𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 (Ash Trilogy #3) ✔️

28

All the extra reading I had done early on paid off. Even though I hadn't been to class in longer than I can even remember, the material the professors discusses isn't new information to me. 

Snow and I went together today. We both ignored the dirty look from the professor, accepting that he will hate us no matter what. 

She did a hangman for me. The sentence was, 'I wanna leave.'

So we did. Early. In the middle of the lecture. I'm sure the professor went from disliking us to hating us, especially since I knocked Snow's loud ass water bottle out of her hand as we were leaving. 

We walk outside, heading back toward my dorm. 

"So, um, I've been thinking," Snow says, tucking her hair behind her ears so that it doesn't get stuck in her lipgloss. "I should really get all my stuff together and bring it back to my dorm."

"Why?" I ask her.

She gestures to me and says like it's obvious, "Well, you're better now. You don't really need me to cook or do laundry or anything like that."

I think. I think of things I can try and use as excuses for her to stay, but then I realize, there doesn't need to be an excuse. 

"Why don't you just stay?" I suggest, and she looks up at me while squinting from the sun. "All your stuff is there. The semester is coming to an end. Plus, we still haven't finished that movie series you love so much."

She laughs at this. The sound of it makes me smile. 

"I don't know, Luc," she sighs. Her response makes my heart drop a little.

I step in front of her, put my hands on her shoulders, and block her way. She looks annoyed at me but I know that she isn't. 

"Snow," I say her name and bend down so that we can be at eye level. "Let me take you to dinner tonight."

My words look like they surprise her. Her eyes widen and her glossy lips part. She's about to say something but I cut her off because I know exactly what she's about to say, "No, it won't be a date. Just dinner."

Although I say it's not a date, I know that's exactly how I'm going to take it in my head. But she wouldn't agree to a date with me. She looks up at me with an unsure expression while biting the inside of her cheek. 

"Okay, fine," she agrees. I instantly smile and move back up to my full height. "But it's just dinner. Not a date."

"Just dinner," I agree.

Progress. The progress I've made with her, I thought wasn't possible. Although she's adamant this isn't a date, she's still agreeing to go to dinner with me. After that night in the forest, I never thought dinner would be possible.

I was ready to take her somewhere. Somewhere she has to be with me, somewhere she could be mine forever. But that hasn't been necessary. She has been voluntarily spending time with me, sleeping in my bed, and watching me paint. 

"I'm going to my parent's house for lunch and to talk about everything that happened," she tells me. Strands of her blonde hair blow from the wind and the sun that shines makes the edges of her hair look as if they were glowing. "So, text me what time and which restaurant."

I nod in response. She turns to head toward her car, and once she's no longer facing me, that's when I allow myself to smile so wide my teeth show.

I begin walking back to my dorm. Dinner with Snow. My cheeks begin to hurt from smiling. 

I need to look perfect. Liking my appearance has always been something I've struggled with. My dark brown eyes, I find bland. My curly back hair, the same thing. I've spent years and years growing my muscles to try and like my appearance more but it hasn't actually made anything change.