All Over Her

Chapter 69: the "date"

I was walking with Nico into town and he seemed normal as usual. Our walk was quiet as he was sight seeing the stuff around us before we got to the Leaky Cauldron but it was really bothering me what Mattheo said. I know Nico and I kissed but I thought we had a good sense of friendship. I mean you can kiss people and just be friends right?
"Uh, here's the place." I pointed at the sign that started coming into view.
"The Leaky Cauldron, very on point is it not?" He laughed, holding the door open for me to enter.
Which, that's totally normal. I do that with my friends and that doesn't mean I'm into them. He's just polite. We walked to the table and stared at the menu. I wasn't paying much attention because I just kept staring at him. I was trying to see if he'd do something that seemed off. Not that there's a reason things would be off, since we're just friends.
"Do you know what you're gonna order?" He asked.
"Uh... not really, I'll just get whatever you get"
"Alright, I'll order for us then. I'll be right back."
I nodded as I started to feel really jumpy once he left. I'm overthinking this too much. Mattheo just likes to get in my head and mess with me. Which normally I'd like but right now he's just making me weird. I was dozing off when from the corner of my eye, Nico came back with two plates.
"It's just some fish and chips, simple I know but you can't go wrong."
He placed the plate in front of me and I just dug in. I've been so worried I totally forgot I was also getting pretty hungry.
"You look nice this evening." He said, smiling at me.
I looked up from my plate, "Huh?" I mumbled as chips were filled in my cheeks.
He laughed, "You look good Cas." He continued cutting his fish and eating quietly while smiling to himself.
I chewed my chips better and composed myself, trying not to show how jittery I am.
"Damn I totally forgot to get us drinks, want anything?"
"Just water, thanks."
He got up and went towards the workers to ask for some water. I tried to relax, continuing to eat my food. It wasn't all that good honestly, to the people around me though it probably looks like the best fish and chips I've ever had. But the chips were oversalted and the fish overcooked, but a meal's a meal.
He came back with the waters, "Here you go, pretty lady."
I almost choked and started coughing. I grabbed the water and started to chug it.
"Down the wrong pipe eh?" He looked really concerned.
I chugged almost the entire glass and took a really large breath.
"You have something at the side of your mouth, here let me-"
I saw his hand reaching towards me and I instinctively moved away so hard I fell out of my chair. My face turned a burning red and I felt eyes on me. Nico reached his hand out to help me up.
"Cas, what's going on with you tonight?"
"I'm so sorry Nico, I just didn't want to give you the wrong impression that this is a date."
His face turned blank for a moment. He bursted out laughing.
My face turning even redder, I asked, "What.."
"Cas, I never thought this was a date. I just wanted to hang out. I am flattered you thought I wanted you like that though."
I thought I was gonna disintegrate. "Listen this is totally on me I just thought-"
He was chuckling really hard, "Please, you don't need to explain yourself."
The heat in my face started to reach the tips of my ears, "... It's not that funny that I thought you asked me out..."
He stopped laughing, "Of course not, you're gorgeous and you know I'll admit that, but you also know I'm direct. I just thought we established that we're just friends by now."
My temperature began to cool. "I completely agree, that's why I've been so jumpy."
"How about we finish up and we'll walk back to our dorms. Separately of course, I wouldn't want to give you the wrong idea."
I rolled my eyes at him which quickly changed as we ate and told jokes the rest of the meal.