When I woke up Saturday morning, I felt as if I had been kicked by a truck. Starting work every night at six and finishing at two in the morning really took the energy out of me. I could hear talking and small humming of voices in the kitchen and went out to see who was there. All three boys stood in the kitchen and began clapping and cheering as soon as I walked into the kitchen.

"You owe me ten dollars," Emmett said to Zac, sipping his coffee and leaning against the counter.

"Why does he owe you ten dollars?" I asked, walking straight to the coffee machine.

"It's past ten," Zac said, sipping his own coffee.

I looked at Emmett with confusion on my face.

"We bet when you would wake up," Emmett laughed, responding to my unanswered question. "I bet you would wake up past ten," he continued.

"I bet you couldn't wake up until past twelve," Zac added.

"I didn't bet at all," Burney said with his hands up in the air as if he was about to be arrested.

"What time is it?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.

"Fifteen minutes past," Zac said and then laughed. "I like what you're wearing."

I looked down at my bare legs and realised that I forgot to put on my track pants before leaving my bedroom. I stood in the kitchen, making my coffee in only a loose t-shirt and underwear.

"More like, I like what you're not wearing," He laughed, smiling around his mug.

"Oh, shut up," I smiled and could feel my chest and neck heat up.

"Are you working tonight as well?" Burney asked.

"Yes."

I talked about working last night with the boys as we drank out coffee, leaning on the counter.

"I need a shower," I said, taking my coffee into the bathroom with me as I quickly showered.

Once I was finished my shower I got changed quickly into a clean shirt and track pants and went into the living room to see Zac watching TV.

"What are you watching?" I asked and sat down next to him on the couch.

"Some animal documentary," Zac said, his eyes remained on the screen.

"Looks good," I smiled.

I watched Zac's hand, as he changed the channel.

"Tell me about yourself?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"Like what?" he asked, chuckling.

"I don't know," I said, smiling.

"Where should I start?" he asked with a goofy smile on his face.

"What is your favourite colour?" I shrugged, making his head turn back on the back of the couch and laugh.

After a moment he answered. "Green," he looked at me and paused. "Or maybe a dark gold."

I looked away and he laughed a mocking kind of laugh.

"What's your favourite colour?" he asked.

"Orange," I said without hesitation.

He huffed and looked away back at the TV

"Any siblings?" I asked, trying to keep him talking.

"An older brother," He said. "Older brother and a lot of cousins," he smiled a soft smile, as if he was remembering them fondly. "And you?"

"Three brothers. An older and two younger brothers," I said. After a moment of watching whatever channel Zac landed on. We sat in silence and I got up to get ready to eat and get ready for work.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"Bed," I said after I grabbed some leftovers. "It was nice talking to you." I went into my room.

I started to get ready for work, drying and then curling my damp hair and applying my makeup. I thought about what Stevie Rae said about my clothes and decided to wear something more revealing. I chose a black leather singlet bra that had buckles at the straps; it almost looked like a harness. It looked like something that someone who was into BDSM would wear. It made my tits look good, which was what I was aiming for. I made my hair look similar to how Stevie Rae's hair did the first night I worked, with loose curls brushed out down to my waist. I looked good. Better than what I thought.

I stepped out of the room, remembering I left my jacket on a chair in the kitchen.

"Hey," Zac said. His eyes wandered over my face and body. "You look good."

"Oh... thanks." I smiled. Heat was already building up in my chest. My heels from my thigh high boots, clicked against the floor.

As soon as Emmett got home, I jumped into his car straight away and he was already dropping me off at the Bar.

"Thanks, taxi," I said with a laugh, when I left Emmett in the car.

I smiled at Koby when I stepped inside and went straight to the employee locker to drop off my things. When I arrived back out Stevie Rae was there to greet me.

"Hey, good-looking." Her hair was in a bun tonight.

"Hey," I smiled back.

"I'm putting you on the large bar today."

"What?" I looked at her deadpanned.

"You've proved to us for the past couple nights that you can handle the small bar. Maddie said you are really good, probably one of the best we've had in a long time."

I was extremely flattered, but at the same time the nerves from being put on at the large bar was getting to me.

"Are you sure, Stevie?" After a pause she looked at me with a question in her eyes. "Putting me on the large bar," I continued.

"The only way you'll learn how to swim is if we throw you into the deep end," she smiled.

"Hey, Ali," Maddie called out as she flipped a drink.

"Hi, Maddie," I laughed and got behind the bar with her.

Her short hair was in its usual half-up-half-down, but tonight she had on silver hook earrings and a mesh top with a bright coloured bra underneath.

"Same rules as before at the small bar. Whoever sits at your side of the bar is your customer and you serve them. When everyone is served and we're not as busy, you need to clean, otherwise we'll never get out of here in time," she laughed.

The bass from the music was roaring in my chest. I watched as the bar began to fill with people, some were already noticeably drunk, and others were just beginning. The night was still young.

"Dry Martini!"

"Whiskey Sour!"

"Gimlet!"

"I need more ice!" I screamed over the music to Maddie.

"Alex! Ice now," Maddie yelled to a busboy who wore a striped shirt as their uniform and then turned to me. "Don't be afraid to ask for what you need. Ask earlier otherwise it'll be too late."

Everyone was shouting drinks and I was making them just as quickly. I felt like I was in my element. I used to work at a local bar back at home, but it wasn't as large as the Bar.

I thanked Alex when he filled up my ice and flipped one of the bottles in the air behind my back at the same time. I got a series of cheers and claps afterwards which made me smile broadly.

Halfway through my shift, my tip jar was almost full. Working half my shift at the small bar, I would have only received a quarter of the tip jar to be full.

After a quick break out the back of the Bar in the cold air, I replaced Mia from my position at the large bar.

"Carlton Dry!"

I took the cap of the beer quickly and pushed it down the table to the customer.

Maddie served one of her customers quickly and then came up to me afterwards wiping her hand on her rag. She rested against the bar and leaned towards me.

"Don't look now- "

I began tilting my head around.

"Hey! What did I just say?"

"Sorry," I laughed which made her smile.

"Don'tlook now..." She paused with her eyes wide open which made me laugh again. "But there's a gu

I tried to be subtle when I turned my head, pretending that I was putting away a bottle on the shelves behind me.

I turned my head to the side and saw the only person sitting at my bar who was staring directly at me.

He was cute, very cute. A cute ginger, as Maddie put it. His hair was an orange flame, cut short with the front of his hair styled upwards. His face was defined with high cheekbones and a defined chin. He wore a grey hoodie underneath a black denim jacket, with the sleeves of his jackets folded up. In between his hands he held a Carlton Dry beer bottle.

He smiled at me, his eyes steady and staring directly into my eyes.

I turned back to my task, a smile creeping over my face and heat creeping up to my face from my chest.

I watched as the crowded dance floor began to die down just as last call was being called through a large bell at Maddie's side of the bar.

The bar began to crowd again like no one was ever going to be served a drink again. Maddie and I continued to flip drinks left, right and centre; people were ordering drinks just as quickly as we were serving them.

By the time the rush from last call died off, Maddie and I were wiping down our bar and putting back the drinks in their rightful place.

"He's still here," Maddie said, leaning into me, similar to how she was before.

I took a quick peak around my hair and she was right. The orange flame was still sitting in the same spot with an almost empty bottle between his hands.

"Get him another drink,"

"Last call is over," I replied back.

"Screw it," Maddie laughed. "I won't tell if you don't."

I shoved her with my elbow and smiled before slowly walking over towards the orange flame.

"What can I get for you?" I said, leaning my hands on the bar.

"That depends," he said, a smile creeping across his face.

"Depends on what?" His infectious smile made my own smile to break through.

"Can I get your number?" He said which made me laugh.

"How many times has that line worked?" I could feel that my smile was growing.

"Well, seeing as this is the first time that I've ever used it, then it depends on whether or whether not you give me your number," he said which made me laugh again.

"You have a great laugh," he said, smiling and staring directly int my eyes.

I looked away quickly and tucked my hair behind my ears.

"Uh thanks," I smiled.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"James. What's yours?"

"Ali."

"Is Ali short for something?" he smiled.

"Alison. Ali is short for Alison."

"It's nice to meet you Alison."

"Nice to meet you too, James."

"You're new here, aren't you?"

"Come here that often, do you?" I laughed.

"I come here enough," he smiled which made me laugh harder.

"Yes, I am new, I started Tuesday," I stated.

"Ali, it's fifteen to two!" Maddie called out.

"Sorry, James. Looks like I'm going to kick you out," I said, teasing him.

"Is that so?" He asked, smiling a little more broadly.

"I'm a lot stronger than what I look."

He laughed and swallowed the rest of his drink.

"Can I walk you to your car later?" he asked, once he finished his drink.

"I get off work at little after two. We leave by the back door if you want to meet me there?"

"I'll be there." He nodded his head and handed me his empty bottle.

I watched him get off his stool and head through the front doors.

Maddie and I finished wiping down the bar and setting chairs back in place, so by the time two came around, we grabbed our jackets and walked out as a group to the back door.

James was waiting with his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face. He was a lot taller than me, probably only slightly shorter than Zac.

I walked up to him, a nervous smile beginning to form on my face.

"Hey," I smiled.

"How was work?" James asked.

"Good," I laughed. "I met this strange guy tonight."

"Strange, am I?" he laughed.

"Only slightly," I held up my fingers in a pinch leaving a tiny space between my forefinger and my thumb. "The tiniest bit," I continued.

After a second I realised that the Koby and girls were waiting.

"Go ahead guys," I said around James to them and Koby began walking the girls one by one to their cars.

"Where's your car?" He asked, as we continued walking down the side of the Bar to the front.

"I don't have one... Yet," I said.

"How are you getting home then?" He asked.

"One of my close friends picks me up," I said.

"Must be one hell of a friend to pick you up at two in the morning. Why do they pick you up?"

"I don't have a car," I laughed.

"No car, huh..." He said, looking away as we walked side by side. "So, does that mean I'll have to pick you up for our first date soon?" He smiled down at me and I pushed him with my shoulder.

I shook my head and smiled. "You're so cocky."

"Cocky good or cocky bad?"

"I'm not sure," I laughed.

"So, what do you say? Can I take you out soon?" He asked when we stripped at the front of the Bar, but Emmett's car wasn't there.

"Hmm, it depends. I'll just have to message you?"

"Are you serious?" He said, laughing.

I shrugged. "Give me your phone." I held my hand out to him and he put his phone in my hand for me to quickly put my number in.

A black old looking car rolled into the front then. A car I faintly recognised.

"This is my ride," I said to James, turning to him with a smile.

"Okay, so I'll text you," He said, a little hope in his eyes.

"So, text me," I laughed and got into the passenger seat.

Zac looked at me and then looked out the window towards James.

"Who is that?" He asked, as I smiled out the window towards him.

"That's James," I said, and Zac began to drive home.

"So why are you picking me up?" I asked, when Zac began to drive home.

"Emmett was tired, and I was awake, so I offered to come," Zac said. His hair was a little bit of a mess and he was wearing his grey trackpants and a plain white shirt.

"I need to start looking for cars..." I said to myself, looking out the window.

"Speaking of cars, what kind of car is this?" I said looking around the car. "It's not a Chevrolet Camaro or Corvette..." I said pondering.

He snapped his head towards me, and I watched as his smile began to grow.

"What?" I asked.

"How the hell do you know about cars?" He asked, his face looked shocked and he kept looking back and forth from the road to me.

"I grew up with three brothers," I shrugged.

"It's a Chevrolet Chevelle," He smiled.

"So close," I snapped my fingers in front of me.

"What year is it? It can't be the early sixties, maybe late sixties?" I asked, still looking around.

He began nodding his head with a half smirk on his face. 

"1967," he confirmed my suspicions.

"Yes!" I cheered which made him laugh.

He leaned his hand over then and pinched the top of my thigh high boots.

"These are cute," he half smirked again.

"Cute?" I laughed and pushed his hand away. I wasn't really aiming for cute. I was aiming for sexy, aiming for extra tips in my jar kind of sexy.

"What?" He asked.

"I wasn't really aiming for 'cute', but thanks," I rolled my eyes. He looked down at my boots for a moment and then his eyes wandered up.

"What were you aiming for?" he asked.

I looked at him with my eyes wide open, an all telling look.

"I wanted to get tips," I shrugged.

"And did you?"

"Yes," I said. "Great tips actually."

"Great tips from James." 

"Shut up," I rolled my eyes again and looked out the window.

"Okay then, you look better than cute," he says with his eyes on the road.

"Don't just say that to make me feel better." I kept my head facing towards the window, so he couldn't see the blush I felt heating its way up my neck, but I could still feel his eyes on me which sent a heat searing towards my lower stomach.

He didn't respond, so I looked towards him only to catch his head turning away, keeping his gaze firmly on the road as if I didn't catch him staring.

I studied his profile in the silence, acutely aware that he knew I was looking at him. It was unfair how handsome he was even from his profile. I continued to study his masculine features, deciding that the bump at the bridge of his nose was my second favourite thing about his appearance besides his hands...

"How was your day today?" I asked to try and keep him talking. I liked talking to him. He somehow made me feel comfortable and nervous at the same time.

"It was fine," he smiled. "How was yours?"

"It was good." I began nodding my head, continuing  to appreciating his side profile. Dark stubble shadowed his jaw, and I imagined my fingers running up his jaw, feeling the sharp prickles against my palms, against my cheek, between my legs-

I coughed abruptly. Turning my gaze away from him.

What the fuck am I thinking? This man was clearly very attractive but having those kinds of thoughts about anyone was something that I don't usually have and I shouldn't have... Especially for my new roommate.

Zac made a swift park into his spot in the space next to our house. He got out quickly, waiting for me to get out before he locked the car. I avoided looking at him and focused on picking at the skin around my thumb as something to do. We walked together side by side to the front door. Zac with his keys out already, unlocked the front door and held the door open for me to walk past.

"I guess chivalry isn't dead," I say when I walk past him and heard a soft chuckle behind me.

I began taking my jacket off and placing it over the back of the couch. I could hear Zac walking closer towards me and I turned around, leaning back against the couch.

"Thank you for picking-." I began to say but was alarmed by the close proximity Zac had become towards me.

He stood no more than an arm's length away from me. I watched as his eyes wandered across my face, down my neck, to my chest and back up again. I was sure he could see the blush rising from my chest to my face and I could hear how harshly my breathing had become. The way he was looking at me, made my legs feel like jelly and I felt a sudden heat in the pit of my stomach.

With one of his hands, he reaches out towards my face and brushes a stray hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear. I gasp softly. He lets the tips of his fingers wander down my jawline, his thumb trailing my cheekbone, until his fingers stopped below my chin with his thumb lightly caressing the corner of my mouth.

"Better than cute," he whispers, and his eyebrows furry before he steps away and walks down the corridor to his room.

I was too afraid to look toward him, so I kept my eyes on the front door, feeling confused. What the hell was that and how can I still feel his fingers on me like he has branded a pathway with his fingertips.

I don't remember getting naked or getting into the shower, but I do remember the way his fingers felt and the sound I made when he touched me. I stood underneath the water, numbingly, unsure what to do with myself or with the millions of thoughts racing in my mind. My mind focused on the tingly sensation I could feel in my lip from when he softly touched me there. The burning sensation in my cheek from his hand trailing down, and his words... 'Better than cute' played in my mind like a broken record.

How could a person sleep after such an intimate moment?

I got into bed but stayed awake majority of the night. His words echoing inside my head.

Better than cute.

Better than cute.

Better than cute.

I spent the better half of Sunday morning in bed, the lack of sleep from the night was already beginning to haunt me. I was scared to go outside but knew that I was going to have to at one point or another. When I did arise and leave the safety of my room, the three boys were around the kitchen table eating breakfast.

My eyes quickly drifted over to Zac, but then retreated just as quickly.

The boys clapped and cheered as I came out of my room.

"Did you place bets again?" I asked to no one in particular.

"No," Emmett laughed.

"We're just cheering because you actually put pants on today," Zac laughed which made the others laugh. My nervousness and confusion stopped me from laughing, but after they continued laughing, my smile broke through and I shook my head.

After grabbing coffee and a bowl of cereal, I joined my roommates at the table. I almost felt robotic or zombielike after last night's events.

"So, what's on the agenda today?" I asked, putting my feet up on my seat and bring my bowl close to my face.

"Today is our rest day," Burney said with a newspaper in front of him.

"Sorry I couldn't pick you up last night," Emmett said to me.

"It's fine, I know you must have been so exhausted."

Emmett looked at Zac then. "I told you not to tell her that."

"I had to," Zac shrugged.

"It's fine," I interjected. "I understand."

"Look, Ali, I have training earlier in the morning now, because we're going into pre-training, and it's getting very exhausted staying awake to come and pick you up every night this week," Emmett continued. His eyebrows were pulled together in concern.

"It's fine, Emmett, seriously. I do need to find a car though."

"I can drive you some nights," Zac said.

I turned my head towards him. I would like that very much. The thought of being close to him again excited me.

"Are you sure? Would you take me or pick me up?" I asked, looking at Zac.

"Of course, I'm sure and both, I work Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, I can take you after or before work depending on what time I have work."

"Thank you," I smiled at him. My phone buzzed in my pocket and an unknown number came up.

Good morning, beautiful. It's James. Are you free tonight?

I left the message open on my phone.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Zac asked, reaching over to my bowel and taking a dry flake out to eat.

"I'm not smiling," I said and hit his hand away.

"You were smiling," Burney said, flipping the page of the newspaper.

"I was not!" I laughed.

I picked up my phone to reply.

That depends.

Haha depends on what?

What have you got in mind for tonight?

Dinner and a movie?

Sounds bearable.

Haha It should be.

I smiled to myself but stopped and quickly looked around to see if any of the boys were watching me as I typed my response. I was nervous, my heart rate was racing. I do not know him well enough to go out with him just yet, but at the same time I really wanted to.

What time?

I'll pick you up at six.

C U @6 x

"See, she's smiling," Burney said.

"Oh, shut up!" I laughed.

"Who was messaging?" Emmett asked.

"Someone I met last night."

"That guy who walked you to the car last night?" Zac asked.

"The bouncer?" Emmett asked.

"No, a customer I met last night."

"Ooh miss popular," Burney said with a shake of his shoulders.

"Yeah," I laughed. "He asked me out tonight."

"Cute," Burney leaned forward. "Where are you going?"

"Dinner and a movie. Should be pretty chill."

"Is he cute?" Burney asked.

"Oh yeah, very cute."

"He's a redhead," Zac interjected.

"A very cute redhead," I said and tipped my mug towards him.

"Yay," Burney clapped his hands lightly in front of him.

"Should be fun."

The conversation continued as I finished my coffee.

"Okay so seeing as none of you fake friends have asked yet," Burney said to all of us and Zac laughed softly. "My birthday is next week, and I am planning a party."

"That's cool, where?" Emmett asked.

"Here, you dipshit," Burney almost screamed at Emmett.