𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭

forty seven

Delphine

I hadn't been back in Eliza's dorm more than five minutes before I regretted even mentioning Kaiden's impromptu "date" proposal.

Her face had lit up like a sparkler, and the barely-contained excitement only grew more intense with every passing second.

"Oh. My. God. Delphine, you can't just 'consider' this! You have to say yes!" she squealed, her eyes gleaming. She tossed a pillow in my direction before springing up on her bed, crossing her legs under her like an overly-animated cartoon character. "A date with Kaiden... and you're still mulling it over? What's there to think about?"

I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "I don't know, Liza. It just... it happened out of nowhere, okay? I didn't exactly expect him to come up to me in the middle of my walk and start unloading this whole monologue about how he wishes the other night had been different, you know?"

She leaned forward, chin on her hands, practically vibrating with excitement. "Of course he would! Kaiden doesn't do random hookups! Well, maybe he does," she corrected, laughing, "but with you, it's different! He's actually into you. I've been telling you this for ages, and now it's out in the open!"

I flopped back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling and hoping my sigh sounded convincing. "Maybe. But he's also, you know, Kaiden. And I don't know if I'm ready to be part of his... orbit. He's used to girls falling at his feet. I'm not going to be just another one of them."

Eliza shot me a look of pure exasperation. "Delphine, you're not just 'another girl.' He knows that. You know that. And it's not like he has some kind of evil playboy agenda. He likes you—he likes you, Delphine." She tapped me lightly on the head, grinning. "And let's be real, it's not every day that you let someone in like that. You think it was an accident?"

I sighed again, pulling her pillow over my face, but her words were worming their way into my thoughts.

The idea of being "just another girl" to Kaiden stung, but I couldn't deny that he'd been unusually sincere tonight. He didn't have to talk to me, didn't have to explain himself like that. Yet he had.

"Alright, fine. Maybe I'm just... being cautious," I mumbled through the pillow, as though admitting it would somehow make me feel less conflicted.

Eliza, undeterred by my lackluster response, pried the pillow from my hands and gave me a gentle shove. "Cautious? You? Since when do you play it safe, Miss I-Live-On-The-Edge? You've been through so much and built walls so high that no one can get through. But this is Kaiden we're talking about! He's not trying to break down your walls; he's just trying to get to know you."

She paused, leaning back with a dramatic sigh. "Honestly, if I had half the chance you do, I wouldn't be sitting here 'considering' it! I'd be planning the next three dates and already picking out cute outfits for double dates!"

I gave her a skeptical look. "Double dates?"

"Uh, yeah! You, me, Ethan, Kaiden—we'd be unstoppable!" She clasped her hands together, her eyes glittering. "Can you imagine the fun? Movie nights, late-night food runs, study sessions that turn into all-night hangouts... This could be the best thing to ever happen to all of us!"

The mental image was so clear and lively that I couldn't help but smile, even as I rolled my eyes. "Eliza, slow down. You're acting like he proposed marriage, not one date."

She waved off my protest, brushing a few stray strands of hair out of her face as she settled back into her bed, eyes shining with that same gleeful determination. "Details, Delphine! The point is, he likes you, you clearly like him, and I'm going to keep pestering you until you admit it."

I sat up, crossing my arms, hoping to mask the sudden rush of nervous energy that her words stirred in me. "Fine. Maybe I do like him. But that doesn't mean I'm ready to go plunging into this whole 'relationship' thing."

"Oh, please," Eliza scoffed, swatting at my knee. "Don't give me that excuse. You can take it slow! One date at a time, see how it goes. No pressure. Just you and Kaiden, having a good time. No strings attached if you don't want them."

Her words settled over me, and I could feel my resolve weakening, little by little. The idea of taking it slow, no expectations or big plans—maybe that was manageable. Maybe I didn't have to have all the answers just yet.

"And come on," she continued, now in full persuasion mode, "do you really think Kaiden goes around asking just anyone on actual dates? No. He wouldn't go through all that if he wasn't serious about you."

I raised an eyebrow, trying to hold onto a shred of skepticism. "I just... I don't want this to be a mistake. He's the kind of guy who attracts attention—good and bad. And I don't exactly love the idea of suddenly being part of the Kaiden fan club."

She smirked. "Oh, Delphine, you're so dramatic. Look, the thing about Kaiden is, he's not going to treat you like all those other girls. If he wasn't interested in getting to know you for real, he wouldn't have even bothered with all that talk tonight. Trust me on this one."

For a moment, the room fell quiet, her words lingering as I considered them. Eliza was right, in her own way. Kaiden's approach tonight hadn't been typical, and maybe that did mean something. Maybe, for once, I didn't have to overanalyze it.

"Alright, fine," I finally relented, unable to hold back a small smile. "I'll say yes. But if this turns into some ridiculous mess, I'm blaming you."

She squealed in delight, reaching over to pull me into a tight hug. "You are not going to regret this, I promise! We're going to have so much fun, and you're going to love it. I'm already planning all the details!"

"Oh god," I muttered, laughing despite myself. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"You're doing it because it's exactly what you need," she said with a wink, already practically bouncing in place. "Now, let's plan your outfit. We need something cute but casual, something that says 'I'm interested but not desperate,' you know?"

"Hold on, we haven't even set a date for this yet," I protested, but she was already up and rummaging through her closet.

"I don't care if you're going tomorrow or next week, we're going to be ready. This is a big moment, Delphine! It's time to show Kaiden that you're just as fabulous as he thinks you are." She pulled out a soft, fitted sweater, holding it up with an approving nod. "See? This with jeans, and maybe some cute ankle boots?"

I sighed, half amused, half exasperated. "Eliza, you're out of control."

"And you love it," she retorted, winking at me as she added a few more outfit options to the pile. "Now, let's get you date-ready!"

As much as I tried to act nonchalant, I could feel a flicker of excitement bubbling up. Maybe Eliza was right—maybe this could be exactly what I needed.