18 Days ➳ Riley McDonough/ Before You Exit Fanfic

19.

March 20th // 12th day

C O N N O R

It was nearly 5 PM when I pulled up in front of Thomas' house to pick up Jade and I was in a bit of a rush because my plan for the day -- or evening -- was a little bit more out there, in comparison to Ryan's lunch and Thomas' sleepover. I wasn't saying that they were boring. It was just sort of plain in my opinion.

I approached the front door with long strides as I could feel my fringe bouncing on my forehead with each step I took before I decided to just flip them away and hoped that they wouldn't fall back into my eyes, but they did. They always did.

I then stretched out my arm to ring the doorbell, pushing the button twice just to make sure. A bad habit of mine that everyone liked to point out each time I had the opportunity to ring a doorbell.

Within seconds, the door swung open and revealed a giddy-looking Jade with Thomas standing right behind her, looking quite sad to know that his day with her had come to an end and that it was my turn now.

"So soon?" Thomas said, pouting like a little kid as he wrapped his arms around her tightly in an attempt to prevent her from leaving him and going with with me.

"Sorry, buddy," I replied. "But a day's a day."

With a defeated look on his face, he turned Jade around and gave her a quick hug that looked like it could've broken her ribs, but she remained unfazed and squeezed back before saying a quick thank you and joining me at my side.

"Take care of her, okay?"

"We'll be fine, Thomas. Don't worry."

After a couple more waves and goodbyes, Jade and I were in my car, driving down the street to a special location that I'd picked out for my evening with her and by the curious look on her face, I knew that she had no idea where we were going or what kind of plan I had hatched up in my head.

"I suppose where we're going is a surprise and you won't tell me if I ask you," she said. She knew me too well when it came to these things. It was sort of sad how she didn't even try anymore. I had to admit that her pestering me with questions was actually pretty fun on my part. "Isn't that right?"

"Oh Jade," I sighed, prolonging the single syllable in the first word just to annoy her a little bit because she hated it when people made their syllables longer than they actually had to be. It ticked her off and I'd take every chance I'd get to get her all riled up on something. In the end, it's just me making fun and she knew that. "You know me far too well."

"I certainly do, Connie." She smirked, knowing how much that nickname made me cringe.

A minute had passed by since someone had said anything and Jade still wore that proud look on her face because Connie was pretty much the ultimate insult anyone could throw at me. She'd won that one. I didn't let her win. She was just always one point ahead.

I looked down to check the time displayed on my phone because I didn't trust the time on my car and it was just a little bit past five and the sky outside was just beginning to change colors. The orange hues swallowing every patch of blue until the clouds turned a soft pink, ready for the sunset, not that it would happen any time soon. It usually took a while for such beauty to unravel.

Then I looked at Jade and her face glowed orange with just a little bit of her rosy cheeks coming through and as we came to a halt in front of a traffic light, I took advantage of the opportunity to just look at her and take in everything, down to the most minuscule detail.