Truth Or Dare? ✓

25. a crush

"What do you say about me taking you out on a dinner tonight?" Nico looks at me from the other side of the bookshelf, while we're both organising them.

"I'd say you think I have a crush on you!" I stick out my tongue and walk to the other bookshelf that I have to look through.

While my back is turned against him and he can't see my face I let myself be confused for a little while.

I've known him for around six months now, even though it feels like it's been forever. Nico just gets it. He's easy to talk to. He puts my mind off of things. And he's my only real friend. But is he more than that?

Can I even let myself fall for someone else? Ever? Would it be the same? Would I feel guilt for the rest of my life?

It's clear that Nico likes me more than just a friend. He never makes it weird though. He never pushes me into anything. He's patient with me.

"Can we stop and be serious for a second?" I hear him asking behind me.

"Okay."

I wait until he walks over to me, then smile playfully.

"Your time's up!"

"Isabel." He says in his serious tone, so I stop smiling.

"I mean it." He adds and I nod.

I don't answer for a while, because honestly my mind's just blank. Usually there's hundreds of thoughts wandering around, right now it's nothing. Total silence.

"It's Friday and I was planning on watching some sappy movie until five in the morning." I answer, because that's what I always do on the weekends. Besides reading, walking around the city or talking to my dad over phone.

Nico lowers his head and looks at his shoes.

"So maybe you want to join me?" I ask, smiling a little once seeing a smile on his face too.

"I'd love to!"

While we finish with the shelves, I think how Owen would never agree to watch a romantic movie.

Nico usually takes me home if we work the same days, so our way to my home is not anything new or awkward.

We talk the whole ride about his childhood in London and how they visit his mom's side of the family every year there.

We drive by the turn to my apartment complex and I look at him gently tapping his fingers against the wheel and humming.

"Nic, you missed our stop." I chuckle and look at him with judgment all over my face.

"You know I love surprises, Izzy." He smiles at me, and places one hand on my leg.

He's done it a few times before, but I never really let myself to overthink it. This time it's different. I can feel his fingers against my leg to the point where I start to wonder how it would feel without a layer of fabric between us.

"I'll quickly refill the tank and buy us some snacks. Do you want to come?" He asks, gently squeezing my leg before he opens the door.

"I'm good here, I think. I trust you." I say and he laughs.

I do trust him. Completely.

"Don't be mad if you get diarrhea tomorrow."

"Bet you would enjoy me suffer." I say and look at him.

"In one way or another." He says, looking at me back and I feel my cheeks flush red, so I look away.

"Go, you freak!" I hit him and start to push him out of the car while we're both laughing.

"I never thought you had a dirty side of you." I chuckle and he gives me a funny look.

"You should ask all the high school girls how good of a fucker I am." He says and closes the door, smiling wide, before I can say anything.

"Boy, bye!" I say to myself, but can't help but laugh.

Sometimes I tend to get embarrassed or mad at myself for still being a virgin. Maybe what makes me the most mad is the fact how inexperienced I actually am. Owen was never letting us go any further than kissing really, but he had his reasons. I appreciate him wanting to be off of meds, when we do things, I just hope he did that for himself. Because I for sure knew that his feelings for me were real. Or so I thought.

I can't remember how Owen's touch felt anymore. I can't remember how his lips taste. Today that makes me happy. It gives me hope that maybe I'm able to be with someone else one day.

I see Nico coming out of the shop with chips and ice cream and soda n wine.

It's hard to not smile when he's smiling.

"Red wine makes you horny." He says, when I'm looking at the bottle in his hands once he gets back in the car.

At first I chuckle, but then I stiffen in my seat.

"Nic, I.." I try to finish my sentence, but I'm not sure what I want to say.

That I'm a virgin or maybe that I'm just a pussy when it comes to things like that. Or maybe that I'm scared of what will happen when someone else will touch me like Owen used to.

"Isabel, I'm just joking. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to cross any line here." He throws everything in the backseat and takes my hands into his, slowly placing two little kisses on them.

"It's okay, don't you worry."

"We're still Nic and Izzy. I don't expect anything from you." He kisses my hand once more before letting go.

"I don't know what I would do without you." I say, leaning my hand to find his again.

He starts to look at my fingers which are playing with his and he rubs my thumb with his then presses on it, later smiling in victory while my thumb is still pressed down under his.

"You're Isabel who got her heart broken from someone who didn't deserve even one kiss from you and who moved from Kansas all alone yet she still smiles at everyone she sees everyday. I say, you would be just fine without me."

"Thank you, Nic. I mean it." I say and it's my turn to kiss his hand.

"Are you ready to see my apartment?" He says letting go of my hand and coughs.

He's looking out the window while he's rubbing his hands against his legs.

Did I just make him nervous?

I can't remember that last time I've made someone nervous, so I smile a little.

"Unless you still live with your mom then sure!"

"I see you get all your humor from me." He winks at me and starts the engine.

:) author's note

readers, team Nico or team Owen?