I stared at his young, pure face. It was smooth and innocent, childlike, yet so matured, as if his transition into puberty had been too early. His chocolaty, brown curls surrounded his bony head, and a thin smile played on his lips. A dark, defiant jaw line was placed beside his chin and his eyes were a soft brown too.
"So, um, why are you auditioning?" Orlando asked
"Er -, " But words had deserted me. "Er, well... I love to sing and dance and act, and well..." Orlando chuckled.
"Same! But I prefer to act rather than music. And I do love a bit of photography," My eyes met his and my heart skipped a beat. I laughed.
"How did you manage to do your audition well? I mean, part of it is music?!" I blurted out. He shrugged.
"I guess I just did?" We laughed loudly. "Besides, I didn't say I can't. I said, I prefer,"
"Shhh!" The woman at the desk glared at us.
"Sorry Ma'am," I bit my tongue to prevent any more laughter from escaping.
"Hey, Skye? You free afterwards?" He shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Nah, got work to go to, especially if I have to pay my school fees," His eyes widened.
"You have to pay your school fees?"
"Well, duh, who else is going to pay them?"
"Er - Your parents?" I went quiet. I didn't want to say. I couldn't say.
"Well... Erm, they want to give me a bit of responsibility?" Fair enough, it seemed like a reasonable answer. Orlando seemed to believe it too.
"Oh okay... I was going to ask you if you wanted a coffee maybe? Down in Costa?"
"I guess, why not?"
"Well you did say you had work...?"
"It can wait," I muttered firmly.

*****

"What do you want then?" Orlando asked, studying the menu intently.
"Oh, um... A hot chocolate, would be great actually. What do you want? I'll go and pay,"
"No, I'll pay. I'm supposed to be offering you something actually,"
"No, it's fine. I will," Orlando stood up so suddenly, his chair nearly fell over.
"I insist I pay!" My face was shocked - but then a smile bloomed when I saw one on his too. We chuckled to ourselves.
"Go on then, Eager Beaver," Orlando got up and went over to the counter. I saw him gesticulating wildly at the menu boards, trying to think of what to get. Eventually, he came and sat down.
"So, what do you do for a living Skye?"
"Well, uh, I am a waitress... And uh, I work... Here?" Orlando's eyes opened wide.
"Oh really? Here? I mean, this place is amazing! The food and drink is great and... Yeah? I mean, I come here quite often so..." I swatted his hand.
"Really?" Now he mentions it, I have seen his face in the crowd before...
"Yeah..." he sighed, and rested his head on his hands. My friend, a college, walked over with our beverages.
"Oooh! Fancy meeting you here, Skye,"
"Annie, this is Orlando. Orlando, meet Annie," Orlando took Annie's hand and shook it.
"Hi Annie,"
"Hi Orlando. Listen, Skye, why aren't you working?"
"I had the auditions today, remember?" She nodded, before setting our drinks down. Orlando took his latte and I picked up my hot chocolate. I took a sip of the warm, chocolaty milk and breathed out. It reminded me of his eyes...
Orlando looked up at me expectantly.
"Er - Can I ask you something?" I put down my mug. Orlando shuffled in his seat a little and looked down at the floor.
"Yeah, sure,"
"It's, well... um..."
"Do you want anything else? Like another drink or something?" He laughed.
"No, actually, I wanted your phone number. But another latte would be great,"
"Sure," Orlando passed me his phone and I entered my name in, with a number.
"Thanks," He smiled.
"Here," I passed him my phone and he entered his number in too.
"So I'd better be getting home," He stood up slowly and held out his hand and I grasped it. It was clammy with nerves.
"It was nice to meet you, Mr Bloom," I nodded graciously.
"You too. See you around maybe?" I waved, as the shop bell tinkled. I watched his face disappear in the distance, down the road. I sighed, and flopped back down on my chair again. "Gosh, he was a cutie," I heard a familiar voice. Annie. I smiled.
"Where did you meet?"
'At the auditions. We just got talking,"
"Well lucky you! I wish I was you at the moment,"
"Darling, jealously is a sin," We burst out laughing at my impression of Annie's mum.
"Well, I guess I'd better be home too," I sighed.
"Okay, I'll see you here tomorrow?"
"Yeah sure,"I picked up my phone off the counter and unlocked it. Orlando's contact info was still open. I clicked the 'Edit' button at the top. Where Orlando's name was typed, I added an extra detail...

I feel that nobody is even reading this. I understand that the first chapters will be boring but I will try to make them as exciting and engaging as possible!!

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