"Ella if you are done ogling at the man, could you please focus on the work at hand?"

I tear my gaze away from the window booth and lower my head hiding the redness that creeps up my face. Balancing the cups and dishes on my tray I turn to Martha and give her an apologetic smile.

I really need to get a grip on myself.

With one last resolution to not look in that direction anymore, I head into the kitchen and place the empty cups in the sink.

Jacob watches me across the room and tries to hide a smirk spreading on his face. I suddenly feel too warm.

"Don't look at me like that," I remark and turn around avoiding his stare.

"You look like a child who won the lucky draw" his voice has traces of amusement and mirth.

"Who wouldn't in my position," I mutter to myself. I'm itching to go out again and watch him from behind the counter as he sips on his tea and eats toast. But I know I shouldn't.

"Remind me again why you like him so much?" Jacob asks and I hear the sizzling of oil as he dumps vegetables into the pan. I turn around narrowing my eyes at him and pick up the orders which are ready to serve.

"Shut up," I mumble and head out the kitchen door. My heart is beating at a slightly faster pace and my hands feel jittery.

Should I take a five minute break?

I place the tray on the counter and look out for Martha. I wipe my damp hands on the apron tucked to my jeans, like a magnet my eyes draw to him. My inner self is screaming with joy and I feel like running up to him and hugging him until I smell like him and pass out in his arms from unbound happiness.

I supress the smile threatening to spill on my face and watch as he animatedly talks to my cousin, Sean, most probably about the last nights game.

It's been ages since I last saw his handsome face and now that he is finally here on the same table looking relaxed, I feel like a piece of my heart has been returned.

Mark Harper has been the centre of my world ever since I was fifteen. I've seen him in his awkward teenage years, I've seen his lanky figure trudging to and fro from school, I've seen him laugh with his mates, get angry and pick fights. Basically in all these years I've seen him in his most raw form and I've liked him in all of them.

Now he has become a gym freak and muscled up gaining all female attention. But I've known him since a long time and I've liked him all along.

He doesn't know this though and I don't think he ever will.

He is my best friend Wendy's elder brother and my cousin Sean's best friend. He's in college right now pursuing a degree in finance and my reason for existence is that he is only an hour drive away. Most of the time he's at his home although he's got a room in the dorms not that I'm complaining.

I cast the wall clock a glance, it displays 6:03 pm. Sean and Mark will push off in another fifteen minutes because they are never late for their gym schedule.

I grab the plate of club sandwiches before my other coworker can and begin walking towards their table.

My heart is beating loudly inside my chest and a volley of sweet memories start playing in my head. All those evenings when the three of us would sit and talk about the most insignificant things. Our laughs echoing in the cafe as we teased one another across the table.

The cafe is very busy right now so I can't even sit for a few minutes with the both of them and ask how Mark has been doing so I grip the tray tighter and turn onto the booth next to theirs. A young couple sits there, hands interwined above the table.

I place their dishes and smile and quickly move onto the booth I've being dying to get at. Sean seems busy in the automobile catalogue in front of him. Mark seems laid back sipping his tea as though it's too hot.

I place a hand on Sean's shoulder and his head whips up. "Hello, brother" I say coolly.

He relaxes a bit, leaning behind. "Go work, Ella. I don't pay you for chatting with customers"

His order is received with an eye roll be me. Yes, this cafe is owned by my cousin, Sean. He's been into business since a long time and he bought this around three years ago as a startup.

"You pay me so well I'm sure I'll be able to afford that dress I wanted after seven months of work here" I say and turn towards the boy who has all the strings to my heart.

"Hey, Mark," my voice is a little breathless and there's warmth spreading in my stomach as I gaze down at him. His hair is combed back revealing his shining forehead and his white tee is a little too low showing his chest. His chest that is so well defined.

I need to look away.

Now.

But then he lifts his head meeting my gaze. A single nod is all his reaction.

"College's been keeping you busy, I see," I comment watching as he picks at leftovers in his plate. As I'm expecting some sort of reply from him, his phone starts ringing. He looks at the screen and with lightening speed reaches out for it and picks it up.

"Yes, yes, I'm on my way" he says into the phone and gets up, collecting his things. He moves around me walking towards the exit. I feel a tinge of uncomfort wash over me and I look at him.

He continues walking without looking back and I feel a pinch at my heart.

Guess, I'm not worth acknowledging.

Suddenly, he stops and turns around but the hope in my heart breaks when he calls out Sean's name telling him to meet him later that night. All the while never looking in my direction.

I let out a shaky breath when he again turns around and walks out the cafe. Sean resumes going through the catalogue and I stand there feeling a knife lodged in my chest. A sinking feeling made my eyes prick and I took my bottom lip inside my mouth, biting it.

I pick up the empty plate and turn around to get back at doing my job. At the far end, leaning against the kitchen door Jacob watches me intensely.

His eyes seem to be communicating with me telling me facts I've known since a long time. It's close to sympathy and pity. I just lower my head and walk away.