𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 17] I Think He's Right

Truthfully, I don't know what's going through my head right now.

I briskly cross the parking lot, arms wrapped around myself.

The afternoon sun is still fairly bright, making it easy to scan the rows of cars for the one I'm looking for.

I didn't know how to ask about the party over text without coming across as awkward so I felt like it was just better to ease into in person.

The low hum of an engine running greets me as I approach what I'm pretty sure is Lake's Honda Civic.

Too late to back out now.

I hesitantly pull on the handle of the passenger door and take a deep breath in when it opens.

"Hey, you."

I exhale right back out as I slide in to the seat and smile almost nervously at Lake. "Hi."

"You look nice," he comments innocently enough but his gaze threatens to send me into hysterics.

This feels like a date. It's not though... plus not to mention I haven't even been on date in a million years so how would I know what it feels like?

"Thank you," I say barely above a whisper. "You too."

The plain black tee and jean combo is simple but somehow still intriguing, especially thanks to the now visible scars slashed across his biceps.

"You know." He shifts slightly in the driver's seat to get a better look at me. "I was kind of surprised you wanted to meet up. I thought it'd take a lot more convincing."

I feel slightly caught off guard by his use of the term 'convincing' but I brush it off when the corner of his mouth turns up in amusement, clearly joking.

"Yeah, well..." I shrug, feeling the need to to keep the lines unblurred. "There's no reason two people can't just hang out, y'know?"

"Mhm." He nods, putting the car into drive. "So, where do you wanna go? You hungry?"

I immediately shake my head, prepared for that question. "No, I ate a big lunch."

The last thing I want is for us to go out to dinner, what says, 'this is a date' more than that?

"Okay." He laughs some at my quick response as he eases off the brake, causing the car to crawl out of the parking space. "No food then. Do you have something else in mind?"

"Just...nothing...crazy." I glance at him out of the corner of my eye as I pull my seatbelt on, noticing he's not wearing his.

"Nothing crazy..." he echoes, turning the steering wheel as he weaves through the parking lot. "I feel like this is a test."

I can't help but smile as he looks over at me. "Is it? Is the place I pick gonna determine if I pass?"

"Pass what?" I inquire, knowing exactly what he means and he shrugs a shoulder. "The test."

I look out the passenger window, still feeling his eyes on me. "Maybe."

He chuckles, navigating to the exit of Hemingway's massive parking lot and finally pulling his seatbelt on. "Alright...then I get to pick?"

I nod and he taps his finger on the steering wheel. "Okay...I have an idea."

After about a half-hour or so of debating best movies, songs and food, Lake takes a left through the entrance of Whistling Oaks Nature Park.

"A park?" I interrupt our discussion of best holidays to raise an eyebrow.

"No food, nothing crazy," is his answer and when I look over at him, he's already looking at me. "Just like you wanted."