CHAPTER 11: "That we are girlfriend-boyfriend, silly"

PHOEBE'S POV:

The next day I woke up with a wide grin plastered on my face. I was happy.

'We are more', these words meant everything for me. I thought that life long I would be the girl who will always be 'just friend' to him. I never-ever thought that he will say the words 'I like you' to me.

But there is something that I am afraid of. Justin has been with many girls and he never let himself to be in any serious relationships.

I remember the longest he was with Rebecca, their relationship lasted for 6 months or so. It was the longest Justin stayed with one woman.

What will our relationship be like? Will it last or just like other girls, he will get bored with me?

I love him, yes I do. But he, he said he likes me. He just likes me.

Then again he likes those barbie doll kind of girls. Not someone like me. Fat, poor, nerdy, with a bad mouth, fighting with boys, wearing baggie clothes, lack of fashion sense, in short opposite to the girls Justin has dated.

On Monday when we meet I will ask him what exactly our relationship is.

It's Sunday today so I woke up at 5 as I have to go for my morning shift at 'Aroma Cafe' by 7.

I do my morning routine, brush my teeth, and by 5.20 I am in the kitchen making breakfast for mom and me.

By 5.40 I am done with two omelettes, few toasts, a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee. I am pretty fast, I know. I have to be fast, cause after breakfast I have to clean the house.

Mom can't do tiring work like cleaning and all because of her weak heart so I am the one who has to do everything.

"Good morning mom", I greet her as she comes out of her room.

"Good morning dear", I carry our breakfast to the table and we both eat and chat at the same time cause I do not get much time to talk with her.

I wash our dishes while mom has started collecting all the dirty clothes and putting them in the washing machine.

By 6.15 I am done cleaning my room, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. I do this work daily so it's not that dirty and won't take much time to clean it.

Mom always insists that she will clean her own room. And that's it. There are only three rooms in my house, mine, moms and the living room (if you don't count the bathroom and toilet of course).

I am almost ready after taking a nice shower. I pull the first set of clothes that come in my hand from my wardrobe. It is a white long sleeves t-shirt and dark blue denim, which has actually turned into light blue due to its constant use.

I grab a pen and in my to-do list add a point *buy two jeans*.

After that, I carry some books along with my apron which is my uniform in the cafe. I carry my books because just in case if there are fewer customers and I get time to study.

"Bye mom", I say loudly and run towards my truck.

It's 6.45 already and it will take at least 20 minutes to reach the cafe.

Shit! I am going to be late.

I reach the cafe at 7.10.

"You are late", Rick is standing just by the door, his arms crossed. His face showing anger, but I know how to calm him down.

"Sorry Rick", I make the most innocent face and give a kiss on his cheek. The old man laughs and slaps my shoulder playfully before ordering me to start my work.

On weekdays I work at 'Aroma Cafe' after college. As our college is from 8 am to 3 pm I start my shift here from 4 to 8. And on weekends I work here from 7 am to 1.

Today I got to complete studying 1 whole topic as there were not many costumes in the cafe. Most of the time I was free.

It's 12, just 1 hour then I will go home take some rest, study a bit and then again go to the McKenna house to tutor Aiken and Ashur.

A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of visiting McKenna House. Visiting McKenna House means meeting Justin McKenna.

I complete cleaning the table and take my place behind the counter, Ruby who works along with me is busy attending her table.

Ruby is a nice lady in her early thirties and a mother of two cute girls. We both help each other with our shifts at busy times. She is very cooperative.

As I was doing my work my thoughts wandered towards Justin. I decide that today itself I will ask Justin about what he exactly meant when he said 'we are more'. And if we are really more, isn't he suppose to at least call me the next day after giving me those bone-melting kisses.

My fingers work on their own and make their way to my lips, I touch them and find that they are still a bit swollen due to all those passionate kisses.

"Thinking about me", the deep familiar voice brings me to the present and that's when I realize that my eyes were close.

When I open them I find the handsome face of Justin McKenna, his lips twisted to form a smirk.

Instead of my annoyance seeing his smirk, I blush, I fucking blush. Why won't I, those lips which are forming that annoying smirk now, were doing heavenly things to me just a few hours before.

"Justin", I whisper his name.

He was wearing a black t-shirt tucked in his dark blue denim paired with black shoes. His blonde hair was in mess and few bangs falling on his forehead making him look even more tempting.

His blue eyes were not looking at me in the eyes, instead, they were focused on my lips. I gulp and run my tongue over my lips, the thing I rarely do, only when I am nervous.

"Morning Phoebe", leaning on the counter he whispers in my ear, "Don't do that, don't lick those lips in front of me. Cause it tempts me to do so" If it's even possible I blush harder.

But somehow compose myself after I realize that two boys are sitting on the table that I am supposed to attend.

"How can I help you, Sir", I ask Justin.

"You know how you can help me, Phoebe"

"Can you please place your order fast cause I have another customer to attend, Sir", I put more emphasis on the word 'Sir'.

"Till when will you be free?", Ahh.. I really do not have much time to deal with him as the customers sitting on the table are looking here and there annoyed, whether someone is gonna attend them or not.

I see that Ruby is free now, "Ruby, will you please take sir's order I have other customers to attend", I ask her. She eyes Justin for two seconds and with a flirty smile on her face nods her head. I just roll my eyes at her.

Without giving another glance to Justin I make my way towards the table, I take their orders and ask the barista to prepare their them.

Justin is now seated in the farthest corner of the cafe. All the time his eyes are fixed on me.

"He is cute", Ruby suddenly says.

"Yeh! he is", I blush.

"Boyfriend?", she asked and I gulp. What should I say her? Is he my boyfriend? What is the exact word for 'we are more'? Do 'we are more' mean boyfriend and girlfriend? I am not sure.

"Nah! He is a friend, just friend", I expect her to ask even more questions but to my surprise, she just shakes her head and leaves but not before mounting "Kids!".

After that, the cafe becomes a bit busy. But thank God! not much time was left for the shift to be over.

Justin was still sitting in the same place. I ignored his stare as I was busier with my work.

When finally it was 1, I let out a long breath and went to the washroom. I took off the apron and after folding it stuffed it in my bag. My hair was pulled back in a ponytail yet few strands managed to fall on my face so I just tucked them behind my ears.

I went to the basin to wash my face. After a few splashes of water, I was done, I felt fresh. I grabbed my handkerchief from my bag and wiped my face.

"What the..", just as I opened my eyes, I saw that Justin was standing behind me and staring at me through the mirror.

"What are you doing here?", I asked him. Rather a bit rudely.

"I came to meet you and you are being so rude to me", he said through greeted teeth. I turned myself to face him.

"Well, you are standing in a ladies room so what can you expect from me", I crossed my hand to look angry but it only leads to another smirk on his delicious lips.

"Well I came to meet you, and you refused to tell me what time your shift ends so I found this perfect place to talk"

"Ok, now please leave. My shift is over I will meet you outside the cafe"

"Cool", he said and just when I thought he is gonna leave I felt his lips on mine again. This kiss was quick, yet it had the same power.

"bye", he winked at me and left the restroom.

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Justin opened the door of his car for me, without any questions I hopped in. He took the driver's seat and started the engine.

"Why were you here Justin?", I need to know why is he doing this.

"What kind of question is it Phoebe I came to meet you"

"But why?"

"Isn't it obvious, I missed you, I was going to call you but thought why not surprise you", He gave me a cute smile.

I took a deep breath, I should not concentrate on how cute or handsome he is I have more important things to ask.

"Why are you doing this Justin?", ask I asked this question he stopped the car but I was not over yet.

"Why are you doing this? Why did you kiss me? I know you said you like me, but why do you even like me? Who am I? I am no one. I am not pretty, I am fat, I am poor, I am no one compared to your old girlfriends", my voice cracked at the end.

After my father's death, I never cried. I did not want to cry now. And again I somehow controlled the tears.

Justin undid his seat belt and moved towards me. Cupping my face he moved my head so that I could look into his eyes.

"You are pretty Phoebe. Trust me you are. And whether you are rich or not that doesn't matter, I like you. You are my friend, you understand me, you help me when I need it, you are always with me, that is what I like the most. You are strong. You can fight for yourself that is what I adore the most. I admit that you have a bad mouth but yet you have a pure soul. You work hard just to support yourself and your mom, that pulls me more towards you. I like everything about you. Just believe it I like you", I was stunned by his confession. He likes me for all the odd things. He likes me even when I am fat.

And I know he is not lying cause I can see the sincerity in his eyes.

"What does that 'we are more' mean?", I found myself asking.

"That we are girlfriend-boyfriend, silly", His grin widens, I was afraid it might tear his face.

"Girlfriend", I repeated, my cheeks were even redder than tomato.

"Yes", he whispered in my ear.

"I never said yes!", I blushed even more.

"So you are saying no?"

"No! when did I say that?", my response came quicker than it was needed. If possible I blushed harder.

"You look cute when you blush", Justin was now creasing my cheeks with his thumbs.

"I never knew you were this shy", he said. I remained silent.

With a quick peck on my cheek, he went back to driving.

"Where are we going?", I asked.

"You will know soon"

"Tell me", U asked again.

"I won't"

"Justin tell me"

"It's a surprise"

"Just tell me already"

"No"

"Justin tell me or else...."

"Or else??"

"Or else.. Or else.. I will knee you where it hurts the most", I tried to threaten him.

"You won't do it", he just laughed.

" And why won't I?", I asked.

"Cause it will be a problem for both of us", He said

"And why would it be.... JUSTIN", I shouted when the realisation hit me. That fucker was just laughing hard.

"And Phoebe when you said you were fat, trust me, baby, from what I saw yesterday, you are not fat at all", I blushed as I remember he saw me almost naked.

"You are a big dick", I said angrily.

"Wrong pumpkin. You should say 'you have a big dick'", he smirked. Cocky asshole.

"Ya whatever", I said in a bored tone even though I was blushing.

"You will know soon", well, that succeeded to shut me up.