Talia Hearts Who?!

Chapter 10

Finally it was Sunday, and time for my date with John. I was wearing a dress almost as short as the blue one I’d worn to the movies, but I had learned my lesson, and was wearing thick, wool tights beneath it, especially since it was even colder today than it had been yesterday. Plus, it was nighttime, and The Green generally had its gigs outside, with a small stage and picnic tables for people to sit at. There was also a large grassy area just in front of the stage, where all the young couples sat down on blankets and stuff - way more romantic than a table, and it was easily cleared if the band had said that they wanted a mosh pit or something. I didn’t dare admit it to anyone (and who would I tell, anyway? Keira wasn’t speaking to me, and Eliza would have just used it against me. I won’t even bother mentioning my mother), but I secretly hoped we could be a blanket couple. 

I’d never really properly considered John as a guy I would go on a date with, considering I was really just his best mate’s little sister’s best friend. Why would he even look at me? But I guess he must find something about me attractive, unless this was more of a just-friends thing. Although, that seemed kind of unlikely. I mean, a) we weren’t friends, and b) he’d seemed definitely jealous of Toby on the phone. That had to mean he at least liked me a little bit, right? Right. 

It was about quarter to seven by now, but I wasn’t too worried. I was warm enough in my tights and with my coat on, I was positively toasty. The Green was only about 5 minutes drive from my house, and we’d easily have enough time to get food ordered and claim a spot, especially if we split up. It wasn’t a big deal, and I was not getting anxious at all. Nor was I constantly checking my phone. In fact, I was playing solitaire, and I had it on silent, so I wouldn’t even know if he’d texted me, not that I thought he would. What was ten, fifteen minutes late anyway? No big deal. 

*** 

It was five to seven and I was getting kind of cold. Not worried though. Never worried. Guys had a tendency to take their time getting ready, especially if they were nervous about a date. So John being a weeny bit late was clearly a positive indication - if he was nervous, that meant that he wanted to impress me, and he would only want to impress me if he liked me quite a lot. So. It was a good thing. And it’s not like we would miss any of the show, we’d arrive right on time for the gig to start. We’d just have to be fast getting our food, and maybe have to sit at a picnic table, or squeeze into a smaller space on the green in front. No biggie, we could handle that. We could handle anything. 

*** 

It was twenty past seven and I was fed up and freezing. I could forgive Toby for being 15 minutes late, and I could certainly forgive John for being twenty. Twenty five even. But thirty five minutes late? Even I, as much as I liked John, was having trouble being gracious. It seemed pretty obvious that he had stood me up. I’d had my phone on as loud as it would go, checking and re-checking my inbox, receiving nothing. I sighed. Obviously I’d been wrong about John. He definitely did not like me. He must have plotted this with Drew, as revenge for spilling juice on him, or, more likely, just to be mean. Getting my hopes up and then dashing them seemed like the kind of sadistic plan Drew would come up with, and convincing poor John into carrying it out was just the icing on the cake. I sincerely doubted that John was behind any of this, and was just a pawn in Drew’s game, since he must have known I’d never agree to a date with him. My shoulders slumped, I snuck back into the house. Drew was going to pay. But for now? I was too exhausted to want anything more than bed. Turns out great emotional upheaval really takes it out of you. 

Please don't hate me >.< This is quite a short chapter, I think, and the night's events do not end there (: Hope you like it :D Oh, and look at that LostStand, I dedicated it to you :P Tammy xx