ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀʟᴀɴᴅ | ᴛsɪᴛᴘ [2]

I Lɪᴋᴇ Mᴀᴋɪɴɢ Yᴏᴜ Nᴇʀᴠᴏᴜs

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Liz jumps as her door bursts open. She groans as her brother comes into view, "Jesus, Dakota."

"I'm gonna do it."

Liz frowns, "Do what?"

"Ask River to be my date to the deb ball."

"Oh my god." Liz says wide eyed, "Seriously?"

"Yes." Dakota says as he paces, "But I'm freaking out."

"Why?"

"Because what if just laughs in my face or some shit. Then I'll look like a dumbass."

"She's not gonna laugh in your face."

"How do you know that?" Dakota says, "I don't know how she feels. I don't even know if she can tolerate me yet."

Liz stands up, "If she didn't like you, she wouldn't have asked about you the day after she helped you on the beach."

Her words seem to go unheard as Dakota keeps pacing. She sighs as she places her hands on his shoulders finally getting him to stop.

"You freaking out like this is freaking me out." Liz says, "It's River. Why are you so nervous?"

"Because I thought I didn't like River and now I do. It's fucking confusing."

"You only didn't like River because she didn't like you and even then she was only annoyed by you." Liz says dropping her hands, "It's gonna be fine. Just go and ask her. The worst she can say is no and she's not going to. Trust me."

Dakota lets out a deep sigh as he looks back at Liz. The girl raises her brows knowingly.

"Okay." He nods, "Okay, yeah, I got it."

"You got it." Liz nods as he heads to the door, "Just be yourself, but not the asshole version."

Dakota frowns as he looks over at her. Liz smiles as she shrugs. Dakota waves her off as he leaves the room.

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Dakota sighed shakily as he stood at River's door. He had a bouquet of flowers at his side as he shook his arms out. Remembering the time he heard River and Liz talk about their favorite flowers a few years ago.

"Okay. Okay. You got this, bro. You got this." He mutters to himself. He rings the doorbell as he backs away from the door. He stands there for what felt like forever. The door finally swings open to reveal River. She frowns as she steps outside.

"Dakota?" She says as she closes the door, "What are you doing here?"

"River." He sighs. She hums as she looks up at him, "I really, really like you."

He pauses as he watches her eyebrows raise, "And I know there's the whole thing with Liz being my sister and your best friend, but I can't keep pretending like I hate you." He says as he shakes his head, "I don't want to hate you."

River's face softens as he continues, "The other night at the beach when you helped me through what happened with my dad and-" He pauses, "and you sat there and listened for however long I needed you to. I've never experienced that before."

"I'm surprised you remember that." She chuckles

"Of course I do. Even though I don't act like it, I remember everything when it comes to you. Everything." He emphasizes as he steps closer, "And I wanna keep remembering everything with you."

River smiles, "I don't know if that makes sense, but what I'm trying to say," He says as he exhales, "Is that I like you a lot and I hate hating you."

River looks down at her hands as it goes silent. She knew he was internally freaking out, but she took the time anyway. She looks up as she notices his breathing is a little bit faster.

"I really need you to say something because I'm freaking the fuck out right now." He rambles. He watches as she starts laughing and his heart starts racing, but this time differently.

"I like you too, Dakota." She says as Dakota sighs in relief

"Oh thank god." River laughs as he puts his hands on his knees. He jumps up, "Oh, uh, these are for you." He says as he hands her the flowers, "I was wondering if you'd let me be your date to the deb ball."

River takes the flowers as he swings his hands back and forth. She looks at him for awhile as he gets nervous again. She smiles, "Yeah, I'll go."

"Okay. Great." He nods, "You've gotta stop doing the suspense thing. It's not cool."

"I like making you nervous." She says. His eyebrows raise as she smiles. He looks away as he blows out air. A smile taking over his face as she laughs.

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Dakota's smile was wide as he rushed into the house. He shuts the door behind him as he runs into the kitchen. Conrad looks up as Dakota looks around, "Where's Liz?"

"Uh, she just went upstairs. Why? What's wrong?"

"She said yes." Dakota says quickly before rushing toward the stairs

"What?" Conrad mumbles to himself as he hears Dakota's rapid footsteps

"Liz! Liz! Liz!" Dakota yells as he rushes upstairs. He notices the girl walking back into the hallway from her room

"What?" She yells back. He finally stopped in front of her.

"She said yes."

Her eyes widen, "River?"

"Yes!" He nods frantically

"Yes! Oh my god." She smiles, "I knew she would."

"I was so fucking nervous dude." She laughs as he rambles, "But she said yeah and that she felt the same way."

"See? I told you."

"It's not gonna be weird right?" Liz frowns as Dakota decides to continue, "You know the whole your best friend is dating your brother."

"Oh. No, I don't care." She waves him off

"Okay." He smiles

"Yeah, we're 18 Dakota. I just want you guys to be happy is all." She shrugs

"Ew don't get all lovey dovey." He cringes as he walks away

"What?" Liz scoffs, "You literally just confessed your love to someone."

"Whatever." He says as Liz stands there confused

"Wha-" She mutters before she shakes her head and goes into her room

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