A/N: From here you'll see their relationship develop :) Dedicated to pearlxx because SHE MADE ME TWO BEAUTIFUL COVERS THAT I LOVE! One of them is to the side, isn't it lovely? :)

Chapter 10: Sour as a Warhead (Ben)

I don't think I'd like it - I really didn't. It wasn't only because I'm a dickhead, but I just don't like sweets. But Lottie was staring at me with stars in her eyes and I could hear Clark's obnoxious laughter coming from behind me, so I had to do it.

When I took a bite, I was shocked. It was like biting into a creamy, fluffy cloud. The sweetness came mostly from the powdered sugar on top - just the right amount for someone like me that didn't do sugar. I couldn't stop the lazy smile that stretched across my face, because Lottie knew what I liked before even I did.

Once I finished the entire thing, I looked up and immediately wished I hadn't. She was staring at me, and if I thought her happiness had reached its limit when I said I'd eat the damn thing, I was dead wrong.

I almost wanted to cover my eyes, because it seemed like the way she smiled should be private, shown only to the most special people. It made me a little angry, but I wasn't sure why. But this was Lottie we were talking about - I had no idea where her Happy Metre let off. "You liked it?" Her voice went up about three octaves from her excitement. I would've winced, except with Lottie, it just cute.

Oh god, I was getting soft.

My eyes narrowed as she began bouncing again. "It's not bad," I said. Her smile didn't dim at all, and the slight annoyance I felt became apparent in the scowl on my face. I wondered if she could be serious.

"Good," she replied simply. Her green eyes twinkled and two bright red spots appeared high on her cheeks. She looked like a woman who would give you the world on a platter if it would make you happy.

Without another word, she gathered the remaining puffs, arranging them neatly in the display thing that lay below the front counter.

I sighed and walked over to Clark, collapsing on the chair across from him. He grinned creepily at me, and with the sugar coating his chin, I felt the need to run away. "What?" I said.

He shook his head and stared at Lottie weirdly until she straightened, tossed us a polite smile, and disappeared into the back room. "I saw that!" he sang obnoxiously, as soon as she was out of earshot.

"What?" I pressed, my expression darkening.

"It's funny, actually," he said, ignoring me completely. "When I see her by myself, she's sweet, but she's so calm. But the second she sees you, she gets super excited. Care to explain?"

I hated that all-knowing smirk he wore. The words he spoke were untrue. It was impossible. "I can't take you seriously when you look like you tripped and fell on a line of cocaine," I said.

Clark rolled his eyes and dusted off his chin. "I think she fancies you."

I couldn't answer straight away, because my brain was shouting obscenities at my heart for finding the idea of Lottie liking me satisfying. "Don't talk to me," I told Clark angrily. She didn't fancy me. I was a dick and she was the opposite of that.

"I thought you wanted her," I said, annoyed. "Why do you have to push me on this?"

"I do like her." Did I just want to punch my best friend? "But not romantically. In a platonic way." And now the urge was gone.

I nodded absentmindedly to Clark, wondering where the relief was coming from. I thought back to Lottie and her beaming smile, and felt myself get annoyed again for absolutely no reason. Her smile made me so mad that my breathing got shorter and heavier, and made me feel warm.

"Why do I get so mad at her?" I blurted out. If there was one thing I hated, it was talking feelings. That shit made me feel sort of filthy.

Clark leant forward and stared at me gleefully. "You're jealous," he stated matter-of-factly. "You're absolutely jealous!"

I grimaced. "Of what?"

He grinned, as though he was thoroughly enjoying psycho-analysing me. "Charlie smiles at anyone she sees - you're annoyed because they're not rare smiles, so it's not all that special when you get one."

I blinked, slightly short of completely shocked. "When did you become such an expert?"

"I'm going for my degree in Psychology, remember? Why don't you give her a chance?"

I stared at the table and scowled because I didn't want to be discussing this. I didn't like feelings. "I think I'm more worried about her not giving me a chance."

"You shouldn't worry about what she'll think of your family, dude. And, sure, she smiles at everybody, but the difference is she smiles at you like she puts you up on a pedestal."

I couldn't for the life of me understand why. I'd been a bastard to her this whole time - was she masochistic or something? They was no way she could brush off my horrid words each and every time. Right then, Lottie returned from the back room, and so we immediately shut our mouths and looked at her. She seemed to have forgotten we were there, and was cheerfully humming a little tune.

I stayed quiet and just watched her. She was really quite pretty, and her face always had a friendly, approachable look about it. I always thought that she was all smiles and that there was nothing else there, but as I watched, I noticed how her mouth puckered in worry, or how her eyebrows furrowed as though she was upset.

For some reason, I felt my chest ache and wondered what was going on with me. I barely knew the girl, so why was I feeling so protective? Like whoever bothered her needed to come answer to me.

Oh Christ. This couldn't be happening. That satisfied feeling I got from the fact that maybe Lottie looked at me differently had to be something else. Christ. No. This was so new to me, and I didn't like it. I didn't want to be all caught up over some girl, but at the same time, I wanted her to see me. Not Ben the Bumface, but Ben...just Ben.

"Go ask her to have coffee with you," Clark whispered to me, and I looked at him as though he was stupid.

"No," I replied firmly. She was still annoying, and I had no desire to see her when she was all bubbly over caffeine.

"Do it," he ordered.

I shook my head stubbornly. "I don't want to," I said.

"Why not?"

"I barely know her."

He scoffed quietly. "That's what dates are for, you idiot. You get to know each other."

"I don't want to go on a date with her!"

"Did I ask you what you wanted to do?"

"You can't order me around."

"Do it or I'll do it for you."

My eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."

There was that creepy smile again. "Try me."

I didn't want to try him, so I abruptly got out of my seat and walked over to the counter, trying to act as casual as possible.

Lottie was currently drying off a metal bowl, so I waited until she was done and then cleared my throat. She almost fell over in surprise, but when she saw me, a smile enveloped her face. My words died in my throat at the sight. Was this really different than the way she smiled at other people? Because it really looked the exact same to me.

"Hey Benny," she chirped. Why did I let her call me that again? "I thought you left already!"

"We were going to, but Ben had something to ask you, Charlie," Clark said mischievously. I shot him a glare, but he just winked and made a shooing motion.

"Is there anything you want?" she asked, and I seriously couldn't speak because of the way she sounded. It was almost unreal how much friendliness she could project into her words.

I cleared my throat again. "When's your break?"

She looked confused and glanced at the clock. Her expression brightened. "It's actually in five minutes!"

I nodded, and tried to find the words to say. Why was I doing this again? "Come have coffee with me," I blurted. I heard Clark's muffled laughter behind me and discreetly flipped him off without turning around.

"Pardon?" Lottie asked, cocking her head. Normally, I would think she was just teasing me to get me to say it again, but this was Lottie, not some other girl. She wasn't sly or flirtatious at all.

"Would you like to have coffee with me?" I repeated, a little calmer, but still quite nervous.

Lottie seemed to process my words, and when she understood, her expression seemed somewhat reserved. "Are you sure?"

It kind of bit me in the ass when she said that, because that meant she wasn't used to me not being rude, and so she wasn't sure whether I was fucking with her or not. Honestly, that made me kind of annoyed at myself. "I'm sure," I said, trying not to sound too dismissive like I usually did.

She bit her lip, and I had to force myself to look at the crease in between her eyebrows. "Then I'd love to," she said, smiling this warm smile that made my stomach feel like it was overflowing with acid.

"Okay," I said awkwardly. "I guess I'll just...wait for you to be done."

She nodded happily. "I'll be ready in a couple minutes!"

I returned her nod and immediately turned my back, not wanting her to see my flushed face. I was a mixture of emotions, but when I saw Clark's smug face, I mostly felt the violence coming out. Making sure Lottie wasn't looking, I smacked the back of his head. "You, sir, are an asshole," I hissed.

"You're going to thank me," he replied cheekily.

And the sad part was, I was pretty sure I would.