33| XoXo, Gossip Girl

Once the crowd of customers in the store dissipated, both Travis and Maya made way to their usual relaxing spot, i.e. the empty space behind an aisle. They rested their backs against the wall and let out a synchronized sigh.

"So how was your dinner with golden boy last night?" Travis asked.

At this, Maya let out a small groan. "You were right, Trav. He tried to kiss me. Maybe he was just trying to get into my pants." She said in a gloomy voice.

"Son of a bitch." Travis cursed under his breath.

"Can't a boy and a girl just be friends these days? Look at us. It's not impossible." She said and Travis nodded.

He was going to say something else when they both heard footsteps coming towards them. Lifting his head, Travis watched Zoey reach behind the aisle. There were sweat drops on her face, her hair tied on top of her head in a bun with some free locks sticking to her neck.

"So that's where you guys spend your free time?" She asked.

"Yep." Maya mumbled.

"Oh. So can I sit here too, if you don't mind?" She asked gently.

"Sure." Maya said. Both of them scooted over to make space for her. She sat down beside Travis and rested her back against the wall.

"I am so tired." She said, closing her eyes.

"You will get used to it. Don't worry." Maya said.

Few minutes have spent when they heard the door open. "I'll go check. You both rest." Maya said and walked back to the counter, leaving Travis and Zoey alone.

"We don't have to come on weekends, do we?" Zoey asked, still with her eyes closed.

"No." Travis replied with his gaze focused on Zoey. Her long eyelashes, her cute button nose, her lips set in a pout, her sharp jawline, everything about her was perfect. He had to tear his eyes to avoid embarrassing himself. "But your Dad have asked me to tutor your brother on weekends. So no break for me." He said.

"And you agreed?" Zoey gasped, opening her eyes.

"Why won't I? The money is great for just two days a week." He replied.

"You just can't leave me alone Anderson, can you?" She teased him.

"Yeah, right. I would do anything to see you on daily basis." He rolled his eyes sarcastically.

Zoey smiled at this. She liked talking to him, listening to his sarcastic comments and pathetic taunts. Unlike the other boys who just keep flirting in her presence, Travis was like a breath of fresh air for her. Plus, he has a really nice jawline which is always a good addition in a male's traits.

"You are staring again." He said and warmth crept up Zoey's cheeks.

"So what? Staring isn't illegal." She feigned confidence.

"Workplace harassment is." He responded to which she let out a chuckle.

"Am I harassing you?" She glared into his eyes.

"Maybe." He shrugged.

"Fuck you." She stuck out her tongue at him.

"No thanks." He replied and closed her eyes to take some rest.

Zoey momentarily smiled at his actions and then leaned her own head against his bulky arms. "What are you doing?" Travis' eyes bolted open.

"Just let me take a nap for five minutes. Please." She said and snuggled closer to him.

Travis' heart started pounding against his chest cavity due to their proximity and his deep inhale filled his nostrils with the fruity scent of her conditioner. He remained static to avoid disturbing her sleepy figure, trying to ignore the clenching of his belly.

Away from them, on the counter, Maya got surprised when she found Zachary standing there. She nervously gulped and made her way to the counter, ignoring his focused gaze on herself.

"Do you need anything?" She asked him.

"Yes." He stepped forwards. "I need to know why you aren't answering my calls."

"I am busy, Zachary." She said to avoid answering.

"I don't see any customer here." He pointed out. "What's wrong, Maya?"

"I am not in the mood of a small talk." She stated.

"But why? Because of what happened last night? It is not a big deal." He said in a desperate voice.

"Not for you, Zachary. But for me, kissing someone is a big deal. I don't want to be one of your conquests." She mumbled the last part under her breath.

"You are not. God Maya, do you really think that low of me?" He walked behind the counter to reach her.

"I don't know." she whispered back. Their eyes locked together for a moment, smoky grey against ocean blue.

"Trust me, Maya. I wasn't trying to seduce you." Zachary said in the lowest voice possible.

"Your reputation says otherwise." Maya said.

"Fuck." He groaned under his breath. "Let's start over. Forget what I did, or attempted to do last night. Let's be friends?" Zachary offfered. He has never been this desperate of being friends with someone before.

"Just friends? Promise you won't try anything?" She raised her eyebrows.

A smile appeared on his lips at this. "Pinky promise." He raised his little finger.

"Fine. Now leave, I have work to do." She passed him a brief smile.

••••••••••

Zoey, Althea and Olive, all three were having a sleepover at Olive's house tonight. After changing into their pyjamas, they were now sipping on the mocktails while gossiping about different topics.

"So how come you didn't join us at the party yesterday?" Althea asked Zoey about a party at their common friend's house.

Sighing, Zoey contemplated over whether to tell them about her new job or not. Sooner or later, they were bound to find out about it but she was slightly afraid of their reaction, specially Altheas's.

"I have started a job at Maya's family's superstore." She said, bracing herself and both Olive and Althea stared at her as if she had grown two heads.

"Are you having any financial issues?" Olive asked in a friendly way.

"No, it's not about that. It's about proving a point to my father." Zoey replied. "I need to prove to him that I am not a brat."

She looked over to Althea to check her reaction, who still looked surprised at the revelation. "Well, at least you aren't serving coffees to strangers. This job doesn't sound that bad." She commented. "Don't tell me they have a tacky uniform there."

Zoey chuckled at this. "Don't worry, there isn't any uniform. Besides, it's actually quite nice. Travis helps me whenever I have any issue."

"Travis? The Walmart boy works there too?" Althea asked with a contorted face.

"He has a name, Althea." Zoey stated, defending him.

"Whatever." Althea rolled her eyes. "Just don't get too close to him. He doesn't give me good vibes."

"I think he is nice." Olive sided with Zoey. "And quite good looking."

"He is not good looking. His face is weird." Althea scrunched her nose.

"His face is not weird." Zoey grunted.

"Okay, fine. He is a Greek God. Happy?" Althea said.

"Well, he kinda is." Zoey grinned.

"I bet he has some Christian Grey tendencies. These quiet ones are the real freaks." Olive elbowed her mischievously.

"How do you know?" Althea narrowed her eyes at her.

"What? I watch movies and movies have straight couples." Olive replied.

"Okay, let's change the topic now, shall we?" Zoey said, not wanting to talk about Travis because it makes her miss him and his dry remarks. Only three days had passed since she started the job and she was already getting used to him. The thought scared her, as this was the first time she was feeling like this about anyone.

"Yeah, what about Ethan? I heard he is taking Cindy to a date." Olive changed the direction of their conversation to Ethan's relationship with his new girlfriend.

"He seems quite serious about her." Zoey added.

"He is not serious about her. He is just doing this to irk me." Althea commented.

"But what if he is not? Maybe he has really moved on from pining over a girl meaninglessly." Zoey said.

"Sweetie trust me, Ethan can never be serious about one girl. He is just trying to prove a point." Althea responded confidently.

"Unless Cindy is the one for him." Zoey said.

"The one? Don't tell me you believe in such crap. There is no one person for anybody. We have to find the most compatible partner." Althea replied.

"They both look quite compatible." Zoey said, earning a glare from Althea. "Just saying."

"Can we talk about someone else? Someone important?" Althea said in a bitter voice.

"Fine." Zoey raised her hand in defeat.

"She is so jealous." Olive whispered in Zoey's ears and she nodded in agreement, staring at their friend who was too proud to admit the truth.

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