Keep Love Around

Two

Should I go with the red, or the pink?" I ask Jules frantically as I start messing with my hair in the mirror.

My back's turned to him, but I can see him through the reflection of the mirror out of the corner of my eye.

"Bro, a week ago you didn't even want to go to a party with me, now you're asking for fashion tips...And I smell cologne. Really? It's like you're expecting something."

"Just answer the damn question." I laugh. Truth be told, it was a bit much. But I was nervous. When I get nervous, I freak out. It's not my fault. Okay, maybe I lie.

"The red is a bit suggestive and the pink's too innocent. Go with something else. Like blue. I like you in blue, it accentuates your eyes." He smiles.

Jules' sense of fashion is always on point. He carries himself well, which I admire. God knows I'm a disaster when it comes to that sort of thing. Which might be a reason I haven't had a boyfriend since High School.

"I always knew you had good sense." I say, pulling out a blue and black button up flannel that goes well with my dark blue jeans.

"Yeah, that's what I'm here for, you big idiot. Now stop messing with your hair. It's fine."

I realized Jules was right, my eyes going wide as the quiff that I'd spent so much time on perfecting was almost half down. There's another twenty minutes gone. I was supposed to be there at eight o'clock. It was now 7:15 and it took twenty minutes to get to his house. Heaven help me if I'm late.

"Charlie...Stop frigging stressing, man. It's not like it's a date, is it? There's gonna be other people there. He's probably gonna be surrounded by fifty people at all times trying to talk to him. You don't have to look like Leo DiCaprio just for this. You're thinking too much." Jules grabbed my shoulders. He was definitely a calming influence in my life at the best of times. And this was one.

"I don't think there's gonna be that many people there, Jules. He doesn't live in a very big house apparently." I said, trying to reassure him. It was funny. We were both trying to do the same thing.

"Yeah...Don't be surprised. You saw how last week went. These things get out quick." Jules raised an eyebrow, as if to say he was astounded by my statement.

"True. But you never know."

"Exactly. There could be strippers and all kinds of other shit there."

"Can I get a handful of dollar bills just in case?" I laughed, but Jules looked unimpressed.

"Fool, get your own damn money. I work hard."

"Yeah, and I still don't see any of those Java Chip's you promised for getting you that job, by the way."

"You only had sway 'cause the manager thought you was cute. Hush."

I put on my best shocked expression. "So sassy!"

"Yeah, and you can sass your ass right outta here. You were freaking out so much earlier, and now you're gonna be late 'cause you were talking to me. Shoo."

Jules made a sweeping motion with his hands. Just a few minutes earlier he was telling me to calm down. Now he's rushing me out of the door. I wonder what his deal was? He probably had Natasha coming over. I swear, if they have sex in my bed....

"Okay, okay. I'm going. Chill out."

I headed toward the door with a slight smile on my face, excited for the evening, the polar opposite of the previous week at this time. It's funny how things change, isn't it?

"Have a good time honey! Be back before dawn! Practice safe sex!" Jules called, in his best stereotypical mother voice as I walked out the door. I rolled my eyes and shook my head enough so he could see, and walked out the door. The time was 7:45, I would be late. I hope he wouldn't mind.