A blank Slate

It's a Date

I would be lying if I said that it was unpleasant to wake up to a spastic blonde draped across my torso, so I won’t. It was nice to say the least. I blinked a few times, trying to get my eyes to focus in the dark to no avail. Giving up, I let my head fall back on my arm and glanced down at my unconscious bed-mate. Her usually perfect hair was splayed in all directions giving her a wild look that I wasn’t used to seeing, and the content smile on her face was new to me as well. I had to make extreme efforts to stay still, not knowing how I was to escape my current predicament with my, and Carrie’s, pride intact.

I stifled a yawn, realizing how shallowly I had been breathing in an attempt to keep my chest level so as not to wake the ball of blonde fluff. Guessing by how dark it was outside the window to my left, I figured it was only around two in the morning, possibly three.

I risked slipping my hand into my back pocket and tugged out my phone. Two thirty, I thought to myself, nodding slightly before immediately regretting the action. My slight movement had jostled Carrie awake. She yawned and stretched, nearly knocking my head from my shoulders as she did so. I braced myself for the inevitable embarrassment and possible unintentional violence that was sure to follow only to be met with another pleasant surprise. No such reaction came.

“Mmm. Mornin,” She drawled, resting her chin on my sternum. Her glazed over eyes were still heavy with sleep. I looked at her a moment before relaxing again.

“That it is.” I could almost feel her eyes roll as she snuggled in closer, causing my stomach to flip.  “We should probably head out soon, ya know? Your parents are probably worrying about you. 

A sour look crossed her face. “I highly doubt that. I told you my dad sucks ass.” I furrowed my brow, thinking.

“I don’t think you did, actually.”

She let out a peal of laughter that sounded a little closer to sobs than humor to me. “Well now you know.” I smiled, tightening my hold on her and relaxing a little. I found myself counting my breath again before long. I only got to six this time and I frowned.

“Why do you do that?” She asked, putting a small hole in my thoughts and leaving me confused.

“Do what?”

She wiggled around, finagling her hand from under herself and tapped my head. “Breathe all long like that.” I stalled a bit, trying to come up with something to tell her. If I was being honest I would say that I didn’t really know why I did it. It was just something I was so used to doing that it became second nature to me. “Well…?” She prodded.

I rolled my eyes and dug my fingers into her sides making her squeal with laughter. “I just do.” I said once she regained her breath. She smacked me lightly and I gave her a sheepish grin.

The blonde gave up when I shrugged and went back to lounging on me. “What time is it?”

I was starting to wonder if this sort of thing was so common place for her that it didn’t even register that she was laying on me. “It’s almost three.” I could feel a blush slowly rising on my face and I shifted uncomfortably.  “I actually need to be getting home though. Think you can drive?” She raised a brow at me, but gracefully slid off the couch.

We walked in silence back to where she’d parked the evening before. We walked past the trucks that had housed the music and drinks. Most were deserted save a few people and the grass was admittedly close to vacant as many part-goers had left already.

I settled myself into the passenger seat of Carrie’s bug, fidgeting. If she noticed, she gave no indication. The expected silence was broken when the blonde flicked on her stereo, Pierce the Veil screaming out beautiful lyrics on our long drive back to my apartment. My mom was off on another job, only stopping back home for a quick change of clothes and a few words, so I still had the place mostly to myself.

We pulled into the parking lot about forty-five minutes later. Carrie shut off the car and looked to me. I didn’t know exactly what she was waiting for and I was left to fidget even more under her scrutinizing gaze. She finally broke the silence. “Did you have a good time?”

It felt like there was more to that question than just a few words, almost as if she were searching for some underlying answer. I narrowed my eyes at her and shrugged. “Yeah I had fun I guess…”

For some reason, that answer seemed to satisfy her and she smiled. “Well then I guess we’ll have to do something again soon, huh?” I shrugged again, but she continued. “What are you doing next Friday?”

I tried to see where she was going with her line of questioning, but came up with nothing. “I guess I’m not doing anything… why?”

Her smile brightened and I saw a look in her eye that almost reminded me of a victorious expression. “Well then how about a movie?”

“Uh sure. What did you have in mind?” It was then that her wording seemed to click. “Wait… do you mean like a, like a date?”

“Mhm.” She giggled. I was at a complete loss and could only stare with my mouth hanging open. “You’re going to catch flies.”

My senses came back to me and I settled for a cautious expression. I opened my mouth to say no, that I had no intentions of getting involved with anyone, but that wasn’t exactly what came out. “I’d love to.” I felt as though I’d signed a deal with the devil. As I got out of the car I could only think one thing. So much for laying low.