It took a full fifteen seconds for the front door to slam shut before Natalie was in my room.
“And what was that?” she grinned devilishly.
“Nat…”
“I saw that with my own two eyes,” she replied, “You were just as guilty as he was.”
“I know.”
“So what’s going on with you two?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“That was not nothing!”
“I swear, that came out of nowhere,” I replied, “Well sort of.”
“Jess, spill,” Natalie smirked, climbing on to my bed. “I need all the details.”
“Whyyy?”
“Because, I’ve known both of you practically forever.”
“It wasn’t anything,” I said again.
“Not his favor?”
“No,” I replied, “He asked me something else.”
“What?!”
“I’ve got to go with him to some holiday party tomorrow night,” I said.
“A holiday party? With just Aston? Is it like a date?”
“I don’t know,” I sighed, “I don’t know what any of this is.”
“Well I’ll say one thing Jess, that boy has had a crush on you forever. We can all tell, but you refuse to see it. It’ll be good for both of you to spend some time together and see what your feelings really are, because I’m starting to think you like his attention.”
“Nat!”
“Just saying!”
I sighed deeply, jumping off my bed and pushing past Natalie to the kitchen. I pulled out a bottle of red wine and twisted the top off, pouring out a large glass for myself.
“He get the tickets?” Natalie asked, taking the bottle from me.
“He’s reserved an entire box,” I said.
“That’s certainly going above and beyond.”
“I know,” I said, “Listen I really don’t want to talk about all this right now.”
“Ok fine,” Natalie said, “Let’s go find something for you to wear tomorrow night.”
“Fine,” I muttered, following her back into my room so she could start to rifle through my wardrobe.
Twenty-four hours later and I was stood in front of the full-length mirror in our hall. My hair was curled slightly and I had a black tulle skirt with sequins on, a simple black vest top and some gold jewelry to top off the look.
“He’s going to die,” I could hear Natalie sing-songing down the hall.
“Oh god,” I muttered, “What am I getting myself in to?”
A knock on the door signaled the arrival of Aston, and I awkwardly pulled it open, my coat and bag in my arms.
“Ready?” I asked, pushing him out into the corridor before Natalie could get involved.
“Yeah,” he replied.
Gently Aston helped me slip my coat on and then we headed out to his car, “You look beautiful,” he said as he slipped into the car next to me, revving the engine. I blushed deeply, my eyes staring out the window.
“Can I ask you one tiny favor?” I queried as we started off into town.
“You ask a favor, I get to ask a favor,” he joked.
“Let’s be serious for a second.”
“Ok, what?” Aston replied.
“Please no nerves? Just be yourself.”
I watched him take a deep breath, nodding his head gently. “I’ll do my best.”
“You’re seriously nervous right now?”
“Terrified Jessie.”
“Why?”
“It’s you!” he said, letting out a forced laugh, “You really have no idea how I feel about you.”
“I really don’t,” I mumbled, staring at him as he pulled the car up outside the venue of the party.
“Ready?” he asked lightly.
“Yeah.”
I climbed out of the car with the help of the valet, and then waited for Aston. I watched him carefully hand over his keys and smile at the valet, and then he came up to me and grabbed my hand gently in his own.
I really liked this side of him.
