Just as I open the shop diary to see if anything was left there for me to do, that amazing, inviting voice drifts over the relaxed music playing away in the background.
"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to," it begins, "but who was that guy? Boyfriend?"
"I'll answer that when you tell me your name," I attempt to negotiate.
He thinks it over for a minute. "Okay, my name is Dillon," he smiles. "So who was he?"
"I like it. He was Abbott, and no he is not my boyfriend."
"Does he want to be?"
"I'd like to think not, seeing as he has been dating my bestfriend for over a year now. Why do you ask?"
"Curiosity," he looks me up and down in a flash and his mouth turns into a devilish grin. "You should have asked for proof of my name, because it's not Dillon."
"You lied? Well, now, we're not off to a great start here, are we?"
He doesn't bother to reply, just bites his lower lip to hide his smile.
The bells on the door ring as a group of teens stumble into the shop. People I know, they all go to my school. One girl, Paige Wurthers, who has a bit of a reputation around the school eyes off 'Dillon', before attempting to graciously walk over to stand next to him while her friends take seats where Abbott was previously. I move closer in order to see if she actually wanted to buy something.
"Hey, is there anything I can get you?" I ask, trying to appear as friendly as I can to her, even though I am fairly sure she did not come to the counter to order anything.
"Uh, no. I'll let you know if and when I want something, thanks." She greasies me off before batting her eyelashes at Irish boy who is subtly leaning away from her.
I walk back over to where I was placed before, and open up the diary once again after making sure none of Paige's friends are going to order anything. Those guys and girls aren't too bad. It's just Paige who I dislike. Whilst I'm flicking through trying to find the current date, I can't help but overhear Paige as she is chewing her gum loudly and sparking up a conversation with no-name.
"Well, hello there," she begins, "how are you?"
"Fine thanks, yourself?" he replies as she gasps and giggles after picking up on his non-Australian accent.
"Oh my gosh, you're not from here? How cute! Where is that accent from? Oh, I'm good, thank you, so kind of you to ask!"
"Uhh, my accent is from the UK." His tone is different now, kind of defensive.
I turn around because just listening isn't enough, it would be far more entertaining to see the scene play out as well. I lean my lower back against the bench and fold my arms over my chest, barely holding in a smile as I see his face. He looks as though he is seeing two ninty-year-olds making out on a park bench.
Paige starts off again. "Woah, the UK? I'd love to go there! Would you like to sit down? I have so much to ask you abo-"
"Uh, sorry, but I'm kind of busy at the moment," he sets his eyes back on me, while I stand there observing.
"With what?" she smiles, before following his gaze over to where I am. Another dirty look flies my way.
"Listen, I don't want this to be harsh, but I'm not really interested in talking to people I don't know today. I'm sorry."
"Oh. Okay." She looks a little disappointed, then once again glares at me and trots off to sit with her friends.
Irish boy comes around to the other side of the shop and takes a seat on the bar stool near the wall, while I go back to browsing through the diary.
"What are you reading there, missy?" I can feel the heat of his eyes on me.
"Just the work diary. Seeing if there's anything I can do around here." I don't look up, if I did I'd stop having the ability to talk, especially after he has impressed me by turning down Paige before she had a good chance to make her moves.
"How's that going for you?"
"Well it could be going better, seeing as there is nothing I can find in here."
"So.. if you have nothing to do you can sit down and have a chat with me, correct?"
Well, how about that? "That would be a lovely idea, if not for the customers sitting over there." I look up from the diary, putting it back where it belongs and flick my eyes over to Paige and her friends. He follows my eyes and hops off his seat, before walking out the door of the shop.
