Chapter 8 ✔️

Jefferson runs his hand along the soft material of the winter coat in his hands. It'd been a while since he'd been able to spend a day doing nothing, mind empty except for a few pleasant, vapid thoughts.

"How about this one, Jay?" His attention is brought to his assistant, and best friend, Maya, who had been stood in another corner of the room looking at a collection of expensive suits, "I think this would be good for your interview tomorrow?"

Jeff groans and rolls his blue eyes petulantly, letting go of the coat and walking further away from the petite woman.

"Jefferson," Maya says, her voice getting low and serious in the way it does when she talks about business. She flicks her long black hair over one shoulder and tilts her head, her soft Asian features hardening as her face morphs into a frown, "This is your job. I know it's exhausting, but you have to put in effort."

"I just want a break." He reasons, eyes wide and pleading.

"You just had a break! You spent yesterday frolicking around some random university!" The girl explains disbelievingly.

"Hey! I was working!" Jeff argues, "I'd hardly call giving four talks in one day 'a break'!"

Maya tsks, her deep brown, almost black eyes, rolling, half from annoyance, and half out of fondness for her stubborn friend.

She puts a small hand on one cocked hip, "So, what do you suggest?"

Jefferson looks into the distance, at nothing, thinking for a moment. He thinks of a relaxing vacation, spent soaking up the sun on a beach in the Maldives. He thinks of hitting the slopes of the Alps, winding past trees as he glides through the snow. He thinks of just sitting at home, with his dog, and his cat, watching shitty reruns of forgotten shows in his PJs for hours on end. Then he thinks of a nest of brown hair, and chocolate eyes, and a nervous smile.

"How about we stay here?" He suggests, mouth turned up in a slight smile, "Experience normal life for a little while?"

"Isn't this place a little..." Maya looks around, confused, "Plain? Surely you could do the things you do here anywhere in the world?"

"True," Jeff shrugs, "But I like it here... And we're here already, why not make the most of it?"

Maya can't argue with the logic. If he wants normal, it doesn't get more normal than a quaint little town like this. And it really isn't bad here. It's actually rather relaxing, walking around without the hustle and bustle of the city. She supposes she can allow Jefferson a few days of normalcy.

"Okay." Maya nods with a defeated sigh, "You've been working hard, you deserve a break."

"Really?!" Jeff grins.

"Yeah, I'll call your manager and persuade him to postpone your appearances until next week."

Jefferson tackles her into a bear hug, spinning her around, "Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is why you're my favourite."

Maya yelps and hits his arm, swatting at him until he lets her go, "You're barbaric. But you're welcome."

With a grin, Jeff floats over to the clothing rail which was home to the suit Maya had shown him. He searches for his size then glides over to her.

"As a thank you, I'll get the suit," He nods his head to a section further into the store, full of dresses, and shoes, and expensive handbags, "And you can pick up something, anything you want. For putting up with me."

"God knows I deserve it." Maya murmurs, but shoots Jeff a grateful smile and goes to search the area.

Jefferson chuckles and makes his way up to the counter to pay for the clothes.

Stood behind it, in plain black shirt and slacks with a polite smile on his face, is the cashier. He's young, around Jeff's age, with bright blond hair which curls around his ears. His eyes are a murky green, complimenting his pale skin. He's very attractive.

"Just these?" The man says, already picking up the suit and preparing it for bagging.

"Uh, and something else. My friend is picking something out." He says awkwardly, fishing into his pocket for his wallet.

"It's a lovely suit," The cashier tells him. There's a soft look in his eyes, bordering on coy, and Jefferson is a little bit taken aback by it, "It'll look very good on you."

Jeff isn't stupid. He knows flirting when he sees it. But it isn't often that he gets flirted with so openly and innocently. If it does happen, it's fame-motivated, and overly sexual.

He blushes and huffs an awkward laugh, "Thanks, I hope you're right." He says, then he opens his wallet, fishing out a few hundred-dollar bills, "How much?"

"Don't worry about it." The blond says dismissively, still giving Jefferson that look.

"What?" Jeff says confused, but he closes his wallet anyway, furrowing his thick eyebrows.

"Yeah, it's on the house," The man smiles at him teasingly, "You can pay me with a date."

Jefferson's blue eyes widen like saucers, and he straightens up considerably, "Y-you wanna go on a date... with me?"

It's very surprising. Jefferson didn't think he had that sort of appeal in a normal setting, where he isn't the Jefferson Blake. It's refreshing, and promising.

"Yeah." The cashier giggles, then grins seductively at Jeff, "Who wouldn't wanna date you?"

Jeff blushes a deep red.

"-You're Jefferson Blake!"

He feels like ice water has been thrown over him. The shy smile on his face is wiped out by a blank look, which earns a questioning glance from Maya as she places the pair of shoes she'd found onto the counter.

Jeff doesn't even check the price of the shoes, and hands Maya his wallet, walking out of the store wordlessly.

"Hey, hey, hey! What was that all about?" The dark-haired woman calls out as she hurriedly follows him after paying.

"Nothing." Jeff mumbles, speed walking through the mall with his head down, "Let's just go."

Maya frowns, beyond worried, but follows him anyway. He'll open up in his own time, as long as she shows that she's there to listen.