FORGET YOU LAUREN

CHAPTER 14

Track 10: Style (3:59)
Camila POV
There were a few things I always longed for to have my first real date on campus, a specific "shit I definitely need" list that was inspired by all my favourite love stories. I knew most things by heart, but the moment I was invited, I made sure to remove my list and reread the first three.
***
Shits I definitely need on my first real date:
(Fuck what Lauren said about it being unreal. She doesn't know anything).
***
1. A conversation I never want to end (preferably one about books, but I'll settle for one about art, our dreams or things we like to do).
2. A great place that I will always remember. Bonus point if this location is under the stars, somewhere along a private beach or in a five-star restaurant.
3. A burning kiss of soul that seals the night and leaves my mind spinning with thoughts about infinite possibilities. (Also, butterflies. There needs to be some damn butterflies).
***
So far tonight, my list looked unreal as shit, and I was scoring zero.
Brett Gallagher was definitely attractive as hell, and after talking on the phone with him every night this week and laughing at all the things we had in common, I was expecting butterflies or sparks when he picked me up in the car.
It had been an hour and I was still waiting.

I didn't feel anything when he smiled and complimented me, and I was still trying to figure out why the hell he thought a pizza bar was the perfect place for a date. Not only that, but he was dressed in sweats and a T-shirt, as if he'd rolled out of bed seconds before picking me up.

I can't believe I wasted half of my day getting ready for this...

"I kind of feel like I should've dressed up more for you," Brett said, smiling. "You look great, by the way."

"Thanks." I forced a smile. "Are we just getting a bite to eat here and then heading out for the rest of the date?"

He laughed. "No, this is the date. I personally think its best if we get to know each other in a place like this since this is more affordable for me." He smiled and winked at me. "You're not a gold-digger, are you?"

I held back a sigh and smoothed my hands over my grey dress. "Not at all."

"What can I get you two tonight?" The waiter stepped in front of our table. "We have four new pizza combos and three specialty drinks if you're interested."

"We'll have the samples," Brett answered before I could. "With water. Large cups of water."

The waiter rolled his eyes and quickly returned with our water and a box of miniature pizza slices.

"I don't know why people come here and pay for their pizza," he said. "The samples are free, and you can get full with two orders of those. Well, we'll probably need three since we're sharing, but they don't limit the samples at all."

He pulled out five miniature slices for himself and slid the box toward me.

There was only one slice left.

"So, in the car, you were telling me something about loving to draw," he said. "Are you an Art major?"

"Yeah, I've always wanted to be an artist."

"Sounds cool."

I waited for him to elaborate, to say or ask me something else, but it never came. Instead, he devoured his first few slices—smacking loudly as he swallowed them.

"Do you want to eat the pizza outside on their patio?" I suggested, wanting to salvage this night. "I think our conversation may be better out there."

"It will be better when we come back to my house to watch Netflix," he said, picking up the phone. "Let me find something to set the mood before we get there. We can even vote for him."
"Okay..." I resisted the desire to roll my eyes. "Will you excuse me for a second? I need to run to the bathroom."
"No problem. It's in the back, on the left."
I got up and walked down the hall, closing myself in the first stall. For this "meeting", I had my hair stuck in curls by a Main Street salon, wearing manicure and pedicure and buying new naked stilettos to complement my grey thigh-length dress.
I debated about texting Lauren, asking if she thought I should leave, but I didn't want to be too comfortable with our temporary friendship. I sent a message to Dinah.
Me: Hey... I'm on a date now and I need some advice.
Dinah: Yes, you should make him use a condom.
I: It's not that... We should go on a date, and we are... But he brought me to a diner...
Dinah: Which diner?
Me: O'Malleys. The one with free samples... Is that normal?
Dinah: Depends. He may be between wages and can take her to a real date next time. It's just a hindrance if he's a cheap idiot (just gets the samples) and mentions going back to his house to watch Netflix.
Me: He mentioned going back to his house to watch Netflix.
Dinah: Get out of there. Now. (PS - That guy, Ryan, with whom you have coffee between your art classes seems more of your kind... Just date him for a while).
I left the booth and looked at myself one last time before leaving the bathroom. When I opened the door, Brett was standing in the hallway, looking wide-eyed and panicked.
"Um, Brett?" I asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, I need you to stay there for a while." He looked over his shoulder. "Until I tell you it's okay to leave."
"Sorry, what?"
"Stay in the bathroom, Camila". He signalled me to go back inside. "I need you to get in there for a second. I don't want my ex to know you're with me here."
I blinked. "You said you were single."
"We're taking a break," he said, shaking his head. "We still go out from time to time, but we haven't officially given the green light to other people yet."
"So why did you ask me out?"
"Serially?" He looked at me from top to bottom. "Why do you think?"
A waiter passed us and he looked over his shoulder again.
"Shit..." He put his hands on my shoulders, pushing me into the bathroom. So he stuck his head through the door. "Stay here!"
What the fuck?
I opened the door a little, debating how the hell I should handle it and saw him locking his lips with a blonde on our desk. She smiled against his mouth, and he squeezed her ass.
He ran his fingers through her hair, and I felt warm. I felt like I wanted to leave the room and tell him the size of an asshole he was for having my hopes this week. I took a deep breath and prepared to yell at him for screwing things up, but suddenly I heard Lauren's voice in my head.
"You're so in love with the idea of being in love that you'll fall in love with anyone..."
I sighed and saw how Brett and his "time" kissed for a few more minutes. When he finally walked away from her, she went outside the bar.
I crossed my arms, waiting for him to show up and apologize, but he didn't. He didn't look at me.
Annoyed, I left the bathroom and walked to his desk, just when his girlfriend came back. I took my water and had a long sip. "Thank you so much for tonight's meeting, Brett. I had a great time." I looked at his girlfriend. "He told me he was single."
I walked away, not staying to see the result.
I went straight to the bar next door, ordering four shots and knocking them down one after the other. I had a sip of Long Island iced tea, had a huge margarita and finished with some Amaretto Sour drinks before the bartender told me I should wait a while to order anything else.
Not wanting to wait, I got up and left. Luckily, a slight drizzle was falling. As always seemed to happen in my shitty days.
No matter, I went towards The Umbrellas.
"I thought you were supposed to be on a date tonight, Camila," a familiar voice said, making me look at my left.