Once Again

Once Again (13)

If it weren’t for my brother’s attempts to prevent me from going on this date, I would most likely simply explain to Dylan that we were drunk and then laugh the whole thing off as a Saturday night mishap.

Dylan is cute, and nice enough, but I just don’t feel any attraction towards him. However, because I feel the need to spite my brother, when Dylan finds me at school on Monday and asks if I still want to go out, I say “yes.”

“Great!” He smiles, getting too excited about this fake date for my comfort. “Friday? At 7?”

“Sure.” I smile, trying my best to seem flirty because I spot my brother walking down the hall. I give Dylan a quick hug. Then I smile and say I have to get to class.

I wink at Connor as he passes by. He scowls.

**

“So, I kind of have a date this Saturday…” I announce cautiously when I sit down next to Ashley and Cynthia.

Cynthia does not react, but Ashley does, more than making up for her other friend’s lack of excitement. “Oh my god, who?!” She asks – well, shrieks – and I ask her to keep her voice down if she wants me to discuss this with her.

“Oh, okay. I’ll whisper.” She concedes. “Now tell me who it is!”

Her voice still is not a whisper, but it is quieter, so I give in.

“Dylan Potter.”

“How do you even know him?” Cynthia asks, not removing her gaze from the pot she is shaping.

“Uh… I hung out with some of his friends after the bonfire.” I hesitate before revealing any more details. Then I remember that Ashley had her fair share of alcohol and kissing that night, though her kisses were more intentional than mine, so I decide to elaborate. “It was late… and we were a little drunk. He asked me if I still wanted to go today.”

“Do you like him?” Cynthia asks, and I can see a glimmer of judgment in her eyes.

“No,” I admit, knowing that she is beginning to think less and less of me by the minute.

“Then why are you going out with him.”

“I’m going on one date because my brother told me not to.” She and Ashley both raise their eyebrows, encouraging me to explain how those two comments are related. I sigh, but I oblige, because I want Cynthia to wipe at least a little of that smug look off her face. “Connor has recently decided that he can tell me what I can and cannot do, so I am proving him wrong by going to dinner with one of his friends.”

“Well, a date’s a date.” Ashley says. “And speaking of dates, I am well on my way to finally getting a date with Nate Johnson.”

“Good, we all know how long you’ve been stalking that poor boy from afar.” Cynthia makes a snide comment.

“Well, it’s finally paying off,” Ash counters.

Cynthia takes a bite of her sandwich and ignores the slight tension in the conversation.

“You should make it a double date with Cara and Dylan,” Cynthia says, changing the subject, slightly.

“Ha!” Ashley scoffs, finding the idea quite humorous.

“Their date is a disaster waiting to happen –“

“Excuse me?” I cut her off, pretending to be indignant, but making sure my voice comes across good naturedly. “Who knows, we could fall in love before desert.”

“Yeah, no, I don’t think so,” Ashley says as she shakes her head, smiling slightly. “He asked you out when you were both drunk, you don’t even remember him asking you, and you’re only going to make your brother mad.”

“What could go wrong?” Cynthia asks, the sarcasm dripping from her voice.

“Nothing,” I respond with the same level of irony.

“Hey! Remember, we were talking about me.” Ashley calls our attention back to her own love life.

“Sure, go ahead,” I say, and pick up a carrot. I eat while Ashley talks on and on about Nathan.

“Anyway… he was very sweet at the bonfire and we talked for a long time.”

“Talked?” Cynthia questions.

“Okay, fine, we made out, but we did talk for a few minutes. But his friends kept asking him to leave and he refused, because he wanted to stay with me, so that means –“

“True love?” Cynthia interjects, earning a death glare from Ashley.

“Something like that.”