Hardin Scott has been madly in love with Tessa Young since the moment he first laid eyes on her, but there's no way she could ever see him as anything more than a friend. After all, he's a bad boy with a promiscuous past and she's a sweet and innoce...
The rest of the school week goes by quickly. The gossiping and whispering still continued, but at least Neil stayed away from me. He must have finally got the message.
It's Saturday morning and Hardin tries to wake me. "Rise and shine, beautiful!" Hardin says so cheerfully. Too cheerfully considering he's not a morning person. And he's, well, Hardin.
"Why are you so cheerful?" I ask in a sleepy voice as I roll over.
"Today is a special day!" he beams.
"What? No, it's not," I reply, confused.
"Oh, but it is! Today is our official first date."
"What are you talking about?" I giggle.
"I'm taking you on our first date," he says as he sits on the edge of the bed and smiles down at me.
"Okay, there's a couple problems with that. First of all, you don't do dates. Did you forget about our double date from Hell? And secondly, we've already done dirty stuff together," I whisper the last part.
"Maybe I was just on a date with the wrong girl," he says as he caresses my cheek. "And all that dirty stuff, as you put it, was fun, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a real date."
"You're actually serious, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am, so you better get ready. We're leaving at noon!" He squeezes my thigh and leaves the bedroom.
"Wow, he's full of surprises." I smile to myself and get out of bed.
I get myself some breakfast, shower, put on some makeup and pick out a nice dress to wear. I march out of the bathroom and walk up to Hardin. "Is this nice enough for our first date?" I ask as I twirl around for him.
"Wow, you look great, Tess! You're absolutely beautiful," he says as he hugs me and kisses the top of my head. "Are you excited?"
"I'm really excited. I can't wait to see what the guy who doesn't date has come up with," I tease.
"Have a little faith in me. I think you'll really like it."
I just stand there staring and smiling at him.
"What?" he chuckles.
"I'm just really lucky."
"I'm the lucky one," he says shyly.
"Do I at least get a hint?"
"Nope. You're just going to have to trust me."
"I trust you." I smile.
"Good, now let's go!"
Hardin opens the car door for me and even has The Fray playing quietly during the drive.
"Wow, you're being so rom-"
He cuts me off. "Don't you dare call me romantic."
"You should just accept that about yourself," I laugh and he rolls his eyes. "Hardin? I need to ask you something."
"It better not be where we're going."
"No... Why are we going on a date?"
"Why not?"
"Well, it's not really something we do."
"So, I can't take my beautiful girlfriend out on a date to show everyone how happy she makes me?"
"Hardin..."
"Okay, Tess... I just wanted to show you I can be a good boyfriend and take you out on dates, just like..." he trails off.
"Zed?" I finish his sentence.
"Yeah..."
"Hardin, you don't have to try to be like Zed. I don't want you to be. I love you. Only you."
"It's just that you have six months of date night memories with him and none with me." He pouts.
"That's because our relationship is so much more than dinner and a movie. We've already shared so much more and have such a powerful connection. You don't have to try to compete with Zed."
"I know, Tessa, it's just when it comes to thinking of you and Zed being together, I can't help but feel jealous."
"There's nothing to be jealous of. I didn't love him. I shouldn't have even been with him." I frown.
"Fuck, I'm sorry, Tess. I didn't mean to ruin our date by bringing him up."
"You didn't."
"Look, we're here."
I look around. He brought us to our spot, the lake. My heart flutters at how romantic this brooding boy can be.
He opens my car door for me and then grabs something from the trunk. "A picnic basket? We're having a picnic?" I ask excitedly.
"So, you approve?"
"It's perfect!"
He takes my hand and we find a spot to sit on the grass with a perfect view of the lake. He packed a delicious lunch for us and we talk about nothing and everything and it all just feels perfect.
"I can't believe it's only been a week since I broke up with Zed and we got together. So much has happened. Zed cheating, us kissing for the first time, the rumours Zed started, moving in together-"
"Giving you your first orgasm," Hardin says smugly. "And saying I love you to each other," he adds as he pulls me into a kiss.
"Yeah, those too," I say, flustered. "I wish you would have told me we were coming here. I could have brought my swimsuit and gone swimming."
"We still can. Go in your underwear."
"Are you kidding? Other people could come."
"Then wear my shirt over your underwear."
"I don't know..."
"Come on, live a little," he taunts me.
I look at him and the lake and consider taking his suggestion. What's the worst that could happen?
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