Fated to Break | ✓

s i x t e e n

Rowan

All I wanted was to grab a coffee before heading home and now I feel like I'm going to be sick. They're...holding hands. I haven't seen them be affectionate in a very long time. I preferred it that way. No matter how wrong it was of me to pretend they weren't together, it was nice to spend time with Olivia without being reminded by my subconscious that she was taken.

"Uh, um, Rowan?"

My head swivels back to Kenna, the small barista I learned has a crush on me. Proven further by the fact that she just asked me out. I haven't answered because I noticed Olivia. I was planning on saying no...but...

I glance back at Ollie just as soon as a heart-wrenching blush spreads across her cheeks and the tips of her ears. And it's all directed towards him.

Ripping my attention away from her, I smile at Kenna. My best attempt at the smile I used to use in high school that made the girls swoon. Or so I've been told. "I didn't quite catch that, ask me again," I say, my outside showing interest but my inside rolling with an intense nausea and guilt.

A shuddering breath inflates Kenna's chest and she leans in, an adorable excitement flushing the apples of her cheeks. "D-Do you want to go to The Landing with me tonight?"

Mentally knocking out the mini me yelling at me to say no and walk away I lean in, resting an elbow on the counter, the only thing separating me and Kenna being the abnormally large cash register. "You askin' me out? On a date?" I summon my flirty past self and let my eyes stay connected with hers as she stutters a response.

"Y-Yeah? I mean yes. Y-Yes I am. Will you?" The blush ever so slowly spreads the longer she speaks.

She is truly adorable. I'm such a prick. I know people are watching our interaction at this point so turning her down would be public humiliation. With false confidence I brush a strand of her strawberry blonde hair that's stuck on her tinted lipgloss. Kenna's eyes widen to a degree that shouldn't be possible. She's small, about 5'3. I used to love a height difference this significant but recently it seems my type has changed.

"I'll meet you there," I stand and toss her a wink. "Nine o'clock."

A bright smile cracks her face just as soon as whispers start to spread around us. Is one of those voices Olivia? I want to see if this is affecting her but I can't bring myself to look. Something tells me she doesn't even care.

I turn to leave when Kenna's voice raises, "D-Didn't you want to order some coffee?"

Hands in my pockets, walking backwards towards the door I say, "Not anymore. See you tonight, dress pretty."

The girlish gasps from the other students cut off when the door closes behind me. I'm fucked. This playboy facade can only last so long until I go crazy. I hate lying. Especially to a girl who has such a hard crush on me. Here's to hoping her expectations are squashed tonight when she realizes I'm not the fantasy she made me to be in her head.

Without thinking I look back. I don't know why I did but what I saw made me go through with going tonight.

Lucas cradling Olivia's face in his hands.

<<<>>>

       I have to physically force myself to stay in the car until the clock ticks from 9:00 to 9:01. It's a casual date with a girl I'm not interested in at all. How hard could it be? I made the mistake of telling Charlie and he said that showing up before her and being seen waiting in the booth would spread rumors of me being head over heels. People already know that this is my first date in years so this is pointless. There will be rumors regardless.