~Christian POV~
I couldn't help but feel a strong pang in my chest at Rome mentioning another girl. I actually developed feelings for him. He should've remained the annoying church boy.
I hung up my phone hoping for a call back but I didn't get one. I know that is toxic, but I was hoping for a call back. We aren't dating though so he doesn't owe me anything. He can do whatever he wants.
I do hold myself accountable though. I shouldn't of acted the way I acted on the phone. I sent a text saying I'm sorry for how I ended the call and he responded immediately with "it's okay and he wants to hang out tonight." I pushed my pride aside and agreed to hanging out. He told me that he was halfway done with the project with Mallory and I ended up falling asleep waiting for him to text that he's done.
~~
I woke up 4 hours later and checked the time. It was 6:00 p.m. and I checked to see if Rome had texted me but I didn't see anything. I started overthinking on the thought that maybe he forgot or got caught up hanging out with Mallory. I had called his phone just to check and make sure everything is okay but it went to voicemail.
I don't want to think too much about it though.
After about 20 minutes I heard my phone ringing and I picked it up after seeing Rome's name flash on the screen. "Hey, I'm so sorry. I ended up falling asleep. We finished the project though."
Falling asleep where?
It sounds like he's still by her house.
Why did he fall asleep at her house?
The project took that long?
I have so many unasked questions but I refrain from asking them because we really aren't a thing. It's just more of a mutual liking to each other with nothing established. Now that I think about it, I do not even know if he likes me. This can easily be one sided and I am afraid of rejection.
"Are you still by her?" My voice shying away. "Yeah. We finished the project and she saw that I was tired and told me to sleep on the couch and get some rest. She's in her bedroom right now also sleeping I believe," he explained. Why did he feel the need to explain himself? "I'm on my way to you." He said and I heard shuffling in the background and then a female voice and him saying he has to go then I heard a door shut gently. "See you when I get there." He announced and ends the call.
~~
He took me to a restaurant because I told him I haven't eaten anything. He could've just taken me to Wendy's and I would of been fine. I even told him that Wendy's is fine but he insisted that a restaurant is better because it's an all you can eat that they are having. I gave in after some convincing from him and here we are sitting here talking and waiting for our food.
"My mom is back." He says more to himself with a smile. He never exactly expanded on anything about his mom, but he did mention before that she was not around for a while. I was unsure on how to go about it noticing how happy he got by just mentioning his mom.
"Are you happy that your mom is back?" I question while taking a sip of the sprite soda I had gotten. "Very. I missed her so much. She doesn't stay by us though, she stays with one of her friends here because my dad and her had a pretty nasty divorce and well... they wouldn't even be in the same room as each other. I wish I knew why." He sounded broken from having to experience the separation of his parents. "Tell me more about you." He placed his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his hands ready to listen to what comes out of my mouth.
"What do you want to know?" I smiled looking in his eyes. I realized that from since Rome and I became friends I've became softer. I'm not as harsh or blunt as I used to be and I don't know if that makes me happy or sad.
"Everything." He whispers and I looked away from him. What does everything even mean? I was starting to sweat because I was becoming nervous. I didn't know how to start and he definitely realized my nervousness and placed his hand on top of mine. "It's okay Christian. You can just tell me whatever you feel comfortable with letting me know. We can take this conversation slow."
"There's a we?" I caught myself asking and quickly placed my hand over my mouth.
He looked confused in what I meant and then his face changed as realization dawned on him.
"Well if I am honest, I do like you. If you would like there to be a we then I would like that."
He wants there to be a we.
Should there be a we?
Is he asking me to be his girlfriend?
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" I curiously ask afraid that he might say no and I got the wrong idea.
"Yes, will you be my girlfriend Christian? We can take everything one step at a time. We can continue getting to know each other through this relationship if you would like."
I stare at him for a few seconds thinking really hard on whether or not I should say yes. I feel like if I do, there's a part of me that holds on to the behavior that I partake in with my last relationship and if I say no I don't know how our relationship will turn out.
Please be good for me Rome.
"Okay."
