Ugly Secrets, Pretty Lies

Twenty-three

"I'm taking you on a date," Thomas said.

I spun around to face, startled and not expecting him to appear behind me much less ask me out on a date. "A d-date?" I said, stumbling over my words.

"A date," he confirms, nodding slightly.

I quirk an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because I like you."

He likes me. Thomas likes me. We've only know each other for 2-freaking-days! Is he mental? I voiced my thoughts. "We've only known each other for 2 days. Are you mental?"

"Whenever I'm around you, ma cherie," he says, winking.

I groaned mentally. "Don't call me that."

"Why not?"

"I'm not your sweetheart or whatever, no matter how much I like French and France"

"You understand French?" he asks, surprised.

"No, of course not!" I answered sarcastically. 

"Yeah, yeah. So let me take you on a date."

I shook my head. "No, Thomas. I'm not dating you."

"I'm not saying you have to date me. Just one date," Thomas says, sweeping his dark hair away from his eyes.

I followed his every movement without even thinking of it.

"See, you think I'm hot!" Thomas said, smiling.

I blushed. "Sure, you're hot, but no."

"I'll make you change your mind."

"How?"

"Go on the date with me and you'll see."

I suppressed a sigh. "You're not going to give up, are you?"

"Never."

"Fine. I'll go on a date with you. Where?"

"Dinner picnic and watching the sunset," he answers without hesitating.

"Sounds like you've got it all planned out," I said, smiling.

Thomas winks at me again. "Just for you."

I put a hand on his chest and pushed him, causing him to stumble just a little. "Oh, shut up," I mumbled, feeling myself blushing again. 

God, I've known this guy less than 48 hours and I'm already blushing, accepting a date with him. 

What is wrong with me? 

"So it's settled then. I'll pick you up at five sharp tonight," Thomas says, clapping his hands together.

I nodded. "Okay. See you."

"See you, Quinn." He shoots me a parting smile as he turns and started walking away.

I turned the opposite direction to walk home. I've turned down another ride with Lily and Harper. I don't know why I've been distancing myself with them lately. Guess I just wanted some peace without 2 crazy best friends with me. Okay, they're not crazy but they can be. 

"Hey, Cramoisie," Blake's voice said.

I saw him walking toward me and smiled. "Cramoisie, huh?"

He smiled back. "That's right, Cramoisie. Crimson in French."

"Aw, I love French and France."

"Glad I could please you."

I laughed a little.

"So do you have any plans tonight? If not, we could hang out," Blake said, stuffing his hands in his jeans pocket.

"Sorry, Blake. I have a date tonight."

I saw his face tightened slightly. "A date? With who?"

"Thomas."

His face tightened more. "Thomas Daire?"

"Do you know any other Thomases?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"No," he muttered. "He asked you out when you barely even know him? Why not go out with me?"

"In case you forgot, I barely even know you too. And you never bothered with me for the past 3 years until Miss Grant partnered us for a project," I told him.

"Thomas is a jerk," Blake said, ignoring my words.

Shouldn't have wasted my breath. Why did I bother?

"Thomas isn't a jerk," I defended him. "You're the jerk."

"Moi? Cramoisie, you wound me."

"Nice to know that. I need to go now."

"Right. I forgot. You have a date with Mr. High-and-Mighty," Blake says, his voice hard.

"What does it matter, Blake? Why the fuck do you care so much about the date?" I snapped.

"I don't," he counters.

"Yeah, well, your attitude says differently." I left him standing there and walked away, my body rigid with anger. Great. Run-in with 2 cocky and annoying guys. Though I'll say Thomas is the less annoying one. 

I check the time on my phone, seeing the screen showing 3:24 PM. Good. I have almost 2 hours before my date.

Date.

I stop in my tracks as my mind registers the word fully. 

A date.

I haven't had a date in nearly 3 years not since my heart was broken and then all of a sudden, Thomas asks me on a date. I started walking again and let out a little sigh. And pray my heart doesn't break.

*

*

4:52 PM

I have 8 minutes until Thomas picks me up and I'm currently sitting on my bed, already dressed with makeup done. I told Mom where I was going and before I could finish, she fell asleep. And I promise to her sleeping face I'll be home before curfew; eleven o'clock.

I'm wearing a comfortable olive-green turtleneck, a pair of ripped black jeans complete with a thin, silver braided belt, and light grey socks. My hair's tied up with a few loose strands. A little bit of lip gloss on my lips, eyeliner, and dark green eyeshadow and tada! The perfect date clothes and makeup! Comfortable and sharp-looking.

I tapped on my phone and the screen lots up, displaying the time, day, and background picture of my best friends and I standing on the edge of a cliff in autumn, the wind blowing our hair like crazy and clutching each other's arms, smiling and laughing and aware, but unaware of the camera. That was a time when all our families took a vacation at the cliffs last summer. I sighed at the memory and check the time.

4:59 PM

Crap, he's going to be here in one minute!

I scrambled around, grabbing my phone and tucking it in my pockets. I check myself in the mirror one last time before dashing downstairs. I hurried to the front room just as the grandfather clock in the hall struck once, indicating five in the evening. I slip my feet into black Nikes. The doorbell rang and I startled. I fumbled with the door lock and flung it open to see the tall boy standing on the steps. I took in his tousled-up dark hair and him wearing a shirt, a light grey sweater, camo pants and black Converses. 

"Hello," I said, walking out. I closed the door and locked it before stepping down the steps.

"You look lovely," Thomas remarked, making me blush. "Ready to go?"

"Yep." I followed him to his car, a black Toyota. He opened the car door for me.

"You don't have to. I like to open my own doors."

"It's okay."

I gritted my teeth a little, but shook it off. I don't want this night to go bad. I slid into the seat and he shut the door behind me. I buckle my seatbelt as he got into his side of the car and started the engine. To be honest, I'm really excited about this date. Fingers cross everything goes well.