Marcus & Mia

by Hannah Meade

  He shrugs. "I am just here to have dinner. Was this seat taken?" I glance down at the table, just now realizing he has food in front of him.

  I hold back the smile that is threatening to form on my lips. "You are supposed to be working, right?”

  He gestures around to the empty building. "You are the only one here. I do not think my boss will mind."

  I am going to question it further, but I honestly appreciate the company. Instead, I chow down on my hamburger. I take one bite and moan loudly. "Damn, this is good."

  Ryan chuckles. "I will let the cook know."

  I look down as my phone buzzes again. What does he want this time?

  I miss you, Mia. We need to talk.

  Marcus.

  "Something wrong?"

  My head snaps up. "Hm?" I shake my head. "Oh, nothing. Nope. Just peachy." I fake a smile, hoping he does not push it. I lock my phone off and continue to eat my hamburger.

  "So, are you new around here?"

  "How could you tell?"

  "Well, anybody who has lived here long enough knows that the best thing here is the fish sandwich. Plus, I have never seen you around before."

  I grimace. "I hate fish anyway."

  He stops eating and gives me a shocked look. "Okay, obviously you are not from around here. Are you insane? Who does not like fish?"

  I am guessing he likes fish. Just guessing. "Um, normal people? Fish is so gross. It comes from nasty lake water and then watching people skin it just makes me nauseous." I shiver, thinking of the many memories I have. The many memories of watching fish getting caught and stripped of their skin in mere hours.

  Ryan just shakes his head, probably wondering what the hell planet I am from. "I have never met anyone who does not like fish."

  Oh, come on. "Please, I cannot be the only one who does not like fish. You are looking at me like I am some alien from a planet where all the people there do not like fish."

  "Well, I am starting to wonder about you."

  This time, I do not try to hide the smile. "You do not even know me."

  He locks eyes with me. "Then tell me about you."

  I hesitate. Here is a stranger, wanting to know me. Should I let him in? Should I even trust him? Trust has not really been easy for me lately. But there is something about this guy that makes me want to tell him about me. Not everything. Not yet. "I just moved here, a couple days ago. I am Mia."

  "Where did you move from?"

  "Mars."

  He busts out laughing at the seriousness in my tone. "You are funny."

  Boy, is that not the first time I have heard that. "Sarcasm is my second language. I speak it fluently."

  He shakes his head, a smile on his face. It is nice; seeing a genuine smile because of me. He must notice me staring, because his eyebrows furrow. "What?"

  "You just have a nice smile is all." My cheeks burn with realization of what I just said. What the hell did you just say? "Uh, I mean..."

  He cuts me off, the same genuine smile on his face. "Thanks, Mia."

  I look down, hoping my hair will cover my inflamed cheeks. It is suddenly really hot in here.

  Thankfully, the bell above the door dings, signaling that someone has just walked in.

  Ryan clears his throat. "Well, looks like I have to get back to work. I will come back to check on you." He brushes my arm as he walks past me. Intentional? I am not sure.

  Now that Ryan is gone, I have to face reality. Marcus and Andrew have both texted me, wanting to meet. Am I supposed to say yes? This is a time when I really need my best friend. But of course, I do not really have one anymore.

  I decide to pick the easiest person to talk to; the one I might get somewhere with.

  I dial the number and they pick up on the first ring. "Hello?"

  "It is Mia. Meet me at Costas Beach, down by the apartments."

  ~~~

  "Mia?"

  I turn around, almost tempted to run right into her arms. Almost. "Thanks for meeting me, Em."

  She nods, not saying anything.

  I look down. This is going to be harder than I thought. Maybe I should just come out and say it. "Emily, I..."

  "Mia, I miss you. I know it has only been like two days since you left, but it feels like an eternity. I hate myself for what happened and I hate that I cannot go back and fix it. But I really, really miss you, Mia. We have never been apart this long, let alone in different houses, since before we met each other. Please come back."

  I wish I can just tell her that I will; that everything can go back to normal. "Emily, I am not coming back. I rented an apartment the other day." I can see the disappointment in her eyes. "I miss you too, but you know that things cannot be like they used to be. How am I supposed to trust you again?"

  Emily looks down, embarrassed. "I told Marcus I did not want to do this anymore. I should not have even started this mess with him. I was just so hurt before that I guess I thought I would not ever get a boyfriend. Nobody would want to be with me; would want to love me. How are you supposed to give your heart to someone when it has already been dropped by someone else?"

  She nails it right on the board, does not she?

  "I am sorry, Mia. I was so stupid to think that would solve all my problems, when in the end, it just caused me to lose the one person I cared about the most. I will do anything to make it up to you. Just give me another chance."

  She is asking me to trust her again. For me to trust that she would not do the same thing again. I do not know what to say. "You are going to have to earn my trust again. I am not the same person I was four years ago. I am not going to be so quick to trust anymore. Then I will decide if you get another chance. Okay?"

  She nods vigorously. "Okay. Thank you, Mia. You will not regret this."

  I hope not.

  Fifteen

  "You have the best ocean view ever. I would kill for this view, Mia." She turns back toward me. "I may just have to move in with you."

  I laugh. "There is not enough room for all of your clothes and makeup."

  She puts a hand over her heart, like she is actually offended. "Hey, I do not have that much stuff."

  I give her a look that says Really, Emily?

  She just shrugs. She knows better. "So, when am I going to meet your neighbors?" Emily claps her hands excitedly.

  I just roll my eyes. If she wants to meet my neighbors, then she is going to meet my neighbors. "Well, we can see if they are even home." I spin on my heel and wander over to Madison and Katie's apartment. I knock twice.

  It swings open right away, revealing a very sweaty Madison. She is only in her sports bra and spandex. "Mia, what a surprise."

  I raise my eyebrows. "Why are you half naked?"

  She looks down, like she forgot what she is wearing. "Oh, right." She steps out of the doorway and slips a tank top on. "Sorry, I was doing a workout, and this is just way more comfortable to wear."

  I nod. "Right. So, I just wanted to introduce you to my best friend. She was dying to meet you." I step aside, revealing a very excited Emily.

  Madi's eyes widen. "Emily?"

  Emily just squeals like a little girl. "Madi!" She brushes past me and wraps her arms around Madi.

  I just stare between the two of them, very confused. "Um, do you guys know each other?"

  Emily releases her hold on Madi and looks back at me, a huge grin on her face. "Of course. Do not you remember the girl I told you about at camp this year? The new counselor?"

  I think back to a time when Emily would even mention camp to me. That is the one part of her life that I never get to see, and she never tells me about it. I faintly remember Emily mentioning something about a new blonde bimbo at the camp, but that is about it. I just play along, waiting until later to interrogate Emily about this. "Oh, yeah. I do. I just did not realize it was Madi. Have you met Katie, too?"

  Emily furrows her eyebrows. Evidently not. "Who is Katie?" She turns to Madi for the answer.

  "Oh, she is my best friend.
Just a second." Madison turns her head to the apartment and says, "Katie, come out here for a sec."

  There is no answer at first, but then I hear heavy footsteps; like she is stomping. A minute later, Katie appears, grumbling. "Madi, I was doing something fucking important. What do you..." She turns toward us, realizing what Madi wants. "Oh, hey. What is up?"

  Madison gestures toward Emily. "Mia brought over her best friend, Emily, to come meet us. Emily is the counselor I told you about at the camp I worked at this summer."

  Emily smiles. "Hey, I am Emily."

  Katie smiles back, but it is more forced than Emily's. "Hey, I am Katie."

  I nod at the both of them, already done with this conversation. "So, that is all I wanted. We should get going. See you later, guys."

  Katie gives me a thankful look, like she is glad I gave her a way out of this situation.

  Madison, however, looks disappointed. "Oh, so soon?"

  I speak before Emily can say anything. For all I know, she wants to stay and chat with her camp buddy Madi. "Unfortunately." I grab Emily by the wrist and pull her along, back to my apartment.

  Once we are safely back in our apartment, Emily looks at me like I am crazy. "Why did we not stay?"

  I roll my eyes. "Because your friend annoys me and I would rather not spend the afternoon with her. Plus you are here, so I want to spend time with you."

  "Fine. So what are we doing? Are we going shopping? Is there any place like that on the beach? Because that would be really cool."

  What a surprise that Emily wants to go shopping. "Yeah, there is a bunch of little shops on the beachfront."

  She grins back at me. "Nice. So what are we waiting for?" Emily turns on her heel and walks out the door, leaving me behind.

  She does not even know where she is going. "Emily, wait."

  I catch up with her and we walk down to the beach, right to where Sally's Sea Store is. To be honest, I am kind of excited to go back and see Sally again.

  We walk in and I stop in my tracks.

  Emily notices and gives me a weird look. "You okay, Mia?"

  At my name, the store employee snaps his head up. "Hey, Mia." He grins at me, making my heat flutter involuntarily.

  Emily glances between the two of us. "Um, can we talk?" Without waiting for an answer, she grabs my elbow and steers me outside. "Who the hell is that? And why did you turn as red as a fucking tomato when he smiled at you?"

  I shrug, not really wanting to tell her. "It is not a big deal. I met him yesterday at this restaurant. I just did not realize he would be working here, too. It is fine." I am saying that more for myself than for Emily.

  "Is he important to you?"

  I sigh at her interrogation. "No, Emily. I just met him yesterday. Plus me and Marcus just broke up less than a week ago. He is nobody."

  She seems content with my answer. Well, at least part of it. "Have you talked to Marcus at all?"

  The text message flashes briefly in my mind, but I push it back. "No. I have not." Have you? I think in my head.

  She nods, looking at her feet.

  "We should go back in. And do not be weird about it, Emily." Knowing her, she will probably do something to embarrass me big time.

  She puts her hands up in surrender. "Hey, do not look at me."

  I walk in the store, again, and send Ryan a smile. "Hey, Ryan. I did not know you worked here too?"

  He nods. "Yeah. Sally is my grandmother, so I pick up extra shifts here when she cannot work."

  Great. So, I will be seeing him a lot from now on. "Oh, that is nice. I am guessing she could not work today?"

  "You would be correct. Who is your friend?"

  I look over my shoulder at Emily, who is grinning like a madwoman at Ryan and me. "That is Emily. She is my friend who came down for a visit."

  "Cool. So, what are you guys up to today?"

  "Not sure yet. She wanted to go shopping, so I guess we will explore the beachfront stores."

  "Well, I get off at noon, if you want someone to show you around?"

  I am pretty sure I can get around by myself, since there are not that many stores on the beachfront.

  Emily walks up behind me then, apparently deciding I need help with the conversation. "Hey, what are we talking about?"

  Ryan cuts in before I can answer. "I was just letting Mia know that I would be happy to show you guys around here after I get off at noon."

  I try to tell Emily that is not going to happen, but apparently, she is not good at reading minds. "Oh, that would be great. We will just hang around here for the next ten minutes."

  He grins. "Perfect."

  Emily nods, pulling me further into the store with her.

  I wiggle out of her grasp and glare at her. "Emily, what the hell?" I try to keep my voice as low as possible, so Ryan does not hear.

  She gives me a confused look. "What?"

  "Why did you tell Ryan he could show us around?"

  "Because he offered. And he is fucking hot, Mia. Why have not you gotten with that?"

  I roll my eyes; of course, that is all she cares about. "So what? I have known him for a fucking day. What if he turns out to be a douchebag? Then I will have regretted 'getting with him'."

  Emily shrugs. "So what? It is your freshman year of college. Be a little reckless. Who the fuck cares? You are on your own. Live it up. This is your chance to make up for all the stupid things you never did in high school."

  Oh, boy. "Really, Emily? I am not going to be an idiot just because that is what everybody expects. I have some dignity."

  "Fine. Do whatever you want. But you are going to regret it later."

  I am about to tell her how wrong she is, but Ryan decides to make an appearance at that moment. "Hey. I am off for the day. Shall we go?"

  I smile. "Yep. Let’s go." I can tell Emily is grinning behind me as we walk.

  Maybe Emily is right. Maybe I should take some risks. But can I actually like Ryan? I mean, I just got out of a relationship where my boyfriend cheated on me; more than once. But maybe something can happen. Eventually.

  Ryan stops in front of The Surf Shack and I try to hold back my laugh. It seems he knows it, too, because he looks back at me and smiles shyly. "It is lunch time. This is the best place on the beach."

  I roll my eyes, still smiling. "I am pretty sure you have to say that."

  Emily just looks confused, again.

  Ryan clears it up for her. "I work here, too."

  I laugh as Emily's eyes light up with realization. She knows this is where I met him yesterday. "Let’s eat guys, okay? Some of us are hungry."

  Amusement shines in Ryan's eyes, but he does not say anything. That is right; you do not question me when it comes to food.

  We all get situated in a booth and Emily is having a hell of a time deciding what to order. For the last ten minutes, she has been looking over the menu and trying to pick what she wants. By now I am getting annoyed. "Emily, just fucking pick something. Or I am going to pick something for you, and you are just going to have to deal with it."

  Emily throws up her hands in exasperation. "I do not want to pick the wrong thing, Mia. What if I pick the chicken salad and then I change my mind later and want a hamburger?"

  I glare at Emily. She is like this all the time. Whenever we go to a restaurant, Emily is always the last to order. Most of the time, I get so irritated with her that I just choose something for her and hope she likes it. "Just pick the fucking hamburger. Salads are dumb." It is true. I hate salads. I will much rather eat a double cheeseburger than a bowl full of fucking green leaves.

  Emily debates it for a millisecond before she nods. That is why we became best friends in the first place. We have a lot in common; including food. "You are right. Fuck healthy food."

  Ryan laughs. "I have only met a handful of girls who would eat a hamburger over a salad."

  I grin at him. "Just wait until you see what we eat on a daily basis."

  Our waiter comes over and takes our or
der. I order the hamburger I had yesterday, as does Emily. Ryan orders a fish sandwich. I have to bite back my laugh after he says that.

  I give Ryan a weird look once the waiter walks away.

  He smirks. "Hey, I told you the best thing here is the fish sandwich."

  "And I still disagree with you."

  I look over at Emily, who is smiling and looking between the two of us. I flip her off and turn back to Ryan, who is indeed sitting by me. On the same side of the booth. How have I just noticed this?

  Is it possible to like Ryan? I mean, he is hot. Do not get me wrong, I notice. He has a really chiseled jawline and short dark brown hair. I have not seen his stomach, but I am almost one hundred percent sure he has a six pack. Clearly, he works out. His biceps are huge. Today, he is wearing a white T-shirt that hugs his body in all the right places.

  My eyes travel from his stomach up to his lips, where are quirked up in a smirk. I look into his beautiful emerald eyes, which are staring back at me. "Like what you see?"

  Shit. He has just caught me blatantly checking him out. I laugh nervously. "What do you mean?" I glance over at Emily, who has an even bigger grin on her face.

  Ryan just laughs. "Nothing, Mia." He glances down at his phone. "So, there is this party at nine tonight. You girls want to come?"

  Emily answers without hesitation. "I am so in."

  I glare at her from across the booth, but she is making a point not to meet my eyes.

  Ryan speaks up from beside me. "What do you say, Mia?"

  My head snaps over to him. How can I say no? He was kind enough to show us around today and talk to me yesterday. Plus, this is a chance to spend more time with him. I want that, right?

  I find myself nodding. "Yeah, I am in."

  The waiter arrives then with our food, saving us from further conversation. At least until our food is gone.

  ~~~

  I lean back in the booth, my stomach happy. I ate all my food, plus part of Emily's. What can I say? I was hungry. I am not ashamed of that.

  Ryan looks over at me, probably stunned I ate all of my food. "Are you sure you are not still hungry?"

  I grin back at him. "Nope, I am all good. Ready to go?"

  Emily and Ryan both nod and we set off.