Going Up | ✓

The Premiere - (16)

The Premiere.

'So I have a proposition for you.'

I smile lightly, leaning back in my seat on the sofa, tightly clutching my phone to my ear. 'Oh, really? And what would said proposition be?'

'I've been invited to a movie premiere next weekend because one of my friends is in it and I was wondering if you wanted to be my date?' Ivan suggests casually.

I hold my breath for a second, taken aback by the question. Admittedly, I didn't think he would be so keen to invite me to another event the day after the last one. 'Do you go to events all the time?' I ask instead of answering.

'No,' he denies immediately. 'The charity event wasn't necessarily unsual, but they're not that regular. I got invited to this movie premiere as a one off because, as I said, one of my friends is acting in it. Nice deflection of having to answer the question there, by the way.'

I wince. 'I wasn't.'

'Really.'

I sigh at his unimpressed tone. 'It's not like that,' I say, pulling the phone away from my ear but keeping him on speaker so I can send the girls a message in our group chat asking if I should go for it and talk to him at the same time.

'What is it like, then?' he sounds frustrated with me.

I run a hand through my hair, clamping my phone back to my ear again. 'I just... This is becoming more and more like a relationship and it's something-'

'Why is that such a bad thing?' Ivan rips through my statement harshly and I can almost feel his anger through the phone.

Because I'm holding a secret that I would be obliged to tell you if we were together.

I groan, wishing the conversation hadn't turned out like this. 'Ivan,' I murmur quietly. 'I'm sorry. It's not your fault-'

'It's not you, it's me,' he returns in a high pitched voice, clearly trying to imitate me. 'How original, Poppy,' his tone is cutting.

At that moment, my phone pings as I get a message back from Ky.

Definitely! Even if you're uncertain about going with Ivan, you're still going to a movie premiere, girl! Jump at the chance. xo

'I'm just not ready for a relationship yet, okay?' I groan. 'I'll come to the event with you, but I just... I'm trying, Ivan, okay?'

The guilt eats inside of me. It would be so easy to just blurt it out now, but I know it's not the right time. It needs to be face to face.

There's a silence. 'Okay,' Ivan finally agrees. 'But, Poppy, you know I like you. I'm going to wait.'

My breath catches in my throat. Of course, he's got frustrated at me before for not wanting to be his girlfriend, but he's never outright just told me that he likes me. 'Okay,' I murmur softly, not daring to tell him that I like him back, because that would just complicate things even more than they already are.

'Okay,' he ploughs on. 'So it's on Friday night and I was thinking you could stay over after. You know, if you want,' he adds as an afterthought, as though I wouldn't want to.

I smile lightly. 'That sounds great, Ivan,' I tell him. 'But I have one condition.'

He groans. 'Oh, dear. What is it?'

'You're not buying my outfit,' I declare. 'I'll get it.'

There's a pause. 'Why?' he whines. 'Why can't I get it for you? I had this dress that I would have loved to see you in! Can I please just get it for you.'