It's finally Friday, which means only one thing. Well, two actually. It's my last day of work for the week, and today is also Nate's housewarming party. I'm honestly more excited about work than I am Nate's party. His party is really just an excuse to drink, which I have nothing against, other than the fact that I have to be there as Mia kindly reminded me all week.

I sigh out loud, dreading Nate's so-called housewarming party and climb out of bed, knowing that I have a long day ahead of me, which starts as usual with my morning routine before work.

I get ready quick, not bothering to put on makeup, and make my way to the kitchen before Mia with time to spare.

I scour our kitchen cabinets for something to eat and when I find a cup of instant oatmeal, I feel like I've hit the jackpot. It's easy to make and good enough to eat. I shove the oatmeal in the microwave after adding milk to it and when the microwave beeps a few minutes later, I am relieved. I am starving.

I grab my cup of oatmeal along with a disposable spoon and make my way out the front door in search of some much needed fresh air. I look around, making sure that none of my neighbors are in the vicinity, which isn't very neighborly of me, but I really don't feel like keeping up a conversation with anyone this early in the morning.

When I see the coast is clear, I make my way to what I like to refer as our "faux park" and take a seat at the nearest empty picnic table. I quickly dig into my oatmeal and manage to savor my first bite when I hear footsteps squishing the freshly watered grass behind me. I hope whoever it is just keeps walking and leaves me be so I can enjoy my breakfast.

"Mind if I join you?" I hear a familiar voice ask and sigh. Clearly, luck is not on my side today. I look up to find Nate's light blue eyes looking down at me.

"It's a free country, isn't it?" I retort and regret it the moment I say it. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that," I apologize and gesture for him to take a seat.

"You're not much of a morning person, are you?" he asks amused as he sits down across from me and I shake my head.

"Nope, I'm definitely not," I admit, knowing there's no point in lying about it.

"I can tell," he responds with a grin. "And I know just what you need for your morning grumpiness."

"And what would that be?" I asked curiously, wondering what brilliant idea he's come up with.

"A fresh cup of coffee."

"Coffee? Really? That's your brilliant solution?"

"Yup, just plain old coffee," he responds with a big smile and offers me a large cup of coffee. I look down at what he has in front of him and see a small bottle of orange juice and a muffin, and realize immediately that he bought the coffee for himself, but for whatever reason, he's now offering it to me.

"I really appreciate your offer, but I just can't accept it," I tell him honestly, and push the cup back towards him.

"Please accept it. Consider it a peace offering if you must."

"Peace offering?"

"Yeah, you know since we got off on the wrong foot and all."

"I'm guessing you're referring to what happened the other day." He nods. "Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm over it now," I tell him honestly and put another spoonful of oatmeal in my mouth.

"Well if you're over it then that means you can accept the coffee."

"Nope. It's yours, so drink it."

"I don't even like coffee. I brought it for you," he tells me with a grin, but I have a hard time believing that he'd do something like that for me.

"I don't believe you," I tell him bluntly.

"Fine. I'll just throw it away since you don't want it." He stands up and walks to the nearest trashcan and right before he can throw it away I stand up from where I am sitting and yell at him to stop.

"Wait! Please don't throw it away. I'll drink it," I tell him, feeling bad for having turned it down in the first place. Especially since he's making an effort to be nice to me, which not many people do, but for some reason, he's being extra nice to me. Could it be that he has ulterior motives? Maybe but I really don't think he does. I don't have anything that he'd want, but for whatever reason, he's being oddly nice to me.

"Here you go," he tells me with a sly grin as he walks back to the table and hands me the large cup of coffee.

"Thanks." I reach out to take the cup from his hands and accidentally make contact with his fingertips, which sends a strange electric current through my hand. My immediate instinct is to pull away, but something tells me to keep it there, so I do and maintain eye contact the whole time. He keeps his hand there for a few seconds longer than necessary, and eventually, he let's go before taking his seat across from me.

"You're quite good at getting what you want," I comment before taking a sip from the warm cup of coffee that is heaven in a cup.

"I try," he responds with a mischievous grin that wreaks havoc.

I put my coffee down and go back to eating my oatmeal while studying his face that's focused on me. "Take a picture, it'll last longer," I tell him after I swallow another spoonful of oatmeal.

"I would but then you'd get mad at me just like you did the other day," he retorts before taking a bite out of his muffin.

"Hey, that's your fault for taking pictures of strangers," I exclaim.

"I'm sorry. I'll ask for permission next time," he promises.

"Either way, I'm not really fond of people taking pictures of me," I admit with a shrug.

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I just don't like how I look in pictures."

"But you're beautiful."

"And you're funny," I retort with a dry laugh and eat the last of my oatmeal while avoiding all eye contact with him.

"I think it's sad when girls like you don't realize just how beautiful they are."

"And I think it's annoying just how much people lie to my face about my supposed beauty. I am not beautiful, so stop insisting that I am," I respond angrily before disposing of my trash. I walk back to the table and grab my cup of coffee. "Look, I really appreciate the cup of coffee and all, but there's no need to lie. I'm just your neighbor and that's all we'll ever be, so please keep the unnecessary comments to yourself. I don't need to hear any more lies than I already do."

"I didn't lie," he says, standing up. "When I say you're beautiful, I mean it, so even if it angers you to hear it, you need to know you are beautiful, and I hope for your sake you realize it someday."

"That's bullshit and you know it."

"Think what you want but I meant every word I said," he responds with obvious frustration and I don't blame him. I can be very stubborn when I want.

"I have to go," I lie. What I need is to get away from him and fast.

"Will I at least see you at my party tonight?"

"Maybe," I tell him with a non-committal shrug and make my way back to my apartment where Mia is just coming out the front door.

"Ready?" she asks me and I nod.

"Ready as I've ever been," I respond with a half-smile just as her eyes focus on something behind me.

"Hey, Nate!" Mia says a little too enthusiastically.

"I'll get my stuff and warm up the car," I tell her before heading inside our apartment, without giving her or Nate a second glance.

I quickly grab my purse and stuff my phone and everything I need inside it before heading back outside to find Nate and Mia talking like the best of friends. I roll my eyes at the sight they make and walk around them, refusing to make small talk.

I walk to my car and climb into the driver seat, knowing that sooner or later Mia will come along, especially since we have a job we have to get to. I put the key in the ignition and warm up my car while I wait for her to finish up her conversation with Nate.

Five minutes later the passenger door opens and Mia peeks in. "Please don't hate me," she pleads, bringing a smile to my face.

"I don't. Just hurry up. We don't want to be late."

She quickly gets in the passenger seat and buckles up. I get ready to drive away when I hear a knock on my window. I curse under my breath before looking over to see none other than Nate hunched over with a big dopey smile on his face. I lower the passenger window and wait for him to break the silence.

"I just wanted to remind you both about the party tonight."

Like I could forget with how much Mia has been talking about it.

"Don't worry, we'll be there," Mia responds before I even have a chance to speak up.

"Speak for yourself," I mutter and Mia elbows me not so discreetly. I glare at her, and she just glares right back.

"Well I guess I'll see you two tonight then," Nate says with a grin and taps the roof of my car before walking away, leaving us alone. I watch his retreating form and wish so hard I could burn a hole through his shirt. He purposely set me up so Mia would force me to go to his dumb housewarming party.

"Let's go before we're late," Mia practically yells, pulling me out of my stupor.

"Now you worry?"

"I always do."

"You weren't all that worried when you were talking to Nate," I remind her.

"Yeah well, he's hot."

"Of course you'd say that."

"You know he's attractive no matter how much you pretend to hate him."

"Oh shut up," I respond and drive out of our complex.

"You can get mad all you want, but I can tell you like him."

"I do not."

"You do too."

"Do not!" I say frustrated.

"Do too!"

"I do not like him and even if I did, he would never like someone like me," I retort, hating how bitter my words taste on my tongue.

"Says who?"

"Guys who are out of my league. Society. Everyone," I respond, feeling annoyed. I know this has nothing to do with her but I can't help but feel agitated at the thought.

"That's not true," she tells me and I sigh.

"It is and you know it. Most guys do not like plus-sized women like me."

"Well screw them. You are beautiful inside and out."

"Why does everyone feel the need to tell me I'm beautiful?" I say frustrated. "I am not beautiful. I am average."

"Who is everyone?" she asks curiously putting a stop to my pity party.

"You, my parents, relatives, friends and now even Nate."

"Nate?" she asks surprised, immediately perking up at that admission.

"Yes, Nate!"

"What? That's great!" Mia exclaims excitedly.

"I thought you'd be mad."

"What? Why?"

"Because it's obvious you've taken a liking to him."

"I like lots of guys, but it doesn't mean anything. I can admit he's attractive, and I have no problem flirting with guys like him, but if he likes you and you like him back, I won't flirt with him anymore. I will even help you win him over."

"I appreciate the offer, but that's not necessary."

"Let me help you," she pleads and I shake my head.

"No."

"Please!" Mia pleads with puppy dog eyes.

"I'll think about it," I respond, biting my lip and mulling it over.

"Yay!" Mia exclaims a little too excitedly.

"I didn't say yes."

"But you also didn't say no," Mia points out with a wink and thankfully lets the subject drop.

We finally arrive in the parking lot of our workplace, and Mia perks up all over again. "Let's get this shift over with, so we can go home, get ready and party all night long," Mia exclaims excitedly. I wish I felt as enthusiastic as she did but if anything, I feel nervous.

"Let's," I say with a sigh, dreading Nate's housewarming party.

I have no idea what's going to happen tonight, but at this rate anything is possible. Especially with someone as persistent as Nate. He went out of his way to not only get me coffee but also to get me to come to his party. He even went as far as using Mia as a pawn to get me to go, because he knew full well that she would force me to show up at his party and show up I would. I wasn't about to back out now, but I kind of wish I could because with Mia's intervention and Nate's persistence anything could happen. And I mean anything.

I just hope for my sake and his, that he doesn't try anything, because I really don't know what I would do if he came on to me. I doubt he would, but I'm not naive and know he could try something. That more than anything scares me.

I know deep down that I could easily fall for a guy like him if given the chance. But a part of me doesn't want that, because I know with a guy like him, I could wind up hurt. And he is the last person I want to break my heart.

Tonight I just have to keep my distance from Nate no matter what it takes.