Love me. Choose me.

{5} Love me

It happened in the very spot where it all began, as if it was destined—like we were made for each other.

The moment I agreed to date Trent, my world shifted into something I wasn’t sure I was prepared for. Sitting next to him in the booth, sipping from my cocktail, he lifted his hand from the table and wrapped it around my shoulder.

"You're one in a million," he whispered in my ear.

I met his gaze, my heart fluttering. So many questions raced through my mind; agreeing to date someone I barely knew made things complicated. I searched for a conversation starter. "What year are you?"

"I'm in my third year," he grinned proudly. "I know you might want to learn more about me, but you don’t have to."

"Huh!" I arched an eyebrow. "You're the weirdest dude."

He laughed. "At least I'm different. Thank you."

"Yeah, right." I rolled my eyes.

"Let's talk about you." He smiled, pulling me closer. My head rested on his shoulder, and I stiffened, slightly uncomfortable. "Tell me about yourself."

I took a sip of the cocktail, deliberating on how much to share. "Well…"

Trent leaned in. "What’s your major?" He looked genuinely eager to know more.

"Oh, uh," I glanced at him before looking down at my drink. "Biochemistry," I replied after another sip.

"That's cool. Dylan is studying that too, but he's in his final year," he added casually. "Mine is mechanical engineering."

Like a bolt of inspiration struck him, he turned to me. "I want to show you something tonight."

"What is it?"

"It's a surprise, so I can't tell you. Can you sneak out of your dorm around midnight?" he asked excitedly.

"That's late; I can’t do that." I shook my head slowly. "I have classes tomorrow morning."

Trent chuckled, shaking his head. "I promise it won't affect your class. Besides, you don't have to attend every lecture."

"No, I can't." I insisted, pulling away from his shoulder as I finished my drink.

"Please, Noelle." He pleaded. "I promise I'll bring you back on time."

My heart raced. I’d never been out late before; According to my mom story, my dad left her as soon as I was born. My mom had been overprotective ever since, and I was never allowed to go out without her knowing. Now that I finally had some freedom, I still felt scared.

Part of me wanted to stick to my decision, but another part urged me to accept, as reason why I should were unveiling in my mind. This could be my chance to experience something new.

I'd always wanted to date someone who  treated me well, but I remembered my mom's warning: never trust anyone too easily. My high school experiences were filled with heartbreak, and I dreaded going through that again.

But that inner voice persisted, and I had to give in. A sigh escaped my lips. "Fine, I’ll come."

                      ∞

"How can you say yes to that?" Shane exclaimed. "I can’t believe you agreed to date that jerk."

"He's not like that; Trent is different. It’s just a date, probably a nice dinner in a decent place."

Shane furrowed his brow at me as if I were crazy. "He’s going to take you to a lounge and try to get you to drink."

"Calm down; Trent is not like that. He's different from all the bad boys."

"Remember when you thought Noah was different? Until he  ghosted you at school, and then there was Danny, who moved to another country without telling you. He was your true love, perfect match or whatever you used to call him." Shane raised a thoughtful eye roll at me and then narrowed it into a slit. "Until he left!"

"That was high school. This is different."

"When will you learn from your mistakes? This guy will drop you like trash." Shane sighed, shaking his head.

"He won't; I'm sure of it!" I replied confidently.

"You know I’ll support you if it’s right, but this isn’t right. Sneaking out at night to see a guy? What about your priorities?"

 

"I know, but I don't want to disappoint him," I said slowly, my confidence wavering.

Shane's jaw dropped as he stared at me, forming a radical sculpture of disbelief. "Enjoy your date," he said before turning and ambling away.

I headed toward my dorm, my mind too occupied to worry about Shane’s opinion. He was throwing up red flags about Trent that I couldn't ignore, and I ran my hands through my dark mahogany hair, trying to brush off my worries.

Now, I had one pressing question: What am I going to wear?

"What's the problem? You look like you’re in an outfit crisis." Sawyer glanced up from her stack of books, adjusting her glasses, her blue eyes peering at me.

I navigated through the heaps of clothes strewn across the floor and plopped down beside her on the bed. "It’s nothing," I said, pulling some clothes from the pile to inspect them.

She shook her head, leaning back in her desk chair and crossing her ankles. "You’ve been at it for hours. That doesn’t count as nothing." She raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to elaborate.

I sighed, dropping the clothes back into the pile and picking up another shirt, turning it over in my hands. Sawyer waited patiently, her eyes partially glued to her book.

"There’s this guy." The moment the words slipped out, I winced at how cliché they sounded and looked away. "We just started dating, and this is our first date. I want to look amazing."

Sawyer set her book aside. "Oh my gosh, you're in a relationship!" she exclaimed. "After your advice yesterday, I went shopping and got some awesome new clothes." I felt myself smile, even though I knew her fashion sense was questionable.

"Good, I'm glad you took the advice." The words slipped out before I could process them.

Sawyer chuckled lightly and rushed to her closet, which looked different from its usual black and white—now bursting with color. When she opened the doors, my eyes widened; it was like a fashion enthusiast had raided her space.

The clothing inside was stunning, and I marveled at her collection of vintage pieces.

"Wow..." I said breathlessly, staring wide-eyed at her wardrobe. My fingers traced the fabrics carefully. "These are incredible." My voice was filled with awe.

She turned to me, astonished. "They are?"

I nodded. "Yes! How did you curate this collection?" I gestured to the array of vintage treasures.

She shrugged. "I did some online research and then went out to find what I could."

"Research," I mused, placing a thoughtful finger under my chin. "That's cool; I'm glad."

"Speaking of your date," Sawyer smirked, pulling out a blush glitter tulle cocktail dress. "The bodice is adorned with delicate beading, perfect for twirling beneath the stars! The thin straps and open scoop back give it a flirtatious feel, balancing feminine and fearless."

I stood transfixed as she animatedly described the dress. Her enthusiasm was contagious; if I didn't know her as my once-eccentric roommate, I might have mistaken her for a fashion designer.

I suppressed my amazement. She beamed at me. "Trust me, he’ll be dazzled by your look."

Top questions

What do you think Trent is up to, do you think Shane is right about his intentions?

What do you think about Sawyer's sudden transformation, do you believe she got her idea by reading?

This chapter is the toughest, maybe it's my laziness that is pulling me away. I hope you enjoy the story and please give it your vote.

With love Clara Joel.