If Not For Her

Chapter 17. "I asked him out"

Annabeth was extremely happy. "What is up with that look?" Alex asked, "nothing" she smiled. "Doesn't look like nothing to me," he said. "Fine," she turned to her brother. "I asked Nicolas out," she said. "Why did you ask him out?" he asked. Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I asked him out because I wanted to and that didn't seem like I asked him out," she said.

"What are you talking about?" He asked "I asked him to come and get ice cream with us, it was casual nothing serious," she said. Alex raised his brows "and both of you, especially you realize that. Ollie if you asked him out like that happy trust me it didn't seem casual." He said. "I think I really like him" she admitted. "You should give it a bit time before you jump, know him a little," he said. " Leslie, I would like him even after knowing him, I know him," she said.

Alexander shook his head "Annabeth, I am going to tell you something, Mum and Jenna are best friends and if something with this, you and Nicolas thing goes down, it won't just affect you two. Dating someone close to your family is a big deal." He said. "We are not dating," she said. "I am just telling you, Ollie, be careful with him, that's all." She nodded, but they had to be serious to worry about breaking up.

She went up to her room while Alex sat on their couch watching TV. She pulled out her phone and started texting Chris

What should I wear??

Christina's reply came almost immediately.

Go with your black dress, a black dress never goes wrong

Thanks, No wait, do you think it will seem too for the evening I don't want to seem like I am trying too hard

Wear something casual but pretty go for pale clothes and don't worry Annie I am coming to meet Alex around 5 I will help you

She sent Chris some heart emojis, she was grateful Chris was there to help her. She went through her closet, pale dress and after a lot of going back and forth, she fell on her bed. It was hard. She texted Adam.

Do you think asking someone for ice cream is serious?

Well, you asked that person out be it alone or in a group, it shows a bit of interest in that particular person.

Do you think he knows I am crushing on him?

It is pretty obvious but he doesn't seem to mind besides you should look around for other options too

Like whom?

Time will tell sweetheart

She found it weird he called her sweetheart, only one person ever called her that.

Who are you bringing?

As I said someone cool and you all will see. Got to go, love, you xx

Love you too

She tried her luck again with her clothes when she saw it. A muscular body right across her window, and Nick turned around, she bend down. Her room faced his, the realization hit her like a truck.

Her phone buzzed and she saw a notification from an unknown number.

Hey, neighbor

She looked up to see him waving at her, his shirt still missing, she waved back, did he see her staring at him? Shit.

Hi

She texted back. Another one of his texts came and they started texting back and forth both standing in front of their windows. She didn't notice the time when her door opened. She turned to see Chris sitting down. Christina never bothered to knock. "Who are you texting with that smile?" She asked. Annabeth sat next to her and waved bye at him. "Was that?" Chris asked. "Yes, my neighbor," she said. "His room faces yours," she asked. "Yes," she said. Chris pulled out a dress, "wear this" she said.

Annabeth looked down at the pale pink dress in front of her. It had a flowy skirt and was tight around the waist, beads of pearls were placed around it. "It is beautiful," she said. "Check if it fits, it should we are more or less the same size," Chris said. "You are wearing that?" Annabeth asked pointing to her baggy Jean's and crop top, "no this" she pulled out a black and white dress, "now wear it" she pushed her. Annabeth changed into the dress and looked at herself in the mirror, it fit her perfectly. She came out. "You look great," Chris was wearing her dress "so do you," she said. Chris helped her with her makeup and she was ready.

"Who is Adam bringing?" Chris asked sitting in the front seat of Alex's car, soon they heard a motorcycle pull up. He had a black motorcycle and a leather jacket. "Close your mouth," Alex said as he passed them by, they talked while Chris winked at her. "Sure, they heard Alex say. "Ollie do you mind, showing him the way," he asked. She suppressed her smile, "not at all," she said walking up to him. "Get on, then," he said as she got up on it. He smelled of cologne. "You can hold if you want?" He said, she nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist "ready?" He asked "yes" and he started his motorcycle past Alex's red car.

When they reached the ice cream parlor Adam was already there, she walked up to him, and soon Alex and Chris walked in, "where is your hot date, Adam?" Chris asked. "Hey, Christina" came a voice, and Annabeth looked up to come face to face with Emmalyn's smirking face. "Hello, Annabeth," she said.