FINDING US (BEFORE THE BEGINING)

CHAPTER 7

CAMERON 

The light sound of music fills my ears as I drive down the street making my way to Louie's pizza and pasta grill clamping my hands on the steering wheel as awkwardness fills the tight space between me and my date.

"So... um... how was your day today?" Sofia says out of the blue, surprising me, causing me to quickly turn to her but I soon realized that I'm still driving so I look back to the road internally cursing myself and pursing my lips.

"Pretty good."

Silence fills the car again and Sophia nods and turns to the window staring at the passing lights of the city

"That's cool"

My stomach hurts and my hands are shaking. Why does this seem so hard? It's never been this difficult to talk to her and now suddenly I can't even form a sentence without sounding monotone and dry...

"So how was yours?" I squeak out slowly, blinking my eyes and holding In my breath, and feeling my neck twitching from tension. Gosh, why am I so nervous?

"Well, I had to get up early to go to my brothers' ice hockey tryouts, and then I ate somewhere so I'm pretty tired but I'm excited for this I feel like it is going to be fun" I look over towards her and push my tongue against my cheek

"That sounds like a pretty good day," I say a lot quieter than I intended to

"Yeah, I guess" I hear the tone of her voice and it sounds a lot less vibrant than It did before. She sits up in her seat and I can feel her eyes on me. "Is something wrong?..." I didn't answer "do you not want to be here because if you don't we don't have to go on a date I'll get over it there's no pressure I just wanted to have fun I didn't mean to-"

"Sophia, It's okay. I'm okay. I'm just a little nervous. That's all I just need to get comfortable. I'll be fine "I can still feel her staring at me and I turn towards her and she quickly looks away putting her head down. I hesitantly reach my hand out towards her and interlace our fingers together "seriously It's just because I'm nervous I'm excited too" I'm trying my hardest to reassure her I might not want to do this but I'm trying to make the most of it.

"You don't have to be nervous with me" It's not you

"Thanks"

"Mmhm"

-

I pull my keys out of the ignition and sigh it's time. "Don't get out yet" I hurry out of the car and race to the passenger side and open the door.

"Thanks, Cameron" she gets out of the car and takes my hand. Oh Gosh

We walk into the dim-lit restaurant and the smell of pizza intrudes my nose. A hostess dressed in all black takes us to our table. I walked over to a chair and pulled it out for Sophia and she said a small thanks and sat down.

We got in our seats and a waiter came to our table with a notepad placed in his hand "what drinks can I get you guys tonight? Today is margarita night so margaritas are twenty percent off until eleven o'clock tonight"

"Um then I'll get a peach margarita please," I hear Sophia say and then man ID checks her and faces me. "I'll just take a medium sprite thanks," I say with pursed lips.

"Yes sir, I'll be back with your drinks shortly" I nod and turn towards Sophia.

"You drink?"

"I mean sometimes, not often mostly at parties or festivals but that's It I'm not an alcoholic or anything like that"