8 | A Furious Manager and A Brave Escapade

Okay, maybe I did have a crush on Everett.

A very minor...inconsequential one.

I saw him as soon as I walked through the door, my gaze drawn to him by some magnetic force.

It would be impossible not to notice him. He was skidding from table to table, his neon Nike's almost skating across the floor. He was like a chaotic whirlwind, whooshing around like a shooting star.

He lit up the whole damn place.

His curly hair was a total mess, sticking out around his head and falling into midnight eyes. The pink polo he wore brought out his golden tan. It was fitted snugly around his lean biceps...and his jeans fitted snugly around his—

I mentally slapped myself.

"Clementine!" he yelled, seeing me as he did a 180° spin after putting down an order.

"I've been waiting hours," he emphasized as I walked towards him. "I thought you'd forgotten about me."

As if that were even remotely possible.

"Sorry, I know I said ten minutes but...."

I trailed off, not wanting to explain how I'd then spent an agonizingly long time in front of the mirror.

"I was kidding dude, it's fine. I figured you were just getting ready." He glanced at me momentarily. "You look really nice by the way."

"My allergies have been really bothering me today honestly," I burst out quickly before Everett could comment on my reddening face.

"Oh, yeah." He brushed a finger against my cheek, his touch only causing it to warm up further. "You're not breaking out, just a bit red...but maybe we should skip the zoo?"

"No, no," I hurriedly amended. "I'll be fine at the zoo."

"You sure?" His brows knitted together in concern. A customer was frantically waving for the bill, but Everett paid them no heed. "We can do something inside, maybe go for a movie?"

A movie seemed an awful lot more like a date than the zoo.

"Nahh man, let's go to the zoo," I said, putting all thoughts of a dark cinema out of my mind and trying to sound as casual as possible.

"Okay!" Everett beamed and started dragging me out of the cafe. "Just lemme know if you're not feeling well at any time, okay? We can just leave."

"I'll be fine," I assured.

Maybe I had let the pretend seriousness of my allergies go a bit too far. I have got to stop blushing around this guy.

"Hey wait," I said as we reached the car. "You didn't tell anyone you were leaving, don't you need to inform the manager?"

"He won't let me go, Clementine, this is an escapade!"

I balked. "That doesn't seem like a good idea."

Just then, a hefty balding man caught sight of us through the cafe windows. His eyes widened in shock and he rushed outside.

"Oh shit, that's him!" Everett yelled. He yanked open the drivers seat and shoved me in before vaulting over the hood and throwing himself into the passengers side. "Drive, Clementine!"

I fumbled with the seatbelt and Everett hurriedly shifted the gear to drive as the angry man neared us.

I squeaked and quickly turned the wheel; the car zoomed past the man, just inches away. "Careful! I wasn't ready!" I yelled.

"Sorry! I thought he was gonna come pull me out and make me finish the shift!"

I glared at him. "Well, now you're fired for sure."

"I wish." He groaned. "You can't really get fired from a job you're not getting paid for."

"You don't deserve to get paid."

"Ouch, Clementine. I still work at least a few hours everyday."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, why isn't he paying you then?"

"Cause he's my dad."

"I almost ran over your dad?!" I yelled, stepping too hard on the brakes as I neared a crosswalk. "What the hell, man!"

"Well it's his cafe, he just uses me as unpaid labour," Everett explained.

I groaned. "He probably hates me now; that was such a bad first impression."

"Nah it's chill." Everett grinned. "His temper never lasts for that long. You know, I think I've taught him patience."

I rolled my eyes. Dealing with him everyday was probably enough to teach anyone patience.

Everett fiddled with the radio.

"That doesn't work." I sighed.

"You wanna listen to some music?"

"I would if I could."

He started belting out a song so suddenly that I missed the next turn.

"My heart's a stereo

It beats for you, so listen close

Hear my thoughts in every no-ote

Make me your radio."

"Haha cute." I grinned and rolled my eyes. He didn't sound half bad.

"It's cause I'm the radio, get it?"

"Yes, I got it Everett."

I drove around aimlessly while he finished up the rest of the song, not really concentrating on the directions.

"Do you know how to get to the zoo from here?" I finally asked. "I missed a couple turns."

"Of course. I know how to get everywhere from anywhere."

"Anyone would, with Google Maps."

"Pfft, Maps? No that's lame, I just know this planet like the back of my hand."

"Should I make a turn here?"

"Uhh no. Go straight."

I hesitantly drove past it. "Are you sure? That's the last turn for the next few miles. We're heading out of town now."

"Shit really?" He turned back in his seat as the turn faded away behind us. "Why didn't you turn then?"

"You told me not to!"

"Well how would I know the way? I wasn't even using Maps."

I glared at him, tightening my hands on the wheel. "I can't turn around now, it's a one way road."

"Oops, my bad. Let's just keep driving this way until we come across some animals. Ooh I bet we can find some raccoons and beavers roaming around," he said excitedly. "We can just put them in the car and make our own zoo."

Forget anything I ever said about having a crush on Everett.

I didn't realize he was an idiot.