Awkward silence filled the air and I froze.

Fuck! Why did I just say that, I'm an idiot!

Her eyes widened in what I assumed to be horror. I might as well have just announced that I was a magical unicorn from how shocked she looked.

I worked hard to keep my face straight, not wanting her to know how terrified I was. She narrowed her eyes at me, and It felt like the air was becoming thinner.

Shit. Shit. Shit. She's going to realize I like her! What do I do? What do I do?

I watched helplessly as she opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again. I knew it was only a matter of time before she burst into laughter and told me to get lost.

I only had one option left-pretend it was a joke.

I put on my best acting skills and pretended as though I was fighting the urge to smile before letting a fake wide grin spread over my face. Then I fully burst out into obnoxiously loud bouts of laughter and even held onto my stomach for dramatic effect.

The irony was, I actually felt like crying...

"Oh my god," I said as though I was struggling for breath.

In case it wasn't clear, I wasn't.

"I can't believe," I paused and threw my head back. "I can't believe you actually thought I was going to kiss you. That was way too much fun," I said in between wheezes of laughter.

I focused my gaze back on her.

Please buy it, Mia, please for the love of God buy it.

She raised a single, unamused eyebrow. "Thank God, because I was seconds away from projectile vomiting on your face if you got any closer," she snapped with a fiery passion in her eyes.

Ouch, ouch, triple ouch.

Her comment brought me back to a harsh reality-the closest thing I'd get to a kiss from her would be if she spat in my face.

Despite how shitty I felt, I pretended her comment amused me, and I smiled before leaning in closer once again. "Look, Mia, we both know you're attracted to me. Just admit it," I said as I stared down at her provokingly.

Then she did something that shocked me altogether, and dropped her eyes from my face and took a sweep over my body.

Was I dreaming, or was Mia Collins seriously checking me out?

If she was, today might just be the best day of my life.

"My eyes are up here," I joked, not being able to help myself.

A look of embarrassment crossed over her face, and she coughed awkwardly.

Holy shit! She was embarrassed, that meant she was actually checking me out!

If I were alone, I'd probably have started jumping up and down like an idiot.

"I was just wondering when you were going to stop shopping at the woman's section and buy a top that can fit you for a change," she snapped sassily as she looked me up and down judgmentally.

My smile immediately dropped from my face. Fucking, wonderful, she was just looking at me because she thought my top was too tight.

I knew it was too good to be true...

narrowed my eyes. "I think someone clearly wants to get fired today," I spat spitefully as I spun around.

Was I throwing a toddler tantrum because I was upset, she wasn't attracted to me?

Yes, yes, I was.

I didn't head over to the manager at a fast pace, to give Mia a chance to catch up with me.

Just as expected, I felt her grab my arm before I was even halfway there. With a smile on my face, I slowly turned back to face her.

I raised my eyebrows expectantly as I waited for my apology.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I take it back," she mumbled.

I couldn't stop a massive grin from stretching itself onto my face. "I think your apology could be better than that, don't you think?" I taunted.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "I want you to say that you think I'm a sexy beast who has the body of a Greek god," I stated plainly.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I had reached a new level of pettiness.

"No way," she snorted.

"Well, I hope this job isn't important to you, Chubs," I said as I made a turn to leave.

"Okay fine," she sighed. "You are...you are...not super ugly," she muttered out weakly.

I raised my eyebrow as if to say try again sweetheart.

"You can't seriously think I'm going to let you get away with that, right? "I chuckled.

She continued to stare at me stubbornly, with her lips pressed tightly together. I felt a little bad forcing her to say something so embarrassing, but the selfish part of me was just desperate to hear her say it.

Even if it was a lie.

"I haven't got all day, Chubs," I said as I tapped my watch impatiently.

She let out a long, pain-filled sigh. "Fineyourasexybeastwhohasthebodyofagreekgod," she stammered out all in one go.

I almost burst out laughing. She was too cute.

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that," I said as I cupped my ear.

Her eyes burned with furious anger. "I said you're a sexy beast who has the body of a Greek god," she finally said in between gritted teeth.

A stupid grin stretched out onto my face. I knew I should have stopped it there, but I just wanted to hear her say it one more time. After all, It might be the only time I'd ever hear a compliment about me fall from her mouth.

I gestured to my ear once again. "Still can't hear you speak up," I smiled.

She looked about seconds away from bitch slapping me. She let out a weird pained cry before belting out, "FINE! YOU'RE A SEXY BEAST WHO HAS THE BODY OF A GREEK GOD!"

Everyone in the shop went quiet.

I stared at Mia with my mouth parted open in shock. The whole shop had heard her, perhaps even the entire street.

Her cheeks turned bright red, and she looked like she wanted to die. She looked around the shop and then closed her eyes in embarrassment. I honestly didn't know whether to cry for her or laugh.

Finally, she cracked open an eye, and she didn't look at all pleased by the sight of my face. I'm guessing I wasn't doing a wonderful job at hiding my amusement.

Now, time to be even more of a dick.

I leaned up to her and whispered, "I heard you that time," before giving her a double pat on the shoulder and starting to make my way back to the booth.

Yes, I know, I was going to hell...

I slipped back into my seat across from my shocked friends, with a contented sigh. And knowing she was still watching me, I picked up my spoon and dug it into my sundae as though it was just a normal boring day.

Finally, she tore her eyes away from me and stormed away to the counter in embarrassment.

And, that boys and girls, is how you get a girl to notice you.

"No offense, Ethan, but you're a dick," Nick laughed.

I looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah, I know," I shrugged.

"Do you seriously do this kind of crap to her every day?" Nick asked.

"Yup," Lucas and I both chirped at the same time.

"Well, yikes, no wonder she hates you," he chuckled.

Lucas raised a finger. "You know what, I don't reckon she does. I mean she definitely wants to hate you, but she doesn't," he stated matter of factly.

I furrowed my brows and looked over at him. "How so?" I asked in confusion.

"Well, though she pretends she doesn't, she doesn't mind touching you. Multiple times during your little spat, she touched you," he explained.

"And she pays a lot of attention to you. And I mean, a lot. She sneaks glances at your test papers, she watches you when you talk to girls and she's constantly staring at you in class. Honestly, if she were to take a quiz on you, I think she'd get top marks," he chuckled.

His words had my heart stupidly beating faster in excitement for a few seconds, but then I realized how delusional everything he said truly was.

I rolled my eyes. "She sneaks glances at my paper because she's hoping that I fail. She watches when I talk to girls because she assumes I'm a man-slut. And, lastly, she sneaks glances at me because she's thinking of ways to murder me," I exclaimed.

"She hates me, Lucas. Plain and simple. Always has and always will."

Lucas looked entirely unconvinced. He shrugged. "Fine, believe what you want."

I pulled my gaze from the table to have a look around the room to search for Mia. I smiled as I saw her leaving the backroom of the shop.

Lucky her, she was leaving early.

She grabbed May's hand and hauled her off the stool and in the direction of the door. Just as she was about to push open the door, her eyes caught mine, and she paused.

I couldn't resist myself and gave her a cheeky wink.

Hatred swarmed her eyes, and her jaw clenched tightly in anger. Lucas didn't know what he was talking about. Mia Collins hated my guts.

And that wasn't changing, not for a long while.

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