My phone buzzes, and I reach for it, half-expecting it to be Carlie with another one of his ridiculous texts. But it's not. It's Justin. "I'm on my way," the message reads.
I sit up quickly, panic setting in. I'm not ready—emotionally or physically. I scramble to my feet and head for the bathroom, taking the quickest shower of my life before rushing to find something to wear.
As I stand in front of my closet, rifling through my clothes, I hear my mom's voice again, this time quieter, talking to herself in the kitchen. I don't want Justin to meet her just yet. It's not that I'm ashamed, but I just... I'm not ready for that step. Not with this weird feeling hanging over me.
I finally settle on a simple outfit—a pair of jeans and a cute top that's casual but nice enough for a date. I grab my phone and head downstairs, trying to sneak out before my mom notices.
"Where are you going?" she calls out just as I reach the door.
"I'm just going out for a bit," I reply quickly, hoping she won't pry any further.
"Be safe, honey," she says, her voice soft and full of concern. I give her a quick smile and a nod before stepping outside.
The evening air is cool, a welcome relief after the stuffiness of the house. I sit on the porch, waiting for Justin to arrive. As I stare up at the sky, the pinks and oranges of sunset slowly giving way to the deep blues of twilight, my thoughts drift to Mark again.
Why am I thinking about him now? I shake my head, trying to push the image of his disappointed smile out of my mind. I made the right choice, didn't I?
But if it was, why do I feel so strange? So... unsettled?
"Come on, Myla," I mutter to myself. "You're going out with Justin. Focus on that."
Justin finally arrives and he gets out of the car, waiting for me to approach him.
Walking towards Justin's car, I can't help but feel a strange tension in the air. He opens the door for me with a small smile, and I slip inside, still trying to figure out why I feel so off. As he closes the door and jogs to the other side, I steal a glance at him, wondering if it's just me overthinking things.
Once Justin is inside the car, I try to break the silence. "What kind of movie is this?" I ask, holding up the ticket he gave me earlier.
"Romance," he replies, flashing a brief smile as he focuses on the road. I nod, my earlier excitement about this date quickly fading.
Romance was fine, but it wasn't exactly what I needed to lift my mood right now. I was secretly hoping for something lighthearted, maybe even funny, to distract me from whatever it was that was weighing me down.
As Justin starts the car, I buckle my seatbelt and try to relax. The silence between us is filled with John Legend's music playing softly in the background, but it does little to ease the unease growing in my chest.
I can't help but think back to what Carlie said before. He knows Justin isn't the most talkative or playful guy, but I always assumed it was just his way of being comfortable around me. Now, though, I'm not so sure.
The drive to the cinema feels longer than it is, the quiet stretching on as I stare out the window. Once we arrive, Justin gets out and comes around to open my door. It's a nice gesture, but it feels... mechanical, like he's going through the motions.
Inside the cinema, the scent of popcorn fills the air, and I can't help but feel a pang of regret when we walk past the concession stand without stopping. When we find our seats, Justin suddenly turns to me.
