smiled, feeling myself blush. We share a long look before she returns her attention back to her friends.

I look back at the napkin, committing her name and number to memory before placing it in my pocket.

"You gonna call her?" Mike asked, smirking.

"Wouldn't that be too bold? Shouldn't I text first?" I questioned.

Mike tilts his head at me before shrugging. "In your case I think an email would be easier." He jokes and I can't help but laugh.

"Surprised you didn't get that from her." I bounce back.

"Eh, snailmail would only prolong your self induced misery." He quipped.

I laugh, knowing he was telling the truth. An email was more up my alley than text or call because it removed the urgency. It allowed me to wait and formulate a proper introduction but I don't even think that I would be able to find the right words to introduce myself to her.

To Mercedes. I liked her name. Maybe I'll start with that? I push those thoughts away and allow myself to enjoy dinner with my friend. I'll know what to say tomorrow.

Tomorrow

I looked at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I'd been trying to send a message to Mercedes for the past three hours but nothing I typed seemed right.

I woke up with the intention of texting her then but work happened, then my nerves started kicking in and now I'm here on my break trying to formulate something but I keep drawing up blanks.

Just be you. My father always told me that and it seemed to help so I guess I'll give it a try.

Hi, I'm Sam. Sam Evans and I have social anxiety disorder.

I hit send then anxiously hope to get a reply. I look at match seeing my break ends in less than five minutes so I start to head back into my office. I wave to my colleagues as I pass them before closing my office door to start playing around in my company's newest interface.

Being a systems security analyst meant I got to work alone for a good chunk of the day alone and being part owner meant I had to spend the rest of it taking to our employees.

Mike and I were co-owners of SMike, a digital security firm. He was the face of the company, going to conventions and traveling overseas to meet with new clients. I was essentially the brains and operations manager. I had roughly forty employees in the main office, two hundred more state side and another seventy-five internationally.

Mike knew every last employee while I struggled to remember the ones in house with me. It wasn't because I didn't want to know them, I did. I just… get nervous in large groups. If I'm being honest, I get nervous in small groups, around new people and sometimes around my family.

I shift through some emails, before I hear my phone ping and suddenly I remember the text I sent. My nerves started dancing and I instantly felt my palms grow sweaty.

"Hey we have a conference call in ten minutes, the VP requested us both on it." Mike said, right as I was reaching for my phone.

"Oh, umm okay. I wasn't aware of that…" I stopped when my phone went off again. I flashed my eyes at my screen before looking back at Mike. "… when was this planned?"

Mike smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Did you text her?" He asked, changing the subject.

I nodded, still trying to figure out why I was requested to attend the call. "Which company is this for?" I asked.

"Are you gonna see if it's her?" He ignored my question. "Rude to keep her waiting.

I felt a pang of anxiety at his words. Was it rude if I didn't reply because he was talking to me? I look back at my phone, seeing her name and two messages waiting.

"Wouldn't it be rude to reply with you talking to me? You never respond to your messages when we have conversations." I point out and see the amusement in his eyes dim a little.

He stepped further into my office, closing the door behind him and he sat on the edge of my desk. "Sam."

I hated when he said my name that way.

"Bro, it's not rude if I'm encouraging it." He continued and I sighed.

"What if what I said was too much?" I asked, finally picking up my phone and checking the messages.

Hi Sam, Sam Evans :)

I have a fear of balloons.

"So?" Mike asked, noticing my half smile.

"She said she's afraid of balloons." I answer feeling warm for some reason. " I don't know what to follow up with."

"Ask her how she's doing, then get ready for the meeting." He said, patting me on the shoulder. "Also be bold and ask her out, she's interested."

"Fine but I'm turning my phone off afterwards." I reply, firing off the text.

Balloons can be intimidating. How are you?

Would you like to umm go for coffee?

I stood, adjusting my tie and nodding at Mike to lead the way.

My phone goes off before I can shut it off and the irrational nerves start dancing again. I don't wait to look at them because foolishly, I followed Mike's advice.

I would love to, tomorrow at seven?

I still my movements before taking a deep breath as realization sets in. That, according to my long time friend Artie, if a woman suggests anything after five, it's a date.

Do I bring flowers? How would I know if she likes flowers? Are they too formal? Do I wear a suit?

"Bro, the meeting's starting." Mike said, breaking me from my worrying.

"Do you bring flowers to a coffee date?" I ask, walking into the conference room, seeing the screen was on standby.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "Save it for the second date. Just take her to that bookstore a few blocks from your place. It's a safe place for you and you can show her all the weird books you like."

That's why he's my best friend. Mike and I have known each other since conception as he likes to put it. Our fathers have been friends since high school and remained friends throughout college and to this day they still hang out.

Our mothers became friends by default and planned every pregnancy to ensure their kids were the same age. Mike came first then twenty-three hours later I came. I was fortunate enough to never have to spend a birthday alone, even now our parents hold joint gatherings for our birthdays.

Next came Mei and Stacey, they were seven minutes apart. For the better half of their childhood they believed they were twins and as older brothers we, mostly Mike, would tease them about it.

Last came Maddox and Stevie, they were remarkably born at the exact same time. They clashed up until they were twelve years old and found out they both liked gaming. They were in their junior year of college and already planned on starting their own gaming business.

Mei and Stacey are polar opposites but are business partners as well, they run a high end fashion line with Stacey as designer and Mei as the model. I've always felt that they both could model their products but Stacey hates people and Mei loves them. Stacey was more like me than I wanted her to be but she didn't have social anxiety.

I look back at my phone, rereading her message feeling slightly more confident then I was earlier.

Yes. We can meet at Scribbler's Spot on Jefferson Ave.

She replied instantly. It was odd because usually people are slow to reply but I appreciated promptness. It actually helped keep me at ease.

See you then :)

Yeahhhhh this one will have all the feels