I Love You, I Guess || Tristan Evans

t w e n t y - s i x

This has to be it. It seems to be. Fully white, kind of glamorous looking, biggest house in the neighborhood. 

I look down at my phone once more under the pretext of re-checking the address Tristan sent me yesterday, but in reality only stalling. A smile forms on my face as I re-read the text. He'd sent me the address and then said, "I can't wait to see you.", adding a heart after the sentence. 

The sight of it makes my palms sweat and my heart beat just a little bit faster. This is it. This is the moment where we'll finally meet. What should I be expecting? Sure, through text we talk as if we've been best friends for ages, but is that how it's going to be face-to-face? Maybe I rushed into this. 

I contemplate turning back and leaving without a sound, but I can't bear to do that to him... Or any of them, as a matter of fact.

I take in a deep breath in an effort to calm myself down and ring the doorbell. I hear some shuffling and chatting from inside before the door swings open. 

"Oh, hello, there! Are you here for the party?" a smiling and overly-enthusiastic woman says. 

I nod quickly as she continues grinning at me. "I'm Nora." I say after a few seconds, realizing that it's probably a good idea that I introduce myself, and finally finding my voice. 

I'm about to explain further, but she cuts me off. "Oh, you're Nora? Tristan's Nora? The Nora?" she says, her excitement growing with each question. 

I stand there, frozen, suddenly stunned by the stream of excited questions. The only thought resounding clearly in my mind is flight. I want to get out of here. 

"Nora! Hey!" I hear a familiar voice behind the eager woman. James emerges from behind her, purposefully pushing her aside. "I see you've met my aunt." 

All I can do is nod. 

"Aunt Janice, I'll take it from here. I think Gemma was looking for you." 

"Oh, of course. Back to hosting." she says happily, before heading back to what I presume is the living room. 

"Sorry about that." James says, looking apologetic. "She can be a bit... Well, overwhelming. She was very excited to meet you." He pauses a second, finally taking a good look at me. "Well, you look especially terrified." 

"James, I don't know if I can do this." I blurt out before giving it any thought.

I see worry flash across James's face. "If it's about Aunt Janice, I promise she's not like that all the time. She wasn't even supposed to know about you, but she caught onto our teasing Tris, and eventually managed to get us to tell her. She means well." 

"No, it's not about her." I say, shaking my head frantically. "It's just- This, the entire thing. What if I'm not what he expects? What if he's not what I expect? I rushed into this. I totally rushed into this head first. I should have waited. I should have-" 

"Hey, hey," James says in a soothing voice, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "This is nothing to worry about. It's completely normal. Meeting Tris has probably been on your mind for some time now and now that it's finally the time to do it you've got a minor case of cold feet. Just relax. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself." 

Before I can speak I hear someone behind me call my name in an excited manner and then a pair of arms are flung around me, enveloping me in a hug. 

"There's my favorite sarcastic buddy!" Brad says, keeping me in the tight hug for a few seconds longer and then finally releasing me. 

"What's going on here? Guys, come on, we have to start playing- Nora!" Connor has finally noticed my presence. "Do you want me to go get Tris?" 

"No!" Brad and I shriek in unison.