Rome Taylor
I was still weak in my ribs and practically my entire body but I was getting better. I mean, I would be surprised if I didn't, considering the amount and quality of food Lucy and Otis are feeding me. I eat five meals a day for god's sake.
Yesterday's little party went so well I even dreamt about it. I requested Otis to print out all the pictures and give them to me. So here I am, sitting and making a scrapbook with all the pictures and decorating. Lucy went to the nearby shop to get me the stationery, I've never been more excited about this stuff. Otis lend me his airpods and his playlist, the IT playlist. I've been listening to them nonstop. I even fell asleep listening to those songs but woke up scared when some guy started shouting in the song.
I retreat from my work when I hear a knock on my door. I ask them to come in.
"Hi! How is your scrapbook looking? You've been here for hours" Hazel greets as she walks towards me to see the mess that I made. But it was a cute mess, a lovely mess.
"It's going well, I'm loving it" I tell her.
Carly managed to get a picture of Ethan and Hazel when he complimented her and she was red as a tomato. I wrote down a sentence below it, I think I've seen it on Pinterest. It says, 'complimenting someone is like lighting up a firework, filled with uncertainty but expressed with genuity'.
At first I could not understand what genuity meant there. But later I realised, that when the person looks at the firework colourfully lighting up the sky, the smile on their face is genuine. And beautiful. It was too deep and cheesy but I liked it.
"So, I need your advice for something" Hazel speaks again once she's done flipping the scarpbook.
"Sure what is it about?"
"I think I like Ethan!" She says in a hurry. I smirk. She grabs a pillow and covers her face with a groan.
"Interesting....continue" I say, still smirking.
"Stop teasing me!" She whines.
"Fine fine! I won't" I raise my hands in surrender.
"So.....I wanna ask him out but I have no idea how so I'm here to ask you" she explains finally removing the pillow hiding her face.
"To ask me out?" I laugh.
"No! Give me a plan" I think for a minute before answering.
"I can't give you a plan but I can help you make one. It's you who knows him the best afterall. But before that, how long have you known him and how well do you know him?"
"Like....4 months? I think I know him well enough. We've connected since the moment we met" she declares proudly.
"Four months....not too long. Are you sure about this? And why are you the one asking him out? Is it solely because you want to or is there another reason?"
"I mean I do want to ask him out and also that guy is taking forever to ask me out and if he has thoughts of saying no I want to end it now itself instead of dragging it out" she says.
"He's not taking forever, surely he is just waiting for the right time. But fine, I'll help you ask him out. Now first question, did you tell this to your dad?" I ask. How can I forget the most important question?
"Yes obviously otherwise I would be dead" she rolls her eyes.
"What did he say?" I ask curiously. I wanted to know how much he changed over this year. This one answer will say it all.
"He said ok, but for the first few months I'll be having lots of restrictions until dad finally trusts him completely. And he asked me not to ask him any advices related to dating" she says as my jaw drops.
Yup, he did a 180 over this year.
"That's...great. So about this plan...uhm do you want it to be casual and simple or grand and special?"
"Simple and special? It should be like, if I get rejected I should feel later on, I had guts! I did amazing! And if it succeeds I want to think, such a special day lead to something beautiful because of me haha" she explains, her mind wandering off to somewhere. Possibly the future.
"Don't overthink it sweetheart. You'll regret it later on" I tell her. I know not all first loves and crushes are failure but most of the time they're not the forever so I think it would be better to take it easy instead of diving deep into it.
"I'm not. I am just thinking of the possibilities"
"That's true. Fine, i think I have an idea in my mind. Hmm.....
He shouldn't be suspicious at all though. It'll be simple but him being absolutely surprised will make it special. So, how can you bring him here without him getting suspicious?" I ask.
"Here?" She exclaims.
"Of course, I'm not letting you ask a guy out somewhere else. I don't trust him completely either" I voice out my intutions.
"Fine. It's not a big deal, if I call him and say something and ask him to come he'll be here" she says.
"That's great! Call him now!" I clap.
"Now? Are you out of your mind??"
"No! Overplanning will complicate stuff. Acting on it will fuel it to be better. No expectations. Just go for it" I motivate her.
"You're crazy! I'm not even dressed up and...and is this the speed you implement your actions? Dad's going to be shooketh, poor dad" she mutters to herself.
"Nope, go get dressed up right now. And call him" I say. I'm way more excited than her to be honest.
"Fine fine" she finally agrees and leaves.
Just as she leaves Otis appears at the door.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asks.
"Uh..fine? Why?"
"Nothing. Just checking" he smiles.
"Well, uhm...do- would you like to go somewhere with me?" He murmurs.
"Oh, well I'm helping Hazel ask her crush out right now....so maybe tomorrow?" His face falls but he smiles once again and nods.
"Yeah that'll be fine" no question about Hazel? What's up with him? Actually, noticing better his eyes and his body language looks different. Or maybe I'm overthinking.
After a while Hazel is back wearing a chic outfit.
"You look so fricking cool!" I compliment her as she flips her hair smugly.
"So.." I begin.
"Yes! I'm calling him. Just wait a moment" she says exasperated at my excitement.
YOU ARE READING
Defiance
RomanceOtis Langston has just settled into his new house with his two kids and his mother. His kids are his motivation to live, he values them more than his own life. His mother is quite worried if he'll ever open up his heart again....well to answer her...
