The air was cool and crisp as Lauren and I walked side by side, the quiet hum of the city our only background noise. After my emotional breakdown earlier, he’d insisted on walking me home. “Fresh air will do you good,” he’d said. I hadn’t argued.
We walked in comfortable silence for most of the way, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. I clutched my jacket closer, trying not to overthink the fact that his shoulder kept brushing against mine.
“You feeling better?” he finally asked, breaking the quiet.
I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for being there, Lauren. I really needed that.”
He smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made my stomach do a little flip. “You don’t have to thank me. That’s what friends are for, right?”
Friends. Right. That word stung more than I cared to admit.
We reached the corner of my street, and I slowed my pace, not ready for the night to end. Lauren must’ve noticed because he stopped, turning to face me fully.
“Marie,” he said, his voice steady but a little quieter than usual.
I blinked up at him. “Yeah?”
He hesitated, scratching the back of his neck—a telltale sign that he was nervous. “So, I’ve been thinking...”
My heart sped up. Oh no. Was this it? Was he about to—?
“You’re... really important to me,” he started, his eyes meeting mine. “Like, more than just a friend.”
My brain short-circuited. Did Lauren Chiu just say what I thought he said?
“And I know this might sound out of the blue,” he continued, his voice gaining a bit of confidence, “but would you want to... you know, go out with me? Like, on a date?”
A date.
LAUREN CHIU JUST ASKED ME OUT ON A DATE.
My mouth opened, but no words came out. My brain was running a marathon, trying to process what had just happened.
“Uh, Marie?” Lauren said after a moment, his eyebrows knitting together. “You don’t have to answer right now. I just—”
“No! I mean—” I cut myself off, mortified at how loud I sounded. “I just wasn’t expecting that.”
He gave me a lopsided grin. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“It’s... I don’t know!” I blurted, my cheeks burning.
Lauren chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Okay. Fair enough. Take your time, Marie. I’m not going anywhere.”
That made my heart squeeze in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying.
The walk to my house was shorter than I wanted it to be. When we reached my gate, Lauren paused, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Well,” he said, rocking back on his heels. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” I said, still dazed. “Tomorrow.”
He smiled at me one last time before turning and walking away, his figure disappearing into the dimly lit street.
I stood there for a long time, my heart racing and my mind spinning. Lauren Chiu, the boy I’d liked since forever, had just asked me out.
And I didn’t even know what to say.
YOU ARE READING
Back To You;
Romance[ON GOING] Marie's life is all about control-until series of unexpected encounters with a 'familiar' face and buried secrets turn everything upside down. Now, with emotions she thought she'd left behind resurfacing, Marie must decide: can she keep r...
