True Lovers

Chapter 7 Give Your Heart a Break

'EEEEEK!' Was the first reaction from both my friends when I got back and told them what happened with Pierce. They immediately whisked me off, racing me home to change and get ready for my 'date'.

"He said yes, HE SAID YES!" Cassie squealed excitedly. "Amber, you know what this means? HE'S INTO YOU!" Her excitement was so contagious it fueled my dopamine and I laughed, even more thrilled than her that Pierce said yes.

"I don't care if you're gonna be cartwheeling on wheels, that's no excuse not to look drop-dead gorge!" Haruko said insistently, flinging things out of my closet onto my bed haphazardly.

"Yeah, you can look hot for 'Hot Hartman' and still pull your killer moves," Cassie said, smirking at me.

"Brilliant!" Haruko said, holding up my violet mini skort. "This will show off those legs you kept hidden all these years and give Hartman something to look at!"

"Mm-mm, and he might just fall harder for you and seal the deal with a kiss by the end of the night!" Cassie said, folding her lower lip inside with a sly smile. I gawked in shock.

"Guys, I don't wanna look like I'm trying too hard! Are you tryna turn me into a siren?!"

"Exactly," Haruko said, nodding in affirmation. "You've never tried to snag a guy in your life, Amb, what do you know about flirting?"

"This is your first chance at love, we're not gonna let you blow it!" Cassie said impatiently. I suddenly looked at my two friends with overwhelming affection and hugged them both.

"You really are the best friends in the whole world!" I said, overcome with emotion. They both grinned.

"Yeah, we know," Haruko said smugly. "Now go get dressed, for crying out loud! You shouldn't be wasting time hugging us, go hug your man!"

"Right after I do your makeup!" Cassie added. I smiled. This was turning out to be another perfect day for the second day in a row.

~

"Damn, did I agree to go skateboarding with Tony Hawk or Kendall Jenner?" Was Pierce's first statement to me as I got into his car. I blushed hard, smiling shyly as Pierce's hooded eyes gave me an appreciative stare, taking me in from head to toe, obviously checking me out. Cassie and Haruko had put me in an attractive V-neck heart-patterned t-shirt they dug out of my closet and my violet mini skort and Cassie really did a good job with my makeup—she made it both subtle and sexy at the same time. Don't know how she did it, I knew very little about being feminine.

"Hehehe, I hope that's a compliment," I replied to Pierce, lowering my eyelids bashfully.

"Heck yeah, you look so good," Pierce smiled at me. Holy smokes, Pierce just said I looked good. My heart just sprouted wings and fluttered. It was incredible how he had no reservations about being honest with me. Or complimenting me.

"So, Amber," Pierce began while he drove, and my heart did somersaults when he called my name, "I'm kinda surprised you'd wanna hang out with the TA on a fine evening like this. I mean, wouldn't you rather hang out with your friends, or... a boyfriend?" No freaking way, was Pierce actually trying to find out if I had a boyfriend? My curiosity burned wondering why he'd ask.

"My friends have things to do and—I definitely don't have a boyfriend," I said after an emphatic pause. "And I'd much rather hang out with you." Oh my gosh, did that just come out of my mouth?

"I'm flattered," Pierce said with a grin, setting me at ease. Phew, at least I didn't come off as too strong or desperate, despite my overwhelming feelings for him.

"I'm more surprised that you agreed to go skateboarding with me, Pierce," I said, his name coming a little breathy from my lips. "I mean, don't you have some hot, overachieving, college girlfriend waiting for you for a date night or something?" I was testing the waters, I knew, I couldn't believe my own daring at asking something like that.