"That was fun, I'm happy you decided to hang out for a while." Nate said as we walked to my mom's parked car on the street. We had already finished at the diner and were back at his apartment building. Now it was time for me to get back to Oceanside for my date with Matt.
"Yeah, it really was." I dug my hand inside my bag and fumbled around for my keys. "We should do it again." My eyes froze a second after the words had left my mouth and I looked up at him. "Um, I mean— "
"As friends, I know." Nate chuckled and watched me continue to dig until the clinking of keys was heard.
"Right, friends." I repeated, and the word 'friends' didn't roll off my tongue so much as shuffle awkwardly off of it.
Nate had told me he was okay with this, so why was it so hard to say myself? Maybe because I didn't know how to say goodbye in this situation. How do you say goodbye to someone you had an amazing night with and then put them in the friend zone the morning after? Well, there wasn't really a good way.
He had taken me to the diner just for a meal before I left, but somehow this still felt like the end of a date where the girl stalls with her keys and the guy makes a move, but that wasn't happening and I was supposed to be thinking about my date with Matt. Or could I not find my keys on purpose? I huffed and told myself to bury the thought of that being a possibility. I was not stalling on purpose.
I shoved the keys in the door so that I didn't have to look at him and be tempted to stay longer, but I quietly wondered if he would hug me before I left. A tinge of disappointment ran through my veins when I got in the car and he didn't stop me. Maybe I wanted him to hug me goodbye as an excuse to touch him...maybe.
I sighed out and slid down my window, half-heartedly smiling as Nate leaned down to my level and rested his large hands on the window frame.
"I'll see you at school, Lia." His eyes sparkled with a smile and he gave the car two pats before stepping back onto the sidewalk.
"Yeah, I'll see you." I looked back at him and rolled the window up again, trying to suppress the bittersweet heaviness that sat deep in my chest.
My eyes involuntarily glanced up to the rear-view mirror when the car started moving, and I watched his tall figure become smaller and smaller as I drove away.
* * *
I couldn't deny that I was stressed out for my date, I was also excited, but just worried that my stupid brain would slip up and I would somehow spill what happened last night. No matter how much I told myself not to worry, there was still a nervous energy in the pit of my stomach that I couldn't control. And let's not forget the guilt too, I didn't cheat on Matt, but I was still going to hide this to save myself the risk of losing him. I had to focus on him and get my love life back on track.
I stepped out of the steamy shower and wiped the foggy bathroom mirror, looking back at myself and sighing at my appearance. I finally felt clean and refreshed since waking up with a hangover this morning, but I still had faint bags under my eyes that revealed my tiredness. I would just have to cover them with makeup.
After I had brushed my teeth, I went back to my room and contemplated how formal I should dress for the date. Knowing Matt, I doubted we would be doing something casual for the evening. I decided on wearing a little black dress with lace trimmings, and simple black heels to match. My hair dried naturally while I got ready, and by the time I had slipped on the dress and finished my makeup, the wet locks that fell over my shoulders were now only slightly damp and full of wavy curls. I clipped some of it back and then studied myself in the full-length mirror, now seeing a much more presentable version of myself from when I woke up this morning.
It was almost like the last twenty-four hours never happened, and yet Nate still lingered in the back of my mind from the moment I had left San Diego. I feared it would take a lot more than fresh showers and pretty dresses to get him out of my thoughts.
I heard the doorbell sounding from downstairs and then my mom's voice following it a few seconds later, "Lia! Matt's here!"
I took a deep breath and smoothed out my dress, wanting to look impossibly perfect for tonight.
Here goes...
* * *
Walking down the stairs, I caught sight of Matt almost immediately as he spoke to my family with charm. He was dressed smartly in a deep blue button-down shirt, an open black blazer, along with dark pants and expensive-looking shoes. It seemed like he had emerged straight out of the pages of a men's fashion magazine, radiating the essence of everything that goes into style and wealth. My stomach did a backflip when his baby-blue eyes left my family and made contact with mine instead, lighting up as I stepped off the staircase and walked over to him.
"I knew you'd look amazing, but wow...no words." He said with a growing smile, viewing me over from head to toe. A large bouquet of pink peonies suddenly appeared from behind his back and he held them out to me. "For you, beautiful."
I blushed and took them from him with a somewhat unsteady hand, admiring the neatly packaged blossoms and the satin ribbon that tied the stems together. This was why he had asked me what my favorite flowers were yesterday, I couldn't get enough of his thoughtfulness. I beamed and drew him into a hug, wrapping my arms around his neck along with the bouquet. I loved the smell of his cologne so much; I could just stand here hugging him for the whole night and I'd be happy.
I opened my eyes and saw the staring from over his shoulder, realizing that my mom, Derek and Rob were all watching us embrace. I took that as my cue to let go of him and step back awkwardly. Mom and Derek looked absolutely ecstatic, while Rob looked as if he was thinking of ways to hurt Matt.
I remembered that he had shown dislike towards Matt at the party, but I had thought he was just drunk and being over protective. Earlier I had been worried about me spilling what happened with Nate last night, but I had never even considered Rob would be a problem. I looked directly at him and hoped that he could read my expression without me speaking any words.
Please don't freak Matt out or do something stupid. I thought in my mind and stared intensely at Rob. If you so much as mention Nate's name, I'll never forgive you!
Rob stared back at me blankly and then shifted his attention over to Matt again, openly frowning at him. My attempt at sibling telepathy had failed drastically. The best thing to do was get out of there as quickly as possible.
"Let's put these in water before you leave, sweetie." Mom said eagerly and seized the flowers from my grasp.
"What? No, I—" She started pulling me into the kitchen without a choice while my protesting trailed off, leaving Matt in open waters with Rob.
I stumbled into the kitchen and mom set the flowers on the counter, she then walked to a cabinet in search of something to put water in.
"Mom, I really don't want to leave Matt alone with Rob." I said hesitantly, straining my ears for any abnormal sounds. "I think we should just get going."
"Oh, don't be silly." Mom puffed while reaching into the cabinet and retrieved a clear glass vase. "Besides, Derick is still in there."
"Hi." Derick's voice rang from the door as he happily walked in and made his way towards the fridge.
"Or not." Mom corrected herself and filled the vase with water.
"What a gentleman you've bagged yourself, Lia!" Derick exclaimed with an armful of sandwich ingredients. I smiled in agreement while he ambled off to make his sandwich on the other side of the kitchen.
My mind imagined up tense scenarios about Rob and Matt being alone, what if Rob told him I was with another guy last night? What if he told Matt he wasn't good enough, or freaked him out with a 'big brother' talk? He would most certainly screw this up for me if I didn't get in there soon.
"Okay Mom, I need to—"
"He. Is. Perfect!" Mom said in a joyful voice as she arranged the flowers in the vase. Her words stopped my legs in their tracks, and I turned back to her in surprise. "Why did you take so long to bring him home?"
"What? It's not like I was hiding him." I stated defensively.
"Oh please, you wouldn't have even told me about him if I never pushed." She said knowingly and came back over to me. "I want you to have a great time tonight. I know you're probably tired from Rachel's party..."
She didn't even know that I had borrowed her car and driven to San Diego today. I was beyond tired.
"But this is like your first real date, so just enjoy it." Mom carried on and I listened attentively. "Matt's clearly taken with you." She said in a flirty tone.
"No. You think so?" I asked while holding back a stupid grin.
Mom nodded and opened her arms to me. "My baby's growing up! Let me take a photo before you leave!" She patted her pockets down for her phone, but I was already heading to the door in panic and dreading an excruciating parental photo op.
"Okay I really need to go now, Mom."
"Oh! Matt should be in the photo too!" I heard her voice from behind me as I hightailed it out of there.
I swiftly walked back into the living room as Rob ended his conversation with Matt, who had an alarmed expression all over his face.
Oh god, I'm too late. I thought to myself as Rob attempted to pass me.
"What did you say to him?" I whispered harshly and gripped his arm to stop him.
"What I needed to." Rob replied indifferently, glancing back at Matt who quickly avoided eye contact.
"You haven't even given him a chance, Rob." I urged him in annoyance, whatever he said obviously made Matt nervous.
Rob rolled his eyes and then animatedly put a finger to his chin. "Oh hey, how's that guy doing? What's his name again?" He tapped his finger and feigned thought, "Nat—"
"Stop talking!" I snapped in a hushed voice and blocked him from outing Nate. He chortled and yanked his other arm from my grasp.
"Have fun, sis." Rob breezed passed me into the kitchen, making my blood boil beneath my skin. I knew leaving them alone was going to be bad. I made my way to Matt who stood uncomfortably by the door.
"Sorry I took so long." I told him as he straightened himself up. "I hope my brother was civil."
"Sure, our conversation was only slightly terrifying." Matt said with a weak smile like he was half-joking about it.
"My mom is gonna come busting through the door to take photos at any second, so I suggest we leave now." I said looking back in fear.
Matt chuckled and opened the door for me. "After you, beautiful."
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A/N: Don't forget to tap the star and vote :)