I walked into Campus Perk and the place was busy as usual with couples sitting around the fire sipping on their coffees and tables of people studying. That reminded me I had a test I needed to study for later.

"Hey Dave," I said to my manager as I walked behind the bar and slipped on my black apron, tying it behind me. 

"Hey, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm good," I said as I wiped down the counter. 

There was silence for a few seconds before he asked, "Are you? Ever since you got back from California you just haven't been yourself." 

I looked over at Dave's brown curly hair and dark brown eyes hidden behind his black rimmed glasses. He was wearing a black superman t-shirt that showed how skinny his arms were and dark jeans with an apron just around his waist. He was looking at me eye to eye because we were practically the same height and I could tell he wasn't buying my answer.

"Yeah. Sorry. I guess I've been a little distracted."

"A little?" he laughed. "That's the understatement of the year. I can't even tell you how many orders you've gotten wrong and how many complaints I've had in the last week and usually all I hear about you is compliments."

"I'm sorry Dave. I'll do better. I promise," I said with a long exhale, brushing my hands up and over my hair.

He gave me a head nod and walked away into the back room and I felt bad for letting him down and getting complaints. I needed to do better. I really couldn't afford to lose this job. For the rest of my shift I tried to push all thoughts of Dylan out of my head and focus really hard on what I was doing. 

That night as the last customer left I locked the door and got busy wiping down tables and turning the chairs over on top of them so we could do a quick sweep and mop. Dave came out of the back room and started helping me and when we were done putting up the chairs he stood there, holding onto the legs of an upside down chair, letting out an exhale. 

"Brenley, I ummmmmm," he laughed, raising a hand and rubbing the back of his neck. "There's something I need to ask you. I know this is strange timing and I should've done this a couple years ago, but I never could get up the nerve. But I'm tired of waiting and holding it in." 

I scrunched my eyebrows at him. "A couple years? What could be so important you've been trying to get up the nerve to ask me for a couple years?" 

Then it dawned on me and my eyes widened. Oh no this couldn't seriously be happening could it? Not Dave. Oh please don't let it be what I think it is.

"Brenley we've been working together for four years and I've never met anyone that tries to go out of her way to do a good job like you. You take pride in your work and you love to make people smile. You always make me smile," he said, stepping away from the chair and taking a step towards me. 

I was standing there frozen, feeling like the world was moving in slow motion and that this couldn't really be happening. 

"Brenley I always love hanging out with you and I've seen the way you are with Ellie and your Dad. You're so sweet and thoughtful and caring, and that's exactly what I'm looking for."

He looked down and said, "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I really like you Brenley. I have for a long time and I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I had to tell you." 

I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I tried to put together a coherent thought. My mind was seriously blown right now. I didn't see this coming in a million years. 

I took a deep breath in and let it out, pacing back and forth. I stopped and looked at him, trying to figure out how to let him down easy and not hurt his feelings. He really was a great guy and one of the best friends I'd ever had and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt him.

"Dave. You've been such a good friend these past four years and I've felt so lucky to work with someone I get along so well with that always makes me laugh and smile. Besides Ellie you're my other best friend," I said, looking down at the washcloth in my hands. 

I lifted my eyes and looked into his, building up the nerve to say what needed to be said. "You're a really great guy. You are. I just, ummmmm, I don't have those kinds of feelings for you. But I really hope that we can stay friends because your friendship means a lot to me." 

He stood there processing my words and I could see a flash of hurt and embarrassment cross his face. He turned, grabbing onto the chair again to steady himself, thinking and letting out an exhale before turning back to me. 

He hesitated, thinking for a second before asking, "This isn't about Dylan Chase is it? Ever since you came back you've been acting super weird. What happened with you and him?"

I took a deep breath in and let it out before saying, "We started off as friends ........... but then it became more." 

Dave scoffed and let out a laugh. 

"You can't be that naive," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Rich, famous guys like him don't go for a girl from Iowa that no one's ever heard of."

As much as his words hurt, I couldn't help but feel like they were true. Maybe I was just fooling myself to think he really had feelings for me. Maybe he was just a really good actor. After all, I hadn't heard from him since I'd been home. I looked down as my eyes started filling with tears.

I sniffled and wiped my eyes and Dave looked at me and said, "You can go home, I'll ummm. I'll finish the mopping. I'll see you tomorrow." 

"Ok," I said weakly, feeling my bottom lip trembling as a tear ran down my cheek. I took off my apron and headed outside, waiting until I got into my car with the door shut before I cupped my face in my hands and let out the tears I had been holding back.

I gave a customer his change with a forced smile and then started wiping the counter off with an exhale. I wondered how long it was gonna take for me to get over this and feel normal again? Ever since my talk with Dave I had been trying to act like I was normal but I wasn't, I was just a little better about hiding it.

The door dinged, pulling me from my thoughts and a group of college students walked in and I got to work taking their orders. 

One of the guys looked at me and said, "Hi, what's your name?" 

He was tall and handsome with straight brown hair and blue eyes and he was wearing a basketball jersey with Morningside College written on the front. He was with a group of three other guys that were wearing uniforms too.

"I'm Brenley. What can I get for you?" I asked, as friendly as I could muster.

"Your number," he said, and his friends erupted in laughter and started patting his back and smacking his arm. 

I laughed. "Sorry," I said, turning around and pointing at the chalk menu hanging above our heads. "I don't see my number on the menu. What else can I get for you?" 

"How about a date? You could come watch my game tonight? I promise I'm really good." 

"If you were really good you wouldn't be playing basketball for a community college." 

His friends busted out laughing again and one of his friends smacked his back and said, "She got you bro. It's true." 

I saw him start to smile and he said, "Wow. You're feisty. You're not afraid to call me out. I like that." 

"So are you going to order some coffee or what?" I asked impatiently. 

"Yeah," he smiled. "I'll take a grande iced caramel macchiato with a double shot of espresso." 

"See that wasn't so hard was it?" I asked as I got to work making their drinks. He stood there and watched me make it and I could feel his eyes on me. 

Dave slid over next to me and whispered, "Hey. I just want you to know there's no hard feelings for you turning me down the other day. I was disappointed but I get it. You don't like me as more than a friend and I'm fine with that, but I hate seeing you so miserable. Maybe you should go out with that guy. I bet it would help you get over he who shall not be named." 

I laughed. "He's not Voldemort Dave," 

"Yeah but I think that nickname fits him. It has a ring to it," he laughed. "Just think about it okay?" 

The thought of going out with somebody else made me feel empty and sad because no one could compare to Dylan and I knew what would happen. Being with someone else would just make me miss him even more. 

"I can't. Not yet," I sighed. "I think I just need to focus on school and work right now."

I turned around and handed the guy his coffee and I watched him grab one of our business cards out of the holder and he flipped it over, scribbling something on the back. 

"Here's my number in case you change your mind," he said, handing me the business card and a ten dollar bill. "Keep the change," he said with a flirty smile and a wink, before walking over to join his friends by the fire. 

I looked down at the business card with his phone number scrawled on it in my hands and Dave walked up beside me and looked down at it. 

"Call him. Trust me. There's nothing better to get you over the last than the next," he said before walking away.