Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 74

Isla

"Let's go on a date," I say to Julian when I find him at his locker the next day. After dessert yesterday, we talked for a bit. He told me about his father's case, and I listened to every detail of it. I desperately wanted his father to put his attacker in jail, even if the whole town was against it. He should win, despite their hopelessness.

Julian looks down at me, away from his textbook. "A date?" he asks, and when I nod, he smiles. "Okay, where do you want to go?"

I could see that he was trying to take initiative on the date, and I stopped him. Placing a hand on his arm, I shake my head. "Nope," I say with a grin. "I'm taking you out on a date."

Julian's shock makes him sputter. Putting a finger at his chest, he says, "Sorry—you're taking me out on a date?"

"Yeah," I say with a grin. Standing up straighter, I hold my books to my chest. "Worry about nothing, Julian. I will be taking care of everything."

"Oh my God," Julian says, running a hand through his hair. Giving me a look that suggests I'm crazy, he says, "Okay. You're crazy, but when should I pick you up?"

I shake my head against grinning harder as I say, "Nope. I'll be picking you up."

"Oh wow," Julian says, then leans against his locker. Giving me a look, he says, "You're crazy."

"Already said that," I quip, moving away from him. With a last smile, I walk backwards and into the crowd. Julian whistles, watching me go. I look at his shoulder, and he only gives me a smile.

My phone beeps in my pocket. I pull it out to read, I've got myself a man. I laughed, knowing Julian was joking around.

Be careful; I might think you are coming out. I text back with a grin. I run into someone and stop abruptly. Rylie is giving me a look, and since she can speak, I say, "Oh, wait. That reminds me. I have to cancel my Friday hang out."

"Why?" Rylie asks, and I smile. "I'm just going on a date with my boyfriend." Or what I think was my boyfriend. Our status is kind of in a weird spot right now, but I'm working on getting it back. That's what this date would mean for us.

"Oh wow," Rylie says with a wistful look. "We are going to lose our friend to a boy."

"Don't be dramatic," I say with a light slap on her shoulder. "I will always make time for you guys.. then I pause dramtically and say, "But I have a date for my man this Friday, so I have to palm."

"Sorry," Kayla says, following after me. "You have to plan the date?"

"Kind of messed up there," I say to her. "Julian deserves a date, and I'm desperately hoping that it makes things right for us."

"I'm sure they are going okay," Jasmine says, falling in step with us even though she didn't have the first hour with us. "I've seen the way the boy looks at you," she continues with a grin. "Definitely still into you.

"Good," I say with a smile. "Now I have to make sure it stays that way."

•

By the time Friday rolls around, I already have a plan for what I am going to be doing for our date. The carnival is back in town for the last weekend of summer, and it sounded like the only opportunity to go. It would be a good spot for us to rekindle what's between us and talk about our future. Or I hoped it would be.

I stop my mom's car in front of Julian's house and get out. Smoothing down the similar outfit I was wearing the last time we went to the carnival, I walk up to his front door. When I knock, Lorraine is the person who pulls open the door. Her eyes widen in shock, but soon that emotion is replaced with a smile.