Soak Up The Sun

If You Want To

Sophie had a smoother day at work even though she'd barely slept. She thought she was "passing" well. Most people hadn't commented on her performing poorly. To her face at least. Mark had asked her about the questions and she'd lied smoothly about everything going well. She'd copied the transcript and handed it to the editor. She smiled as she listened to Liam's soft little voice swirling around her head all day.

Her stomach flipped as butterflies fluttered taking wing right through her chest. Liam. She'd been thinking about him all day. She blushed. This was fucking stupid. She was like a teenager with a crush. You're 30! Pathetic. He'd probably forgotten all about their date anyway. This was ridiculous.

Sophie felt silly as she rubbed her lipstick off on the back of her hand. Why was she even bothering to try to make herself pretty? Was it for him? She didn't even know what to wear. He hadn't said where they were going. Sophie went to her wardrobe and smiled as she ran her hand over the copies amounts of 90's fabrics. Corduroy and suede and velvet and leather. She picked out a plain striped t-shirt and a black corduroy dungaree dress with docs. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. She reapplied the lipstick and smiled at herself in the mirror. Look pretty for yourself.

Noel laughed as Liam nervously fixed his hair in the mirror. He tried to play it cool but his hands were shaking.

Liam fixed him with a glare.

"What?" He asked.

Noel shook his head and held his hands up.

"Nothing. Just can't believe Sophie agreed to go out on a date with you."

"How? Look at us. I'm a handsome fucker aren't I?"

Noel nodded begrudgingly.

"Yeah you are. But she's a smart woman. Need more than a pretty face to keep her interested r'kid."

Liam tried to keep the disappointment off his face. Noel was right. He knew that too.

"Well...I'll keep her interested as long as I can. And if it's just tonight then that's that." He said casually.

Noel nodded.

"Give her a night to remember eh big stud?"

Liam launched the pillow from his bed at him.

Noel laughed enjoying teasing him as he removed the pillow from his face and tgrew it after him.

"It better go well. I'm bringing a bird back so don't come back."

Liam felt his stomach clench queasily. She'd never want to...do that on a first date if ever with him. He'd make himself scarce till morning elsewhere. But he wouldn't let Noel know that. He'd think he'd gone soft or something. I mean why didn't he want to shag her? He liked her. So what was the problem?

He hesitated at a shop debating whether to buy flowers. Girls liked flowers. But did Sophie? He didn't know. He sighed feeling nerves take over. What the fuck? He never got like this. It all just came so naturally. Why not now? He picked some yellow flowers. They were bright, pretty but not too flashy a bit like Sophie herself he thought.

He stood outside her door nervously adjusting his hair before he worked up the courage to ring the doorbell. Would she even remember the arrangement they'd made? The door was pulled open and his heart pounded in his chest.

Sophie smiled at him and hel felt his nerves simultaneously increase and subside.

He looked at the nice outfit she had on and the nice bright lipstick that clashed with her hair. She was breathtaking. He grinned.