Delilah

13- I Like You

The next day after class I meet Cole at his car. 

I didn't know where he was taking me so I dressed safe. 

I wore a pair of light wash high waisted skinny jeans, a green shirt that buttons in the front and my old converse. 

Ok so I may have dressed really safe. 

What if he takes me mudding? I am not wearing good clothes and shoes for that. 

 Or worse what if he actually does kidnap me? I can't run in Doc Martens. 

Getting into his car, Cole snorts. 

"What?" I ask confused, he just shakes his head. 

"I have never seen you dress so plain." I gap at him, he did not just say that.

I mean it's probably true but still. 

I look down at my outfit, "What are you talking about? This outfit is so me."

He gives me a 'sure whatever you say' look. 

"Where are we going?" I ask him and he just looks straight forward pulling out of the parking lot. 

"You'll see when we get there." He turns on some music and we listen to that as we talk. 

The ride isn't that long, but we did leave town. 

We end up in some town I haven't been in before. 

"This is where I grew up." Cole says and I turn my head to look at him. "Really?" I ask and he nods. 

"Yep this is where all the firsts happened. From the first time I walked to the first gig I ever performed."

I like that he's showing this part of himself. Even though Cole has told me a little bit about his family, he's still pretty closed off. Not that I'm one to talk. 

We pull up to an abandoned building. 

"What's this?" I ask as Cole unbuckles his seat belt. 

He turns smiling at me, "This shortcake is where we performed our first gig." We get out and he opens the door for me as we walk inside. 

Looking around I see it's an old bowling alley. 

"They let you perform here?" I ask, "The owner was friends with Spencer's dad, so when we asked to perform he let us. That stage right over there was the first stage I had ever stepped on." He says pointing to the raised platform.

It wasn't an actual stage, but I can see it. I can see a younger Cole, Kai, Spencer, and River standing up there. Probably in all black.

He hops up onto the 'stage' and pulls me up with him. Turning me around he shows me what they must've seen as they performed that day. 

I'd be scared to see a bunch of people watching me. 

"Do you get nervous when you perform?" I ask him, I know I would. 

He shrugs, "Not really, I mean it's just my friend and I having fun. Sometimes for the bigger performances though I get a little nervous."

I smile thinking of Cole getting nervous, "It never shows." 

He sits on the edge and I sit beside him. 

"This was the only time my mom ever came to one of my performances." He says and I turn to look at him, "She and my dad had been separated for twelve years but when I asked her to be there she was. Never again though, I would send her texts and invites but I never saw her at another show. Hell I never saw her again."

Cole had mentioned that him and his mom weren't close. That his parents had an ugly divorce, that left him in an awkward position. 

His dad was cheating on his mom with Luke's mom. His parents got divorced, Cole's dad married Luke's mom and a few months later Amber was born.

I lean my head on his shoulder, "Was your dad there for most of your gigs?" I ask and I feel him nod his head. 

"Any local ones, yeah, he was always there for those. My step mom Haley wasn't a big fan though, she felt I wasn't a good influence on Luke. That I would derail his plans for college and his future."

I snort, "Luke the frat boy?" I ask and he chuckles, "Yes Luke the frat boy, I told you he actually has plans after college."

Ugh I remember he told me but I sort of forgot what it was. Whoops. 

"Well so what if he has these big plans, you're happy right? Following your dreams." He nods, "So then no one should judge. You live your life and mister frat boy can live his. You know how many people told me I can't make it as a fashion designer?" I ask and Cole shakes his head. 

"Two, my mom and my ex." 

"Your mom told you that you'd fail?" He asks and I nod, "She was hardly around, I told you that. It was always me and my brother, but she did come around. One time she caught me in my room sewing a dress. I was thirteen and so excited, I was going to wear it to the spring dance. Of course it wasn't great, I had just started to learn how to sew. You know what she did?" I ask not waiting for a response. 

"She took it from me and threw it in the trash. Telling me I shouldn't be waisting my time to make crap like that. How I should become something so I have money to take care of my brother."

She said a lot of things that day. I think she had just been laid off her job. She made sure I knew how worthless I was in her eyes. I don't think I have ever cried so hard. 

"Does your mom still come around?" Cole asks grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers. 

I shake my head, "She stopped during the summer before senior year. I think she realized we were better off without her, plus I think she had a new boyfriend. At least that's what she said when she walked out the front door and got into some old guys pick up truck."

She claimed this Roy was a new chapter in her life. That in order to start a new chapter she had to end the other one. 

I couldn't help but laugh as she got into the pick up truck. His name is Roy, what kind of name is that?

"Well who needs moms anyways." I say. I mean it would be nice to have a mom who cares about you. 

"I like you." I blur after a while of silence. He looks down at me and. I cringe feeling the blush make its way onto my cheeks. 

"You like me?" He asks amused. I nod, "Yeah I didnt think I would at first but I do. You're a good friend Cole."

He snorts, "Ouch." I finally look back up at him, "What?" I ask confused. 

"Did you just friend zone me shortcake?" He asks. 

Oh gosh did I? Frick that wasn't my intention, I just didnt want him to think more about the whole 'I like you' slip up. 

I nudge his shoulder with mine, "That zone wasn't made for you Cole."

He smiles, "Good." 

We spend some more time talking before deciding to head back. 

I suck up the courage and ask him to come up to my dorm with me. I am pretty sure Jasmine is home too. 

Turning the knob I open the door. Cole and I freeze at the sight in front of us.