Maybe Then...

Chapter 20: if I didn't overreact

"It's Indie," I shook my head at him. "Not hipster." 

"Oh, sorry, indie wannabe band." 

I rolled my eyes at his lame teases. I leaned my head onto the seat belt strap, soaking in the music for pretty much the rest of the ride. When around Zeke, I could be myself. Whether goofing off together or just enjoying the presence of one another's company, he accepted me for how I was, and spent time with me not out of pity. 

Time doesn't really seem so slow, or even relevant when I get lost in comfortable thought, absentmindedly mumbling the words to songs. I flicked my attention from one random object to another, the world perpendicular to us zooming by like shooting stars. I willed myself not to think of what Dan had said, yet traces of that day kept on interrupting my typically pleasant daydreams. 

I wasn't at fault, it was all Daniel. Doesn't he stop to think that some things aren't talked about because they aren't meant to be talked about? 

"Millie?" a low voice snapped me from my thoughts. 

I blinked at Zeke who was staring at me. 

"We're here," he chuckled. "Well, I'm here. I don't know if you're somewhere else in that mind of yours, though."

I smiled apologetically, "Right, sorry." 

We walked into the ice cream parlor and were greeted by Ariel and the newest addition to our staff who had recently finished up training, Natalie. Natalie was a few years older than me, and taller. She had beautiful orange hair that was like the cherry on top to her friendly features, and her frequent use of various accessories being the colorful sprinkles to top it off. She recently took the job to help her get by during college. I hadn't formally met her yet, but made it my mission to make her feel at home when working, just like Ariel did for me. 

She smiled when she saw me and Zeke holding hands. "Hey Ezekiel, who's your special friend?" she said in a fruity voice. 

"Girlfriend," he corrected. "And this is Millie, I think you saw her the other day, but you haven't met yet, have ya?"

"Nope," she said popping the p. 

"Well, she's gonna be your copilot on this ship, so you better get to know each other." 

"Well, copilot," she nodded at me, "it's very nice to meet you!" 

"And to you too," I nodded back. "I'll be right back, I'm gonna put my phone in the back real quick and grab my apron." 

We walked shoulder-to-shoulder into the back, and once the door shut completely behind me, I took the initiative to lecture him for making me go through small talk. "Did you really have to make it feel so awkward like that?" 

"Like what?" he smirked. 

"By introducing me! I don't like small talk, and yet you took one of my only two decent line away: 'Hi, I'm Amelia.'" 

"Because I like teasing you!" 

I folded my arms together. 

"And I like introducing you as my girlfriend," he added hastily. 

"Okay, that's valid."