hypochondria // tate langdon

puppy love

"mom, i'm going out," i yelled from the bottom of the stairs, opening the front door.

"oh, are you?" she raised her eyebrows, her face twisted between anger and amusement.

"yeah? oh... right," i sighed, shutting the front door and crossing my arms.

"i'm sorry lydia, but you have to learn not to sneak out at night. it's for your own good,"

i'm grounded for sneaking out. i can't leave the house other than to go to school for a whole week.

but that's not gonna work with me.

or my boyfriend.

mom and dad don't know, and i'm not in a rush to tell them. something about having a relationship no one else in the entire world knows about is so exhilarating.

if i couldn't go see him now, i'll wait until tonight.

i walked back upstairs to my room, my mom probably proud of herself as i passed her.

it wasn't long until tate showed up for his session. i hope he's getting better.

i've learned from him that he has visions and impulse thoughts, on top of health anxiety. he suffers from depression and anxiety. and as far as i know, he's on medications for all of that stuff. he tells me all the time how he's happier with me, he feels better, mentally.

i stayed in my room until tate's session was done and he could successfully sneak up to my room.

i must not have heard him over my music until he switched off my radio, startling me.

"too cool for me?" he questioned, randomly.

i sat up from my bed, puzzled.

"you didn't show up earlier," he explained, sounding disappointed.

"i'm grounded," i sighed, smiling.

"and you're gonna let that stop you?" tate asked sarcastically, sitting down next to me.

"no,"

"so what do you wanna do tonight?" he asked, slinging his arm around my shoulders as i rested my head lightly under his chin.

"surprise me,"

"okay, when i said surprise me, this isn't quite what i had in mind..." i giggled, as tate led me down a dark one-lane road, our hands interlocked.

"you'll see," he said, smiling back at me.

"...a gas station? you need some gas for the nonexistent car we drove in?" i smiled up at him, crossing my arms.

"c'mon, stupid," he leads me into the gas station, opening the door for me.

it looked old. it's bright lights flickering and buzzing softly. there was no one else in the small gas station, only a worker who was an old man and watching something on a small box tv.

tate and i got slushies, even though i was concerned the last time the machines had been used. i got a cherry slushie and tate got blue raspberry.

tate willingly paid the couple cents and we left.

there was a small table with a single lamp outside the gas station. and since we had nowhere else to go, other than walk home, we sat there.

it was cold. the cold slushies were not helping. tate took off his crewneck and gave it to me. i felt bad that now he was only wearing a thin, long sleeve shirt, but he claimed he wasn't cold.

it smelled like him.

we sat, we talked, we laughed.

we kissed until our tongues were purple.

and then we walked home, holding each other.

"here's your sweater b-"

"keep it. i know you love it," he smiled, putting a piece of hair behind my ear.

i was hoping he'd say that.

he held my face in his hands, smiling to himself.

"what?" i laughed lightly.

"you are so, so beautiful, lydia,"

i blushed and glowed, i thought my face was going to explode.

it might have but his soft lips on mine stopped it.

"goodnight, tate,"

"goodnight, sweetheart,"

------

author's note - hi! i feel a writer's block coming, but let's just ignore that please :) i think this chapter is really cute and i like it. another week of school is about to start and i have to prepare for finals, so i'm going to be busy! sorry in advance but at least i got 2 chapters up this weekend.  thank you for all the support oh my goodness! i love you all and have a wonderful day, beautifuls! <3

words - 617