Meant To Be

Safety Pin

I know I look at her and everybody else can see it

I know I couldn't hide it even if I wanted to

- Shockwave, from FOUR's first album, Nights Like These

It's the stupidest thing, but I don't know what to wear. I'm not used to feeling like this. To caring this much.

To be fair, I've never really been in a relationship before. No that that's what this is - to be honest, I'm not even sure it's a date - but I've never had someone make me feel the way Holland does before.

Also, after last time, I want to make a good impression.

In a weird way, it's almost comforting. Like, at least I'm not wearing a towel? And my hair is dry, and like, actually styled?

It's a bit chilly out today, clear with a slight breeze, so I settle on my good jeans and a sweater the same green as my eyes. I take a deep breath - and one last look in the mirror, before heading downstairs.

Maggie and Anya are both sitting on the couch, trying to look casual and failing. I head to the door, grabbing a toque, scarf and gloves from the shelf, before pulling on my boots. When I turn around, both of them are looking at me.

"Well," I say, holding out my arms. "What do you think?"

"You look so cute," Anya says. "And like, just the right amount of casual."

"Yeah," Maggie says. "But I'd lose the gloves. It's not that cold out. Or at least, put them in your bag in case you spend a lot of time outside or something. But you don't want to be all gross and warm and sweaty."

"True," Anya nods. "And if you don't have gloves, then when you do get cold, he has an excuse to hold your hand."

Maggie giggles. I glare. "Both of you are ridiculous. We aren't - I'm not even sure what this is."

"What this is?" Maggie says. "What this is is him asking you out on a date. And you going on said date."

"I don't know," I say, but Maggie and Anya are having none of it.

"The two of you texted this morning, right?" Anya says. "To arrange everything?"

I nod reluctantly.

"So. What did he say?"

"Um," I bite my lip as I grab my phone from my pocket and scroll through my dms. I can't help but smile at Holland's name. I'm embarrassingly transparent; honestly, I need to get a grip on myself.

Good morning, he'd written. He'd texted me first - it was what I woke up to, which left a warm feeling in my stomach and probably made me happier than it should have.

But I'm getting distracted.

"He said that he was really looking forward to seeing me?" I say, and Maggie and Anya both nod knowingly.

He'd said a lot more, of course - we both had. We'd agreed to meet up at 1pm, because my morning classes were over then and I had the afternoon off today. And we'd agreed that he would pick me up.

And then, against my will, I'd agreed that our destination could be a surprise. Originally I'd suggested I could take him around Vancouver on the skytrain, give him a proper tourist experience, but I guess his security team wasn't to happy with that idea. Which makes sense.

And besides, it's supposed to rain today.

(And besides, maybe I don't want to share him.) (And besides, being seen together in public means the possibility of pictures. Which means questions. And speculation. And - )