LIMINAL || 𝙅𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙚 [1]

𝟚𝟙 | 𝕗𝕒𝕞 𝕛𝕒𝕞

"What is up with you? You haven't stopped smiling since I got home, and I know it's not because McDonald's burgers are your favorite," Cara sipped her Diet Coke and pinned me with a piercingly curious look. I'd had very little time between Jasper leaving and her arriving to compose myself enough to get by her incredible perception. I rubbed my hands over my face and then raked my fingers through my hair to sell the exhausted high school senior look.

"I'm just really glad to be done with my AP exams," I groaned, which wasn't a total lie. Now that they weren't hanging over my head waiting to drop like a cartoon anvil, it would be smooth sailing for the rest of the semester. And on top of that, Jasper and I had finally worked things out and resolved the issues between us. And that meant we were...dating? I had kind of forgotten to ask that direct of a question.

"If you say so. By the way, I'm not on call this weekend; did you have any plans for tomorrow? I've been meaning to check out this antique store on the other side of town."

I chewed on a few fries and contemplated how to tell her about my plans with Jasper. She hadn't reacted the best to Matt and me going out, but that had been in the midst of a busy month for her at work. Her work at the hospital had shifted back into a normal routine; however, it was probably best to sugar coat the truth for now.

"I'm meeting up with Alice around noon, but we can go in the morning. Maybe get breakfast at the diner?" I suggested, crumpling up the burger wrapper and tossing it into the garbage can. Cara balled up her paper and shot it at the can, missing by an inch.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan."

I retreated upstairs as soon as I possibly could just to lie on my bed and let the butterflies swarm around my stomach in a flurry. No matter how much the thought of seeing Jasper tomorrow ran through my brain, it still made me a little giddy and extremely nervous. It didn't matter that we'd spent hours together at school in the library or here and there on the weekends for more tutoring; things had changed between us, and everything would be different now. His family had seen me the day after the Valentine's dance, but I'd been just as much Alice's friend as Jasper's at that point. And now I was his....girlfriend? We hadn't exactly placed a label on anything, but I had assumed that was the conclusion we'd both come to. Would it be awkward to ask now?

No, I was just being cautious because for the last few weeks, being on the same page with Jasper was hit or miss. It should be better now, though I knew it'd take time to completely eradicate the underlying worry that he might do a one-eighty at any time. Until then, I needed to at least try to trust that we understood each other's intentions.

☽●☾

"Could I have another coffee?"

Cara and I had swapped places when it came to ordering at a restaurant. Usually I got something super heavy and horrible for me while she ordered something a little more health conscious. But that day, she sprang for French toast while I could only stomach a two egg breakfast with a side of sausage. This fact did not go unnoticed.

"Aren't you going to finish your eggs? You've always loved sunny side up."

The bright yellow yolks had been soaked up by the obligatory biscuit I'd yet to have a crumb of.

"And you're wearing eyeshadow. Is there something going on between you and Alice Cullen? Because I promise I won't tell mom and dad."

I nearly choked on a small bite of egg white because Cara was a little too close to the mark with her joke. Assuming it was a joke. Her eyebrows waggled suggestively until she burst out laughing.

"I'm just joking. But seriously, what's up with you?"

"Nothing. She wanted to try on some dresses for graduation, and I wanted to get the full effect. You're the one making things weird."